I’ve written about what makes a good travel partner in the past. And my friends over at NileGuide touched on some important aspects, as well. But I really cannot stress this enough: You and your travel companion need to form a cohesive team.

You’ll be sleeping together. You’ll be eating together. You’ll be bikeskating together. Choose wisely when inviting someone to join you on a trip. It’s the decision that could most affect whether your trip is a success or an epic failure.