Hey my dearest, we’ve been traveling together for nearly seven years, and you’ve proven to be the most amazing partner for it. But why do I love traveling with you so much? What makes you the perfect companion for me?

At first, I might simply say: “Because I love you” – but it’s not that simple. I already enjoyed traveling with you even before I knew I would fall in love with you. So let’s rewind to when everything began for us, when our adventures together started.

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We first crossed paths in Brussels at a conference for young journalists, where, thanks to a stroke of luck, I ended up on the same team as you.We had met—sort of—during that trip, surrounded by wonderful people from all across Europe. Many of them are still our friends today. One of the things I adore about traveling with you is how easily you connect with people—you can meet someone briefly and form a friendship that lasts for years.

Some travelers seek solitude, nature, or silence. But both of us thrive on meeting others, learning their stories, staying in their homes and gardens, and later laughing and reflecting on those encounters.

In the months that followed, we traveled together to Armenia, Copenhagen, Macedonia, and Kosovo—hitchhiking, riding Balkan trains (sometimes going a little wild just to get a compartment to ourselves at night), staying longer at places we loved, and working on a small reportage in Struga. And then, in Hungary, for the first time, people noticed your tiny baby bump.

Instead of worrying about becoming parents, we embarked on our next, even bigger journey when little Hanna was only a few months old: an open-ended adventure around the Black Sea.I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else but you. You believe in dreams—and when you do, you make them real. You inspire both yourself and me to seek new experiences. You truly are the best travel companion in the world.

Your Polish practicality (“Maybe lock the car and don’t leave the camera on the seat?”) combined with your trust in the goodness of people everywhere is the ultimate travel partner formula—even in tricky or risky situations.And luckily, you never stay in one place for too long. I look forward to traveling with you until we’re old, grey, and still smiling together. I love you, Anna Alboth.

So how do you know if someone is the right person to travel with? You travel with them! Plan a trip with someone special and see how it goes. For us, the key was sharing the same travel philosophy: exploring on a modest budget, connecting with locals, taking photos, collecting stories, and bringing our kids along.

Of course, your travel companion doesn’t have to be like The Family Without Borders. If you love lounging on a beach with fancy dinners and your partner enjoys the same, that’s perfect! You’ll have an amazing time together, enjoying what you love.But if one of you is an outdoor, camping enthusiast and the other prefers luxury hotels and shopping, trips may end up being stressful rather than fun. It’s a sign you might not be the right match for traveling together.

If travel is a big part of your life and you want to share it with someone special, find the right person and set off on your next adventure.For many people, a backpacking or around-the-world journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It certainly was for me when I set off to Latin America in the 1990s. So the real question is: how can we be confident that we’re choosing the right travel companion when planning our trip?

It might sound odd, but we’ve all experienced that awful moment in a romantic relationship when our partner suddenly becomes unbearable — or when we find ourselves frustrated or explosively angry. Why should traveling with someone be any different than navigating a relationship at home? The truth is, despite its pleasures, traveling can bring its own set of challenges, stresses, and fatigue.

Having a travel companion does offer real advantages — from sharing experiences and enjoying each other’s company to providing laughter and an extra layer of safety. But in my opinion, there’s no substitute for thorough preparation when organizing an extended journey — both in terms of planning the itinerary and making sure you’re traveling with the right person. Here are some lessons I’ve learned about choosing a travel partner.

First, honestly assess your own personality, particularly how you handle stress. Then, make a list of qualities you hope to see in a travel companion. This isn’t the time to fool yourself or others about how you want to appear. It’s about understanding who you truly are.

Do the same for anyone you might travel with. Make sure you both clarify what you hope to gain from the journey. Often, people have subconscious goals when setting out on long trips. One friend, for instance, traveled to discover her true passions so she could make a career change afterward. Another went traveling after a breakup to figure out what she wanted in the next phase of her life. These underlying goals can shape expectations and determine whether you have enough in common to enjoy the trip together.

