Vacationing as a Couple: 5 Tips to Make Your Vacation Together Great

Adult Swim: Five Ways to Ensure Smooth Sailing when Vacationing as a Couple

Want to make sure your vacation together is as good as possible? Here are 5 travel tips!

In early 2020, right before COVID basically shut the entire world down, one U.S. based couple chose to spend their third date (yes, that’s right – their third date!) in Costa Rica…. for five days. And as if vacationing together that quickly isn’t crazy enough, the pair ended up getting stranded there together for over THREE MONTHS.

Imagine that: a three month long third date ?

Now, obviously, that kind of head-first dive into relationship territory isn’t typical (or, honestly, advised), but luckily, it worked out well for them.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase using any of these links. There is absolutely no additional cost to you, either! See my full disclosure about affiliate links here.

The Importance of Vacationing as a Couple

Recently, John and I went on vacation, and while it wasn’t quite as dramatic as our aforementioned covid-couple, it did get me thinking about why traveling together in a relationship is so important.

Aside from just being fun, there are several benefits to vacationing as a couple. In fact, studies even show that traveling together can improve relationships long-term.

When you travel with your bae, you’re creating shared memories and embarking on new experiences together, which in turn will strengthen your intimacy. There’s also the… ahem… other kind of intimacy that’s often sparked on vacation.

Not only that, but by spending so much quality time with your partner, you’ll inevitably learn more about them and your relationship.

Of course, as much fun as vacationing can be, it also tends to come with a fair amount of stress. But in terms of your relationship, that’s actually a good thing! You’ll learn how your partner handles stress and how the two of you work together. Overcoming challenges is just another way to strengthen your bond.

Related Read: Vacation Essentials: The ABC’s of Packing so You Never Forget Anything Important

5 Tips for Vacationing as a Couple

So, have I convinced about the whole idea of vacationing as a couple yet?

OK, good.

Now you just need to go forth and plan one!

In order to make your romantic getaway as smooth as possible, I’ve got some travel advice for you.

If possible, try to incorporate these five things into your itinerary:

1. Share Some Travel Entertainment

Unless you’re literally just going to the next town over, chances are your vacation will involve some sort of actual travel. Whether that’s via plane, bus, car, or cruise ship, you’ll probably have plenty of time on your hands during the trip.

It’s perfectly fine if you want to use some of that time on the plane napping, but save some room for your boo and share some entertainment. ♫

If you’re flying, that could mean watching a movie together (sometimes those in-flight movies are awful, but, hey, that’s part of the fun!) For those who prefer road trips, listening to a podcast, singing along to some good tunes, or playing one of those car games during the drive offers a great way to bond.

This may sound like an odd tip, but trust me, it’s a good one.

2. Try Something Brand New

3. Let Your Partner Plan a Day

Some couples are like two peas in a pod – they have the exact same likes, dislikes, and interests.

For those assholes lucky lovers, planning a vacation is sure to be a breeze. But for everyone else, it’s more than likely that vacationing as a couple will involve some level of compromise. And one great way to do this is to let your partner plan one of your vacation days (and of course, they should extend the same courtesy to you.)

It’s also a great way to learn more about your partner.

*Side-note: if you’re just taking a quick weekend getaway, you can modify this tip by letting your partner plan an activity instead.

Not quite sure where to start? Check out this guide book for some great ideas of what to see in every state!

4. Visit a Tourist Attraction

OK, OK, tourist attractions sometimes get a bad rep – they’re often crowded, expensive, and can be downright disappointing. But I’m still recommending it!

For one thing, navigating the crowds (and other, more annoying, tourists) is often a bit stressful. While that probably sounds like a terrible recommendation for anyone vacationing as a couple, it’s actually not.

As I mentioned earlier, being able to handle stress with your partner can help strengthen your bond. You’ll come out on the other side of the ordeal with an increased sense of togetherness (and quite possibly, a funny story or two to look back on in the future.)

And if, for whatever reason, you find that your partner doesn’t handle stress well (or that the two of you don’t mesh well in a tricky situation)… well, that sucks my friend. But it’s better to know that now than years down the line.

5. Go Shopping Together

Seeing what kind of art or souvenirs they’re into is a great way to learn more about them. It can also be a good way to practice compromise if your tastes aren’t exactly the same.

Plus, there’s the whole financial thing. It’s important to understand how your partner is with money and how that attitude aligns with your own.

Conclusion: Vacationing as a Couple is a Must

Hopefully this post gave you some good ideas for your next getaway. If you’re already a blog member, I’ve also created a new vacation planning freebie! It features planning worksheets along with a travel itinerary and checklist (you’ll find it in my Freebie Library.)

*Shameless self-promotion time: If you’re not a member yet but want access to this exclusive freebie (plus all my other amazing freebies) go ahead and subscribe today!

What about you? Do you have any other vacationing tips to share? Let me know in the comments below!

xx
Katie

Pin this Post for Later!