Unlock the Secrets of a Romantic Getaway - Tips for Couple Travelers!

Valentine’s Day is this week, so a lot of people are planning a romantic getaway for a night or two, or maybe longer. Traveling together as a couple is exciting, and it’s good for the relationship, too, according to research cited recently in USA Today.

            Couples who travel together “can experience greater romantic and physical intimacy and higher satisfaction with their relationships,” say the scientists. But any seasoned traveler knows that romantic getaways can go wrong, just like any other trip, often through no fault of the couple. Flight delays, overbooked hotels, bad weather…the list of potential problems is a long one. But relationship experts say that the benefits almost always outweigh the risks. Here’s why they say traveling together can be good for couples.

·         Break out of the mundane. Do something different while traveling. Step outside the familiar routines of daily life and immerse yourselves in new experiences. A shared adventure fosters teamwork as you plan the trip, encounter obstacles and work around them. Stepping away from your daily schedules and distractions allows you to focus on each other, leading to meaningful conversations, laughing at silly moments, and being together in ways that are often hard to do at home.

·         Plan an itinerary together. Even if one member tends to be more of a planner than the other, it helps to work together in planning the itinerary. Agreeing on a solid itinerary before departing can decrease the chances of conflict on how to spend vacation time. Make sure each person has the opportunity to enjoy the trip. Having said that…

·         Don’t be afraid to stray from the itinerary. Flexibility is key to a couple’s vacation and a healthy relationship overall. How you deal with flight delays, vehicle breakdowns and the numerous other pitfalls that you might encounter will determine whether you can have a fun and memorable trip in spite of the hiccups. Working the problem on your trip can also help with conflict resolution skills at home.

·         Talk to each other (a lot). Communication is mandatory for a successful couple’s trip, especially if this is your first time traveling together. You’ll both need to adapt to each other’s habits, preferences and inevitable personality quirks. The cooperation and mutual support you need on a trip help build trust.

·         Get a new perspective. You’ll be seeing your partner in a new light, away from his or her familiar routine and lifestyle, giving you a fresh perspective. How do they adapt to stress, handle surprises? Are they willing to dive into new experiences? That could be something as simple as sampling a new dish at a restaurant or engaging in an outside-your-box activity. Travel can help reignite feelings of novelty and spontaneity in the relationship, allowing couples to rediscover each other in a fresh context.

·         Take some alone time. There will be times during the trip when you might want to be by yourself, and that’s okay, even necessary. Take a walk or a swim, read by the pool or on the beach, shop, hit the gym. Spending every waking moment with your companion isn’t a requirement. You’ll feel the need to recharge your own battery.

·         Don’t set lofty expectations. Eventually, your vacations will grow into trips that are bigger and better than the first ones you took. My husband and I took our first trip together to a resort in Jamaica, and since then we’ve traveled all over the world, climbing mountains and exploring Tibetan temples. But occasionally we still like a simple long-weekend getaway, or even a road trip for a night or two. These types of trips allow couples to reconnect. It’s not about where you go or how far away it is; it’s about being intentional with your time and creating memories together.

It might be a little late to plan your getaway for this upcoming Valentine’s Day, but there are plenty of days left in the year, and there’ll be another Valentine’s Day next year. Give us a call and get ready to get away with your special someone!