Travel is often associated with stress - no matter how well-planned the trip, something or other that's out of our control will go wrong. My husband and I have shared a fair amount of travel together, and I must confess that we initially treated each other with kid-gloves. You know, the don't-want-to-do-anything-to-piss-you-off phase. We were still getting to know each other. It is interesting how you can learn more about your partner in those few days of traveling together than say, in a month over your normal routine - probably because you end up spending more time than you normally would.
Going on a successful trip and coming back as a happy couple was obviously our goal and I am happy to say we did - and felt pretty thrilled to find we were totally in sync. It was very pleasant to discover similar preferences and beliefs even as we got to know each other better - and liked what we learned.
I'd like to share what worked for us over the years in the form of...
5 Tips for Stress free Travel with Your Partner
Money talk
Yes, money. We talked our finances through. Needless to mention, one of the things that most couples argue about is money and we had seen a lot of that with people we knew. When you decide to be together, it is important to agree on that front -and figure out the expenses involved - together or you could end up faced with an unpleasant situation. A trip away from a hectic routine is meant to refresh and relax - so why travel with tension about the big dent on your finances, followed by sleepless nights when you return? So here's what we did. We discussed the financial details, the sources for our expenses and looked at ways to get good deals. For example, Hotwire offers travel coupons for discounts in hotels and restaurants, helping with the budget and planning. After all, we were just starting a life together.
Planning together
Surprises are lovely, but not if they are the exact opposite of what you expect. I remember the time we laboriously explored various destinations and decided on the North East finally, and he said he'd handle the bookings. We decided to go with a package and of course, with the various options available, confusion followed and the wrong one was booked. We realized that we should have done it together - but nevertheless ended up having a great time, because we decided to! One person taking the lead is not an issue, especially if it is going to be a surprise, but overall, it works out better when there's division of labor where each one takes the responsibility to do what she's good at - such as choosing hotels to stay, restaurants to go, places to visit, etc.
Space
Giving each other space is an absolute must. Whether it is while planning or at the destination, it makes sense not to be in each other's hair all the time. All said and done, we are two individuals with our own preferences as well, even if we enjoy things together. So we made sure that we allowed each other to visit our favorite places and did our thing while the other tagged along. This helped us appreciate each other's preferences while helping us get to know each other better. The bonus? Discovering even more common interests.
Doing things separately
I know - the whole idea of going on a trip is to be together. But if it is a tight schedule, it is fine to do one or two things separately especially if there is a time clash. For example, when we visited a particular city, I was keen on checking out an old market while he wanted to go meet a couple of people at his office. That's exactly what we did and regrouped when we were done.
Having a good time together
One thing we pledged to do right at the beginning was never to let petty issues affect our relationship. Above everything, we promised each other that we would remember the importance we held in each other's life. Of course we were aware there would be conflicts, but we also agreed to resolve them quickly and move on, focusing on good times rather than sulk. This practically guaranteed good times!
So that's it. 5 Tips for Stress free Travel with Your Partner.
And oh, while these can make every holiday a wonderful one, the key to avoiding any issue is to stay flexible and see the humor in any disagreement that crops up. We have plenty of that in our relationship.
I'd love to hear your tips for stress free travel with your partner!Thank you for your comment ♥
Writer, editor, blogger, social media enthusiast. Love DIY, Coffee, Music, Reading, Photography, Family, Friends and Life. Mantra: Happiness is a DIY Project. In my free time I play with my dust bunnies and show my diabetes who's boss. Tweet as @vidyasury
