Travelling with relatives/friends

[True Dough]

Nope, this isn't a thread to rant about how my wife and I can't stand being on vacation with so-and-so.

This is more about the evolution of our relationship, at least in one regard. We're in our mid-40s now. We've been together for 20 years and have travelled quite extensively. There are still some destinations on our "bucket list" (maybe a little early for that terminology, you know what I mean), but if we're journeying to places where we've been before we have grown fond of taking along relatives or friends who haven't had the opportunity to experience that location before. Sometimes we pick up a portion of their expenses if we know it's a financial stretch for them.

It's not that my wife and I can't stand each other's company (we still share a private room) just that we seem to get an added sense of joy from seeing others' reactions -- or, sometimes, perhaps a bit of disappointment if they aren't as impressed at certain aspects of attractions that wowed us. But, hey, c'est la vie, right?

Anyway, are there others here who are in the same boat, preferring to travel with relatives/friends, at least on occasion?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I usually prefer to travel alone, but that's just me.

I like to be able to wander here and there and go someplace on a whim, unplanned. Traveling with other people means everybody needs to agree on schedules and destinations, and sometimes you have to deal with personal foibles that make the trip less pleasant. Travel can be stressful and stress can make people, including me, ornery.

[True Dough]

2. I get that side of it as well

I should have mentioned that when we do travel with relatives or friends, my wife and I make sure we're not stuck to them like glue, or vice-versa. Some places we'll go together, some things we'll do on our own. If it's an older couple, we can whisk off someplace while they're napping or resting, now and again.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. What a lovely thing to do.

I likewise get a lot of enjoyment showing places to people who haven't been there before.

Nothing wrong with travelling alone, because I also do that.

[Kali]

4. I prefer to travel with another traveler - a German. LOL

the husband can only handle a couple days away from home before he starts getting uncomfortable.

[Phentex]

5. My sister and I travel together the best but I do travel with others...

mainly my husband's family because they like to travel. My sister is the only person who makes travel ideal. It's stress free, laid back and we like to do the same things at the same time. But if anyone else is with us, it's a mess.

I like traveling with my husband but he doesn't like to travel much anymore. He is less flexible so it's not as relaxing for me. He hates to travel with others so that has been very limited since we've been married. I mean, besides with our own kids.

[Iggo]

6. I've seen Iron Maiden upwards of a dozen times.

It's always more fun when I go with someone who's never seen them before.

I get it.

[left-of-center2012]

7. Sort of similar ...

Back in the day,
my wife (now ex) and I showed slides to another couple of our travel across the U.S.

They either weren't interested, laughed, or were outright bored.

Maybe they were jealous. I don't know.

[True Dough]

8. I guess it depends on the couple

Some also have wanderlust and are genuinely interested in others' travel. Others couldn't give a darn.

[left-of-center2012]

9. The couple had never left Maine

[SwissTony]

10. Good God, no.

My wife and I are pretty compatible, but we like to keep to ourselves. The few times we've gone with others, it's been a "grit your teeth" time.