In an ideal world, every moment of your romantic holiday would run smoothly – but in reality, travelling can be stressful. We spoke to our experts and discussed common problems couples face when they travel, compiling a list of top tips to help you avoid pressure points on your getaway.
Plan Ahead
Having a solid plan in place is key to making sure everything runs smoothly. This doesn’t mean you need an exact itinerary with every minute of your time mapped out. Instead it means having a clear conversation with your partner about what you both want to do and roughly how much time you’ll spend doing it. This will prevent any surprises or shocks about what you want to do, helping avoid any arguments about activities.
Rachel MacLynn says ““Discuss anything that you particularly want to do beforehand, so you can plan accordingly and avoid any minor arguments.”
Be Flexible
Dr Brian Jory, Couple’s Counsellor and Author, says “Be flexible. You go away together to leave the mundane and predictable behind. Make it an adventure, not a quest to have everything like it is at home. Every little thing that goes wrong is a chance to be spontaneous and rise to the occasion.”
Being flexible is key to having a stress-free holiday that allows you to bond with your loved one. If you get stuck on the little things that go wrong, you’ll miss great opportunities to experience new and exciting things with your partner.
Put your Phone Away
We spend a huge amount of time on our phones and devices nowadays – browsing social media, responding to emails and chatting with friends. If you keep this up on a couple’s holiday you risk distracting yourself from the experience, putting distance between you and your partner, and missing what’s going on around you.
Dennie Smith, Founder of Old Style Dating, recommends staying off your phone. “Put your phones and laptops away. Make the most of your time away with each other, explore your holiday destination, enjoy chatting about the sights and soaking up the sun.”
Strike a Balance
Francesca Hogi notes the importance of variety on a romantic trip saying, “don’t schedule so many activities that you don’t have time to decompress and relax together”.
Doing things you both enjoy is vital on a romantic holiday. Take part in shared interests, spend time trying things your partner likes and vice versa. Make sure you also leave enough time to relax and unwind together so that you don’t become over-tired.
Take Time to Be Apart
It may seem counter intuitive on a couple’s holiday but taking time out by yourself is important. Spending all your time exclusively in the company of a single person can be intense, no matter how much you love your partner.
Psychotherapist and Couple’s Counsellor, Tina B Tessina recommends that you “plan to spend time together and time apart. On vacation, we tend to be in confined spaces: hotel rooms, ship cabins, airplanes, and cars. You may find this is too much closeness, so plan to get occasional breaks from one another. When there are different things you like, doing them separately can give each of you a much-needed break, reduce tension, and refresh your shared time.”
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