Couples that travel – your guide to surviving each other
Travelling as a couple is something many of us hope to achieve at least once in our lifetime. Whether it’s backpacking through Thailand, discovering how wild nature can be in South Africa or experiencing the Outback down under. It can be easy to create a vision of how things will be; long walks along golden sand, watching the sunrise every morning, eating incredible food, making memories and realising how much you truly, madly, deeply love each other.
But. Lets be serious. While some of that may happen, and might be true, the reality of travelling with someone you love can be quite different. Missing flights, lost passports, language barriers, illness and getting lost are just a few bumps along the romantic travellers road – but don’t worry. Here you’ll find a few handy tips on how you and your partner can not only survive the journey, but each other along the way.
Time out
Yes, this is the trip of a lifetime, but spending it constantly joint at the hip is setting it up to fail. If you have a massage booked at the Niagara Falls Marriott but your other half wants to take a trip on the Whirlpool Jet Boat again then that’s ok. Setting time aside to do things alone is key to travel success. It gives time for reflection, to enjoy your own company and have your own experiences. No matter how much you love someone and how alike you are, as human beings we all need a break from time to time. And who knows, they might have found a new restaurant for you both to try later that evening!
Remember to laugh
When travelling together, you have to remember not to sweat the small stuff and remember to laugh. It also applies to your life back home! So you accidentally ordered fish eyes instead of chicken whilst trying to speak the lingo – it’s not the end of the world! Laugh a little.
Support each other
Travelling isn’t just about eating in restaurants and long walks on the beach. It’s about pushing your comfort zones and trying new things. Try to participate in activities that you can actively encourage and support each other. Your other half might be scared of heights but hiking up the mountains of Slovenia together is a fear and challenge you can help them overcome. It’ll not only make some amazing memories and photograph opportunities, but also bring you closer together.
Watch out for tiredness
Your hot, dirty, tired and you’ve missed the only bus to the next village; emotions will be fraught, and tempers are likely to fray, and you might be walking ten metres apart down a dirt track to nowhere but any traveller will tell you that when couples fight – it’s because they’re tired. Tiredness can really bring out the worst in everyone, so beware when it hits and keep your own anger in check. When things escalate, people say things they regret. But don’t worry, you’ll be laughing about it the next day, I’m sure!