Ask yourself whether you thrive on constant companionship or need regular alone time. Do you prefer traveling in groups or more intimate settings with just a few people? Knowing this will help you identify what you require in a travel partner — and what you’re prepared to give in return.

Someone you love hanging out with or going on short trips with may not be the ideal companion for extended travel. Spending every day together abroad is very different from a night out on the town. A friend who’s the life of the party may not be the right fit for an 18-hour bus ride across Bolivia, sitting squeezed between locals and a crate of chickens.

Similarly, a friend who’s always there to listen to your problems might become overwhelming if you’re eager for new experiences. In difficult situations, you may value a companion with a more immediate sense of humor.

The key point is that now isn’t the time to cling to old promises of loyalty to a friend you once swore you’d travel with. Circumstances change, and the person who is right for your Big Trip might be different from the friend you’ve always imagined.

Check how long you expect your journey to last. Are you planning a trip for a set period, or will you be traveling on a flexible ticket? Do your travel companions have the same level of flexibility?

When I traveled through Latin America, I went with two friends who had round-the-world tickets with fixed dates. I, on the other hand, had a one-way ticket to Venezuela and planned to buy additional tickets as my itinerary unfolded.

It’s also useful to consider how each of you handles rigid versus flexible schedules. Unlike planning at home with a map and guidebook, real-life travel often brings unexpected changes.

In Ecuador, we stumbled upon a charming village near Otavalo decorated for a festival. We also discovered their annual tradition — a massive water fight involving balloons, buckets, and hoses. Getting soaked had a fun upside: it led into a lively, alcohol-fueled party that lasted all night. Five days later, we moved on…

It’s important that your budgets are somewhat aligned, at least while you’re traveling together. If not, you may end up making very different decisions about lodging, meals, and excursions. I’ll never forget my helicopter ride over the Bungle Bungles in Australia or canoeing the Urubamba River in Peru — both memorable experiences with their own costs.

Agreeing on a rough budget with your travel companion before departure can prevent conflicts. Money often highlights differences in personality, and you want your trip to be enjoyable, not stressful.

Back home, you may enjoy “roughing it,” but will you still be happy when you find a cockroach in your shower? Where you stay is important. After a long trek or an exhausting day in a busy city like Bangkok, your hostel or hotel becomes a refuge.

Discuss whether you’re comfortable sharing a room or if you prefer a large dorm (and whether it should be mixed or single-sex). Consider if you’re okay sharing bathrooms. Knowing this in advance helps you avoid last-minute stress when everyone is raving about “the best place in town.”

Traveling with a picky eater can be frustrating on long trips. One of the joys of travel is tasting new cuisines, but not everyone enjoys adventurous foods. Sometimes your options may be limited.

On an island in Lake Titicaca, a local family hosted us in a hay barn and fed us mainly eggs, potatoes, and corn for days. We loved it, but someone less adventurous might have struggled.One of my closest friends is very particular about food. I’d help her at any hour back home, but traveling with her? Impossible. I remember how she once made us wander all over Edinburgh before settling for a plain jacket potato with butter.

You might be excited about visiting temples, while your companion may prefer nightlife. Be honest about your interests but remember that even the most enthusiastic temple-goer can get “templed out” after multiple visits. Likewise, many travelers in Sydney ended up needing to work after partying excessively. Balance is key — too much of anything can create problems.

When traveling, you may sometimes encounter risky situations, so it’s important to have trust and confidence in your travel companion. During a car ride with some local men in Latin America, my friend sensed something was wrong. Using a prearranged signal we had agreed on for escaping uncomfortable situations, we were able to get out quickly.

Similarly, you need to be sure that if you become sick, your partner has the strength and resourcefulness to secure prompt medical care. When my friend suffered from altitude sickness in the Andes, I had to wake up nuns in a remote convent in the middle of the night, as it was the only nearby place with the necessary medicine.