Should I stay or should I go?

Probably, at some point in your single again phase, you will be faced with this decision. So, I want to share what I have learned (the hard way) about traveling with a new beau.

Once upon a time, a fairly new beau asked me to join him on an amazingly exciting five-day, four-night escape. He received an offer for a heavily discounted vacation package, but the offer expired at midnight, so I had to give him an answer right away.

I had the hardest time deciding what to do.

I really wanted to go. I’d never been to this exciting far-away place, and I was certainly due an escape. Plus, he was paying for everything. It sounded perfect, yet, my gut screamed for me to stay home.

Something just didn’t feel right about it.

But then again, I had not been able to afford a vacation since my divorce. (Did I mention he was paying for everything?)

So after pacing back and forth for hours, phoning a friend and mumbling to myself something about morals and how disappointed my mother would be, I talked myself into taking advantage of being single as an adult, and I decided to go. Boy, did I learn some valuable lessons on that trip.

I have since made rules for traveling with a new beau. I would have loved to have these beforehand, so as a friend, I’m going to share my rules with you.

Rule No. 1: Never, ever go on a trip with someone you are not really, really fond of.

Rule No. 2: Never override the gut. A woman’s intuition is God’s gift; do not take it for granted.

Rule No. 3: If you must go on a trip with someone you are not really fond of, keep it short — three days maximim (you will digress after three, I promise).

Rule No. 4: If it takes you a long time to decide to go, stay home. Taking that long to talk yourself into it usually means you are not really, really fond of them (see Rule No. 1).

Rule No. 5: Never go so far away with someone that your mom or best friend can’t come pick you up if things get ugly.

Bonus: If you ignore Rule No. 1, anything that could go wrong on the trip will go wrong.

You will miss your flight home, you will have to stay in a cheap hotel with only your carry-on and the clothes on your back because your luggage did make the flight, and you will fall into your mother’s arms the minute your plane lands and cry like a little school girl. Obviously, if you are crazy in love, or even crazy in strong like, a trip together can really be enjoyable and help strengthen the bond.

But, if you aren’t really, really fond of them, I’ve got to tell you — stay home.

Instead, look for a great alternative that almost never lets you down: Save your money and take an awesome girls-only trip with your friends and have a blast.

Leave him at home and you go girl — but call me first — I’m always up for an adventure.