Speak Up or Settle: A Travel Tale

I hesitated before posting my Punta Cana photos.

My thumb hovered over the “Share” button, thinking about Tamika sitting at home, probably still bitter about her trip last month.

We’d been best friends since college, and I knew her too well – she always held back, always tried to seem easy-going, even when it meant shortchanging herself.

“Just do it,” I muttered to myself, finally hitting share.

The pictures were too good not to post – the infinity pool at Riu Palace Macao glowing at sunset, me and my girls at the foam party, the view from my oceanfront balcony during White Party weekend.

My phone buzzed almost immediately. Tamika.

“Coffee?” her text read. “Need to hear about this trip.”

An hour later, we were at our usual spot. Tamika looked tired, probably from another night shift at the hospital.

She stirred her latte slowly, not making eye contact.

“So…” she finally said. “Same travel agent as mine, right?”

I nodded, watching her carefully. “Yeah. Nan.”

“How much?” Tamika blurted out. “Sorry, that’s rude. But… how much did you pay?

Because that resort… those views… the parties… that’s exactly what I wanted.

But when I talked to Nan, she never even mentioned Riu Palace Macao as an option.”

And there it was.

I knew Tamika too well – this was classic her.

She’d probably gone into her consultation trying to seem like the world’s most flexible client, downplaying what she really wanted.

“Tamika,” I said gently. “What exactly did you tell Nan about what you wanted?”

She shifted uncomfortably. “You know… just that I was looking for something in the Caribbean. That I was flexible on dates.

That my budget was strict.”

“And what was the budget you gave her?”

“$1,800,” she mumbled into her coffee.

I raised an eyebrow. “Tamika. You and I both know you were willing to spend more than that.

You spent nearly $3,000 on that Puerto Plata resort by the time you added in all those taxis to get to the parties you actually wanted to attend.”

“I just… I didn’t want to seem high-maintenance,” she sighed. “Or greedy. Or like I was trying to be something I’m not.”

“Girl, I told Nan everything,” I said. “That I wanted to be there specifically for White Party weekend.

That I needed a room close enough to the action but not so close I couldn’t sleep.

That my actual budget was $2,500 but I could stretch to $2,800 for the right package.

I even told her I wanted a bathroom with good lighting for getting ready!”

Tamika’s eyes widened. “And she didn’t think you were being ridiculous?”

“She got excited!

Started telling me about all these insider deals she knew about.

Found me a promotion that included VIP passes to all the parties.

Got me into an oceanfront room for less than you ended up spending total.”

“But…” Tamika traced the rim of her cup. “I feel weird telling people what I really want. Like I’m being demanding.”

“You know what’s actually weird?” I leaned forward. “Paying more money for less of what you want because you’re afraid to be honest.

That’s what happened with your trip, right?”

Tamika nodded slowly. “I spent my whole vacation wishing I was closer to the party scene.

Taking expensive taxis.

Pretending I was fine with it all.”

“Meanwhile, I told Nan exactly what I wanted, and look what I got.” I pulled up my photos again.

“Five nights at Riu Palace Macao, VIP access to every party, perfect room location, all for less than what you spent.

Because I let her do her actual job.”

I could see the realization hitting her.

Tamika had always been like this – downplaying her wants, trying to seem low-maintenance, ending up with less than she deserved.

I watched as she pulled out her phone.

“What are you doing?” I asked, though I already knew.

“Messaging Nan,” Tamika said firmly.

“The summer White Party weekend is coming up. This time, I’m telling her everything.

My real budget.

My actual dates.

That I want to be where the party is.

That I need good bathroom lighting!”

I grinned. “Finally! The real Sarah comes out to play.”

Two months later, when Tamika’s own Riu Palace Macao photos started popping up on my feed, I didn’t hesitate to like every single one.

Because this time, they showed my best friend living exactly the vacation she’d wanted all along – just because she’d finally been brave enough to ask for it…