Every Friend You'll Go on a Road Trip with This Summer

Few summer activities are as iconic as the road trip. The thought of spending hours with your favourite people, listening to great tunes and seeking out new adventures, is enough to get you through the coldest winters. But no matter who is in your crew, you'll always recognise some familiar roles. So to get you ready for a summer of fun we thought we'd introduce you to every member of your weekend away ahead of time.

The DJ It's hard to tell who the most important person is on the trip. In fact, you could argue that there is no 'most important person'—you all work together to create a petri dish of fun. That is unless you're The DJ. The DJ thinks that they're a gift from the fun-time gods. This is the person who is responsible for the music. Everyone has that friend who seems to have a supernatural ability to know what band is about to become massive, and what song is perfect for any situation. While it is a gift, it's also a skill that they've worked hard to develop. They would have spent hours preparing for this trip, calibrating the perfect mix. Leave them to it, and they'll curate a soundtrack that will introduce you to your new favourite artists. But mess with their work, or worse, ask to listen to a podcast, and they'll sulk for days. The Navigator

Being The Navigator isn't the sexiest job on the trip, but it's incredibly important. They're the person who can actually read a map, and somehow they always know which way is west. This is the friend who can sniff the wind and glance at the stars, and tell you to turn left at the next street. We're all guilty of not appreciating them sometimes. But just try to go on a trip without them. You'll be lucky to get out of the front door. This summer, make an effort to let them know they're appreciated. And then ask them a thousand times, "Are we there yet?"

The Travel Agent Depending on your mood, The Travel Agent can be a gift from heaven or hell. You know those insane trips you enviously look at on Instagram where your pal somehow stumbled on every weird and amazing destination you've never heard of? They 100 percent had a Travel Agent with them. The Travel Agent has done their research, and read every Yelp review within 100 kilometers. They'll tell you about this little place with the best sausage rolls, or remind you that you're actually only 20 minutes away from the Big Pineapple. But like The DJ, they've also been mentally preparing for this trip for weeks. Every time one of their fellow Travel Agent friends has mentioned some great swimming spot, they've filed that information away in their brain, just in case they're ever in the area. But if you're with a trainee Travel Agent, you might have to sit through an endless stream of facts about towns you're briefly passing through, and a suggestion you stop at that tractor convention. Hey, everyone has to start somewhere.

The Wild Card The Wild Card is often a new friend or partner. They've never holidayed with you before, and everyone secretly knows that this is the big test. If they can hang with you and your pals for hours and not be a pain, they could be a friend for life. But get 20 minutes into the trip and you realise they're insane or don't have any cash for petrol, then you're in for a long ride. Don't worry, because more often than not, that unexpected energy can make the trip memorable. And who knows who will turn out to be the next Navigator.

The Diplomat The Diplomat is the friend who your parents like and always remembers your birthday. They're the magic that balances all the parts. No matter who you're with, things can get tense when you're with them for a very long time. But The Diplomat is always there to make a joke, whip out a bag of lollies, or just remind everyone how lucky they are to be on an adventure. The secret of The Diplomat is that they're actually a special mix of all the aforementioned parts. In a pinch their phone probably has a great mix on it, they're pretty good with directions, and they always have a fun suggestion for lunch. If you are lucky to have a Diplomat in your crew, hold onto them. Actually, maybe see if they want to move in with you after the weekend away.

This article is presented in partnership with Captain Morgan