Travelling with your partner should be the best way to see the world, sharing it with your favourite person. However, everyone has different ideas of how they prefer to travel, and you and your partner may not always see eye to eye. Here are a few trips for anyone planning a trip with their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife.
Choose a destination you both agree on
If one of you likes city breaks and the other prefers relaxing holidays on the beach, try to find a compromise that has both, such as Barcelona. You need to find a destination that works for both of you, so do your research before jetting off.
Plan your itinerary together
Unless you’re both very easy going, you’re likely to have preferences on how you like to spend your time on holiday. One of you may like to linger in restaurants and lie by the pool, whereas the other might always want to be on the go. Take it in turns planning activities for alternative days (such as a day exploring, followed by a day relaxing) or split up each day so you do something each of you enjoys each day.
Stick to a budget
Something that always causes tension, no matter who you are travelling with, is money. If you and your partner have completely different budgets for your trip, it is bound to end in disaster unless you have a discussion before you even book. It’s advisable to always go with the budget of the one with less to spend, unless you are pooling your money together. You could try using a kitty while travelling, to use for all joint payments.
You might also be interested in some extra tips on Smarter Spending When Travelling.
Be prepared to try something different
If you’re travelling with your partner for the first time, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something that they enjoy. You don’t have to agree to do something overly dramatic, like a bungee jump, but if they prefer to self-cater instead of staying in hotels or take a road trip instead of flying, why not give it a try? You might surprise yourself.
Pack your own bags
If you try to pack a suitcase together, you’ll find yourself bickering over what you actually need to take with you and what is unnecessarily taking up space. Each bring your own bag and pack it yourself, completely alleviating the need for discussion.
Be prepared to spend time on your own
If you’re bored of sitting by the pool, and your significant other is happy to laze on a sun lounger for the rest of the day, there is nothing wrong with taking yourself for a solo walk. Just because you are travelling together as a couple doesn’t mean that you have to spend every second together; after all, you wouldn’t be with each other constantly at home.
Know your strengths and weaknesses
You are travelling as a team so start to think like a team! Does one of you speak the language of the place you are visiting? If so, allow them to take charge of talking to the locals and ordering food in restaurants. If one of you feels nervous driving in a different country, the other should step in and offer to drive during the trip. Likewise, if one of you hates planning holidays, and the other relishes the planning process, step back and allow them to do what they love.
And if you need a little more information on how to keep that relationship from souring check out the 6 Ways to Ruin Your Relationship when Travelling.
Emma Lavelle is a UK based writer and photographer and has her own blog Field and Nest.
