travel relationship meaning

In it for the long-haul: why couples who travel together stay together

Feb 7, 2020 • 5 min read

A couple hiking through the forest and helping each other to climb

It’s a fact: travel is sexy. Studies have shown that most people prioritise finding a partner with similar levels of wanderlust, while including a holiday snap in your dating app profile improves your chances of scoring a first date.

The journey doesn’t end there, of course. From the first romantic city getaway to a round-the-world adventure for two, the highs and lows of travelling as a couple can deepen the bond you share with your other half. Here’s how.

You work as a team

Successful couples know how to problem solve and compromise, and there’s no better place to hone those skills than on the road. Planning and booking a trip, navigating an unknown city and coping with unexpected challenges – such as late trains, lost credit cards or even scammers – all require teamwork. The buzz you’ll get from overcoming such obstacles together will no doubt bring you closer and build trust.

Couple’s counsel: Making joint decisions isn’t always easy – particularly if you have different travel styles . If you find yourselves bickering, heed this Vanilla Ice-inspired motto: Stop. Collaborate and listen. If all else fails, you could always consider a rap battle...

You experience new things together

You don’t want to grow apart, so why not grow together? Perhaps quite literally, if the sight of tropical flora ends up inspiring you to spruce up your garden when you return home. Whether your tummies rumble in unison at the sight of unusual street snacks or you lock eyes and share a gleeful smile when you spot an exotic bird in the wild, the joint encounters and learning opportunities globetrotting gives you will help foster collective interests that will only make your connection stronger.

Couple’s counsel: Take your new worldly wisdom home with you: learn to cook your favourite Thai dish and host a dinner party for friends; hang that Moroccan mirror you haggled so hard over in your love nest; or enrol on a Spanish language course.

You enjoy a vital break from routine

Binge-watching Narcos in your PJs and ordering a biryani may be the norm for long-term twosomes, but wouldn’t you rather get a taste of the real Colombia or India instead? Travel breaks your everyday routine, injecting a little spontaneity back into your relationship in the process.

Couple’s counsel: While away you may reflect on your life at home and decide to make some changes that will benefit you both, such as taking more mini-breaks, minimising screen time or taking up a new hobby. If a trip inspires you to shake things up, make a pact and stick to it – it’s easy to fall back into old habits once you return.

You see each other at your worst

Hangry. Stressed. Sick. Chances are you’ll both be all of these at some point during your travels. If your partner’s suffering, you’ll have to bear the brunt of each and every grumble – with the understanding that sooner or later, the situation will be reversed. If the pair of you are worse for wear simultaneously, prepare to fight over the last chip, or worse, the toilet bowl.

Couple’s counsel: Feeling vulnerable so far from home means you’ll need each other now more than ever. Have your loved one’s back and take the lead when they’re low. You’d be amazed what a quick nap and a bite to eat can cure.

You see each other at your best

Travel puts a twinkle in your eye and a spring in your step. When you see the world as a couple, you associate that feel-good factor with each other. Combine this with your sweetheart’s sun-kissed glow and your new-found carefree attitude and you’ll be eyeing each other up like a pair of love-struck teenagers.

Couple’s counsel: Now is the time to be present. You will never again be as young as you are in this moment (a motivational maxim if ever there was one), nor will you always be as happy. Make the most of it.

You get to know each other’s quirks

There’s a lot you can glean about a person by observing their behaviour as they travel. Packing techniques (or lack thereof), aeroplane etiquette and breakfast buffet habits can all highlight character traits you were, until now, blissfully unaware of. Fortunate couples may find their foibles are completely in sync – or at least complementary – while others will have to work out how to marry one’s aptitude for losing their passport with another’s fear of missing a flight.

Couple’s counsel: Patience is key here and you’ll need to take the rough with the smooth. Remember: your partner isn’t the only one with flaws.

You gain new, shared perspectives

Travel can stretch time. Suddenly you have hours, days or weeks to discuss anything and everything, from distant childhood memories to global politics. With a deeper understanding of each other’s viewpoints, a new, shared outlook may arise (eg if we can survive a 19-hour bus ride through rural China , we can survive anything) and vague plans for the future become thought-out, achievable goals.

Couple’s counsel: While travel can lead to many aligned perspectives, it may also unearth differences of opinion you never knew existed. Use the time you have on the road to discuss important issues in a stress-free environment and resolve recurring niggles.

You create memories that last a lifetime

You don’t need to traverse the globe to make wonderful memories, but it helps. Once you’ve tackled the Trans-Siberian , cruised along the Amazon and road-tripped Route 66 hand-in-hand, you’ll have plenty of glorious experiences to reminisce over in your old age – and anecdotes aplenty with which to bore the grandkids.

Couple’s counsel: Keep a journal during your travels, and when you’re back, create a scrapbook and organise and print special photos. When you’re old and grey these visual prompts will spark cherished memories of adventure and romance – or even inspire you to take an anniversary trip .

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This article was first published Feb 4, 2019 and updated Feb 7, 2020.

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• Relationships

How Vacations Can Help or Harm Your Relationship

Research-backed tips for how to make the most of a couple's vacation..

Posted March 17, 2018 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

As spring approaches, couples may be planning their summer vacations. A couple vacation can be a great experience, in terms of your individual experiences and the health of your relationship. On the other hand, vacations can also lead to relationship trouble.

So what are the potential pros and cons of traveling with your significant other, and how can you make the most out of those two weeks' vacation?

1. Novel and exciting activities increase passion.

Relationships enable us to expand ourselves – to increase our skills, our perspectives, and our sense of who we are. And we are more satisfied with our relationships when they help us do this.

When relationships are new, they are best able to help us expand ourselves. 1 But self-expansion can happen at any point in a relationship if we engage in self-expanding activities with our partners.

A large body of research shows that engaging in exciting and novel activities with a partner increases feelings of closeness and passion. Field experiments where couples were asked to spend time together doing things they both found exciting, and lab experiments in which couples tried fun, novel, activities together, have shown that these activities increase feelings of intimacy and closeness.

Travel provides many opportunities for excitement and adventure, such as visiting new cities, going water-skiing, or trying out a cuisine you've never eaten before.

2. Travel creates memories.

Couples can use the vacation as a way of creating positive memories and meaning in their relationships. 2 Recalling warm memories with a partner can increase feelings of intimacy, as can looking back on and laughing at a funny memory . 3,4

3. You may learn something about your partner.

One reason that relationship satisfaction tends to decline over time is that people crave novelty. Early in a relationship, everything is new and passion is high. But long-term relationships often involve comforting sameness. 5 We develop intimacy with others by learning new things about each other. 6 This creates a rapid increase in intimacy during the early stages of courtship. But even if you've been together for a long time, you can still learn new things about your partner, and a new experience and new setting can be a great opportunity for that to happen.

1. Travel increases opportunities for conflict due to increased interdependence.

One reason that we fight so much with our partners is that we are highly interdependent. Our lives are deeply entwined, so what one partner does has a big effect on the other partner. Often, as people's relationships become more serious, they encounter bumps as they try to integrate their lives. 7 But this tension between a desire for independence and a desire to be linked with one's partner creates problems throughout the entire span of our relationships. 8

A couple vacation involves suddenly ratcheting up the degree of interdependence. Couples must negotiate every decision together (where to stay, what to do for every hour of the day, where to eat). In our daily lives as couples, we're used to a lot more independence than that. This can make a vacation the perfect breeding ground for these kinds of conflicts. In fact, even in our daily lives, conflicts over how to spend leisure time are common. In one study where couples tracked their conflicts for two weeks, it was the fourth most common cause of conflict. 9

2. Spending a lot of time together can magnify existing tensions.

Traveling together usually involves constant contact — spending whole days, even weeks, together with little separation. If there are already problems or tensions in a relationship, extra time together can make them more obvious.

For example, in one study of married couples in which one spouse was a teacher, researchers found that for couples who had a high likelihood of relationship problems, such as patterns of disrespectful behavior or differences in their values, their relationship tension was especially high in the summer when the teacher spouse was home more. 10

3. Travel may be stressful and exhausting.

Some vacations can be quite tiring. Trips that take you from city to city and place to place with barely any time to catch your breath can be fun, but also exhausting. Unfortunately, when we're tired, we're especially like to lash out at our partners. 11 This can even create a cycle where poor sleep leads to more negative interactions with partners which fuels more poor sleep the next night, leading to more conflict. 12

What should you to do ensure that your vacation benefits your relationship and doesn't run into those possible pitfalls?

1. Try something new and exciting.

2. If there are already tensions in your relationship, choose a relaxing vacation that will run fewer risks of conflict – but make sure to intersperse some novel, exciting activities.

3. Make sure that both partners get a say in what they want to do and you're not dragging the other person along.

4. Don't exhaust yourselves.

5. Plan some quiet time or independent activities if you're getting frustrated.

6. Plan and reminisce together to create shared anticipation beforehand and shared memories after.

Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for a vacation that will improve your relationship. But if you keep these pros and cons in mind, it can help you cope with the ups and downs and make the most of your trip.

1 Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Norman, C. (2003). Self-expansion model of motivation and cognition in close relationships and beyond. In G. Fletcher & M. Clark (Eds.), Blackwell handbook of social psychology: Interpersonal processes (pp.478-501). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

2 Shaw, S. M., Havitz, M. E., & Delemere, F. M. (2008). I decided to invest in my kids' memories: Family vacations, memories, and the social construction of the family. T ourism Culture & Communication, 8 (1), 13-26.

3 Alea, N., & Bluck, S. (2007). I'll keep you in mind: The intimacy function of autobiographical memory. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 21 (8), 1091-1111. doi:10.1002/acp.1316

4 Bazzini, D. G., Stack, E. R., Martincin, P. D., & Davis, C. P. (2007). The effect of reminiscing about laughter on relationship satisfaction. Motivation and Emotion, 31 (1), 25-34.

5 Ahmetoglu, G., Swami, V., & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2010). The relationship between dimensions of love, personality, and relationship length. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39 (5), 1181-1190.

6 Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R. D., & Bator, R. J. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness: A procedure and some preliminary findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23 (4), 363-377.

7 Solomon, D. H., Weber, K. M., & Steuber, K. R. (2010). Turbulence in relational transitions. In S. W. Smith and S. R. Wilson (Eds.), New directions in interpersonal communication research (pp. 115-134). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

8 Erbert, L. A. (2000). Conflict and dialectics: Perceptions of dialectical contradictions in marital conflict. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17 (4-5), 638-659.

9 Papp, L. M., Cummings, E. M., & Goeke‐Morey, M. C. (2009). For richer, for poorer: Money as a topic of marital conflict in the home. Family Relations, 58 (1), 91-103.

10 Rosenblatt, P. C., Titus, S. L., Nevaldine, A., & Cunningham, M. R. (1979). Marital system differences and summer-long vacations: Togetherness-apartness and tension. American Journal of Family Therapy, 7 (1), 77-84.

11 Gordon, A. M., & Chen, S. (2014). The role of sleep in interpersonal conflict: Do sleepless nights mean worse fights?. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5 (2), 168-175.

12 Hasler, B. P., & Troxel, W. M. (2010). Couples’ nighttime sleep efficiency and concordance: Evidence for bidirectional associations with daytime relationship functioning. Psychosomatic Medicine, 72 (8), 794.

Gwendolyn Seidman, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Albright College.

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How Travel Leads to Stronger Romantic Relationships

By Tyler Moss

Last year, a flight delay almost ended my marriage.

My wife and I were en route to a West Coast wedding when a storm diverted us from our layover in D.C. to an unexpected landing in Richmond, Virginia. Ever easygoing, my wife embraced the situation, securing us a flight out the next morning and reserving a room at a boutique hotel. Prone to panic, I soon broke the serenity when I realized our bags were still on the original flight. To save our orphaned luggage, I forced us back on the plane to our nation's capital—headed to an airport we no longer had tickets out of. Tensions were high; regrets were immediate. As we approached, the pilot announced that another squall had us rerouted, once again, to Richmond. We submitted to fate, and ended the evening sharing laughs, Korean tacos, and one-too-many craft brews in the historic Virginia capital.

Though the stakes may be exaggerated, the point is sound: Travel is a test kitchen for a committed relationship. When a couple spends uninterrupted time together for an extended period in an unfamiliar setting, the challenges that arise truly test their mettle. But for those who endure through adversity, the rewards of a travel-centric relationship are bounteous—and research backs this up.

When a couple spends uninterrupted time together for an extended period in an unfamiliar setting, the challenges that arise truly test their mettle.

A 2012 survey by the U.S. Travel Association revealed that couples that took regular trips reported higher levels of satisfaction with their relationships, and considered their vacations an important venue for romance. Similarly, a 2013 Journal of Travel Research article by experts at Texas A&M found that partners who traveled together experienced improved communication, and that connectivity extended into their life back home—with one important caveat. For a couple to reap such benefits, they must want the same thing out of the vacation, and that experience must include shared activities that nurture the relationship.

“Vacation experiences are made up of seeking and escaping motives. Some are seeking adventure; others are escaping and want to relax. The dyad has to match up,” says Dr. James Petrick, professor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences and co-author of the Texas A&M review. “Outside of your usual environment, you have to process much more and evaluate situations in an in-depth manner. Vacations awaken all your senses. You’re more in tune with each other, with the environment around you.”

