Traveling as a couple – what could be more romantic, right? Picture holding hands along the Seine or snapping selfies during a jaw-dropping sunset on a tropical beach. Now picture this: Fighting over the map in the rental car or bickering about which turn we missed. Oof!
Let’s be honest – as dreamy as couple travel sounds, it doesn’t take long for small annoyances to get...well, amplified between two people jammed together 24/7. Tight quarters, information overload, and trying not to let stress wreck the long-awaited “us time” is tricky enough without working around another person’s pet peeves and mood swings (no shade, babe!).
But don’t cancel your getaway just yet! With some planning (and maybe a venting sesh about how you’re ready to leave your travel mate at a rest stop), you can totally make couple travel work, and the thoughts of going your separate ways, should be gone.
Read on for our best tried-and-tested tips so you and your number one can make priceless shared memories – not break up over burning out the hairdryer or forgetting the passports.
The 12 Most Essential Travel Tips for Couples
Plan To Do Things That You Both Love
One of the best ways to make traveling as a couple easier is by planning activities that you both love. This can help avoid any disagreements and will make your trip more enjoyable.
Some examples include sightseeing, hiking, biking, going to the beach, visiting local attractions and trying out different restaurants. If you're not sure what your partner enjoys doing, ask them! They will surely appreciate that you took the time to find out about their interests.
If possible, try to plan at least one activity each day so neither of you feels overwhelmed or bored. And if there's an activity that one of you doesn't want to do, don't force them! There's no need for either of you to be miserable on vacation. Simply choose something else that you both enjoy.
Plan Logistics Ahead of Time
One of the biggest issues that can arise while traveling is poor planning. This can include anything from not reserving a hotel room in advance to forgetting to bring important documents like your passport or tickets.
In order to avoid any last-minute surprises and stress, it's important to plan logistics ahead of time. This includes making a list of what you will need to bring with you on your trip, booking hotels and flights as soon as possible, and researching the area you will be visiting.
If there are activities or sites that you want to see, look up their opening hours online so you don't miss out! And if there are any restaurants that you're interested in trying, make sure to check their menus online so you know what you're getting yourself into.
By planning ahead of time, you can avoid any stressful situations and make traveling as a couple much easier.
Create a Budget
One of the many traveling problems couples seem to experience is not knowing how much they can afford to spend on their trip. They may have different ideas of what traveling should cost them, but when it comes down to dollars and cents (or euros) there seems little agreement on either side - until now!
There's no need for this, you can overcome this problem by going over your finances together and creating a travel budget! By doing this, you'll know exactly where all of your money is going each day and what extra spending will hurt the most in terms of traveling.
Plus, making sure there's enough left at the end of the week or month means that you can splurge with some souvenirs or even take an unplanned side-trip if time permits before heading back home again. And just remember: traveling shouldn't break the bank, so be realistic about it and try sticking to your budgeting plan whenever possible during your travels!
Review Your Plans Together Every Day
Once you have planned out your traveling day(s), it's important to re-evaluate what you've done. This will help keep traveling as a couple easier by allowing for any changes that need to be made throughout the trip.
For example, if one of you would rather sleep in instead of waking up early and going sightseeing together, then there is no point forcing them to do something they don't want! Simply change your plans so both of you can enjoy yourselves while traveling. After all, traveling should be fun! And this means being flexible with each other when necessary.
So before starting off on your vacation or journey abroad, make sure that every single person has an idea about what they are doing at all times during the day. This will help traveling as a couple seem far easier, and it will also allow for any changes that need to be made throughout your trip.
By reviewing plans every day, you can avoid upsetting one another or making traveling more difficult than what it needs to be!
Prepare The Essentials (Especially Snacks)
One of the worst things that can happen while traveling is running out of food or water. This can lead to dehydration, hunger and even arguments.
In order to avoid this from happening, it's important to prepare the essentials beforehand. This includes packing snacks, a water bottle and any other items that you may need during your trip.
Pack foods that are easy to eat and don't require too much preparation like trail mix, fruits and vegetables, sandwiches and yogurt. And if you're traveling with children, make sure to pack enough snacks and meals for them as well! You will be grateful for this when you're on the go and don't have time to stop at a restaurant or store.
