Exploring new places can be great thing for couples, it gets you out of your comfort zone and who doesn’t love a holiday?
This year my partner and I have travelled to three countries Norway, Majorca and Holland so far which has been an unforgettable experience of getting to see different cities, cultures and learning things about each other we may have never known at home.
However, travelling can have its difficulties and it is important to be prepared to face challenges that could end your vacation before it even begins.
Collaborate and Communicate!
When planning or even proposing a possible holiday one of the most important things is to be considerate of the other persons ideas.
You may have a dream destination already mapped out but so could your partner.
Their ideas are just as important as yours so find that middle ground that will make you both happy.
Clear communication is the best way to make sure nothing gets lost in transit and everyone needs are met.
However, it is important to put your ideas across in a non-blaming way as you don’t want to put your partner on the defensive which could stall any hopes of a positive conversation and could also create further tension down the line.
Choose a time that’s best for both of you to discuss your plans and listen to any ideas respectfully.
This was something I learned the hard way when travelling to Majorca in early Summer.
We were travelling with another couple who I realised had very different expectations for this vacation than we did in terms of sightseeing and attractions.
While the experience was still amazing there are certain places that I still wished I could have visited during the trip.
Roll with the punches
Things can’t always go your way and that can be tough to acknowledge but it’s important to react in a mature way.
Remember you are not alone, how you and your partner deal with bumps in the road can make or break a relationship.
A situation where that was made clear to me was our trip to Oslo at the start of the year.
Norway was facing one of the coldest in recent years with massive snowfall and ice cold temperatures of thirty degrees below zero.
When we arrived, after a lethal trudge through Oslo’s ice laden streets all I wanted to do was get out of the cold and into a warm bed.
We were outside the apartment we had booked for the night but strangely had no way to get in.
It was eight o’clock and -25 degrees when we found out the room we booked had never been available at this time.
Stranded for nearly three in a freezing foreign country with low phone battery and nowhere to go it could have been easy to panic but thankfully I was not alone.
Having someone to rely on helped us get out of what could have been a very scary situation.
It was vital that we stuck together and somehow found ourselves a place to stay before the night was done.
It could be easy to just give up or isolate yourself when faced with hardship during a vacation but that does no one good, together I know my partner and I can take on the world and we will someday.
Have fun
This is by far the most important tip I can give anyone travelling with a partner, in a group or by yourself: just have fun.
Remember you’re on holiday, life doesn’t have to be made up of picture-perfect scenes you can stick on your Instagram.
Sometimes it’s better to put your phone on silent and enjoy the time you have with the person or people you love. You’re in a place you’ve never been before and while photos do last a lifetime, the memories you create will go even further.
