The Absolute Worst People to Travel With

Traveling is fun! You get to see new things, eat new foods, talk to new people - or even not talk to anyone at all for a while, if that's what you want to do. What an adventure! But traveling can also be super stressful, what with all the getting on planes or whatever, living out of a suitcase or duffle bag, spending money on just about every single meal, and maybe even not knowing the local language. That is a lot to think about! The right travel companions can make all of the stress worth it. On the other hand, as the old saying goes, one bad apple can spoil the whole vacation. When you travel with a person, be it friend, family member, or stranger you met at the train station, you will see a whole lot of him or her, from idiosyncrasies to underwear.

Which of these people is the worst to travel with? Is it Tourist-Trap Ted, who really wants to go to Madame Tussauds? Culture-Snob Colleen, who has already been there and to every other wax museum on the planet (but hates them all anyway)? Museum-Loving Melissa, who just needs to see some old paintings hung in frames, stat? Influencer Isabel, who is only there for the Insta and hasn't lived in the present moment since she got her first cell phone? Or even Plan-Ahead Paolo, who might just vomit all over the floor if you make a single change to today's carefully-regimented schedule?

A lot of travelling involves eating, so it can be a bummer to be with someone who is picky, cheap, rude, boisterous, or allergic to shellfish, which you happen to love. You also move around a lot when you travel, so you want someone who does things at a pace similar to your own, be it walking, eating dinner, or getting a move on throughout the day. It's not that a fast or slow walker is necessarily right or wrong - it's just that one of them might drive you crazy while the other one is just your style. A person who walks at your speed to the same cites, restaurants, and hotels that you like will probably make a better travel companion than one who is constantly making you feel like, "Ugh, I hate you; this was a huge mistake." Vote up the worst travel buddies that can make you just wish you stayed at home on your couch where everything is free and nobody forgot to bring toothpaste.