Cincinnati residents Jocelyn Gibson, 34, and Justin Leach, 33, were married last October after dating since 2014. Part of what drew them together was a mutual love of travel—the pair have already flexed their compatibility on excursions to Madrid , Copenhagen , Marseille and Berlin in that three-year span. While they cop to the occasional argument—Justin likes to plot things out, while Jocelyn prefers to wander—they have similar interests, leaving much to bond over.

“We are constantly noticing the historic architecture, street life, public spaces,” Gibson says. “We both love food, so our meals are satisfying and memorable. On countless occasions we will be doing something ordinary, and we’ll recall a specific memory from one of our trips and be struck by nostalgia.”

The guidance to “keep your relationship fresh” has been prescribed by every advice columnist from Ann Landers to Dear Sugar , but it’s an adage proven by science. A 2000 study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that long-term couples who participated in new, exciting activities together—like regular travel—experienced boosts in relationship quality. Study subjects ranged in age from young couples to seniors, and relationships varied in length, but the effects of regularly engaging in new things on overall relationship happiness remained consistent across both generation and duration.

“It promotes novelty,”says Dr. Jaime Kurtz, associate professor of psychology at James Madison University and author of the book The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations . “If you normally see one another as partners in child-rearing and housework, this isn't always so romantic. Breaking out of those roles can give you the chance to rekindle romance and see one another in new ways.”

Other activities can provoke this same positive impact, of course—say, taking a cooking class together. But, travel facilitates a specific kind of intimacy. Shared exploration—whether through the halls of the Louvre, the cobbled streets of San Sebastian , or the historic ward of Richmond, Virginia—breeds special shared memories that no other enterprise can replicate.

When you travel together, you both get to understand other cultures and, in a way, understand each other.

In fact, not only are couples who travel together happier, but travel itself can help rehabilitate relationships on the ropes. Petrick cites the Second Honeymoon Programme, which the Malaysian government instituted in 2010 to help revive relationships on the brink of divorce. Participants are whisked off to a tropical island, where they are granted private time to reconnect. A 2016 article in the Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that the program had a whopping 99 percent success rate.

Vacation is no secret salve—it’s important to note that the Second Honeymoon Programme included time spent with a marriage counselor. But even so, the evidence that travel indeed enhances a relationship—for pairs with at least some overlapping interests—is undeniable. A 2010 survey by UK travel company sunshine.co.uk found that out of 1,927 participants, most couples reported having more intimate relations after a one week vacation than during a full two months at home.

Take Jim and Gail Nelson, for example, who have been married since 1973 and together ventured to more than 40 countries across Europe , South America , and Asia . From those many journeys, what they’ve come to value most is the intimacy of joint experience—fond mental snapshots of a night in an Italian pensione or of a home-cooked meal in Shanghai.

“We together have a better understanding of the rest of the world,” Gail says. “If only one of us traveled, the other wouldn’t understand those experiences. When you travel together, you both get to understand other cultures and, in a way, understand each other.”

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Home » Budget Travel » Traveling as a Couple 101: How to Travel as a Couple (2024)

Traveling as a Couple 101: How to Travel as a Couple (2024)

Have you DREAMED of couples travel but aren’t sure exactly where to start? 

Let me guess: you want the loved up romance, days spend lounging with drinks in hand, and steamy couple massages on exotic beaches, right?

Welllll, while traveling with your partner can have some of those deliciously dreamy days, the reality is a whole lot messier than cute Insta pics. 

When my ex and I travelled as a couple, I ended up ending literally every night in tears whilst 8000+ miles away from home.

…not exactly IG worthy if you ask me. 

And even now that I’m traveling with the love of my life, there’s still the 12 hour bus rides. The getting stuck in a dank room waiting for the worst storm of the year to pass. Ah yes, and the food poisoning at 15,400 ft…

Despite all that, I’m about to give you a full blown article on why you should travel as a couple !

Am I crazy?! Perhaps 😉

But traveling as a couple will bring you closer together and make those sluggish travel burnout days just a little easier to manage. With the right person, it will always beat solo travel in my eyes.

So without further ado, here’s how to get the most out of traveling as a couple … without killing each other!

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Why Travel as a Couple?

How to get the most out of travelling as a couple, what to do when traveling as a couple gets rough, let’s end with a bang 😉, final thoughts on traveling as a couple.

Because how else can you make *romantic* love in the world’s most beautiful places? Ok, ok, the perks of traveling as a couple go a lot further than just bedroom fun… But let’s be real, it is essential to mention!

Traveling as a couple will test AND strengthen your relationship like no other, especially when it comes to backpacking, van life, and camping.

But on the other hand, traveling with my partner has led to some of the most amazing moments of my life, hands down. From climbing to a 15,400 ft alpine lake to taking on a 1000 km motorbike road trip; trust me when I say that shit is sweeet when done with the right person. 

There are also financial benefits to traveling as a couple. For example, splitting private rooms will likely be cheaper than hostel dorms beds. And while solo female travel is empowering as hell and usually very safe, traveling with your partner is undeniably easier.

As long as your partner isn’t a dickweed, you get emotional support, a logistics manager, AND a cutie with a bootie.

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Benefits of Traveling With Your Significant Other

Besides being able to bang like rabbits without fear of STDs or frightening “hooking up on the road” debacles, you can have the best love and sex on the road experiences.

No but really, traveling as a couple has PLENTY of legit benefits.

This is especially true if you’ll be dabbling in offbeat travel , where having someone around makes many things a whole lot easier.

I could go on for days about the benefits of being a traveling couple. But, I think these are the 3 main ones:

1. You get to share life-changing moments with someone you love.

Man, if this isn’t your main motivation for backpacking as a couple, you might need to re-think your relationship. Just sayin’. 

But on a real note, what makes traveling with someone you love so special is being able to have life-changing experiences together. Multiday treks that push you to your limit , camping under millions of stars, getting just a little too loose after a bit of drug tourism…

No one will be able to appreciate or understand these adventures better than someone who was there in the thick of them with you!

2. You get to save a little coin .

Traveling as a couple will for sure help you out in the budget travel department. Regardless of your arrangement with your partner, finding your travel buddy makes it a whole lot cheaper. 

You can chill out in comfy private rooms on the low, share meals, the costs of drivers, tours, and other epic travel experiences. 

3. There’s safety in numbers .

Staying safe while traveling is easier as a couple. There’s strength in numbers, for one. And for two – no matter how much I don’t want this to be true – traveling with at least one guy makes for safer travels.

Plus, nothing beats having someone to hold your hair back after some type of water poisoning or a night of too much local moonshine!

Backpacking Solo VS. Backpacking as a Couple

Solo budget backpacking and budget backpacking as a couple are two completely different experiences. I’ve done both: there are definitely pros and cons. 

But in the end, traveling with someone I love has been fulfilling in ways that solo travel lacks. As empowered as I’ve felt traipsing through cities solo, heading on a motorbike trip through a remote region of Pakistan with my boyfriend certainly had more cheesy “I’ll remember this forever” moments.

To be able to share a passion for travel with a partner, make sure your passion is matched. I once tried traveling with someone who, after 4 countries together, realised he didn’t even like traveling. You can imagine all the fun that led to while spending months on the road together.

Rule #1 of traveling as a couple: No travel destination will fix an already failed relationship.

But if y’all have some real love going on, get ready for the adventure of a lifetime .

Not all types of couples’ travel are the same. Meaning, you’ll want to really know what you’re getting into before heading out on your trip. That way you can get the most out of the adventure of a lifetime together!

Backpacking as a Couple

Ahh, backpacking the world as a couple. From my experience, it is a travel style that is blissful – if done right. Food poisoning, culture shock, and haggling in new cities are but some of what you can expect to experience on a long-term adventure.

Then there’s also exploring the markets of a new city and showing your partner all the kooky things you find! There are the sunrises made that much sweeter by sharing them. Backpacking as a couple will provide both of you with some of the most epic moments of your lives.

I’ve seen what goes right and what goes wrong when you’re backpacking as a couple. I dated the toxic guy, and then later, fallen head over heels for the right man. I’ve travelled solo, too. So you can say I’ve had a full spectrum of backpacking as a couple experiences!

Now time to spill the tea you’re here for! Where do I go and how do I prepare to travel the world with the person I love?

Planning a Couples Trip

First up: where to go?

ASIA, ASIA, ASIA. Full stop.

There is nowhere else on this planet that makes backpacking as worthwhile as Southeast and South Asia.

Of course, there are some other prime backpacking destinations out there. But none really compare to what you can find in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.

Friendly locals, rich cultures, and banging street food exist in every one of these countries – in abundance! I mean, I still think about this bowl of marinated octopus I had from a street food stall in Thailand for less than $2.

Tasty eats aside, let’s get into accommodation. Backpacking in popular destinations will likely mean time spent in hostels. But what is a hostel , and why are they good for traveling couples?

They’re only a little piece of magic, that is! Hostels are backpackers’ Mecca and you shouldn’t go backpacking as a couple without staying in them.

They’re where you and your boo can meet other cool people and travel couples. Party until the sun rises. Most importantly, you can be your true selves .

But while many hostels are trendy as hell these days, at some point y’all will want to escape into nature. When you are ready to leave the comfort of hostels behind, it’s time to look at camping as a couple!

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Camping as a Couple

I can’t stress this enough: it is important it is to invest in quality gear. When you’ve packed quality adventure gear together, you have a better experience.

Camping for couples is something you’ll likely experience as a backpacker. But is, of course, its own type of travel too. Along with getting to rise and sleep with nature, cheap places to travel for couples don’t get much cheaper than this.

While I assume veteran campers know this, newbies need to understand that camping isn’t exactly a sexy scene. True camping also means doing your business outside, and showers aren’t really a thing unless you happen to camp near a river of some sort. 

Needless to say, camping as a couple isn’t exactly romantic. Well, it is feral and wild, and that’s a special kind of romance.

Camping Equipment for Couples

Aside from the lack of showers, getting it on in a tent isn’t exactly the most comfortable. But you can definitely make it work in a spacious 3 person tent . 😉

While I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment spent secluded with your partner on snowy basecamps and lakeside scenes, my best advice is to start slow .

I’m talking a one-night trip kind of slow .

But now let’s assume you’ve both popped your camping cherry. You want to take your adventures under the stars to another level. Three words: comfy sleeping pad .

I didn’t think I would be able to enjoy camping until I found an amazing sleeping mattress that feels like a bed.

Another key for a happy twilight amongst the trees? Bring good food!

This is especially important for long hikes. I recently got some intense sunstroke symptoms while crossing a glacier due to a lack of camping nutrition.

Whoops! I won’t be making that mistake again.

And with the number of portable travel stoves available these days, nothing is impossible, even at 14,000 feet.

But to really survive camping as a couple, you have got to accept that the unexpected is BOUND to happen. Sometimes you get caught in a lightning storm and are forced into an expensive hotel. You could get hit with food poisoning, or perhaps just a shit ton of mosquitos.

It happens. Not every couple’s camping trip (or any camping trip for that matter) is going to be perfect, and that’s ok! It’s about the journey, after all.

What’s a hardcore couples’ camping trip REALLY like?

Hear what  Indi  shares about her 8-week couples camping and vanlife adventure:

Back before The Great Breakup, my ex and I shared some truly special times.

We decided to go for a trip together and blend a little vanlife with a lot of multiday hikes across the South Island of New Zealand. My ex would laugh at me bundled in 4 jumpers, 2 beanies, and a buff, ipso facto, everything I needed to survive our morning coffee in New Zealand’s winter!

And when we were hiking for days on end out in the austere backcountry, the best thing was having someone to laugh with when I fell on my butt into an almost-frozen lake!

The potentially shitty times became endlessly comical and so insignificant compared to the great times when you’re sharing life with someone. No, it wasn’t all laughing at each other falling down snow slopes and having cute morning coffees.

We got bogged and the van broke down several times. We got stuck in a tiny shelter on the top of a mountains as a storm passed over us. We spent all day every day together for  8 weeks straight.

Of course, we bickered a little. But I wouldn’t trade that adventure in for all the badass solo trips in the world.

Despite the way our relationship has ended up, nothing can take away sharing the best of New Zealand with someone I cared for deeply.

Vanlife as a Couple

No type of travel REALLY forces you to get to know your significant other quite like living the van life does.

Backpacking is hard. But spending 24/7 with your partner in an often cramped van takes things to a whole new level. 

…especially in the US where public facilities aren’t as van-life friendly as in Europe or Australia. 

Couples’ van life also means ultimate freedom and the ability to fully design your own home on wheels. And if you’re planning to build your van yourselves, you and your lover will be able to develop your cooperation and problem-solving skills before you hit the road. 

Despite its challenges, and surreal moments and landscapes, it will (hopefully) only help y’all grow together and as individuals.

Couple Travel Tips to Survive Vanlife

Vanlife is a working progress, but here are my top tips to help the road be a little smoother.

