Traveling as a couple can be one of the most fulfilling experiences, and with the right mindset, and these tips, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey together.

 

I turned to my left and saw that my wife was gone.

That brief moment of panic set in, no longer than a split second, before I realized she had face planted on the cold wet sidewalk leading over the Pont Neuf. I helped her to her feet and we slowly made our way to a nearby stoop out of the rain. She was hurting, but was trying to put on a strong face since we were heading out for the evening during a recent trip to Paris.

While catching our breath and wondering what the heck just happened, an older woman soon approached me asking directions to the bus stop! So not only were we reeling from my wife’s big accident, we were suddenly being looked to for help by someone else entirely! Luckily, I was able to explain to the stranger where the nearest stop on the Métro was that would get her where she needed to go. As soon as the mystery woman was out of sight, my wife and I shifted from panic and pain to laughing at what had just happened. 

I soon suggested we dash our plans of heading to a bistro we had been excited for and instead poke around the corner into Place Madeleine instead. This tidy square turned out to be the perfect spot for us to regroup, rest and eat some frites. Soon enough my wife was feeling a bit better, and we continued on to one of the best jazz venues in the city for a show.

Besides “frites make everything better” this moment led me to consider some of the other lessons I’ve learned that make traveling as a couple the great experience it can be.

5 Tips to get the most out of traveling as a couple 

Set expectations

When traveling as a couple it’s important to align on expectations for the trip before you even set foot in your destination. What I mean by this is talking, agreeing, disagreeing and compromising on the type of trip you’re going to be taking and what you’ll be doing. 

Thankfully, because you’re a smart traveler and a hell of a partner, you took the time to see what your significant other’s vision was of their ideal trip. Now you’ve got the chance to talk it through and come to a decision together on what you’ll be doing while traveling as a couple.

I tend to be the person that, yes, enjoys slowing down and just soaking in what a place has to offer. But I can also be a 20K steps in a day kind of traveler. My wife is much happier with activities that are interspersed with plenty of time to relax and recover, and she loves knowing what to expect so that she can plan her outfits and pack accordingly.

So, we compromise here, with a good mix of bouncing around the city taking it all in, interspersed with time to relax and unwind. And I’m always trying to give her an idea of what’s next, even if I’m just planning it as I go and being spontaneous.

It all comes down to talking with your partner, setting expectations and compromising to create the ideal trip for BOTH of you. The best part is, if you do it right you’ll know it because it leads to the type of memories that make you want to travel even more.

Plan together

Once you’ve gotten the type of trip you’re taking in mind, it’s time for my favorite part: planning! My wife tends to take a less active role in the planning process and that’s ok by me. I enjoy having the chance to research, dream and eventually craft the best loose itinerary I can for us.

I can get lost for hours looking for the coolest things to do in a given city, the schedule for the local soccer team or the top hidden restaurants. Meanwhile, my wife will slip in some strategic instagram posts here and there with hints at great breakfast spots and cool vintage shops she’s excited for. The best part is, we can almost always fit in plenty experiences with both like, along with some that are unique to each of our individual tastes and passions.

So when I get to choose a big sporting event like the 24 Hours of Le Mans for us to attend, you can bet we’ll be spending a day at a flea market for my wife as well. And who knows, you might find that experiencing something you would roll your eyes at while you’re home takes on a new, more positive light while you’re seeing it abroad. In any case, you’re supporting someone you love and seeing something that’s special to them.

Taking the time to daydream and chat about the upcoming trip won’t just get you excited for the journey, it will also help you continue to understand the type of experience each of you is looking for. From the ideal flights, to where you’ll stay and on through the reservations at that restaurant that’s not been ruined by social media yet, sharing ideas and planning together is one of the most fun parts of traveling as a couple.

Once you’re on the ground and living out your travel dreams, you realize that just like your relationship, this trip is a culmination of the hard work you put in together. Enjoy the journey and remember to celebrate the uniqueness that you both bring to the relationship. Encourage each other to live your passions!

Take breaks (food, drink and bio)

Picture this: you’re wrapping up your time at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and wondering what to do next. Like many of Europe’s great museums the Rijksmuseum is full of priceless works of art, beautifully constructed and frankly MASSIVE. You won’t just feast on art, you’ll start to feel like you’re feasting on your own stomach by the time you leave.

So, before you do anything else after a big sightseeing moment, stop and take a break. Use the restroom then grab a snack and a drink either at the museum itself (most large museums will have a very solid café) or nearby. In fact, it’s helpful in your planning to locate a few locations for refueling yourselves nearby to the major museums or attractions you’ll be visiting on your trip.

