Travel as a Couple
Learn How To Argue In The Right Way:
Also, make sure that if there is a need to separate and go for a walk that you both give each other the space to do so. When arguments are revisited after a half-hour walk or some meditation, things don’t feel so desperate or strained. We find we are usually able to either laugh a little about it, or say sorry and hug it out.
Morning Routines:
Oh and possibly the most important morning rule for us has been: “FIRST COFFEE, TEA, then MORE COFFEE and TEA, please.”
Take Artists Dates & Write Morning Pages
We like to use “The Artist’s Way” workbook by Julia Cameron to model a lot of our free time and our Mourning Routine. One of those strategies is taking time to take care of the inner creative you.
Artist Dates
Have you been itching to take a painting class? Watch a jazz band play at the cafe around the corner? People watch in Central Park while you jot down notes in your journal? Get out and do it. And collect inspiration like pictures for a collage — filling that inner well for further creativity.
What the Heck Are Morning Pages?
It is a way to get out all of your thoughts and feelings, no matter how “silly” it may seem, is both extremely cathartic as well as a powerful vehicle for bringing about many amazing ideas and exploring your own creative genius. Check out the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.
Plan Plan Plan
Dream Calendar
Take time to really think about your priorities and block those items out first. Want to write a book? Film a documentary? Launch a business? These will likely be some of your most important items that will take lots of time and energy to develop.
The other less important items, may be urgent but aren’t necessarily the most important in the long term – so these can come next and fill in the empty slots.
Dream Trips
This is where certain travel search engines (in incognito mode) can really help with finding the best deals on airfares and accommodations. We love Kayak, Skyscanner, Google Flights, Expedia, Travel Orbitz, and Airbnb. Remember to clear out your cookies, otherwise the prices can get jacked up based on your search history.
World Domination Jar
We have a jar named the ‘World Domination’ jar with activities that we have dreamed of doing. When we pass a goal or finish a big project we choose one item from the jar and it needs to be accomplished in the next 6 months. Activities include easier things like camping at the beach and learning how to dance salsa to more extravagant things like traveling to Peru and hiking to Macchu Picchu for a couple of weeks.
Randomness will break up any tension that exists and will shake up any issues when it comes to your creative spirit and an all too common slump of the mundane and boredom.
Other Tips on How to Travel and Work As a Couple:
Communication
The main thing is communication. It can be hard when you both want different things at different times – but as long as you keep the avenue of communication between the two of you open, there is no conflict or difference that can’t be figured out. Once you are able to talk openly about what each of you really want out of your travels, you can usually find a good compromise that makes both of you happy. That might be that one person goes solo to see that museum while the other gets some much needed rest or downtime and then you both meet back up for a dinner date at that Italian restaurant around the corner.
Flexibility
Which brings us to our next point. Flexibility. To be able to be flexible on things is so important. This is not to mean that you should give up on your dreams or desires, it just means that you are able to take into account where the other person is coming from and are able to bend your way or “agenda” a little to accommodate that person. That is one of the beautiful things about being in a couple or married. It’s a team effort and about striking the right chord where both parties can be happy. Flexibility can go a long way to achieving that sense of harmony and balance.
** Bonus tips from other couples who travel **
Kat and Chris @ World Wide Honeymoon
https://worldwidehoneymoon.com/
1. Communication is key.
Okay, when you travel with your significant other a lot, you are bound to get into an argument. A
missed flight, getting lost, etc. can be stressful and cause a spat. That is totally NORMAL. While you may beat yourself up about it and compare your relationship to those smiling couples online,
remember those little squares are never the whole picture.
But, while arguing can happen, it helps to communicate your feelings and expectations ahead of time. For example, if you know that being hungry makes you cranky, tell you’re SO that and let them know when you need to get food. Or if you prefer to get to the airport early to avoid the stress of a missed flight, emphasize this to your partner.
Also, communicating your travel expectations is super important. You may be the person who loves to get up early, see the sights, and spend the whole day running from place to place.
Your partner may be the beach bum type that would prefer to sleep in and get some sun. Communicating your travel expectations early on can help you adjust your travel style to fit both partners’ needs without causing an argument during your trip.
2. Put the camera down and be in the moment.
As travel bloggers, it can be hard to put the camera down and not constantly think about what articles I’ll write when we get home. But our best moments while traveling are when we are in the moment and enjoying our surroundings with each other.
Whether it is watching a sunset over the African savannah or sitting at a café in Paris
enjoying the best hot chocolate ever, the best moments are shared moments.
So put down the camera and phone and take the time to have a long, romantic stroll or dinner. That has brought us closer than anything while traveling.
Tuyana and Dario
Our good travel friends Dario and Tuyana wrote us their travel tips while on a trip from Danang city, Vietnam. Check out the advice for travel as a couple below.
Tip 1. The first tip is to have a practice trip!
We lived together in a tiny apartment for a few months before we started moving. It was a great reality check to see if we were compatible in tiny and uncomfortable circumstances:) about a month should do it…you’ll see if you can handle being at ease with another person in a challenging environment.
Tip 2! Talk about money and budget before you move!
Either one person’s going to pay for everything, or you’ll split it (and how’s that going to work), or you’ll put everything on a card and pay it off later….just important to get that talk out of the way so it doesn’t need to come up right when you move, especially if one person has less money, they shouldn’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed etc….hope it helps! Definitely being open and accepting of your partner for who they are…that’s the key!
Pet Peeves and Preventing Meltdowns
One more big tip would be to know in advance what the biggest pet peeves or quirks about the other person are (through communication prior). Then based on that have an action plan to prevent getting into situations that would cause that pet peeve to be triggered.
One example is that Nate is very punctual and prefers to arrive to places early, especially when it comes to the airport. Of course this is also important to Cassie, but she is less punctual by nature. Therefore one work around we have found to avoid being in a huge rush and causing both of us a lot of worry, stress and tension, is to have everything packed and ready to go the day before traveling. To have all of our ducks in a row when it comes to the address of where we are going and how we are going to get there, whether by uber, taxi, bus, rental car or train, as well as the latest time we can leave.
Trust us, we have definitely broken this rule, and it almost always leads to a lot of stress and typically a fight. Take our word for it, find out what those biggest pet peeves or weak points are in your relationship and do your best to set up solutions or action plans to avoid ever getting to that point. And if you do ever get to that point, deep, deep breaths first 🙂
Another example would be if one or both people get hangry, a combination of hungry and angry, which can lead to fights and tension. Make sure to have a snack in your backpack or a place and time in mind to eat in between your activities. These things are very important to remember.
H.A.L.T.
Check in with yourself a lot about these different factors as you go along on your travels. One thing we have found is that when you are out of your home, or comfort zone, or the place you are both used to, and especially when “fast traveling” (traveling from city to city every couple of days), it is very important to practice SELF-CARE.
It might mean downloading an exercise app (we love Sworkit, 5k Runner, and Asana Rebel) and working out first thing in the morning. Whatever it is – make sure you are attending to your own needs. This might be as simple as taking 5 minutes to meditate and breathe.
At the end of the day, it most definitely means making sure you get enough water (carry a water bottle!), sleep, exercise, and healthy food to keep going!
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