• Have a solid design. I’m not saying you should go out and buy a sprinter van, but you need to make sure your van is ready for the road. Breaking down is stressful, EXPENSIVE, and leads to unnecessary tension. Of course, you can’t prevent all mechanical mishaps, but starting off on solid footing is always a good move.
• Communicate! This is a general tip too but it’s being mentioned twice because it’s that important. Especially when sharing a van, you need to talk things out. Tensions burst easily in confined space!
• Stay organized. A messy living situation can drive relationship tensions to a breaking point. A small, unorganized van is not going to bode well. If you and your partner have wildly different opinions on cleanliness, this should definitely be discussed before the vehicle is even picked up.
• Get out of the van! The whole point of vanlife is to explore the world is it not? Spend your days outside soaking in nature and that vitamin D. You want the van to feel like a respite and not a metal prison.

Hitchhiking as a Couple

Traveling by hitchhiking is one of the coolest types of couples travel you can go for. It will undoubtedly lead to some wild memories!

Sometimes it’s 6+ hours waiting for a lift, finding yourself in the car with a wild driver, or being forced on a bus by authorities. And sometimes it’s sharing a cup of chai with a family who become your dear friends.

It’s all just part of the experience – one that is definitely worth having. Especially in a beautiful, far-flung land.

Here’s how you can survive (and love!) hitchhiking as a couple:

• Be patient . Don’t expect a ride within a few minutes. Although it happens, it’s not the norm.
• Start early . This is ESPECIALLY important in remote regions that don’t have a lot of transport to begin with. Since you’ll need room for two, finding a ride will be slightly more difficult.
• Trust your instincts . Even when traveling as a couple, you’ll still want to steer clear of seedy vibes.
• Listen to your partner . If they’re not feeling it, be understanding. Hitchhiking ain’t always easy, and it can take some getting used to.

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so  damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

Digital Nomad Life and Working Jobs as a Couple

Living the digital nomad life is a dream in many ways. And doing it with your significant other? Even better.

Of course, like with all other types of couples travel, the foundation of your relationship before you hit the road is even more important than your finances.

…which, btw, might be a bit trying at times as you make your way into online entrepreneurship. 

But on the bright side, having your person there to support you and motivate you is unmatched.

Working online isn’t the only type of job that traveling couples can get, though. Teaching English abroad is an easy way for couples to travel and make money abroad together. 

Everywhere from Thailand to Oman has options for teaching English, and for a pretty penny too!

Hostels in various parts of the world (notably the iconic Southeast Asia) are also great places to find couple travel jobs. Many are keen to hire foreigners in exchange for accommodation, meals, and sometimes a little cash. 

Classic volunteer organizations like WWOOF offer farming work to traveling couples, where you can work in everything from sharecropping to direct animal care.

Workaway is another top option for couples’ travel jobs in general and has been a trusted name in the industry for years. They also have a wider variety of jobs available than WWOOF.

Work Around the World With Worldpackers!

I’ve already mentioned Workaway so now let me tell you about another amazing travel jobs platform: Worldpackers! This is another volunteering platform that the Broke Backpacker has reviewed and loved.

While Worldpackers may not operate as far and wide as Workaway, it makes up for in quality and some seriously unique experiences. With Worldpackers, you’re just about guaranteed an epic stay, and the platform has LOADS of community features that Workaway is missing.

Sound cool?

Click the buttons below to join the Worldpackers community as a Broke Backpacker reader–with the code BROKEBACKPACKER –to get a nifty discount off the signup fee to the tune of 20% of the annual subscription price.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

Backpacking and traveling as a couple isn’t always easy. And even for couples in solid, loving relationships, there absolutely WILL be days where you’re pretty far from “having fun.”

Whether y’all are a long-term pair, LGBTQ+ travelers , or even if y’all married, rough moments are inevitable. But at the end of the day, it’s the unreal meals shared, a nice hit of hash from the top of a glorious viewpoint. It’s those other souls you and your partner meet along the way that will stick with you forever.

Now let’s get into some must-knows about traveling the world as a couple.

How to Deal With Fights on the Road

Fighting on the road is NOT easy. But it’s especially rough when fighting morphs into abuse. It happens, and it happens (unfortunately) often.

And those are fights you shouldn’t ignore . Do something: be strong, like I wish I could have been sooner.

But, not all fights are the be-all end-all. Some are typical petty, driven by lack of sleep, too many bottles of beer on a Thai island, or far too many hours on a non-AC train in India.

After you discern which type of fight you’re dealing with, then you can decide what to do next. Take some time to chill out and pause, and hopefully, y’all can get back to baseline. If it was just a disagreement, my best advice is to talk and apologize.

But if a systematic pattern of belittling occurs, or if the fighting becomes less about the shitty situation and more about picking out each others’ flaws, this is nasty.

If you’re being emotionally or mentally abused, or if things get physical: LEAVE . Reach out for help with domestic abuse from professionals, friends, or family.

If you’re only with someone because you’re afraid you can’t travel alone, let me assure you that you CAN. I thought I would never be able to travel to my favorite countries alone, which was part of the reason I stayed in an unhealthy relationship.

I tried to ignore the deeper problems between me and my ex. But you can’t out-travel a bad relationship .

Traveling as a couple is supposed to be about love. And if you’re doing more fighting than loving, you probably shouldn’t be traveling as a couple.

I finally took my own advice. I left the relationship and did what I thought was impossible: solo travel.

How to Deal With a Break-Up While on the Road 

Breaking up while abroad is never fun. Sometimes it happens on the road, sometimes it happens at home and then you’re thrust into the world of solo travel. 

For a long time, I did not think I could travel alone and it was part of the reason (among many others) that I stayed in a toxic relationship. 

But guess what?

After I decided I could and would travel alone, I literally came to travel in Pakistan solo. It is now my favorite country in the world.

Spoiler alert: it ended up being the best decision I have EVER made.

So, what to do after a break up abroad?

Get into what YOU love.

If that’s traveling, keep at it. You don’t need to go home just because a relationship went south. Not when there are 7+ billion other people to meet.  

But if things are presently not working out, i.e. if you’re arguing every day, if you’re experiencing emotional abuse etc. don’t stay for the sake of travel.

Travel solo, or go home to re-group. Love the beach? Maybe go find some beaches while backpacking in Bali or something.

On a serious note, remember there IS someone else out there. You WILL find someone to travel with again, if that’s your concern. Things always seem to improve when you leave toxic people behind.

Top Tips for Couples Travelling Together

• Compromise: This, this AND this. Compromising is the single most important practice while traveling as a couple. Take into account what you both prefer, and make sure your backpacking itinerary does too.
• Be kind: Traveling as a couple, especially long term travel, can be rough. Move on from fights easily (unless there’s some cheating or abuse or something- then you need to GTFO), because at the end of the day you want the best for each other.
• Start off strong: Especially when long term travel is concerned, make sure your relationship is on stable ground before taking off. Even the most beautiful places in the world won’t fix a failed relationship.
• Communicate: It sounds basic but it’s the truth. As with successful relationships in general, successful travel relationships work because of communication. Angry about something your partner did? Need a break? Talk to them! Holding things in serves nobody and does exactly nothing to solve the problem.
• Be patient: Remember that y’all are in a new country, might be experiencing culture shock, home sickness, over-stimulation or a combination of the bunch. And even if you’re chillin’ in a new place, your partner might not be.
• Trust your gut: If you feel like things aren’t going well, and I mean really not going well, know that you can leave. It doesn’t matter how long the trip was supposed to be or what you had already booked. Red flags are there for a reason.
• Get insurance! Sounds dorky but hear me out!

Why Wandering Couples Should ALWAYS Have Travel Insurance! 

Yeah, traveling as a couple means you always have someone to take care of you on less-than-fun days on the road. But sometimes you need a bit more than emotional support.

Medical shiz in foreign countries can get expensive quick, and you deff don’t want to have to worry about finances when your health is at stake.

Also, in the worst-case scenario that you and your boo call it quits on the road, you DEFINITELY want to be insured as a solo traveler. This is why you should ALWAYS consider getting travel insurance before any trip. 

The Broke Backpacker recommends  SAFETYWING everytime. They’re easy to use and have comprehensive coverage.

You can get a quote straight off the bat! Getting an estimate from SafetyWing is simple— just click the button or image below, fill out the necessary info, and you’re on your way!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

I couldn’t help but mention the sexy times! Because what’s traveling as a couple without some crazy sex in hostels stories?

Banging like rabbits, rolling the night away on MDMA on a mountainous lakeside, confessing your deepest feelings under fire-streaked skies… Yea, it’s all possible!

As far as drugs go, know that there will be drugs on the road. If you’re experimenting for the first time or you are trying a new drug, start slow.

Don’t take things too far too quickly. Shit can get crazy quickly – especially in popular backpacking destinations.

And as far as sex goes, let me remind you to get a PRIVATE ROOM. It’s just basic etiquette after all, amirite?

Unless you and your partner are happily platonic, sex is obviously going to be a part of traveling as a couple. And honestly, it should be if you want to be happy in your relationship and your trip.

Just remember to close the door, you dirty bastards! 😉

Yass, now you know how to travel as a couple and not kill each other! Yay!

Traveling as a couple is different than roaming with a travel buddy because, duh, LOVE. 

It truly is the most intense force in this universe. When you combine it with some of the world’s most beautiful places, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

The most important thing to remember is that to be in love in a foreign country, you need to first be in love at home . A rocky relationship will only capsize once the challenges of road life are thrown at it. 

But, assuming the love is there and so is the desire for travel, be kind. Take time for understanding, supportiveness and PATIENCE. 

Travel is important, but even more so is human connection and true love. Don’t let petty fights and exhausting travel days dull your drive. Know what it means to be a backpacker before heading out on your trip, and always make sure a whole lot of love is shared each and every day.

Because isn’t the best part of traveling as a couple being able to share awe-inspiring moments with the one you love?

I sure think so 🙂

Samantha Shea

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Traveling Together: Building Relationships Through Travel And How To Find A Travel Partner

Traveling together helps develop and strengthen relationships. We list the top benefits of couples traveling together and how to find your ideal travel partner.

5 Benefits Of Traveling Together

There are many benefits to traveling together as a couple. Below are what we consider to be the top five benefits…

1. Learn More About Each Other

This includes both the good and the bad. When you’re traveling together and you’re with your partner 24/7, you’re going to get to know their real selves. You’ll learn their pet peeves, habits, how they deal with stressful situations, and what makes them laugh uncontrollably.

Mark Twain once said, “I have found out there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” We think he was definitely right.

But it goes both ways; your partner will learn more about you as well. Not all of it will be pretty, but if you’re both open and willing to communicate, then any issues can be worked out and ultimately strengthen your relationship.

2. Make Memories That Will Last A Lifetime

As you’re traveling together, you’re creating shared memories which will deepen your relationship. In fact, the idea that traveling together is great for bonding and building relationships is what led to the creation of a popular dating app for travelers .

The beautiful thing is it doesn’t matter if the trip isn’t a perfect holiday experience.

A Swedish proverb says, “Shared joy is a doubled joy; Shared sorrow is a halved sorrow.”

Sharing the experience can make the struggles easier and the joy greater while creating memories to bond over.

3. Learn How To Work Together

When you’re traveling together, you learn how to work together. Whether that is booking flights, packing a car, or navigating a subway map. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and when you’re traveling as a couple you can share tasks and responsibilities. You’ll learn to compromise and support each other.

Communication is obviously very important in order to work together successfully. Like anything, it will take some practice. Eventually, though, your relationship will run like a well-oiled machine.

4. Grow As A Couple And Individually

Another favorite quote by Mark Twain is, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

As you’re traveling together and growing as a couple, you will also undoubtedly be growing as an individual. This is especially true if you’re traveling internationally because you will be exposed to new ways of doing things. You will see that just because something is different from what you experienced growing up, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Additionally, seeing how others live, learning about different cultures, and trying new foods all lead to you becoming a more open, understanding, and mature individual. You will also learn to have more empathy towards others. And as you evolve, so will your partner. To be able to grow and discuss what you’re learning with another similar enlightened individual is really special.

5. Have Someone You Can Rely On

We have always encouraged solo travel , and did it ourselves for many years. Like anything, though, it has its pros and cons. A major benefit of traveling with a partner is having someone you can rely on. The partner gives you support, comfort, confidence, and strength… Vicky is fiercely independent, but she appreciates knowing that she can count on Mark to take care of things too.

When you’ve had a really long travel day, when you’ve missed your flight, when you’ve got food poisoning… It’s nice knowing you have someone you can rely on to take care of you and make you feel better.

Finding The Right Travel Partner

Finding the right travel partner isn’t always easy, especially if you’re a digital nomad . Dating is already hard enough, but how do you date someone if you’re constantly on the move? And how do you find someone that understands and appreciates your lifestyle?

Luckily, there is a new dating app called Fairytrail – which we think is a fantastic idea. Their goal is to reduce loneliness for people who love to travel. After users match with each other and on destinations they like, they can video chat. If the relationship flourishes, users are encouraged to meet on fun, public adventures for their first meeting in real life. The best part is it’s a lot easier to get together since most Fairytrail users have remote jobs!

They even have a social community for non-dating connections on their free Facebook group called Campfire . People use it to find friends, collaborate on business opportunities, and support each other on life goals.

Fairytrail is the only dating app made for location-independent and adventure-loving professionals. We love what they’re doing for the travel community and if you’d like to learn more about “The best dating app for 2021” according to Digital Trends, click here .

