How To Travel With Your Partner (and Still Like Each Other by the End of It)

Viator writer and Good Beer Hunting editor Claire Bullen says of traveling with her partner Gareth: “We like to plan surprises for each other when we travel, so there's always something fun and unexpected to look forward to throughout the trip. It can be little things, such as making reservations at a cocktail bar or a restaurant that you know they'll enjoy, tucking away a special bottle of wine to open in your Airbnb, or buying pastries or other treats to share in transit. It's all about the small but meaningful gestures!”

“Now that we've been traveling together for almost a decade, we've learned to identify when “hanger” starts to rear its head in our travel day,” say travel bloggers Samuel and Audrey. “If we notice the other person is feeling a bit irritable, we stop and ask ourselves: “is it time for food?” Maybe we've been sightseeing for too long and accidentally skipped lunch, or maybe we're a bit jetlagged and our body is asking: “why haven't you fed me dinner yet?” Either way, a tasty meal always seems to solve any travel grievances.”

“When we started to travel full-time, we had different expectations about how we would travel. And we were quite surprised to figure that out, on the road, Maartje wanted to capture every moment and write about it on a website. I, on the other hand, expected to go offline and travel without so many electronics,” says Roxanne Weijer of travel blog Once Upon a Journey. “What we learned is that communication is key. Especially communication about your expectations. While traveling, you rely on each other. If there are expectations that aren’t met, and they aren’t discussed, you risk losing your travel buddy and life partner.”

Per Viator writer Margot Bigg, flexibility is key to keeping it together when traveling together. “My partner Alex and I love to travel and we seem to grow closer and stronger with every trip. I attribute our smooth dynamic to the fact that both of us are very flexible when we travel. While some travelers like to stick to strict itineraries, we’re more into the choose-your-own adventure approach, with lots of free time built into our travels to help keep things low-stress and fun.”

“When traveling together, always pack some of your clothes in your partner’s bag. My partner Tim and I learnt this the hard way while traveling through Southeast Asia,” says Viator video producer and Backpack with Brock vlogger, Brock Groombridge. “During a marathon journey on bumpy public transit to a pilgrimage site, a local family’s cooking oil spilled all over Tim’s backpack. His clothes were wet, oily, and smelled like chicken. Flash forward to Tim buck naked scrubbing his whole wardrobe (and bag) in our hostel shower.” (Although, he does add that while the sunsets were stunning, “the chicken oil is our favourite memory of that adventure!”)

"When it comes to traveling with your partner, balance is key. It’s important to do activities that each partner enjoys. For example, if your partner is more on the adventurous side and you’re not, get out of your comfort zone, trust that your partner has your back, and go with the flow. We’ve learned from experience that this actually brings you closer together," say digital creators Kay and Si.

“My partner and I don’t spend that much time together in our day-to-day lives since we both travel for work, so when we first began taking leisure trips as a couple, I was all about the intense couple time,” says Viator writer Rebecca Winke of traveling with her partner Omar. “I noticed, however, that around day three or four of a 10-day trip we would start getting snippy with each other … a classic case of “too much of a good thing.” Now, we schedule in a couple of hours of personal time every few days to regroup and enjoy a bit of space. No one takes it personally because it’s baked into our itinerary, and when we meet back up, we have fun exploits to share.”

“After years of traveling together, we've come to realise how important it is to embrace each other's likes when exploring new places,” say travel bloggers Lloyd and Yaya of Hand Luggage Only. “It not only keeps each person happy but also allows you to experience new things that you might not have thought of before. Oh, and the biggest tip! Never get one dessert and two spoons to share. Just get two and embrace the sweet treats.”

Traveling together can put things into perspective, but content creators Charo and Marcus recommend keeping things simple. “Make small gestures every day such as hugs, kisses, cuddles, or compliments; do not neglect the little things of everyday life; arguing from time to time is healthy; respect each other's space; and remember that it’s good to take time to be alone.”