CNBC Report Urges Travelers to Test Compatibility Before Booking

The survey, conducted in July among 1,253 U.S. adults who had traveled overnight in the previous 12 months, also found that 21% of respondents had left a trip part-way through because of their travel partner. Twenty-eight percent said a bad vacation made them think about ending the relationship or friendship with the person they traveled with, according to CNBC.

CNBC reported that incompatible travel buddies can ruin a vacation, citing examples such as blow-up fights at the Colosseum, tears atop Mount Kilimanjaro and clashes over the window seat. The article said the stresses and near-infinite decisions of travel can pressure a relationship that works well at home.

The article said travelers can hold different, unspoken expectations about what a trip should involve. One person may want every day scheduled from dawn to dusk, while another wants to lounge in the hotel spa until cocktail hour; one may want seafood towers and Champagne, while others prefer convenience-store hot dogs and local beer.

The CNBC article included a compatibility quiz from experts in friendship, travel and decision-making. The first question asks what kind of accommodations travelers imagine and whether they are comfortable sharing, because some people can sleep through a nightclub while others need a room to themselves, a white noise machine and blackout curtains.

The second asks whether travelers check luggage, a carry-on versus checked-bag difference the article said is wise to discuss in advance. The third asks what a dream vacation looks like: leisurely days with shops, cafes and afternoon naps, or museums, restaurants, activities and movement.

The fourth question concerns how long each person takes to get ready in the morning. CNBC suggested deciding on a strategy in advance, such as one person going out for coffee or breakfast alone, or the slower traveler setting an alarm for 45 minutes before their companion.

The fifth asks how much each expects to spend. In the Booking.com survey, 35% of respondents had argued over money with their travel buddy, and CNBC said budget may be the most important thing to discuss before committing. The sixth asks whether a companion will be offended if the other listens to music with headphones or opens a book, because compatible travel is not only about similar tastes in food and accommodations.

CNBC said not every friend, romantic partner or family member is the right travel partner, and that figuring out compatibility before planning an itinerary can save time, money and disappointment.