Final Thoughts On Building Relationships Through Travel

Those that have been bit by the travel bug know how life-changing travel can be. As you travel with your partner, you learn about each other and develop a bond unlike any other. Traveling with someone you love really is a truly wonderful experience.

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4 Reasons Why Traveling Strengthens Your Relationship

It’s not rocket science: relationships can be hard. And I don’t have to tell you, vacations are exciting. So why not use one to enhance the other. In my own experiences, frequent traveling has been a huge contributor to my successful and happy marriage. When we go longer than a few months without taking a trip (even just to the mountains an hour away for one night), we become disconnected. Here are reasons why every relationship can benefit from spending a little quality time away.

4 Ways Traveling Strengthens Your Relationship:

1. taking a vacation, near or far, allows you to take a break from reality..

The stressors of everyday life can definitely take a toll on your relationship. Whether its household duties, work, or family matters, the “day-to-day grind” gets in the way of putting in the quality time and attention your spouse deserves. Removing yourself from this atmosphere, even for a weekend, can allow you to focus on your relationship and spend quality time as a couple. They are called “getaways” for a reason. So limit your phone usage, be present, and take a break from life. This makes you feel better as an individual, and a happy YOU makes a happy spouse TOO!

2. Adventures create lasting memories to carry you through tough times.

No matter the destination or length of trip, you WILL have experiences that you will remember forever. Even the adventures that go wrong end up making the best stories! The laughs you share, new sights you see, pictures you take, and activities you enjoy will become a part of you as a couple. You will find yourself talking about these memories all the time. Reminiscing about something only the two of you experienced or having inside jokes definitely bring you closer. Experiences together are priceless.

We “blew” our down payment on our first home savings account on a trip to Europe . But, after spending an entire night laughing and remembering fun times from our journeys through Central America , we realized that traveling is more of an investment than a home. We always remind each other that when we are old and gray, we will still be talking about our memories and sharing them with our grandchildren. We probably won’t be talking about the cars or properties we owned.

3. Traveling teaches you a lot about yourself, but imagine what you learn about your significant other too.

Being out of your comfort zone and trying new things truly brings out new traits and interests you didn’t even know you had. Seeing different sides of your significant other makes the cliché idea of “falling in love all over again” possible! Learning new things about yourself and each other will strengthen your bond more than you realize.

4. New experiences through traveling force you to depend on each other and build trust in your relationship.

I’ve never felt more protected by my husband than I did traveling through a foreign country. This requires me to be vulnerable and allows him to step up as my man and my leader. This is extremely important but also a rare occurrence in your everyday life. Traveling also presents you with many problems and challenges that you wouldn’t experience in your typical day. Whether it’s navigating unknown land, plans that go awry, missing transportation, etc. you lean on each other for comfort, support, and advice.

Being a team in a committed relationship is key, and there is no better way to practice this than through traveling. Your different skills and strengths can complement each other as you work in this partnership. And of course, traveling will require constant open communication. When you’re solving such problems, when you are feeling homesick or uncomfortable, you will talk through it and provide each other with the encouragement you need. These important relationship tools will come home with you and you will have them to access during the difficult times there, too.

We now travel as a couple full-time in our RV and have never been happier! If you want to learn more about full-time RVing, check out our RV travels , read our RV life blog posts , and check out our RV resources page. We love helping other couples achieve full-time travel!

Want some couples travel destination suggestions? Read our list of bucket list destinations for couples, here !

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Lindsay McKenzie

All posts by Lindsay McKenzie

Helping therapists find adventure and freedom through travel jobs

Dating & Relationships While Traveling

[Cover photo courtesy of Stephen Stockhausen, PT, DPT.  Stephen and his wife Ellen are #relationshipgoals. They travel the country as a travel PT pair and blog their adventures at  PT Adventures ]

“You will never meet anyone if you travel.” “You will never settle down and start a family.” “Aren’t you afraid of getting old alone?”

These are the words that single travelers hate to hear and they are constantly spewed at us.  Holidays tend to be the worse, but even random strangers and patients have told me similar things when they found out what I did for work.

Dating as a traveler and maintaining relationships is definitely different than being stable in one place, but not impossible.

First, you need to figure out what you want from a relationship and partner and being able to effectively communicate those needs and wants.  Do you want something casual, a short term relationship, a long-distance relationship, somebody to travel with?  Being a traveler it is not as simple as meeting somebody and saying “let’s be together”.  There are more complicated factors to consider.

As a gypsy soul, I know I will never be satisfied working and living at the same place day in and day out for years and years.  I need to be with somebody who appreciates that and does not try to change me.  Through years of traveling, I have found that many men I meet want me to stay in one place if I chose to be with them. I also found that many people refuse to date travelers because they want to start a relationship with somebody who is stable in one location. I understand and respect that.  That is why I am always upfront in telling potential partners about myself and my job and I do not try to hide anything.

The more I traveled, the more I realized what I wanted in a relationship and what were my deal breakers. I now know that I want to be in a committed relationship with somebody who will support my travels, whether we were together or apart.  Ultimately, through traveling and dating, I learned not to settle.

Here is a more in-depth view of the types of relationships you may find yourself in a traveler and considerations to take:

  The Long Distance Relationship

The long-distance relationship occurs when one person is actively traveling and the other is not.   Long-distance relationships are hard and take communication, planning, honesty, trust and support from both sides.

WHY are you long distance?  What is the ultimate plan?  Are you traveling for a shorter amount of time to try and save extra money for a big purchase or to satisfy a wanderlust?  Does your partner support that? Maybe you travel for an assignment and then spend time at home.

For the long-distance relationship to be successful, both parties need to agree and come to a compromise on traveling and communication.  Figure out how and when you are going to communicate (texts, calls, skype) and when you are going to visit each other while on assignment.

Traveling with Your Partner

I think the ultimate travelers’ dream is to find a partner that can travel alongside you.  Whether your partner is a healthcare traveler, a freelancer who can work from anywhere or is able to travel while you support the household financially.

In this type of relationship, you learn a lot about yourself and your partner very quickly.  When you travel with somebody you see their good, bad and ugly pretty quickly.  Traveling is hard, things happen and you see how your partner responds to stressful situations.  If you and your partner travel well together, this is an ideal situation.  If you do not, it could be extremely stressful on your relationship.

The 3-Month Relationship

What do you do if you are a single traveler who likes monogamy but does not want a long term relationship?  You get into the cycle of having 3-month relationships.

The 3-month relationships happen when you go to an assignment and meet somebody that is nice enough but for whatever reason (and as travelers, we have many) you do not see yourself with them for the long term.  They are a good companion for the time, so you become exclusive and date them while you are on assignment.  You probably told them upfront that you are only here for 3 months and they agreed to date you for that period of time. You may even go as far as to say they are your boyfriend/girlfriend, but probably you refer to them as somebody that you are “dating”.

The upside to this kind of relationship is that you get to connect and be with somebody while on assignment.  You have a partner in crime, somebody to watch Netflix with and somebody to go to restaurants and movies alongside.

The bad part is that is never is as easy as it seems.  For starters, fundamentally there is likely a reason why you do not want to commit to this person, so why are you with them?  Chances are that one person may develop feelings and things could get more complicated than initially imagined.

The Swipes to the Right

This is referring to casual dates on Tinder, Bumble and all of the other online dating sites.  Online dating has made meeting people and dating extremely easy.  Thanks to Tinder, you can have multiple dates in a week, heck even in a day.

If you want to travel and have no commitment you surely can.  For some, dating while traveling means dating many people and not being exclusive at all.

The One That You Stop Traveling For

This is the fairy tale situation.  You leave home to travel and end up meeting your Prince Charming 2000 miles away.  You make a home, find a perm job and then what…..

On the bright side:

You have a positive long term relationship/marriage.  You are both happy where you are.  Because of traveling, you found your soul mate and could not be happier.

  On the not so bright side:

You stop traveling and then one of the following happens:

• You realize after dating for a longer period of time that this person is not “the one” for you and the relationship ends. That is okay, it happens.  Maybe you go back to traveling, maybe you do not.
• Your gypsy side kicks in. So for the true gypsy souls, it is hard to stay in one place for too long, no matter how much you love that person.  In this case, you stopped traveling and now it has been a year, 2 years, 3 years and you are ready to go again, what do you do?  Long-distance relationship?  Have your partner travel with you?   This type of outcome is very real and I hear about it a lot from friends.  They thought that they met the perfect person who they wanted to stop traveling for, yet in a couple of years, they want to hit the road again and are stuck. They still want to be with the person but they also need to satisfy their need to travel. I think this is why it is important to be with somebody who understands and respects the need to travel and does not try to change that about you.  Just because you stopped traveling for the time does not mean that you will never travel again.  Is your partner going to be okay with that?  Can that person travel with you or support a long-distance relationship? These are things that you should talk about upfront and determine.

The Relationship with Yourself

You can travel and be 100% single.  One of the benefits of traveling is that I found a lot of time to analyze and work on myself while being completely single.  I have no problems going to a restaurant, the movies or just about anything by myself. Traveling solo and single has made me not only a better all-around person but a better partner.

In conclusion, being a traveler is not synonymous with being single.  You can maintain relationships while traveling, whether they are long distance, short term or having your partner travel with you.  You can also choose to date casually or stay solo and work on the relationship with yourself  No matter what happens if there is one thing that traveling teaches us about relationships let that be not to settle. DO. NOT.SETTLE.

Related posts:

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• New Grad Travel Therapy Tips
• Travel Therapy Phone Interview Questions
• Na Pali Coast Tour With Blue Ocean Adventures

6 thoughts on “Dating & Relationships While Traveling”

Great article. It touched my soul

haha thanks Tony!

Thanks for this article Julia! I am in a unique situation as my husband and I were on the same page about starting travel therapy together and we did…for one assignment, and then he initiated a split out of the blue and moved back to our home town. His loss. This gives me some more insight for the future 🙂

Hey Kate – thanks for sharing your story. Sounds like it must have been a difficult situation. Definitely tons of hope for the future 🙂

This article applies to those who don’t travel too. Well done!

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14 Reasons Traveling as a Couple is the Best Thing for the Relationship

February 20, 2023

Paula Martinelli

Traveling as a couple can help a couple to stay together, but most importantly, STAY HAPPY TOGETHER. You are about to find out from these 14 reasons couples should travel together, and how traveling as a couple helps to bring us together in a better and healthier way.

I have been practicing the best couple therapy out there for 16 years now: Couple’s Travel Therapy! 15 years ago I met my American husband in Brazil while he was living and working there. I was just back in Brazil from living in England and was finishing my MBA.

It was a very good sign for both of us. He took the challenge to work abroad and I was just back from studying abroad and ready for the next adventure anywhere in the world. After a year, of exploring Brazil together, we moved to the USA.

16 years and 40+ countries later traveling as a couple, we continue our journey to visit the Top Dream Destinations in the world , with no plans to slow down. So without any further ado, let’s dive into the joy and lessons learned about traveling as a couple

You may also be interested in:

• 30 Dream Destinations for your bucket list
• 30 Awesome Gifts for Travel Lovers
• The Most Romantic Cabins in Vermont for a fantastic honeymoon
• Magical Places to Stay in Tuscany: from Villas to Castle

14. Make new friends when you travel together

The Truth Behind Traveling as a Couple

If I said my marriage is perfect, I’d be lying. Of course, we have our ups and downs just like any couple, but I consider that we have many more ups. And I attribute it to doing things together that we both enjoy and our passion for traveling as a couple and Pin the Planet  together.

Because of this shared passion, we built a solid and happy relationship, based on  love ,  trust,  and  excitement  to discover the next adventure. We love to explore the world together, meet people and make new friends, and build memories in this journey called “life”.

The excitement renews, as the cycle continues:

• Dream about the next destination ,
• Plan our trip,
• Agree and disagree on the itinerary,
• Talk about our experiences when we are back
• Start to dream about the next destination…

14 Reasons you should be Traveling as a Couple

1. have a common purpose.

Couples who travel together, stay together because they are doing what you love. For me, traveling equates to exploration, learning, and discovering new cultures, places, and ideas.

Even traveling to a place close to home for a weekend getaway is a break from the routine and a reminder that life is more than what we see on a daily basis.

Couples should travel together, as any new adventure renews the relationship. It is so refreshing to go somewhere new, and at the same time have the anchor of your spouse/best friend by your side.

PRO TIP:  Dreaming together about discovering and exploring your next destination and planning endless adventures with your partner helps to fire up the relationship.  Get inspired with some of the top vacation destinations for couples. Check these 150+ quotes for couples who travel together to add to your next social media post 😉

2. Finding balance together

A secret to happiness and success in any area of our lives is to find balance. Traveling as a couple is a perfect way to practice balance, as you will have to learn and adapt to the weaknesses and strengths of your partner and vice versa.

If you don’t like to bungee jump, you can take pictures of your partner in action – but the important thing is to respect each other’s style and individual preferences, and find a way to participate in the experiences together.

PRO TIP: We find different ways to balance that make our trips even better. When we order food at a restaurant, we try each other’s food and drinks. We take turns driving or taking pictures. We make plans on the go and adapt to the unexpected together. Check out a self-drive safari adventure in Botswana .

