To mark World Friendship Day on 30 July, Agoda, one of the fastest-growing online travel agents (OTA), shares six reasons why you should round up your group of friends and book your next holiday adventure together:
1. Your friends know your best (and worst) angles
If you’re on the hunt for your next great Instagram photo, who’ll be better at capturing your best poses than your friends? Whether your backdrop is a blend of modern design and classic European architecture, or you find yourself in trendy galleries and restaurants – you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your holiday shots.
2. Friends help explore your taste for adventure.
From the weird to the wonderful, trying new foods with friends is all part of the adventure of travel. Those who dare to test their taste buds should know that April through August is the prime durian season in Malaysia, where many say the best durians can be found. One of the most controversial foods in the world, its taste will either spark joy or disgust — want to find out which side you’ll be on?
Adventurous eaters should also head to Osaka to try out Dotonbori Street’s diverse food options including fugu, delicious pufferfish that are notorious for the lethal poison they carry in their organs. Don’t worry, Japanese chefs must undergo years of training before they can serve this delicacy!
The Filipino delicacy balut, fertilized duck eggs, are certainly not for the faint of heart! The best in the country are in Pateros, a neighborhood in Metro Manila.
3. Friends are the perfect wing (wo)men for a memorable night out
Whether it’s getting you out of trouble or stepping up as the perfect dance partner, friends are key to a fun night out. For the ultimate party holiday, look no further than Las Vegas where you can find some of the best casinos, nightclubs and pool parties in the world.
Ho Chi Minh city is Vietnam’s nightlife capital and offers hundreds of bars and nightclubs to choose from, so you’ll find something to suite your tastes, whether it’s an upscale nightclub or hole-in-the-wall dive bar.
Spend one night (or two) checking out Bangkok’s swanky nightclubs, rooftop bars and trendy speakeasies.
4. Friends help you stay motivated when you’re getting sporty
As another hand on deck or a competitive opponent on the track, friends help you bring out your A-game. Head to Philippines’ surfing capitol Siargao, home of the world-famous Cloud 9 wave, and see who can ‘hang ten’ for longer.
Chiang Mai’s May Taeng River is the go-to in Thailand for rapids and white-water rafting.
Luang Prabang’s meandering mountain trails are best experienced from a mountain bike, or if you’re opting for an easier ride you can cycle along the Mekong River.
5. Wait, you save money traveling with friends?
That’s right, from sharing room expenses to splitting costs for taxi rides, traveling with friends means being able to stick to your budget without foregoing all luxuries. What’s more, when you’re in a big group, there’s no reason not to splurge on an entire private property.
6. Friends can embolden you to reach new heights
They say true friends would do anything for you, even jump out of a plane — so if that’s your thing, head to Dubai where sky diving is on offer year-round.
For those with a sense of adventure but not quite the head for heights, you don’t need to miss out on the fun. You can try out the Singapore iFly instead, where you can experience the thrill of a real free-fall without the distance.
If you want to keep your feet closer to the ground, but still get out of your comfort zone, why not take a leap of faith and give Ba Ho’s cliff jumping a go? Just 45-minutes north of Nha Trang you’ll find several off-the-beaten-path waterfall ponds with varying heights.