Pack Clothes that Are Versatile and Can Be Mixed and Matched
One of the biggest couple traveling problems is trying to fit too many clothes into a suitcase. This can result in wrinkled outfits, crushed shoes and ruined makeup.
By packing versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched together with minimal effort or preparation time, you will avoid traveling as a couple being more difficult than it needs to be!
For example, pack neutral colors like black and white so they go well with any outfit choice. And if possible, try choosing fabrics that don't wrinkle easily such as cotton because this means less ironing for later on when you're ready to get dressed before dinner out at your favorite restaurant!
Bring Along a Travel Neck Pillow for Each Partner to Use on The Plane or Car Ride
This may seem like a small thing, but it can make traveling as a couple so much easier! An inflatable pillow will help you both get more rest while traveling and avoid neck pain or stiffness when you wake up.
They are also lightweight and easy to pack away, so there is no reason not to bring one along on your next trip. And if you're traveling by car, they even have ones that attach to the window so you can sleep comfortably without fear of falling asleep and crashing into another vehicle!
Just be sure to choose pillows that are comfortable for each person, otherwise, they may just become a nuisance instead of helpful tools during your journey.
Avoid checking bags at the airport if possible
This is definitely an amazing tip that applies to couples when traveling. Checking bags at the airport can take away time from your trip and even cause arguments if one person's bag is lost or delayed.
So, try to pack everything you need into carry-on luggage instead so you don't have to worry about losing anything or having to wait for your belongings once you've finally landed at your destination! This also eliminates the possibility of paying extra baggage fees which can add up really quickly if there are multiple people traveling.
Just be sure not to overpack your carry-ons otherwise they may end up being just as heavy, if not heavier than checking a bag would have been!
Keep your luggage as light as possible
Another traveling as a couple problem may come from overpacking your suitcases. This can result in heavy bags that are difficult to carry around and even slow you down during sightseeing because of the added weight!
To avoid this, make sure to keep your luggage as light as possible by only bringing essentials for each person. And if traveling with children, be sure to bring child-friendly items since kids tend to fill up their backpacks quickly without realizing it until later on when everything becomes too much for them!
This will help traveling seem far easier than it needs to be and ensure that everyone is comfortable throughout your trip. You don't want one partner having problems moving or walking just because they're waiting on the other half to catch up.
Stay at an all-inclusive resort to avoid worrying about money and language barriers
If you're traveling to an area where you don't know the language, or if you want to avoid any money troubles, staying at an all-inclusive resort is a great solution! This way, you'll have your food and drinks taken care of without having to worry about looking for restaurants every day or trying to decipher the menu.
Plus, it can be really helpful to have staff that is bilingual in case there are any emergencies or problems that need taking care of during your stay. All-inclusive resorts definitely aren't for everyone, but they can provide a lot of convenience and ease when traveling as a couple!
Find a hotel with a kitchenette
If traveling as a couple, it's always great to find a hotel with a kitchenette so you can save money on food. This also gives you the opportunity to cook your own meals and eat at the hotel instead of going out to restaurants every night.
This can be especially helpful if one person is trying to watch what they're eating or if you just want to relax in your room after a long day of sightseeing. It's also nice to be able to make coffee in the morning without having to leave your room and search for an open café!
And if there isn't a kitchenette in your hotel, ask the staff about bringing a small fridge up to your room. This will help keep any perishables cold during your stay and provide you with a place to keep snacks or leftovers.
Have Fun!
Last but not least: remember to have fun while traveling together! This is your chance to experience something new and exciting together, so make the most of it! Make memories that will last a lifetime by traveling somewhere you've never been before.
You'll definitely learn more about each other while traveling than if you're just staying at home or traveling on another occasion without one another. Plus, this gives both people in the relationship time to take care of themselves rather than trying to please their significant other all day long - which can be exhausting!
So travel as often as possible with someone special because traveling has many benefits for couples who are willing to go out there and explore what life has waiting for them around every corner.