3. Traveling as a couple helps to get out of the routine

I believe everyone would agree that the best way to kill any relationship, is to have a routine, without anything to look forward to. Imagine a relationship where you work and pay bills while you save for your retirement. Does it sound familiar?

PRO TIP: Get out of the routine now! Book a trip and get excited about it. It doesn’t have to be any crazy exotic place or take a plane across the world – what about a romantic Staycation like the one we did here in Florida ? Or rent a romantic cabin in Vermon t? Or you can simply take a weekend off and just drive somewhere different once in a while. The important thing is, to get out of your routine! Now!

4. Experience the new together

Build excitement by discovering a new place, meeting new people, tasting a new dish, trying that local wine….Or maybe renting a castle or a villa in Tuscany for a romantic retreat!? Or rent an RV and go on a road trip , it is one of the best ways to share everything for a few days.

There are countless opportunities to experience the new together. I love trying new things, having new experiences, and making the most of life…, especially with my husband. TRAVELING AS A COUPLE!

PRO TIP: After you book a trip, you have plans to make together. On the trip, you will have so many experiences to share and memories to build.  Live in the moment , treasure the present and all of the new discoveries. We frequently talk about our past trips and relive the memories and experiences, and talk about possible future destinations.

5. Practice detachment when you travel as a couple

It is so easy to get caught up in material things, and to develop the habit of “having things”.

If both are in sync and decide to save money for traveling, it is another positive thing for the relationship. There are additional benefits. Your house won’t be cluttered with things that you don’t need for example.

PRO TIP: When you are on the road and traveling together you’ll face all sorts of situations, such as not having A/C, the most comfortable bed, a Western bathroom, or a hot shower – such as his experience we had to live with a hill tribe in Vietnam …. Detachment is a great exercise to practice while you travel, and even better when you have a partner in crime and practice it together, as a couple.

6. Build memories when traveling as a couple

What can be better than building memories? Build memories with your best friend…together as a couple!

Memories are the only really valuable thing we can build in this life that we will hold forever. Making memories together is a sure way to stay in love. Capture some of those moments in pictures and relive the memories…it is almost as good as being there again.

PRO TIP: Plan that honeymoon you never took or book a trip for your anniversary. Or if you have kids, yes, go on a family vacation. Create memories for your family as well. Consider going to Anna Maria Island in Florida for example, is a great couple (or family) vacation.

7. Have a great communication

My husband and I ALWAYS have something to talk about!

How many times have you been in a restaurant, looked around, and seen a couple sitting at a table not talking? Instead, one or both are just playing with their phones?  Couples that travel together, always have something to talk about. Our last trip was an amazing Road Trip in Alaska on an RV – and months after our trip, we are still talking about it.

PRO TIP: We often find ourselves talking about past trips and experiences or future options for trips. When you are with family and friends, you will be the  cool couple  who will have something interesting to share, and hopefully, inspire your friends to go on an adventure too. Or, inspire your kids to explore the world.

8. Become the best friends

What is your definition of a Best Friend? If it’s someone who stands by your side, no matter what and someone who accepts you just as you are, we would agree.

PRO TIP: You don’t always have to agree, for example when choosing the next Deam Destination to visit, but as long as you have someone to share the amazing moments, and also the hurdles of traveling (or life). It doesn’t matter the challenges you go through or the differences, you have each other and that is all you need.

9. Traveling as a couple helps to get to know each other

Most couples come from different backgrounds. In my case, we REALLY come from different backgrounds – Brazilian vs. American.

It is the beauty of our relationship. We add, accept, and appreciate, without trying to change each other. We are constantly learning from each other and also together as a couple – and I considered our trip to Namibia in Africa , one of the best opportunities we had to find out more about each other. My husband was a hero driving so many hours and still, cooking dinner while we camped in remote areas.

PRO TIP: Couples should travel together since we learn something new and see things differently. Each person has a unique experience and perspective – even though they are doing the same thing. The chance to exchange our perceptions amplifies and enriches the experience. Whether you are from different cultures or not, sharing your thoughts on your adventure makes it so much better.

10. Helps to control finances when traveling together

OK…another point that can be very critical and a sensitive topic in any relationship. MONEY! My husband and I share our expenses for our trips. It works great for us, but maybe it is not the case for every couple.

Whatever works for you, the important thing is to have financial control, and this is another great excuse why couples should travel together, as it is a great exercise to control the financials for a great purpose.

PRO TIP: Make a budget together, and travel within your budget. Not changing the car this year, because you have decided to travel instead? As long as both agree, you will be happy to feel that as a couple, adventure makes it so much better. Try to budget for a cheaper destination, such as Backpacking in South America or a Trip to Vietnam are great options.

11. Build an expectation for the future

This is one of my favorite reasons why we should travel as a couple. Remember how great the future was at the beginning of the relationship. It should continue to be like that. The future just keeps getting better.

For a relationship to last, it is important to have positive feelings about the future. Making plans together (no matter how small), keeps your life paths intersecting. Planning and discussing the future is one big way to make sure you have a future together.

PRO TIP: Build excitement and create anticipation of something that you can do together. Share a dream and realize the dream together. Check these 12 Tips to be in shape for your next vacation , and workout with your partner is also a great reason to do things together.

12. Appreciate each other

You rely on each other. During moments of weakness, the other is strong. As I type this one, I am giggling behind my computer remembering things that I have made my husband do, such as hiking the Himalayas at a fast pace while I made him keep up with me just to record a video of me.

Or make him drive a safari in Africa for 12 hours with a pelvic bone broken after an accident, because I was so excited about photographing animals and I didn’t even realize we were driving for so long – OK…my husband is a rock star!

PRO TIP: Even on the little things, remember to appreciate your partner for their efforts. We all like to be appreciated, and what may seem small for you, can be a big challenge for the others. Come on, hiking the high altitudes of the Himalayas during winter is not that hard.

13. Continue to discover more things in common

It’s amazing how traveling together helps the couple find LOTS of things in common. You will be in different situations and you will learn so much more about each other. Not only will you learn about your partner, but you will also learn a lot about yourself.

Traveling has a tendency to do that to people. Couples should travel together because we broaden our viewpoints and grow in amazing ways. Traveling with your partner allows you to grow individually and together.

PRO TIP: Every year I include a different hike during our trip, and we train together for our vacation, besides bringing us together we also encourage each other to be healthy and fit. Check the Best Hikes in Italy or the Best Hikes in South America for inspiration.

Last, but not least – Couples that travel together make new friends. And who doesn’t like to make new and great friends? Traveling has the power to bring amazing friends from all over the Planet, and from different cultures.

Instead of having only “his friends” and “her friends” we enjoy making and sharing the same friends together. My husband is introverted while I am not at all, and I just love watching him make the effort and interact with our new friends, and it helps me to see him with new and fresh eyes every time when we travel together.

PRO TIP: As important as making new friends, is to keep your friends. I am a natural communicator and I just love to be close to my friends. Once in a while, we have calls together with our friends we make from all over the world, we change messages, pictures and follow up on each other. Bonding with these new friends helps us to bond with each other.

Trip Ideas to Travel as a Couple

But before we jump into the 14 reasons you should be traveling as a couple, let me recommend these 10 amazing trip ideas for your Couple Trip Bucket list that I think you will love:

• Check the top 30 Dream Destinations with your love!
• One of the most romantic getaways with your love is to go On a trip to visit Tuscany, Italy
• If you and your partner in crime love the outdoors and nature, I recommend going on a Road trip to Alaska, USA
• Take your next trip to another level and go on an adventure Road Trip in Namibia, Africa
• If you love wildlife and outdoor adventures you can plan and go on a Safari in Botswana
• One of the best destinations on the planet for couples is to take a Road Trip to Iceland
• Looking to surprise your love? Go on an RV Road trip together
• A very romantic destination is to Spend Christmas in Austria
• If you are looking to get married or even renew your vows, the best place is Honeymoon Island in Florida
• An awesome romantic retreat that you may love is the paradise island of Anna Maria Island in Florida

Traveling as a Couple Conclusion

Traveling as a couple is fun! As you can see from this list of 14 reasons couples should travel together, it helps to bring us together as a couple. 

Stress will arise and challenges will present themselves. Still, if you are not having fun together, and building memories, you should reset your relationship and find reasons to have fun together. 

Life is tough at times, and I am just glad that my husband and I get to go through it together and we enjoy things in common, such as traveling as a couple. 

If you have any comments or experiences to share, I would love to hear from you, just leave me a comment below.

You may also enjoy reading:

• 150+ Travel Quotes for Couples + Sharable Images
• The Perfect Alaska road trip for couples
• 12 Tips to be in shape for your next vacation

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33 thoughts on “14 Reasons Traveling as a Couple is the Best Thing for the Relationship”

Very beautiful couple,beautiful photo and place you travel . Happy valentine day .

Super points Paula! Kelli and I circled the globe for 8 years so far. Being out of routines as we travel bonds us, helping us get closer as we go with the flow in non comfy conditions. Excellent post.

Thank you Ryan, you guys encourage me to continue to travel as a couple also. You guys rock!

Thank you so much! I cannot wait to go back to Nepal in 2020

These are great reasons! I love traveling with my husband because it creates so many amazing memories for us. I also think it helps with communication and being able to get out of stressful situations.

Hi Francesca, I agree 100% with you. Traveling together improves so much the relationship and communication skills. It seems that every trip we go, things in regular life becomes much easier to handle, because we have been through so much together that the every day stuff becomes easier to deal with.

Nossa realmente fantástico, mas do que um casal, parceiros de viagens, cumplices de sonhos, jornadas e acontecimentos únicos. As fotos são de tirar o folego e muito criativas por sinal. Difícil achar mais alguém no mundo que se conheçam tão intensamente e consigam viver juntos tantas aventuras. O baú de memórias deve estar repleto de experiências e felicidades … conhecer este mundão todo não tem preço. Mais que tudo PARCECEIROS DE VIDA. Parabéns o blog está maravilhoso e super informativo, mas não podia deixar passar tanta intensidade.

Muito obrigada Patricia – isso mesmo, viajar, explorar o novo e nos aventurar juntos ajuda muito a fortalecer o relacionamento. Fico muito feliz que gostou do blog 😉

We have so many things in common, and so many differences. I think we share some key interests and passions that bind us together. Sharing a love for travel, animals, fitness, adventure and exploration strengthen our love for each other. Respecting our differences and savoring our mutual enjoyment of all this life has to offer is the juice that keeps us going! Te amo para sempre!

Such great post and great reasons! I loved each one of it. My husband did not like to get out of home before but I used to drag him and now he loves to travel too!

Some really great thoughts! And I completely agree with everything, especially those not so sexy things like learning to manage money together etc. I feel like my partner and I are always bonded on a new level after a trip 🙂

I’d be lost without my husband on some of my travels, quite literally…he’s the navigator. Great post!

I love this! Thank for sharing and being honest, I love your takeaways. I smiled and giggled as some rang true for us too. You’re so lucky to have a travel life partner!

I absolutely love this post. My husband and I travel together all of the time. I love how it gives us special memories and experiences that we can share in together. I wouldn’t trade my time with him for anything!

I love your post, you made excellent points. Definitely spending time with my husband, while we are traveling, helps a lot in our relationship. He is my favorite travel companion.

HI Cathia – it is awesome that you and your husband are great travel companions, it is so healthy for any relationship. Keep on traveling with the hubby 😉

I am so glad to see when couples are building memories together through travels Michelle. It is for sure one of the best things for a happy and healthy relationship, right?

Thanks Shannon, it is just so fun to explore the world together and to share moments that will last a lifetime. We don’t always travel together – I would say I travel more than he does – but traveling with my husband has been always so amazing and fun!

I love it Agnes – the same here! My husband is the navigator most of the time too. All we need to do is to use our “super powers” to complement each other, and make the traveling an amazing experience 😉

Hi Casey, you are right – I always thought that money is a sensitive topic, as we all have our different backgrounds and different ways to make and spend it. But my husband and I, besides the differences, we do pretty well saving for our travels and sharing bills….and yes, the bond after each trip is so real, isn’t it!?

I am so glad to hear that your husband loves traveling now, and that you guys are building amazing memories together. My husband and I have always loved to travel, even before we met. We combined our our desire to continue to explore the world together, and it works so great for us.

Yes we do! Where is the next destination? 🙂

I really appreciate this post! My significant other and I don’t get to travel together, really, and this is a nice list of things to think about of how to travel together/what to do together.

Tabitha, what about if you go over this list with your significant other and give it a try for at least a short trip and see how it goes? It may end up being a magical experience 😉

Great post, I couldn´t agree more about everything you wrote. For me the best besides spending time together and making unforgettable memories is also the fact we sometimes face difficult and unpleasant moments while travelling and we have to solve those problems together. This certainly bonds us as well and I´m happy we´re able to do deal with the good & the bad. Fingers crossed we can all travel properly soon again 🙂

This is such a great article! I definitely believe that couples who travel together stay together. I hope to one day meet someone who loves adventuring around the world as much as I do. 🙂

My husband and I miss traveling together so much! What beautiful locations youv’e seen together. True travelers. Pinned as inspiration after COVID is over and we can all get back to traveling!

Great reasons you’ve listed! I always travel with my partner now and love it!

