
Is it better to travel alone or with a group? We take a look at the pros and cons of going overseas with family and friends.
Travelling solo is a godsend. I whisked myself away to Melbourne late last year and had the time of my life. I wasn’t tied to a specific schedule, free to roam wherever, and didn’t need to worry about finances or feelings other than my own. Easy, breezy, beautiful. After that enjoyable experience, I doubt I’ll go on a group vacay after that. I’m definitely not alone in this. According to Google data, solo travel has risen to 761.1% post-pandemic.
My proclamation is not only because I’ve discovered the joys of solo trips. Hearing – and even experiencing – travel horror stories pretty much solidified my stand that I’m better off going overseas alone. You’re probably thinking: “Oh, it’s not that bad! Sufyan’s just being a curmudgeon!” Members of the jury, let me present to you Exhibit A…
Blood is thicker than travelling with family

I can’t recall the last time I went overseas with my fam, though one trip stuck out for me. We were in Indonesia, and at some point, a child became our unofficial guide. He was eloquent and confident despite his age, and because of that, my parents constantly compared me to him. That left a sour taste in my mouth.
“Oh, but that was a long time ago. Get over it!” That’s easier said than done. While it was just another holiday memory to my folks, it was a deep cut for me. Subsequent family vacations weren’t any better; eventually, we stopped going overseas together. In the years since, our shaky dynamics solidified and I felt a trip would be disastrous.
When my family (sans me) returned from Langkawi a few years back, I asked my sister how the trip was. “It’s a good thing you didn’t join us. You would’ve been annoyed throughout,” she said, before listing everything that went down. Incessant questions about their itinerary, complaints about too much walking, disagreements about where to eat… After hearing all that, I felt vindicated – and a little smug, not gonna lie. It further emphasised my stand on why I don’t travel with family, specifically my parents.
Even though I’m not a major fan of family travel, I envy those who go on vacations with their loved ones. Pooja Sharma, 31, is a prime example. She travels with her parents and siblings annually, and it has strengthened their family dynamics. She says she feels blessed to be able to travel with them. “My married friends and relatives, who don’t travel with their parents and siblings, are jealous that my family can holiday together,” she shares. “It takes effort.”
Is travelling with friends a better option?

If you ask me, I’d rather travel with friends than family. Is it the lesser of two evils? It depends on who you’re with. However, they say everyone’s red flags fly high when they’re away from home. Plenty of TikTok videos highlight the conundrum of travelling with friends and how vacations can make or break friendships. “Just because you’re friends doesn’t mean you travel well,” one video ominously states.
Miles Li, 37, was part of my friend group that travelled to Japan in 2017. Despite our preparedness – we bought tickets and planned the itinerary a year in advance, as well as reminded each other to save enough money for the trip – there were still hiccups along the way. Another friend used up their money by the third day (who in their right mind would bring only $500 for a two-week holiday to Japan?), which resulted in Miles and I covering most of their food expenses for the remainder of the journey. I recall telling him I wouldn’t allow our mutual friend’s blunder to ruin our holiday. Thankfully, our friendship survived the trip.
Unfortunately, it was the opposite when he went to Taiwan with a couple of friends last month. From what he told me, it sounded like a vacation from hell. “I thought it would be a good idea to take my virgin trip [to Taiwan] with my friend. He’s practically half-native, so it should be a breeze, right?” he laughs mirthlessly. “My problem isn’t with him, though. It’s the mutual friend that tagged along.”
Miles says the nightmare began a few weeks before the trip when no one contributed anything to the itinerary. It went downhill once they were there. Financial constraints, dietary restrictions… hey, all these sound too familiar. To say he was beyond relief after returning to Singapore is an understatement – Miles was ecstatic. I can’t help but wonder if he’ll remain friends with them after this. I think I know the answer.
Wise words for those travelling in big groups

Skyscanner’s travel trends 2024 report for Singapore indicates that many local travellers are not keen to arrange a large group trip. Reasons include identifying cost, communication, dates, and destinations. Regardless, that doesn’t mean you can’t (and shouldn’t) travel with your family or friends. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a relatively fuss-free holiday.
Firstly, don’t be afraid to bring up numbers. Discuss and agree on the travel dates and duration, and advise how much money each person should have. Money is a tricky topic to broach with friends and family, but you don’t want financial circumstances to ruin your vacation. Prepare an emergency fund if necessary; if you need to dip into your reserves to assist someone financially, discuss repayment at an appropriate time.
Another important issue everyone must talk through is personal boundaries. Be upfront about what you’re open to trying, your hard limits, and your schedule. Find a middle ground, or you can choose to go your separate ways at certain points to do your own thing. This way, you don’t run into situations that could’ve been easily avoided in the first place. There’s no point in compounding unhappiness and resentment until everyone explodes like volcanoes.
One thing I’ll do is to have an “align expectations talk” if I’m planning another trip with my friends. We’ll share what kind of person each other is during travel, how we usually expect to behave or during certain scenarios, and if there are any specific flags everyone needs to know. Hopefully, we can avoid unpleasant surprises that might arise.
It’s about the journey, not the destination

At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong here. You can visit a country solo or plan for a group adventure. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which is superior, and finding the conclusion to this conundrum is as elusive as the horizon. Perhaps that’s the beauty of it – an evolving journey that imitates the essence of exploration.
So, whether you’re charting your course alone or going at it with companions, pack your bags, savour the moments, and let every trip be a colourful chapter in your wanderlust escapades. As cliched as it sounds, it’s not just about reaching a destination. It’s also about the experiences woven along the way.