Happy Monday, Friends!

I know the title of this post is a little dramatic and most of you probably haven’t had a breakup on a trip, but it’s not easy spending 24 hours with one person for an entire vacation. Traveling as a couple can be stressful and things don’t always turn out as you planned. Over the years Mike and I have definitely had our highs, but we’ve also had plenty of low-ments, as we like to call them, too. Train strikes, lost reservations, missed flights, missing luggage, crowds and hot temperatures bring out the worst in most of us.

I sat down to write out my top tips, but thought it’d be fun to hear a guy’s perspective as well. So below you’ll find my top 5 and Mike’s top 5. Hopefully these tips will help you survive your first trip together, or make your 100th trip better than ever!

Jenny’s Tips –

1. Early Bird or Night Owl – If you are both early risers or you both like to party all night then there isn’t much to figure out. But if one of you likes to get up early and the other likes to sleep in then you might have some problems. Talk about how you want to work out your schedule before you go so that you don’t get frustrated with each other during the trip.

2. Have the Dreaded Money Talk – Everyone is different when it comes to money and chances are you both have different spending habits. Figure out a general idea of how much each of you want to spend and what you want to spend it on before you go. Leave some cushion room for BOTH of you to buy souvenirs or do that ‘once in a lifetime’ activity that presents itself.

3. Have a Date Night – In a way every night is a date night when you’re on a couples vacation. But I think it’s fun to designate a night or two as an official date night and really go all out! Pull out the little black dress you packed, splurge on a nice bottle of wine, get an extra dessert, or even better, plan a surprise for your significant other that you know they’ll love.

4. Don’t get Hangry – Tired + Hungry makes for a very “hangry” traveler and is probably one of the biggest contributors to bickering (at least for me!). I’ve learned over the years to recognize when I need to stop for a snack or sit down at a pub.

5. Don’t get TOO comfortable – When you’re spending 24 hours a day together it’s easy to get a little too comfortable. Try to keep the romance and mystery alive–even just little bit. Take the time to change clothes before dinner, put a little perfume or cologne on, and remember to shut the bathroom door!

Mike’s Tips –

6. You don’t need to do everything together – Traveling with your hunnie is always a great time, but just ’cause you’re on the road doesn’t mean he’s developed a taste for candles or shoe shopping. And that’s totally cool. One of you can check something small off your travel to-do list (i.e. shopping) while the other keeps busy (i.e. quick visit to the pub or coffee shop). This can be beneficial for you both!

7. Photos – Let’s say one of you likes to take photos… A lot of photos (ahem, Jenny). Here’s the thing – you’re both going to enjoy them when you get home. So try to remember that and just deal. But if this is really an issue, POLITELY set the expectation – “Dear…this is not your last chance to take a picture of gelato :)” They should get the hint.

8. It’s their day! – One cool way to make sure you’re both checking off important bucket list items is to gift an entire day’s worth of activities to your special someone. If they want to sip tea with big fancy hats or drag you to the middle of nowhere to try a restaurant–all you need to do is get on board because it’s their day! It’s a great way to do something for the person you care about the most.

 9. Don’t get Embarrassed – You’ve just landed and your sweetheart is saying and doing things that are attracting unwanted attention. Maybe they seem to be “in the way” or are “talking too loudly.” Try to remember it’s not a big deal and chances are no one else cares. Unless they are singing the national anthem or chugging a PBR tall boy at the baggage claim, do your best to let it go and be just be nice to each other.

10. Make Friends! – You’re there with your one and only, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience the best part of the trip – the culture. Invite the couple next to you to pull up a bar stool. They might drop some knowledge about the town you’re in or give you a good restaurant recommendation. This is what makes the whole experience worth it – learning, growing, and experiencing life with the person you love! And don’t forget to be an ambassador for your hometown when you meet others too!

That’s it! Wishing you many wonderful trips with the people you love!

Happy Travels!

xo, Jenny (& Mike)