I cannot wait to travel safely again and continue to explore our Planet together

Hi Taylor, I am sure you will find an adventure partner – it is so awesome to just share moments with someone who thinks like you.

That is so true Katja – we grow together and each trip we go together I just a few that we have more things in common and it brings us closer together. Thanks for your comment

So true and so wonderfully you have explained. Though I’m more of a solo traveler. But I’m sure traveling with a like-minded partner also must be a real fun.

Thank you so much – I am also a solo traveler, and when I can, I travel with my husband, and you are right, it is so great when we find a like-minded partner to travel with. It is not easy to find one, but when we do, it makes the trip even better to have someone else to share the new adventures.

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6 Ways Traveling Together Can Strengthen a Relationship

There are so many ways to keep your relationship strong and to grow alongside your partner. For me and my husband, our preferred method is travel.

I first met Nathan in a hostel dorm room in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was 2011, and I was on a European backpacking trip just after college, traveling with my best friend. Call it fate, serendipity, or mere coincidence, but I still can’t believe that I looked across that cramped, dingy dorm room and saw my future husband sitting there. (Though of course, I wouldn’t know it at the time).

Fast forward almost six years later and we’re now married, having shared adventures across the world. We drove 5,000 miles around Australia in a cozy campervan. We house sat for two tiny dogs on the coast of Southeast England. We enjoyed a snowy, romantic Christmas in charming Brasov, Romania . We snorkeled with whale sharks, the biggest fish in the sea.

We’ve done a lot, and through it all, we’ve ultimately learned how travel has forced us both to grow, and made that growth happen together. In so many ways, travel has strengthened and enriched our relationship, and now our marriage. If you make adventuring a priority, it can do the same for you. Here are 6 ways travel can deepen your love.

You see the best and worst of each other

Yes, it’s kind of scary, but travel can bring out your greatest faults, your whiniest complaints, and your lowest moments. Traveling together in close quarters can especially result in tensions running high, and if you add delayed flights or getting lost to the mix, you’ve got a recipe for stress.

In a marriage, travel can help you reveal some of your issues (or at least unearth a few of your pet peeves and minor grievances). You become vulnerable and really REAL with one another, and the resulting bond that is formed—even in the face of a few fights—is undeniable.

Those shared memories and inside jokes are priceless

Being married to your best friend is one of the greatest blessings a person can have. Getting to travel with that person is an even greater joy. Nothing can compare, for us, to the special and private memories we’ve had together while on the road. No one else was there when we drove up a pitch black mountain in Wales at midnight and got stuck at the top. Together, we got out of that sticky situation, and now we can laugh together about that hilarious, terrifying moment. I wouldn’t trade that for the world, and we plan to keep making more of these memories together.

Couples travel teaches you how to compromise

There’s a beauty in solo travel. You get to be 100% in charge of your own adventure. When traveling with your partner, compromise is necessary. This is such a valuable skill to develop in any marriage, and travel makes an excellent proving ground. When you’re out in the world together, you’ll realize you have to make sacrifices for the benefit of your significant other. And that’s okay. So you have to give up the museum visit so she can see something she wants to see. But seeing your loved one happy? That’s an incredible reward. These kinds of compromises are a wonderful way to show your love for one another—and to ensure you have a happy trip for two.

You’ll rely on one another like never before

Sometimes travel can be a bit scary. You’re in an unfamiliar place, perhaps far from anyone you know. Except, of course, your spouse. It’s time to get cozy! Indeed, traveling together will make you rely heavily on one another. This is great because it helps build trust, respect, and companionship. Especially when things get tough. (There’s nothing like food poisoning abroad to really bring the marriage to the level of realness!) This reliance on one another can also be a point of tension, so it’s important to be communicative about your needs. We recommend taking a day or even just a couple hours to travel on your own and soak in the culture independently. It can be an ideal way to rejuvenate yourself.

Travel is the perfect opportunity for romance

Ooh la la! You’ve probably heard before that travel is a wonderful way to rekindle the flame of passion. We totally think this is true, whether it’s a simple camping trip or a luxury beach resort vacation. You don’t even have to go very far to have a beautiful weekend away. Road trips are an awesome excuse for an escape. Now that we’re living in New England, we plan to embark on plenty of romantic getaways that are just a few hours’ drive away.

Simply being in a new environment enlivens your senses, and brings a newness and freshness to your relationship. It’s always a good idea to keep your expectations reasonable when traveling together, though. Not every couples trip will be a love fest, and that’s totally ok. Just go with the flow and enjoy your time together.

Embarking on adventures makes you better people

Your marriage will be enriched by travel not only because you grow together, but because you grow independently. Getting out of your comfort zone, trying new things, expanding your horizons….all of this equates to becoming a more mature, thoughtful, and brave individual. If you’re traveling internationally, it can also help you develop your understanding of other cultures and widen your views of the world and its people. This is invaluable knowledge and there’s no better way to obtain it than through travel. Whether close to home or across the globe, adventuring hand in hand will change you like nothing else, and will transform your relationship for the better.

Amy Hartle is a writer and photographer at Two Drifters, a couples lifestyle & travel blog. Together with her husband, she aims to share her adventures around the world, as well as travel and lifestyle tips. The ultimate goal is to inspire others to “journey farther, together.” She currently lives in New Hampshire.

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7 thoughts on “6 ways traveling together can strengthen a relationship”.

Totally Agree with your content. I love going on vacations with my better half as equally as solo trips. But somewhere I feel, the magcial moments, that we create when on couple trips, I miss those in solo trips. I am a hobby travel blogger, and this site really helps me improve my writing and blogging style. Any feedback is really appreciates – https:mytravelguideblog.com

Thank You https:mytravelguideblog.com

thanks for this amazing article. I have been so many places but we didn’t go very well but now I am looking for these ways to build up our relationship. so thank you so much mate for this great info.

Thanks for sharing my story! Couples travel is the bees knees! hehehe

Best… And worst moments. That is so true 🙂 I would also argue that you learn the balance of couple time and solo time when traveling with your SO, at least I definitely did

Totally. We’ve had to make sure we spend time apart while traveling….especially my introvert husband hehe. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Totally agree! My boyfriend and I met travelling and have been living abroad for over 6 years now, it definitely made us work together as a team!!

That’s awesome, where did you two meet!!?

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Is It Too Soon To Take Your First Trip With Your Partner? Here's How You Can Tell

Going on your first trip with your significant other is a big step in your relationship. Before you plan a vacation together, you want to make sure that it's not too soon to travel with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Even a short weekend away can put pressure on your relationship and test your compatibility and conflict-resolution skills. "A vacation is a great opportunity to strengthen a relationship but it can also test it," Benjamin Ritter, relationship expert and founder of The Breakup Supplement told Elite Daily. "The biggest problem you might encounter on your first trip together is that you are spending too much time together."

Every relationship is different, and every person is different. So, there is no set amount of time after which it's "safe" to go on a trip with your partner. Instead of a number of weeks or months, think about some dating milestones you two may or may not have achieved. You'll want to be past certain points before you consider going away as a couple. For example, have you spent 24 hours or more together? Was it comfortable, or did you feel like you needed space? Are you OK with going to the bathroom in front of your significant other? It may sound silly, but it's an issue for some people. Have you had to resolve a big conflict together yet? Were you successful? If you've reached these points and handled them together, you may be ready to spend time away with your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Here are three stories from couples who did go away together that may help you determine whether or not you and your partner are ready for a trip.

This girl suggests waiting until you're "official."

Last March, I had been seeing a guy for two months when he spontaneously suggested a long weekend getaway to a tropical island. We were 'exclusive but not official' (his words, not mine — ugh), but I was really into him and thought the trip would be romantic. I won't lie, the trip had its amazing moments: cocktails on the beach, insanely delicious food, salsa dancing with a hot dude, a luxury hotel room paid for by that same hot dude? Awesome. But all that made me assume he felt serious about me. It was confusing and upsetting when he faded out on me not long after the trip. I won't ever travel with a partner again unless we've been in a committed relationship for a while. At the time, I felt silly worrying about how we labeled our relationship, but the aftermath of the trip proved to me that the 'official' label actually does matter.

— Hannah, 24

This guy's story proves that you should probably have practiced resolving conflicts (and been successful) before you travel together.

I accompanied my then-girlfriend from Boston to Providence for a journalism assignment she had. We ended up getting in a fight because I guess I didn't let her pick enough music in the car and it somehow turned into a discussion about our whole relationship. We almost broke up over it, and only lasted three more months afterward.

This girl's experience shows that being comfortable with your SO before your trip is the key to a successful vacation.

My first weekend getaway with my boyfriend was a surprise trip he planned as my Christmas present. He made a reservation at a tiny, romantic B&B within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. We walked down to the beach and had margaritas while the sun set and then went to the best burrito place in town. We had a romantic candlelit dinner and then walked back to the B&B to relax for a bit and find a place to go for dessert. I was so relaxed and happy and comfortable with him that I fell asleep at 8 p.m. He stayed up watching Die Hard and drinking rosé out of the bottle, waiting for me to wake up. I slept through the night.

— Sarah, 24

If you're still unsure if it might be too soon to hop on a plane somewhere with your partner for a week-long trip, Jess Hopkins , a millennial life coach, advises you to attempt a mini trial run. "Testing the waters before committing to a big trip is key," she says. "Plan a few smaller, lower stakes excursions that could emulate some of the challenges that could crop up on vacation. For example, go on a long hike or plan a full day of local museums to see how your partner fares when they start feeling 'over it.'"

Whatever you do, don't rush this major step in your relationship. If you wait until you're both truly ready, your vacation will be that much more enjoyable.

Check out the entire Gen Why series and other videos on Facebook and the Bustle app across Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

Check out the “Best of Elite Daily” stream in the Bustle App for more stories just like this!

clock This article was published more than  4 years ago

The completely correct guide to traveling with a significant other

For many of us, travel is a romantic luxury that helps us escape the doldrums of our daily lives. Sometimes, we’re lucky to experience travel with a partner. We envision the future trips with rose-colored glasses. What could go wrong?

So, so many things. While travel is one of life’s treasures, it’s also incredibly stressful. You’re thrown into a new place with new challenges. Decision fatigue hits hard when every minute of the day is filled with new choices. There’s jet lag , getting lost, losing luggage. Add another person into the mix, and now you’re trying to balance both of your vacations.

To prepare yourself for the best time possible, we spoke with relationship experts about how to travel with a significant other — whether you’ve been dating for six months or 60 years.

Start small

This one is for the new couples. You know you want to travel together, and you’re just starting to brainstorm your options. Experts say you might want to test out your travel compatibility with a small trip first.

“Traveling and being with a person 24/7 is very different than dating and having dinner together two or three nights a week,” says Robert Reiner, a psychologist and executive director at Behavioral Associates . “Go stay in a B&B for a night. See what it’s like in the morning when you’re not going to run out the door.”

Before deciding to take on a more ambitious vacation — such as backpacking through Europe or a remote getaway — try a low-stakes trip, like a staycation or an overnight trip to a city nearby.

Be transparent about your budget beforehand

One of the most common issues couples fight over is money . Get on the same page about your travel budget before you even book.

“Budget can be a really big concern. The last thing you want is to not discuss it,” says Paulette Sherman, a psychologist and author of the book “ Dating From the Inside Out .”

My best tip is to be transparent about your budgets! That way you know what you're each willing to spend on accommodation, food, transportation, and activities ✈️ — Marina Nazario (@marinajane19) February 4, 2020

Sherman says that couples should discuss how much money they’d like to spend, what kind of accommodations each party is comfortable paying for, and who will be paying for what.

Couples can get creative when it comes to managing vacation finances. Some opt for detailed spreadsheets to keep track of who’s paid for what, while others rely on the payment app Venmo to share costs.

Come up with a game plan for your travel and financial styles, and make sure it’s agreed upon before you leave.

Checking a bag vs. carrying on is the great debate of airline travel

Make a wish list together

As you plan, sit down and figure out what you each want from the experience. That can be done explicitly — a written list of things you’d like to do, see and eat while you’re on the road. Or you can get creative with how you brainstorm.

Pam Costa, a therapist and Somatica certified sex and relationship coach, suggests asking how you’d both like to feel on vacation, vs. what you would like to do.

If a person says, “I really want to feel relaxed,” try to include relaxing experiences, or pick a beach destination to visit. If a person says they want to feel spontaneous, a more adventurous itinerary could be in order.

Make sure to leave room for the unknown. A surefire way to make your trip more stressful is to pack your agenda from morning to night. It’s not just tension-tempting for couples, it’s also rough for any traveler. Keep your plans flexible to stay ready for unexpected hitches.

Discuss your preferred travel styles

Is this your first trip together? Don’t forget to discuss basic topics, like your fears and preferred travel style. If you’re afraid of flying, speak up before your partner starts booking a flight across the world. Figure out if one of you prefers to check a bag, while the other swears by the carry-on . Do you get to the airport three hours early , or do you fly by the seat of your pants? Do you want some privacy at your lodging, or are you comfortable with any hotel room bathroom layout?

make sure that in whatever accommodation you are there is a proper door to the bathroom and not one of those fancy, modern glass doors/no door-esp in beginning of relationship. Privacy is ...important!! — Elettra Scrivo (@elettrascrivo) February 5, 2020

Conversations like these give couples a point of reference to rely on throughout their relationship. You want to talk about your values, wants, pet peeves and dislikes as much as possible so there aren’t surprises later. Reiner recommends anticipating as many different topics and situations as you can before your trip. Then talk them out.

