Before You Book That Trip Together, Ask These Six Questions

Blow-up fights at the Colosseum, tears on Mount Kilimanjaro, squabbles over the window seat - the wrong travel companion can sink a vacation.

The stress of travel and the endless decisions that come with it can strain even a friendship that works perfectly well back home. There's a reason people advise traveling with someone before marrying them.

In a Booking.com survey of 1,253 U.S. adults who had taken an overnight trip in the past year, 35% discovered they weren't compatible with their travel buddy. Twenty-one percent cut a trip short because of their companion, and 28% considered ending the relationship or friendship after a bad vacation.

The trouble often comes down to unspoken expectations: one person wants every day packed dawn to dusk, the other wants to lounge until cocktail hour; one wants seafood towers and Champagne, the other prefers convenience-store snacks and local beer.

Not every friend, partner or relative is the right person to travel with - and figuring that out before planning an itinerary saves time, money and disappointment. Six questions worth asking: What kind of accommodations do you picture, and are you comfortable sharing? Do you check luggage or carry on? What does your dream vacation look like - downtime or a packed schedule? How long does your morning routine take? How much do you expect to spend? And will you be offended if your companion tunes out with headphones or a book?

Compare answers together. Too many differences? Keep the hangouts local. Mostly aligned? Plan a trip that works for both of you - perhaps splitting up for a day and reuniting at dinner, or agreeing on a restaurant budget in advance. Matching on every question? Book those tickets.