Vacations are a magical time—when you and your friends can finally unwind, reconnect, and pretend that things like laundry and work emails don’t exist. But let’s be real: put even the best of friends in a shared space with jet lag, questionable Wi-Fi, and one bathroom, and your drama-free friend vacation can quickly spiral into a silent standoff—until someone mutters, “I should’ve gone solo.”
To help you avoid passive-aggressive sighs and awkward silences at dinner, here are 10 foolproof tips to keep your trip drama-free—and yes, these work for romantic getaways too (because nothing tests a relationship like assembling IKEA furniture… or traveling together).
10 Tips to Keep Your Drama-Free Friend Vacation Actually Drama-Free
1. Sleep like your friendship depends on it.
Sleep is foundational to a drama-free friend vacation. Tired adults are basically cranky toddlers with better shoes. Get plenty of sleep before and during the trip, or prepare for a tag-team meltdown over who ate the last granola bar.
2. Leave early for the airport.
Travel stress is real. Being late only amplifies it, and next thing you know, someone’s snapping over TSA lines or fighting over whose turn it was to hold the passports. Give yourself extra time and arrive like the calm, cool, unbothered traveler you pretend to be on Instagram.
3. Treat your hotel room like a shared Airbnb, not a frat house.
Keep things neat, especially the bathroom. No one wants to play “guess whose hair that is on the soap.” Establish a system early—your friendship will thank you.
4. Absence makes the heart (and travel buddy) fonder.
Just because you flew together doesn’t mean you’re conjoined twins. It’s okay to split up for a few hours. You’ll have way more to talk about at dinner than, “Remember when we were together… 10 minutes ago?”
5. Embrace flexibility like a yogi on a beach.
If your day doesn’t go exactly as planned, don’t panic. Some of the best memories happen when you go off-script. Or when your friend accidentally books a food tour instead of a historical walking tour. Oops.
6. Let them sleep. Let them eat cake.
This is a vacation, not a boot camp. If your friend wants to nap instead of hit the museum, let them. If they want a third dessert, cheer them on. Vacation calories don’t count anyway. It’s science.*
7. Pack entertainment for downtime.
Bring a book, a podcast, an Ipad—whatever keeps you occupied when your friend decides to “just pop in” to a shop and disappears for 45 minutes trying on pants. Stay chill. Be zen. Have snacks.
8. Chronic latecomers, this one’s for you.
If you know you’re always late, adjust. Your friend did not use their precious PTO just to wait for you while you debate whether that shirt really goes with those shoes.
9. Never underestimate the power of snacks.
Hunger turns even the nicest people into monsters. Keep something on hand at all times—protein bars, trail mix, an emergency Snickers. It’s cheaper than therapy and more effective than an apology later.
10. Show some love.
Take time to appreciate your travel buddy. Plan a surprise massage, buy them a goofy souvenir, or simply say, “Hey, you’re fun to travel with—even if you do take forever to get ready.” Little gestures go a long way toward making memories sweeter (and Instagram captions kinder).
Now go forth, valiant adventurer, and conquer that vacation with charm, grace, and maybe a fanny pack full of snacks. With a little planning and a lot of laughs, you and your travel buddy can create epic memories, inside jokes, and just enough photos to make everyone back home wildly jealous. Remember: it’s not just about where you go—it’s about who you go with, how hard you laugh, and how well you can navigate a shared bathroom. Happy travels!
About The Author
Best known as one of the cofounders of luxury gay vacation company, Zoom Vacations, Bryan has been a high school English teacher, personal trainer, freelance writer, and a hotel marketing and events sales manager. He grew up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and his childhood was filled with outdoor adventures. His roots in the outdoors, coupled with his inquisitive teacher’s mind and his appreciation for health and fitness (as well as for fabulous hotels and resorts) have led him to adventures in every continent, including Antarctica. He has toured the ancient catacombs of Rome, swam with horses where Australia’s rainforest meets the reef, haggled with Hong Kong merchants, danced the Samba in Brazil, and has even studied ecology and group dynamics in a Scottish commune. In addition to his duties at Zoom Vacations®, Bryan also served on the Board of the Directors of the IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) for four years, and as Board Chair for two. He was one of nine travel experts featured on the Travel Chanel’s hit show, “Vacation Challenge” and was the South America Gay Travel Expert for four episodes on Logo’s Gay Travel show, Bump. In addition, Bryan has hosted gay travel shorts for Comcast, and he is the gay travel expert for several gay online and print publications worldwide.