“The most successful relationships have the most reference points,” Reiner says. “Be proactive with this stuff.”

If you’re uncomfortable being explicit with your wants, Reiner advises couples to have the conversation anyway, even if you’re shy.

“People have to get over the notion that life is going to be comfortable all the time,” he says. “Life is not a pleasure cruise all the time, even if it is vacation.”

Manage expectations, and embrace compromise

Once you’ve made your travel wish lists, plan a trip that’s going to work for the both of you. If you both have different expectations of a good time, you’ll need to compromise to keep each other happy.

“The first thing you have to accept: You can’t always get what you want,” Reiner says. “Very often, someone will have these expectations that everything should go their way. That’s ridiculous.”

Reiner once worked with a married couple who had a nightmare vacation to France. One partner was exclusively interested in food and wine, while the other wanted to be golfing the entire trip. Neither party compromised.

“This was their last vacation together,” he says. “It actually ended their relationship.”

Of course, it’s not the vacation’s fault that Reiner’s patients broke up. Being open and communicative about your needs is important on the days you’re not vacationing. But to avoid hurt feelings and frustrations while you’re traveling, be particularly open about your desires, while making sure that both partners gets their needs met.

Managing your own expectations is key. There’s a lot of hype leading up to your vacation. You’re better off thinking that you’re going on a trip — not the be-all, end-all trip of your life.

“People have these magical, irrational notions that the minute they step off the plane, they’re going to be ecstatic, and that’s plain wrong,” Reiner says.

Remind yourself that you’ll still have your own baggage to deal with, as well as the stressful travel obstacles to face. Even the best trips come with headaches.

Take some alone time

Traveling together can be wholly different than being at home together, where you may both have your own separate work, responsibilities to take care of throughout the day. Suddenly you’re bound to each other all day and all night. Even if you’re very in love, that can be a lot for a couple. Costa says this can be challenging for couples old and new.

“One of the things I encourage couples to do is to think: do I have some time for myself within this trip?” she says. “Is there a place where you get to just go and tend to yourself so that you can then show up in the relationship?”

Costa says it can be healthy to plan activities alone, like a spa day or taking a walk. The space will give you the opportunity to get excited about reuniting and share the new things you saw while you were apart.

How chefs find restaurants when they travel

Factor in jet lag, exhaustion and stress if arguments arise

On vacation, not only will you see new sights and cities, you also may see new sides of your partner. Maybe someone can keep it together at home, but now they’re jet-lagged and exhausted — and going to lose it getting elbowed at the Mona Lisa.

Everything is more intense when you’re traveling, Sherman says, whether that’s intense joy or intense stress. Couples should try to be extra-sensitive and extra-understanding to each other.

“People get very tired and hungry and sometimes irritable or angry, because they’re not in their normal element,” she says. “I tell couples, even when they’re not traveling … take a break until you’re in a better place."

Each make a list of your 5 to 7 ideal scenario and absolute no-no when travelling and vacationing. Bring lists together. Find commonality (sweet spot) and design journey by eliminating as much as possible the no-no. Keep sweet spot lists prominently visible before & during trip. — Welby Altidor (@welbyaltidor) February 4, 2020

Costa goes so far as to say that fights should be seen as gift: an opportunity to learn more about each other.

“They show us something that’s important to us, and we’re human,” she says. “Be really kind to yourself for having those feelings.”

Her recommendation, like Sherman’s, is to give your argument more structure than just duking it out. Instead of launching into a screaming match, choose who will be understood first, and who will be listened to second. Continue switching roles as you work your way through the conflict.

Regroup afterward

Most of your planning and preparation will take place before you leave, but, Costa says, it can be valuable to regroup after the party’s over to deepen your relationship.

“What you do after the vacation can be really, really rich,” she says. “The pre-work can make the vacation better than it would otherwise have been, and the work after can bring some of the vacation into your life.”

Think about what made you both happy when you were traveling together, what made you upset and what you’d like to repeat again.

Make the conversation intentional, or it might not happen. It can even lead to planning your next vacation together.

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50 Romantic Quotes About Travel and Love to Inspire Your Next Adventure

Share the love — these travel-themed quotes make perfect posts for globe-trotting couples.

Travel nourishes a relationship in many ways. Discovering new cultures and encountering unfamiliar points of view can feed your curiosity while drawing you closer as a couple. Whether your romance is in its infancy or you have 20 years of marriage under your belt, there is always a way to share new experiences with your love — especially when you’re traveling together.

The crossroads of adventure and romance have inspired many writers and artists to share their observations and words of wisdom. To help you find the perfect caption for your Instagram posts on a couple's trip, here are 50 of our favorite quotes about travel and love.

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Hopeless Romantic

“I would like to travel the world with you twice. Once, to see the world. Twice to see the way you see the world.” — Anonymous

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” — Paulo Coehlo

“Here's to all the places we went. And all the places we'll go. And here's to me, whispering again and again and again and again: iloveyou.” — John Green

“Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” — Walt Whitman

“Love is never hurtful; it’s never about forgetting who you are, it’s about exploring yourself more.” — Ankita Singhal

"But I love your feet only because they walked upon the earth and upon the wind and upon the waters, until they found me.“ — Pablo Neruda

"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” — Anaïs Nin

“Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.” — Anonymous

“We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” — Katie Thurmes

“Come on, fly with me, we'll float down in the blue.” — Frank Sinatra, "Fly Me to the Moon"

“It doesn’t matter where you are going, it’s who you have beside you.” — Anonymous 

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” — William Shakespeare

“Life is short and the world is wide. The sooner you start exploring it with the person you love, the better.” – Simon Raven

“I'm your cherry blossom, baby, don’t let me blow away. I hope you haven't forgotten Tokyo wasn't built in a day.” — Kacey Musgraves, "Cherry Blossom" 

“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” — Paula Bendfeldt

“Baby, you’re my open road, you can take me anywhere the wind blows.” — American Authors, "What We Live For"

"A city becomes a world when one loves one of its inhabitants." — Lawrence Durrell

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Adventurous Couple

“Why should a relationship mean settling down? Wait out for someone who won’t let life escape you, who will challenge you and drive you toward your dreams. Someone spontaneous who you can get lost in the world with. A relationship, with the right person, is a release, not a restriction.” — Beau Taplin

“You’d be surprised who the love of your life turns out to be. After all, Adventure fell in love with Lost.” — Erin Van Vuren

“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.” — Vera Nazarian

“Date someone who is a home and an adventure all at once.” — Anonymous

“Take only memories, leave only footprints.” — Chief Seattle

“I've fallen in love with adventures, so I begin to wonder, if that's why I've fallen for you.” — E. Grin

“So, come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned.” — James Matthew Barrie

“As soon as I saw you I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” — A. A. Milne

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” — Jack Kerouac

“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” — Rumi

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame but something wild to run with.” — Robert Brault

“A couple who travel together, grow together.” — Ahmad Fuadi

“I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand. But you brought me here and I'm happy that you did.” — Miley Cyrus, "Malibu"

"I love your feet because they wandered over the earth and through the wind and water until they brought you to me." — Pablo Neruda

“Traveling is the best thing any couple can do. That’s how we had the idea of the honeymoon. Newly wed couples going to a new place on their own so that all they could have is each other.” — Salil Jha

Quotes About Travel and Love for the Reluctant Romantic

“To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced life.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” — John Steinbeck

“Never to go on trips with anyone you do not love.” — Ernest Hemingway

“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” — Mark Twain

“No road is long with good company.” — Turkish proverb

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

“Home is not where you are from, it is where you belong. Some of us travel the whole world to find it. Others find it in a person.” — Beau Taplin

“One of the great things about travel is you find out how many good, kind people there are.” — Edith Wharton

“And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” — Pico Iyer

“Love is the food of life, travel is dessert.” — Anonymous

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” — Henry Miller

“I don’t want to be tied down with someone; I want to be set free with someone.” — Anonymous

“Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.” — Leigh Hunt

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson 

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” — Rumi

“In life, it’s not where you go. It’s who you travel with.” — Charles M. Schulz

“Travel, trouble, music, art, a kiss, a frock, a rhyme — I never said they feed my heart, but still they pass my time.” ― Dorothy Parker

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What is the Role of Public Relations in the Travel and Tourism Industry?

What are the benefits of public relations in travel and tourism, tips and tricks for creating an effective pr campaign, 1. have a strong social media strategy, 2. bet on local, personalized messages, 3. partner with important travelers and influencers, 4. focus on mobile devices, 5. create video content, 6. participate in and organize events, 7. look to the future of vr technology, 8. interact with prospects and customers, 9. monitor social media mentions of your brand, 10. measure the results of your efforts, final thoughts , public relations in travel and tourism: how to do it right.

Kinga Edwards

Dec, 17, 2021

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Travel and tourism public relations play a key role in helping your company remain visible in its field. Without proper PR, most people won’t even know who your brand is or what it does.

💡 Read Digital PR Explained: Best Strategies and Tools

Here are some ways you can create great PR yourself, even without hiring a professional agency.

People travel further and more frequently than ever before. So your brand has no choice but to try harder and harder to stand out in this competitive market.

Public Relations (PR) is one of the big things that affect tourism. It refers to getting information out there to the public about an entity, offering them something exciting and newsworthy.

Public relations covers traditional media relations, content creation, and social media initiatives. It’s a long-term strategy – a consistent, ongoing presence generates awareness and exposure and helps companies reach revenue goals.

Despite its importance, public relations is still viewed as a less important part of the marketing mix by many brands. 

There is nothing more false than that – PR, no matter the industry, should be treated seriously and with the right strategy.

It’s essential to portray your brand well to increase bookings, engage customers, and build a positive reputation that will impact your whole brand’s performance.

• Travel PR brings valuable media connections. The media regularly release, for example, lists of the top hotels to visit – use it to your advantage and make sure that your business is in it. Such positive publicity builds credibility and helps create a positive image.
• PR can be a useful promotional tool. Blog reviews and press releases are a great way to tell your company’s story in an engaging, opinionated tone. It doesn’t have to be too pushy to be successful. They can help you build credibility and exposure for the brand.
• PR streamlines the process of creating your brand’s awareness. By supporting charities or organizing special events, you can easily promote your brand and build awareness. Whether launching a new product or just running a promotional campaign, you can easily promote your business through these PR activities.
• PR provides a greater connection with the audience. All actions will not stay irrelevant for your target audience. It will pay off in the future.
• PR can help you communicate with the stakeholders. Public relations activities can help you maintain a good relationship with all the stakeholders, e.g., the investors or even engage your employees .

Read: PR Automation: Best Tools Which Do The Work For You

Tourism and travel is a slightly different industry than others (but one where you have lots of room for action). The following tips are helpful in general, but you can also find some that work particularly well in your field.

To succeed in this hugely competitive market – take a look at some actions that can help you leverage your business objectives.

It may not surprise you at all – but pay close attention to your social media strategy. The Internet has become the most popular channel for travelers to book their trips – more than ever before travelers are online and mobile-savvy.

83% of US adults now prefer to book their travel online. From general data, reviews to exciting photos of resorts and hotels – every detail matters to encourage them to purchase.

Experiment with different strategies to see what works best for you. Be creative, gather your data, look at what others do, and develop a plan that suits your business model best.

This is easy to say but often hard to actually do. We are all so used to our own social media platforms that it is tough to look outside of your comfort zone. 

It’s no use just posting on Facebook or Instagram – if you want actionable results, you have to take a closer look at each platform and see what opportunities they offer you. For instance, you can work on a theme-based design for your Instagram profile. It is important you  change background in photo  so your posted pictures match the overall theme of your profile.

You can’t be everywhere at the same time. So don’t try to market your company in every corner of the world – focus on specific areas and people who live there . 

The personal touch goes a long way, especially when trying to increase your brand awareness among travelers. Keep in mind that word-of-mouth marketing is quite popular in the tourism industry.

Understand your target audience, and customer needs clearly to know how to create a message that will convince them.

Explore influencers and brands associated with the demographic you’re aiming for, and figure out how you can partner with and gain exposure through them.

There are many influencers explicitly connected with the travel industry (from nano influencers to top ones). Most of them work within Instagram but very often extend their activity to other platforms as well.

Bringing in partners to help with your tourism campaign can be a great idea. But before you start, make sure you approach the right person who will bring in more traffic and increase brand awareness.

70% of travelers research trips on their smartphones . Even if you’re used to targeting desktop users, it makes sense to create a couple of versions of your site – one specifically designed for the small screen.

Having a mobile version of your website will keep you ahead of the competition and ensure that users can find everything they may need on the go.

Videos are an excellent way to catch consumers’ attention and help them picture what it would be like to vacation on the beach, ski in fresh powder, or cruise among Norwegian fiords.

All PR activities can be strengthened by engaging, creative content. Create a video using the best quality equipment you have available. It doesn’t need to be professional-level editing or animation, but it does need to look good. 

The video’s production value is a massive factor in terms of the return on investment it will generate for you, simply because viewers will be far more likely to engage with your work if it looks appealing.

