6 TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF TRAVELING AS A COUPLE

Travelling as a couple is a unique experience. You’re not alone and spending each day doing whatever you want, nor are you travelling with a group of girlfriends and dancing your way through a new city. You’re travelling as a unit, constantly communicating to solve problems together while navigating new surroundings and foreign languages. It’s an experience that bonds you and brings you together in a way unlike any other. There’s something very special about visiting places for the first time, finding hidden gems around the world and waking up to breathtaking views whilst knowing you’re creating memories together that you can look back on for years to come.

It’s been 15 months since Luca and I started travelling together and it was one of the easiest and best decisions we ever made. I’ve learned more about Luca and our relationship during our travels than I ever could have if we stayed in Australia. I often hear people say that traveling together will either “make or break” your relationship and for some it can be a challenge, you’re with the other person 24/7, but for us, its only made us stronger.

Here are 6 tips to make the most of your travel as a couple, enabling you to build a relationship full of love and travel.

1. PLAY TO EACH OTHER’S STRENGTHS

When it comes to picking a destination there are a few questions that require ones attention. Where should we stay? What flights should we to book? What vaccinations do we need? What are the top attractions?

Whilst planning our first trip together we worked out fairly quickly who was better at what, and what each other enjoyed doing. So we assigned ourselves those tasks for every future trip and it always makes the planning process fun and stress free.

I’m not a huge fan of spending time online looking for accommodation and reading reviews; but Luca loves it! Trust is important when it comes to travelling as a couple and I always trust that he will choose the right place for us to stay.

My strengths are more in researching top attractions and those that are a little more hidden away from the tourist eye. For each of our trips, I create a map of our points of interest and the travel distance between each. Then when we reach our destination, Luca takes the map and navigates us around, because even with a map, I would still somehow get us lost!

My recommendation is to make a list of each others strengths and weaknesses and use that to help decide who will be planning what. You will both be happier if you are able to do what you are good at, and minimize the activities that bring you stress.

2. COMPROMISE, ALWAYS

Traveling as a couple is all about doing things with and for your partner. Luca and I have similar interests which makes travelling together fairly easy; however there are still occasions when we visit sites or participate in activities that the other is predominately interested in. By compromising it allows your partner to experience something they really want, and it also opens you up to experiences that you may not have even thought about, and end up loving!

3. CARVE OUT SOME ‘ME’ TIME

Whilst Luca and I do most things together, we find it important to make time for our own individual interests. Whether that’s taking a yoga class, reading a book, going for a massage or going for a run. Taking time away from your partner and doing what you want gives you time to really relax and recharge yourself. Whether it’s a few hours or an entire day, it’s so important to give yourself that ‘me time’, especially when you’re constantly on the road and flying to different destinations.

4. WORK AS A TEAM

As the saying goes “there’s no I in team”, and I couldn’t agree more. Team work is essential to making it work as a travel couple. If Luca and I come to a crossroad and I think the direction we need to go is left and Luca thinks it’s right, we don’t stand there arguing over who could be correct. One of us (usually me as I’m terrible with directions) will always take a chance on the other. In the end if that person was wrong, we laugh about it and enjoy the fact that we got a chance to see an area we wouldn’t have otherwise seen. When we both feel like different restaurants for dinner, and are only in town for the night, rather than someone missing out altogether, we pick one place for dinner and then the other for dessert. Too often, couples can get caught up in the little things that end up causing arguments. It’s important to always look on the bright side of things.

5. TAKE BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS

Getting that perfect photo is a high priority for a lot of travelers, especially to be featured on We Are Travel Girls. What I love about travelling as a couple is being able to take each other’s pictures, multiple times over, until we’re happy with it. I mean, you can only ask a passer-by to take your picture so many times before it becomes an inconvenience for them.

6. SUPPORT EACH OTHER

The support that comes from travelling as a couple is incredible. Your partner is your best friend. You’re able to share all your experiences with one another (good and bad), they’re always by your side to laugh with you, cheer you up when you’re feeling sick and they’re your home away from home.

Luca’s and my journey has only just begun. There’s so much more of the world that we want to see. Like many other travel couples, every day is a new adventure, every day you learn something new about your partner and every day you come to truly appreciate the little things in life.

Have you traveled with your significant other? We would love to hear about your tips for success – please share them in the comments below! Read Next > The 5 Most Romantic Things To Do In Venice

By We Are Travel Girls Contributor Nerissa Templin of NerissaWonderland.com
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