How To Not Have Your Vacation Ruined By A Frugal Traveler
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger
Have you ever traveled somewhere with someone who is cheap?
So cheap that they spend half the day trying to save a buck or two (or even a few cents), dragging you with them on their never-ending search for the least-expensive room or food or other traveling essentials?
Well this story is for you, because I’ve done it and have these 5 tips so your cheap friend doesn’t ruin your vacation. The most frustrating part about traveling with a cheap person is when they drag you into it.
And to be sure, there’s a big difference in traveling on a budget and just plain traveling cheap.
Tip #1 Traveling With A Cheap Friend: Know They Are Cheap In Advance
Actually, this is a top tip for any traveler going with someone: know the person – or people – you are traveling with before you depart or even commit to travel with them. If you know in advance they are cheap, then only the level of their cheapness will surprise and – in my case – frustrate you.
Tip #3 Traveling With A Cheap Friend: Let Them Do What They Want
You’re not going to talk them out of it and if you try, this will frustrate you even more than the actual cheapness of the person. They are who they are and you are not going to change them so accept it to minimize our inconvenience and mental agony.
Tip #3: Traveling With A Cheap Friend:Don’t Go Along With Them
You’re going to need to split up – when they cheap person goes all over the place to find, say, a moped rental place that’s a Euro a day cheaper than the one you found, let him or her do it. You go off and explore. As stated in the lead, the most frustrating part about traveling with a cheap person is when they drag you into it. Avoid this situation whenever possible.
Tip #4: Traveling With A Cheap Friend: Separate
When that person is spending valuable vacation time running around to save money, tell them you will meet them later. Go explore and take advantage of being on holiday in a different location than home. Enjoy the freedom! If you’re with a normal-spending friend or two, then talking about the friend’s cheap exploits make for a good way to let off steam. And it also makes for great conversations later in the bars.
Tip #5: Don’t Compromise Your Standards
Stick to your own standards. If your cheap friend insists on getting a run-down hostel or hotel with pain peeling off the walls wher you may be afraid various insects may be crawling on you in the middle of the night, don’t do it. If he or she insists on eating all meals standing up by grabbing cheap things here and there while you want to sit down – even have a beer or wine with lunch or dinner – do it. If you want to take a tour or have a “splurge” expeirence, do it.
Bonus Tip: Traveling With A Cheap Friend: Drink
You might say, “sure, a website like PubClub.com’ says drink to anything and well, while that’s pretty much true, in this case it puts you in a more relaxed frame of mind. Plus, going out it’s unlikely your cheap friend will go out or at least keep up with you because they are too cheap to buy a lot of drinks.
By following these five tips you won’t change your friend’s cheapness, but you’ll have a much better trip.
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