The same can also be said for transitioning through your days. It’s usually a great idea to take a siesta even if you aren’t in Spain. Get up in the morning and head out for the first part of your day’s plans, and then return to your lodging in the afternoon to relax and refresh before you depart for your evening plans.

In the excitement of traveling it’s sometimes easy to forget some of the basics: like eating before you’re too hungry and hydrating before you’re thirsty or simply taking a moment to sit down and relax. If you and your partner break out of one big sight and are raring to go for what’s next, you might soon find yourselves parched, hangry and at each other’s throats. Trust me, this will not be the moment you find the best option to satisfy that hunger and thirst. 

The good news is this is easy to avoid! When traveling as a couple you start to learn what the other needs and when. Some of these lessons can be harder to learn, but 9 times out of 10 a lot of major issues can be avoided if you’ve both gone to the bathroom, had a nice snack and taken a moment to relax. So see all that you want to see! But remember to stop and grab a bite to eat.

You’re traveling as a couple, but take time for yourselves separately

Just as it’s important to include things on your itinerary that are unique to each person while traveling as a couple, it is equally important to know when to take some time apart. No couple spends every waking minute with each other, it should be no different when traveling as a couple abroad.

I am a person who’s very comfortable with solitude, and my wife cherishes her quiet time to get herself ready in the morning or in the evening before heading out on the town. So just as we acknowledge this need at home, we make sure to work in a little time apart while we’re traveling as well. 

A great example of this is in the aforementioned break time between the afternoon and evening we so often take. Once we get back to our lodging, I’m usually not quite ready to be indoors. Meanwhile my wife is eying the bed and the shower to take her time relaxing and getting ready for whatever we have planned for the evening.

This is generally when my “hunt and gather” comes into play. While my wife relaxes and refreshes with some quiet time to herself, I usually head back out into whatever city we’re visiting with the promise to bring back snacks and drinks. In this time, I’ll usually work in some smaller sightseeing stops, have a coffee or drink at a café or simply explore the neighborhood while being alone with my thoughts.

Soon I’ll grab our appetizer and head back to meet my wife, who is of course happy to see me (especially when that appetizer is a baguette or croissant). Reunited, I can then tell her about my quick solo journey while we relax together and get excited for the evening ahead.

So although you’re traveling as a couple, it’s always valuable to work some time apart in to keep things fresh. Time with anyone for too long can start to drag, so don’t be scared be honest with yourself and your partner. Go solo for a bit and enjoy how happy you are once you are to see your partner once you reunite!

Be adaptable, patient and quick to forgive when traveling as a couple

This three-parter might be the most important tip of all for traveling as a couple, and it will prevent many disagreements. Or at least not let them ruin your trip.

Be patient with each other. Be adaptable when things go wrong or change. Be quick to forgive when disagreements inevitably come up.

Travel in general tends to get a gloss coat on social media, it’s not always a straightforward process. Flights get delayed, restaurants wind up being closed and sometimes you miss the sightseeing train you booked because you misread the tickets (don’t ask).

In these moments and all others, be patient with each other when traveling as a couple. Remember that it’s both of you against the problem at hand, and not against each other. Take time to regroup when troubles come, and decide together what to do next or let the other take the lead and just roll with it.

This leads us to staying adaptable while traveling as a couple. Sometimes when your best laid plans get scuttled due to something unforeseen, or you have some unfilled time on your journey (highly recommend) it will come down to you and your partner being adaptable. 

For instance, on a recent trip my wife and I didn’t plan to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, or take a train to Bruges while in Belgium. But we were open to the chance to do both, and they wound up being some of our favorite moments while traveling as a couple when we look back!

Finally, be quick to forgive. Look, things go wrong while traveling as a couple and you’ll lose your patience and not be able to adapt. In these times if it comes to a disagreement or argument, don’t let it linger. I know I know, you’re right and your partner is wrong. I’ve been there and done that.

And in all of the times I thought that, nothing was ever worth being right about or being angry over for too long. It was ALWAYS more important to acknowledge our faults and mistakes, find our love and forgiveness for each other and move on to having more fun on our trip.

 

That wraps it up, these are my 5 tips for traveling as a couple

Just as a relationship is a great adventure, so to is traveling as a couple. It will be one of the most exciting, fulfilling experiences of your life together, and a great way to grow closer while growing together.

These 5 tips have served me and my wife well when traveling as a couple. Hell, I’m reminding myself of many of them as I write this down so that I can keep them in mind on our next trip.

What are some of your tips for traveling as a couple? Do you have any funny stories that you and your partner look back on or memories you made together while traveling as a couple. Please share them in the comments!

Ready to plan a trip of your own with your significant other? Give my Notion Travel Template a try, it can easily be shared between two people for collaborative planning!