It’s inevitable, you’ve been dating a while, feeling confident about your compatibility, and decide it’s time to try a holidate. Perhaps a romantic weekend getaway, maybe something more adventurous, like camping and mountain climbing. Nothing tests a relationship more than travelling together so be yourself. If you aren’t honest and authentic, you’ll be setting yourself up for calamity in the future. Give yourself the best shot at the relationship surviving your first trip together, by communicating – a lot, and by planning ahead.
Keep It Short And Simple
A long weekend is an ideal length for a trip to really get to know someone. Any longer than that and you’re just pushing your luck. Don’t try to do too much. Plan a few fun activities, but just being away together should be enough. The more you plan to do, the more opportunity you are providing to disappoint each other. A flexible itinerary is best to take the stress out of the trip, and being open to opportunities that pop up along the way adds to the adventure. You are both out of your comfort zone so slow down, enjoy each other’s company, and the opportunity to spend time getting to know each other in a neutral location.
Talk About Money
Before you book anything, you absolutely must nail down who is paying for what. A good friend of mine brought an ex-girlfriend, with whom he was hoping to rekindle a relationship, on a short trip to visit my husband and me in Guatemala City. Part of the reason the trip was a fiasco, was that she assumed he was paying for everything, and he assumed there was going to be sex. Don’t assume anything. Have a conversation about it and make certain that you are both on the same page.
Choose A Trip That Suits You Both
It doesn’t make any sense to go to a dude ranch if you don’t like horses. Don’t agree to an adventure or activity just because your significant other is into it. Find some common ground or figure out a compromise. Maybe you have both been dying to try kite surfing. Pick a destination where you can take lessons for a couple of days. You should talk about your travel styles as well. If one of you is a minimalist traveller who insists on only packing a carry on bag, and the other needs a sherpa to carry a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage, there are going to be problems. It’s not fair to have unrealistic expectations if you haven’t discussed the details of how you like to travel. Consider choosing a place neither of you have been before so you’ll both be experiencing something together for the first time.
Stay Positive
Murphy’s Law is always there to ruin your plans. Do your best to keep your sense of humor and just go with it. You may be disappointed that it’s raining, but maybe you were meant to snuggle indoors and discover that you both love Scrabble! Seeing how your new love handles adversity offers great insight into your future together.
Alyssa Chavez is a travel agent and freelance writer who works with luxury Bahamas resorts for a living. She considers herself a relationship expert and loves giving romantic advice when she can.
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