How Three Friends Started Traveling Together

It started with a text message. Not a grand plan, not a life-changing decision, just three words that would change everything: “Want to go somewhere?”

The Beginning

Wala, Raza, and I met in college. Not in some dramatic way – we were just three guys who happened to live on the same floor of the same dorm. Wala was the quiet one with the camera always around his neck. Raza was the one who knew every good restaurant within a 10-mile radius. And me? I was the one who always had a plan.

We weren’t the kind of friends who did everything together. We had our own circles, our own interests, our own lives. But there was something about the way we clicked when we were all in the same room. Different enough to be interesting, similar enough to get along.

The First Trip

The text came on a Tuesday in March. I was sitting in my dorm room, staring at a pile of textbooks that seemed to multiply every time I looked away. Raza had just sent a photo of some street food he’d found downtown, and Wala had replied with a picture of a sunset he’d captured from the library roof.

“Want to go somewhere?” I typed, not really expecting anything.

“Where?” Raza replied immediately.

“Anywhere,” I said.

“Let’s go to Chicago,” Wala chimed in.

And that was it. Three hours later, we were in my car, driving toward a city none of us had ever been to, with no plan, no reservations, and no idea what we were doing.

What We Learned (The Hard Way)

Lesson 1: Someone Has to Be the Planner

That first trip was a disaster. We spent two hours driving in circles looking for parking, ate at the first restaurant we found (which was terrible), and ended up sleeping in the car because we couldn’t find a hotel room.

But here’s the thing – we laughed the entire time. Every wrong turn, every bad decision, every moment of confusion became a story. By the time we got home, we were already planning the next trip.

Lesson 2: Different Personalities Are a Feature, Not a Bug

Wala wanted to wake up at 4 AM to photograph the sunrise. Raza wanted to try every food truck we passed. I wanted to see every museum and historical site.

At first, this caused problems. We’d argue about what to do, where to go, how to spend our time. But slowly, we learned to embrace our differences. Wala’s early morning adventures led us to places we never would have found. Raza’s food obsession introduced us to cultures and communities we never would have experienced. My planning kept us from getting lost (most of the time).

Lesson 3: Travel Changes You

That first year, we took five trips together. Each one taught us something new about ourselves and each other. We learned to compromise, to communicate, to trust each other with our safety and our money and our dreams.

We also learned that travel isn’t just about seeing new places – it’s about discovering who you are when you’re outside your comfort zone.

The Evolution

Year 1: Figuring It Out

We started with weekend trips. Chicago, Nashville, New Orleans. Short, cheap, close to home. We learned the basics: how to split costs, how to navigate together, how to handle disagreements.

The breakthrough: Our third trip to Nashville. We finally figured out our rhythm. Wala would scout photo locations, Raza would find the best food, and I would handle logistics. It just clicked.

Year 2: Going Bigger

We started planning longer trips. A week in California. Ten days in Europe. We learned about visas and travel insurance and international phone plans.

The challenge: Money. Three college students don’t have much of it. We got creative – camping instead of hotels, cooking instead of restaurants, walking instead of taxis.

The reward: We saw places we never thought we’d see. We met people who changed our perspective. We learned that the world is both bigger and smaller than we imagined.

Year 3: The Content Creation

This is where things got interesting. Wala started posting his photos on Instagram. Raza began documenting our food adventures. I started writing about our experiences.

The realization: People were interested in our story. Not because we were special, but because we were relatable. We were just three friends figuring it out as we went.

The decision: We started Sevenize. Not as a business, but as a way to share our experiences and connect with other people who wanted to explore the world.

The Challenges

Money

Let’s be real – travel is expensive. Even with our budget strategies, we’ve had to make sacrifices. We’ve skipped meals to afford museum tickets. We’ve slept in airports to save on accommodation. We’ve taken jobs we didn’t want to fund our adventures.

Our solution: We treat travel as a priority, not a luxury. We budget for it like we budget for rent and groceries. We find creative ways to make it work.

Time

Balancing travel with school, work, and relationships isn’t easy. We’ve missed birthdays and holidays. We’ve had to explain to professors why we need extensions. We’ve had to navigate the guilt of leaving people behind.

Our approach: We’re honest about our priorities. We communicate clearly with the people in our lives. We make time for the important things, even when it’s hard.

Disagreements

Three people, three different opinions. We’ve had arguments about everything – where to go, what to eat, how much to spend, when to leave.

What we learned: Disagreements are normal. The key is learning to resolve them without destroying the friendship. We’ve developed a system: we each get one “veto” per trip, and we always try to find a compromise.

The Rewards

Personal Growth

Travel has changed us in ways we never expected. We’re more confident, more adaptable, more open to new experiences. We’ve learned to trust ourselves and each other.

Deepened Friendship

There’s something about experiencing new places together that creates a unique bond. We’ve seen each other at our best and worst. We’ve supported each other through difficult moments. We’ve celebrated each other’s successes.

Expanded Perspective

We’ve learned that the world is more complex and beautiful than we ever imagined. We’ve met people who live completely different lives than us. We’ve experienced cultures that challenged our assumptions and broadened our understanding.

The Community

One of the most unexpected rewards has been the community we’ve built. Through Sevenize, we’ve connected with thousands of people who share our passion for travel and adventure.

The messages we receive:

• “Your story inspired me to take my first solo trip”
• “I used your guide to plan my honeymoon”
• “Your photos made me fall in love with a place I’d never heard of”

These connections remind us why we do what we do. It’s not just about our adventures – it’s about inspiring others to create their own.

What We’ve Learned About Friendship

Communication Is Everything

You can’t travel with someone for years without learning to communicate. We’ve had to learn to express our needs, listen to each other’s concerns, and work through problems together.

Trust Is Essential

When you’re in a foreign country with limited resources, you have to trust each other completely. We’ve learned to rely on each other’s judgment, respect each other’s boundaries, and support each other’s decisions.

Growth Happens Together

We’ve grown as individuals, but we’ve also grown as a group. We’ve learned to adapt to each other’s changing needs, support each other’s evolving goals, and celebrate each other’s successes.

The Future

We don’t know what the future holds. We might travel together for the rest of our lives, or we might go our separate ways. But we know that the experiences we’ve shared have changed us forever.

Our commitment: To continue exploring, learning, and growing together. To share our experiences with others. To inspire people to step outside their comfort zones and discover the world.

Advice for Others

If you’re thinking about traveling with friends, here’s what we’ve learned:

Start Small

Don’t plan a month-long international trip for your first adventure. Start with a weekend getaway. Learn how you work together before committing to something bigger.

Be Honest About Money

Money can destroy friendships. Be clear about budgets, expectations, and how you’ll split costs. Don’t assume everyone has the same financial situation.

Embrace Differences

Your friends will want to do different things than you. That’s not a problem – it’s an opportunity. Let them show you their world, and you show them yours.

Communicate Constantly

Don’t let small problems become big ones. Talk about issues as they arise. Be honest about your needs and concerns.

Have Fun

Remember why you’re doing this. Travel should be enjoyable. Don’t take it too seriously. Laugh at the mistakes, celebrate the successes, and enjoy the journey.

The Bottom Line

Three years ago, we were just three college friends who decided to take a road trip. Today, we’re a community of travelers, creators, and adventurers who believe that the best experiences happen when you step outside your comfort zone.

It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t perfect. But it changed everything.

The question isn’t whether you should travel with friends – it’s whether you’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

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Have you traveled with friends? What was your experience like? Share your story with us on Instagram or Twitter.