Going on a vacation is fun, but going on a vacation with your partner is a great deal more exciting. But before you indulge yourself in imaginings of a romantic getaway, make sure you’re not only logistically prepared to travel for two, but that you’re also emotionally and mentally ready to spend the next few days with your special someone. After all, going on a trip with your family and friends is very different from going with your favorite squeeze.
Are you planning your first trip alone with your significant other anytime soon? This is a huge milestone in your relationship, so it’s worth taking a little extra time and effort to make sure you both have a good vacation. To help you out, we’ve listed a few things that can help you with this unique kind of holiday.
1. Agree on exactly what you want to do on your trip.
In some relationships, both parties can be adventurous, enjoying long days of tours in a new locale and even getting dirty with extreme vacation experiences such as cliff jumping or caving. However, different people have different definitions for R&R, so you may want to ask your man if he’s down with swimming with the whale sharks or just lazing on the sand. This way, you can both manage your expectations as well as your schedule to give way to what each of you wants.
2. Prepare a checklist of things you’re bringing.
Yes, you may have some of your stuff in one common bag, but you both have to be responsible for what each of you are bringing. Make separate checklists and be in charge of your own things. Nothing could be more annoying than unloading all of your stuff just to look for his shorts or your bikini top.
3. Follow your itinerary.
Unless you’ve both decided to be adventurous and just wing it, make sure that you follow the itinerary on hand. This is most especially important when you’ve signed up for local tours. You’ll be missing lots of great sights and sound if you’re both always late, and what’s worse, you may even miss the flight back home.
4. Try out the local specialty.
Skip your favorite latte from that famous city-based coffee shop for the time being and give your palate a taste of something different. Every place offers a different food experience from which you can draw history and culture, so make sure to get off the beaten path of famous restaurants to look for those hole-in-the wall types that serve real local delicacies. After all, there’s nothing more romantic that an exotic dinner in a place you’ve never been to before.
5. Don’t be afraid to meet new people.
Yes, you went on a holiday as a couple, but that doesn’t mean that your world should only revolve around each other. Mingle and meet new people, whether locals or vacationers like yourselves. Who knows? You may just learn about more fun things to do, and even create friendships that last a lifetime.
6. Experience each other.
Experiencing each other doesn’t only mean doing the deed: it’s an all-encompassing statement that means knowing and being with one another in mundane as well as complicated situations. If this is the first time that you and your partner are sharing a room then you’ll probably discover a lot of things about each other, so don’t be afraid and just dive head-first into it. If you allow it to be, your time together can help your relationship grow and flourish.
7. Work as a team.
This isn’t The Amazing Race, but it would be great of you can utilize the talents each of you brings to the table in order to make your vacation a fun and stress-free get-away. Delegate work to one another: if you’re the one to prep breakfast, let him be the one to look for a boat to rent for island-hopping. Not only will you save time, but you’ll also always be on the same page.
8. Have fun!
In the end, it’s all about enjoying yourselves. You’re together and you’re on vacation! Treasure your time with each other in an entirely new place and create great memories that you can always come back to.
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