Love and Travel

Source: Courtesy of Pexels, Asad Photo Maldives

Tickets booked! You and your partner finally scheduled that trip you had been talking about and are going to get away for a week; no work, no responsibilities, just the two of you and the beauty of the exciting travel locale. Whether it’s an active trip involving hiking, skiing, touring a new city, or a vacation focusing on rest and relaxation, such as a tropical island or spa, travel can boost your relationship and strengthen the connection between you and your partner.

Before getting into the benefits, it is important to note that planning a vacation, especially if you and your partner have different ideas of the best vacation spot, can be stressful. However, if you can find a place that allows you to enjoy the activities you love (such as a beach spot with a downtown area where you can mix the sunshine and rest with nightlife and shopping), you are setting yourselves up for vacation success.

Shared Experiences/Lasting Memories

Traveling together allows you and your partner to share new and exciting experiences and make memories that will last a lifetime. Researchers Shaw, Havitz, and Delemere (2008) conducted interviews with Canadian families to examine the meanings associated with family vacations of school-aged children and found that people see vacations as a way to escape everyday life and provide the family with the opportunity for togetherness and the ability to create long-term positive memories.

Enhanced Communication and Decision-Making Skills

As previously mentioned, planning a vacation can sometimes be difficult, especially if couples have different interests. This challenge continues when on the trip, as in an unfamiliar area, you are tasked with booking daily excursions, events, meals, and tours. Each person wanting to get to their “must-see” spots will need to clearly articulate what they want to visit and why they want to go. As you and your partner work out your itinerary, you will benefit from the teamwork of deciding on a plan and will need to communicate your wishes for the experience clearly. If successful, the lessons you learn in planning your trip can hopefully be brought back home to facilitate the ease with which you make household decisions.

Escaping Everyday Stressors

Traveling together and removing yourselves from the stress of work and responsibilities affords you and your partner the time to be present and focus on one another without any distractions. This may not be reality, but it gives you the opportunity to solidify your connection and let the sparks fly, and it may even enhance the intimacy between you and your partner.