Of course, given the nature of alcohol, such a trip also has the potential to get a bit complicated. Safety and responsibility should always be on the minds of those involved. A failure to do so can lead to undesirable and sometimes catastrophic consequences.
One of the more insightful things to do while traveling is to try the locally popular alcoholic beverages. This is because you can learn so much about a specific area or tradition through the drinks they invented or prefer, making it just as much of a historical exploration as an alcohol-related one. Because of this, drinking while out of town with friends can be a great way to indulge yourself while also exposing yourself to a new spot.
Of course, given the nature of alcohol, such a trip also has the potential to get a bit complicated. Safety and responsibility should always be on the minds of those involved. A failure to do so can lead to undesirable and sometimes catastrophic consequences.
The largest hesitation you might have when deciding to plan a drinking trip with friends is the likelihood of suffering from a hangover. Drinking can be enjoyable, but making sure that you do so responsibly can make the difference between having an awful "morning after" and avoiding a hangover. In order to make sure you don't regret a good amount of drinking the morning after, stay hydrated the entire time that you're drinking. A good rule of thumb is to have a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you have.
If in need of headache medication, it’s important to avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol) due to the potential liver damage caused by combining the drug with alcohol. Instead, consider aspirin or ibuprofen. Better yet, look for options with white willow bark as the active ingredient, since white willow bark benefits include treating headaches. In fact, willow bark is known as “nature’s aspirin.”
Even if you're staying at a hotel with a bar, it's very likely that you'll head off the premises to get some drinks. In typical party situations it would be wise to agree on one of your friends to be a "designated driver", but vacation might not be the best time to not allow one of your friends to drink. To make sure that everybody in your party is able to enjoy themselves while on vacation, it might be best to look into options for avoiding anyone having to do the driving. For example, popular San Diego tours to local breweries will include transportation for the group. This allows everyone to enjoy drinking without worrying about how to get back to the hotel.
For an unbridled night on the town, your group would benefit from rideshare services. There are many ways to think of rideshare versus having a designated driver, but possibly the biggest difference is the cost: renting a car, rideshare and taxis cost money, but which is cheapest is often a matter of multiple factors. However, given how small the price is when compared to taking a taxi or other forms of late night transit, it makes sense to settle for the relatively small price of a rideshare program to get home safely.
Traveling with friends to new places on vacation can be a great way to not only connect with your best friends, but also immerse yourself in another culture. Especially when you're exploring the cultural nuances of any culture, indulging in the local alcoholic beverages can be a great way to relax and do something you might not be able to do at home. However, making sure that you are responsible for the ways in which you drink and get home can be the difference between an unsafe, tumultuous vacation and a memorable bonding trip among friends. Utilizing rideshare services and avoiding hangover can be great ways to preserve the integrity of your trip and make sure you have not only a relaxing time but a healthy one!
