• Select your favourite destinations:

  • Select your favourite activities:

  • Duration:
    Price Range:
    Departure date range:
    Sort By:
Hide
Two people sitting on a beach at sunset

Travelling as a Couple: Top Tips

By Real Travelling

Last updated: 31st August 2018

Our copywriter George recently returned from travelling with his girlfriend through New Zealand, Vietnam and Cambodia – and they survived! 

Travelling as a couple is a bit like marmite – some people can’t think of anything dreamier, others can’t think of anything worse. It certainly is an intense experience – you spend every moment together through highs and lows, jetlag and hangovers, paradise beaches and sweaty dorm rooms. At the end of it all, you have some truly incredible and unique memories that’ll always bind you together. But that doesn’t mean it’ll always be plain sailing!

Here are a few tips and tricks put together by George based on what he learnt on his travels with his other half:

Lady holding someones hand on a cliff edge

Plan Together

Planning together ensures that your travelling adventure is a shared experience from the word go. Discuss what you hope to get out of your travels, and talk about where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do. This also means that you’ll be on the same page about the kind of things you’d like to do and, perhaps more importantly, the kind of things you don’t want to do. Scared of heights? Maybe talk your partner out of booking that bungee jump experience. I wish I had…

Get a Joint Account

One of the great things about travelling as a couple is that you can share costs like accommodation and meals between you – making travelling cheaper overall. If you’re planning to put your money together, I’d definitely recommend getting a joint account or a shared travel cash card to put your money into. This means you don’t have to keep tally of who bought which thing where, and how much each person has paid so far.

Two sets of feet in shallow water next to a starfish

Podcasts

In between the life-changing experiences and once-in-a-lifetime cultural insights, you’ll likely spend a lot of your time on flights and buses. These journeys can be long and boring, and there’s only so much talking about feelings that any couple can get through...! A great podcast or audiobook is a great way to pass the time, especially if you listen to it together (a headphone splitter is a great pre-travel investment that you won’t regret!).

Communicate

Travelling is full of excitement and constant change, and it can be easy to be swept up in it all and forget to check in with each other along the way. Making time to talk to each other is so important, especially if you’re spending a lot of time as part of a larger tour group. Remember that your partner may be struggling with parts of travelling that you are finding easy, and vice versa, so it’s a good idea to always be chatting about your experiences and supporting each other through the ups and the downs of exploring the world!

Two girls taking a selfie

Keep Things Special

While you’re away, you’ll most likely be on a tight budget. That means shared dorms, cheap drinks and discounted food – which is all part of the magical travelling experience! However, if you’re travelling as a couple, it’s nice to factor in a few special occasions into your itinerary and budget to keep the romance alive! A nice meal out, some fancy cocktails, a nice hotel every once in a while – all of these can make a difference to your travelling mood and relationship. We spent Valentine’s day on an island off the coast of Cambodia – pretty dreamy, huh?

Technology Detox

One great thing about travelling is that you’ll most likely have limited access to the internet compared to being at home. Embrace this! A technology detox is a great thing, especially for a relationship. Use your tech-free hours to live in the moment, cook together, play cards and talk about the important things in life.

Two people sitting on a rock

Do Your Own Thing

Travelling is an amazing way to get closer to your partner and experience some wonderful things as a couple. However, it’s healthy to have some space as well! Don’t be afraid to do your own things every now and then, even if it’s just popping out to the shops or going for a coffee to read a book. Then you can come back together and chat about what you’ve been up to!

Keep a Diary

Writing down your experiences in a diary is a fantastic way to document your travels. Take notes, keep hold of tickets and pictures, and write about the things you enjoyed (and the things you didn’t). Then, when you’re home and it’s raining outside, you can relive your adventures as a couple.

Two people sitting on a beach at sunset

Don’t Go On A 3-day Canoe Trip In The Pouring Rain

Some people might accuse me of bringing my personal life into this blog, but I just think it’s good sense to not spend THREE DAYS in a CANOE in the middle of NOWHERE in the RAIN, especially when SOMEONE isn’t pulling their weight and you FALL IN as if you weren’t WET ENOUGH ALREADY!! Anyway…ahem…just don’t do it…

Get some help from real travel experts
Get in touch