That’s why we recommend using FlexClip , an excellent tool for creating high-quality travel video content that will captivate your audience and showcase the beauty and excitement of your destination.

Public relations events are your chance to show off your company or offers and services to the general public. Organizing and participating in PR events allows you to create a positive image of your company and highlight its social benefits.

Take part in events organized by third parties, such as fairs and exhibitions, to gain significant opportunities to reach customers directly and gain lasting business relationships. Promoting your brand during major travel events is a great way to call attention to your company. You can also research virtual events for this purpose.

The development of VR technology can change the world of tourism (and already does).

As a growing number of enterprises start using VR as a sales tool, such experience has become an important part of marketing strategies used by businesses that deal with the travel and tourism industry – from hotels to airlines companies . 

Companies must offer their customers tailored services and products – from developing a custom virtual reality app for mobile devices to unique virtual tours.

The technology can, for example, be used to present hotel interiors in detail or to show what tourists can expect at a particular place on the spot.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase 360-degree imagery of a destination with high resolution, allowing the user to imagine themselves at the travel destination.

PR is not only about events, taking care of the overall image of your company, etc. You can’t forget about one of the most critical factors – your audience. It’s not enough to give them engaging content and experience .

To take care of your positive online image, you have to interact with your audience. Respond to the reviews (both positive and negative), and remember that you should answer all the questions your prospects have.

Thus, you can create a positive customer experience and retain loyal clients.

We know that it’s hard to track all the mentions and react as quickly as possible. However, consider testing out a social monitoring tool if it’s too much for you and you want to make your work easier.

It’s a solution that will notify you as soon as somebody mentions your brand and automatically detect the mentions’ sentiment. It also provides ready-made reports, full of valuable data that you can generate in a matter of a minute.

Such real-time tracking helps you to manage your online presence and the whole PR campaign more effectively.

What happens if you’re running a PR campaign for your travel company and all of a sudden, you notice that the conversion rate has gone down? Or that there was no improvement whatsoever?

Before making any changes, it’s important to measure the results of your efforts . Otherwise, you can lose a lot of money unnecessarily.

Having metrics in place is the key to understanding if you’re doing a good job, and it will tell you what needs to be done. 

You should set up measurements to track your efforts. It can be as simple as creating a spreadsheet and adding columns such as:

• Type of PR (for example, press release, blog article)
• Metrics (e.g. sales leads)
• Result (was there any improvement?)

You can then dig into deeper data that will help you pinpoint the action items that need fixing. Ultimately, it enables you to understand whether or not your PR campaign is successful and if there are any areas for improvement.

Read: PR Measurement: What Is the Right Way to Prove PR Effectiveness?

Public relations in the travel and tourism industry is not just about adding hype to your product, getting online visibility, and so on. Instead, PR helps provide value that goes beyond just the promotion of your company or business.

In the travel industry, the benefits of PR are huge. It helps companies gain more market penetration, create awareness about their business, build loyalty with existing customers and potential prospects, and raise the conversion rate.

If you want to set up a successful PR campaign, then consider all the tips that we mentioned here. Good luck!

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What is Ethical and Sustainable Tourism

And how to make conscious travel decisions, it is enough to google “sustainable travel” to get millions of answers from: “travel is a force for good”; “travel is a driver for positive change”; “sustainable tourism has a green glow to it”, etc. etc..

Photo by: MADA RIYANHADI

There is also a myriad of confusing terms used loosely by both travellers and the travel industry to describe more or less the same thing: from responsible tourism to eco-travel and green travel to community-based tourism and even regenerative travel. Enough to get our head spinning, as travellers. But in a nutshell, they are all trying to describe how ethical and sustainable our travels are.

To understand the concept behind “sustainable travel” we need to realised that our travel, leisure and recreational choices and activities are part of a much larger economic, social and environmental context. Let’s examine some of these elements before we delve into the meaning of sustainable travel.

In this articles you will learn about:

The economics of travel

Cancel culture and the dark side of travel, evolving traveller expectations, sustainable travel initiatives, so, what is sustainable travel, if you care about your travel impact here is what you need to know.

While tourism and travel generally are considered to be non-essential economic activities the reality is they have a huge impact on the world economy. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that 1 in 10 people are employed in the travel industry directly and indirectly. Nearly 3 billion travel internationally each year and they generate a staggering USD 2.3 trillion in global revenue. May be not this year, but this trend is here to stay.

Photo by: EGOR METSLER

Just to put things into perspective this is roughly the equivalent of the GDP of 5 of the top 10 world economies respectively: UK, France, Italy, Brazil and Canada. Only the economies of USA, China, Japan, Germany and India are larger than the global travel industry.

If we add to these figures the value of domestic travel, leisure and recreation this makes travel the 4th largest sector in the world only after mining, automotive and agriculture, according to the WTTC.

This is why a pandemic of the size of COVID-19 has a devastating impact on travel and a huge knock on effect on other industries, such as infrastructure (roads, ports, airports), agriculture and fishing, technology and other related services such as insurance and finance. It is estimated that nearly 200mn people will lost their tourism related in 2020 and up to 80% of passenger transportation has been cancelled so far, including flights, trains and ship.

However, travel is not only about its economic benefits. There is also a number of social and environmental issues that go with it and there is a very dark side to travel as well which is mostly linked to it ecological and social impact.

Organisations such the WTTC and WTO (UN World Tourism Organisation) are working hard to highlight and prove the economic value of tourism and in recent years have put travel sustainably and sustainable development high on their agendas. They have realised that economics is an equation that involves the planet and people. However, decades of reckless ecological and social exploitation for economic benefits have led to a negative image of tourists and tourism in general.

There is a growing cancel culture towards tourism and travel as being harmful to the environment and society.

New terms have emerged to shame the culprits: from “flygskam” (flight shame) and “tagskryt” (train-bragging) to “human zoos” and over-tourism. While this movement has created an important momentum towards being more conscious travellers, it can also have a paralysing effect.

We are also aware of flying being extremely carbon intensive, cruise ships spewing toxic and human waste into the ocean and crowds literally sinking Venice, we tend to look the other way when it comes to some other fundamental and just as damaging travel practices.

One example is the extreme dependence of a country’s economy on tourism like in the case of island nations such as Fiji, the Maldives and the Seychelles. Natural disasters, political unrests or pandemics, like the current one, not only lead to an economic standstill but to a complete social collapse. For countries like these tourist crowds can be like locust invasions, devastating the place and living it to its own devices when disaster strikes. And if we dive deeper we realise that there are even darker sides to travel, including hunting trips, “trophy” tourism, sex, orphan and refugee attractions.

No wonder that tourism and tourists have earned a bad reputation in many places. And as the world turns its attention to other more pressing matters such as dealing with the current crisis, such situations are being aggravated.

There are already reports of people who have lost their tourism jobs turning to uncontrolled fishing to feed their families and the lack of rangers increasing the poaching in wildlife protected areas. Not to mention the masses of waste, and Covid waste in particular, that are starting to litter seashores and oceans, which are often prime travel and leisure locations.

The concept of travel is changing. Even now during lockdown and constantly changing restrictions we see a transformation in the way people perceive travel, leisure and recreation.

Photo by: RACHEL WIESMANN

While there has been a growing movement of “Stay at Home” and “Dream Now Travel Later” advocates, people have not stopped to travel. They are just travelling differently. New terms have emerged such as “stacations” and “locavores”.

This is all part of a larger trend that has been going on in the last couple of decades towards more experiential and immersive travel. It is no longer enough to go and lay on a beach that can be anywhere in the world or cruise on a ship the size of a moving city that can be sailing anywhere in the ocean. Travellers want to experience places and immerse themselves in new cultures. They are looking for interaction with local people and communities and to discover breath-taking and pristine environments.

Photo by: JAROMIR CHALABALA

This has become the new travel mantra fuelled by social media. People are making bucket-lists and wish-lists of places they what to visit. Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Tik-Tuk are filled with images of perfect dreamy places stimulating travellers’ appetite for more and shaping their attitudes and behaviours towards a place. Only on Instagram there are over 500 million posts tagged with #travel and over 10 million #bucketlist posts. Heated debated are sparked by influencers and their followers on over-tourism, “green-washing”, the ethics behind geotagging places in nature and if ecotourism is really ethical. Social media has become the single most powerful influencer of where we want to go, what we want to do and how we want to experience places.

As we are looking for more immersive experiences the more aware we become of natural environments and the people and cultures we visit.

This has led to another trend: more mindful and conscious travel and travellers.  Terms such as “responsible traveller or “responsible tourist” and “green travellers” have emerged. Influencers and marketing companies come up with new slogans such “tread lightly” and be a “respectful trailblazers”. However, irrespectively of the terminology we use the most fundamental legacy of this movements is a drive toward more ethical and eco-friendly travel. Over 60% of people day thy have taken some form of a sustainable trip in the last 3 years and over 30% say lack of information is the single biggest obstacle to sustainable travel.

The travel industry has been quick to jump on the “sustainability” bandwagon.

There is a proliferation of self-proclaimed eco-friendly accommodations such as “eco-hotels”, “eco-resorts” and “eco-lodges”, specialised Online Travel Agents (OTAs) and certifications and labels trying to cater for this new generation of eco-conscious globetrotters. There are over 50 certification schemes and labels addressing the environmental sustainability and social responsibility of destinations and places. Examples include Green Key, Green Globe, Globe Check and Earth Leaf, to mention but a few.

On the OTA site there are platforms such as Green Pearls, Kinder Traveller and Book Different. The search engine Ecosia offers a choice of booking options that contribute in one way or another to the local economy, ecology and people we visit. Even the giant booking.com has seized the economic value of “travelling responsibly” by partnering with Green Key. All of them enticing you as a traveller to book with them and they will offset your travel carbon footprint, plant trees and give back to fair trade and community projects.

However, there are also many travel companies that have been created with sustainable at the very core of their values and activities.

Examples include Intrepid and Grasshopper Adventures. The Long Run is a group of property owners which oversee collectively over 21 million acres of land and have a substantial amount of natural, wildlife and cultural assets to protect. They are working jointly to share best practices.  Regenerative Travel is another example of an organisation that has elevated the discussion to a new level, where we no long speak about sustainability but regeneration.

All of this has given travellers a massive headache fuelled by a sense of guilt and confusion. How can one as a traveller sift through the mountains of “eco-claims” and navigate through the maze of “green-boasting” and “green-washing”?

It is time to get back to the question of “what is ethical and sustainable travel?”. The definition of sustainable travel is evolving constantly as travel expectations and experiences develop and destinations are faces with an increasing number of eco and social challenges: from over-tourism to climate change and plastic waste. While many are trying to nail down and box in this definition the travel community will continue to come up with new and improved versions and names to grasp the concept of travelling more ethically and sustainably.

For us at Positive Travel ethical and sustainable travel is the junction where traveller expectations and destination needs meet at environmental, social and economic level.

It is a mutual understanding between all travel stakeholders of the impact travel, leisure and recreation have on these 3 intrinsically linked pillars and a common agenda on how to ensure a positive impact for the planet and people on individual, community and global level.

This approach has helps us shape a set of 12 +principles each addressing concerns voiced by the travel community and their related impact ranging from climate, zero waste and wildlife protection to fair working conditions, culture and heritage protection and local sourcing. Everything we do is link to one or several of these principles.

Buddhist Man Paying Respect to Monk at Pangong Lake Ladakh Jammu and Kashmir, india

  There is no magic wand or silver bullet. We, as travellers, will have to do the leg work. Just like we invest time and energy to shape our perfect dream trips, holiday and vacations by browsing the internet, social media and specialised magazines looking for inspiration, we can do the same with creating our perfect sustainable and ethical travel experience. Eventually it will become a natural part of our travel, leisure and recreation decision making process. This will help us avoid travel and leisure activities which are harmful for nature and locals leaning towards the “dark side of travel” and decipher “green-washing” claims.

There is no perfect advice or checklist on how to make our trips more ethical and sustainable. However, we can start by asking some of the following questions:

• Does the destination and place feet my personal values and ethos?
• Do I prefer to go to popular destinations or get off the beaten track, exploring alternative destinations?
• How can I avoid being part of the crowd and contribute to mass tourism?
• How do I get from A to B? Should I walk, cycle and use public transport or just hop on a taxi? Should I privilege trains to flying , when possible?
• How do I choose the places where I stay? Do I consider how they contribute to the local economy, employment and the environment? Or just book last a minute offer in a mass beach resort with an international hotel chain?
• How do I choose the places where I eat? And do I seek out local, seasonal, sustainably grown and organic options?
• Do I look into buying legitimate local product and hand-crafted items to support local communities and protect wildlife?
• Do I consider what are the resources, such as energy and water , I use when travelling? What do I do with my travel waste?
• What is my attitude towards wildlife and natural pristine places such as National Parks and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and related eco-systems such as coral reefs?
• What is the impact of my leisure and recreational activities?

As we start asking ourselves these questions we will realise that by defining what we stand for as travellers not only shapes the type of travel experiences we want to have but also sends a clear message to the travel industry and destinations what we expect from them.

This helps them in term shape their offering and demand from their respective governments and instructions regulatory and infrastructure changes.

One thing is certain, travel is constantly evolving and the concept of sustainable travel is a fundamental part of it. So, watch this space.

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