How To Balance Travel And A Relationship

Balancing travel and a relationship is not easy. Just ask anyone who’s done it before!

There’s generally two scenarios where you might find yourself balancing these two passions: 

1. You’re in a relationship but heading out on a solo travel adventure, or
2. You and your significant other are going on a travel adventure together.

Both scenarios bring the thrill of exploring new places, people and cultures. But they also require a little bit of work to make sure you (and your significant other) are having the time of your life traveling while enjoying your relationship. 

So, we’ve rounded up some key tips to help you strike the perfect balance between your travels and your relationship, no matter which of the above two scenarios apply to you. Keep reading to find out more!

Traveling Solo While Your Significant Other Stays Home

Communication Is Key

Obviously when you’re traveling, you want to be in the moment and really experience and enjoy the place you are visiting. So, naturally, your relationship will probably be the last thing on your mind. 

Which is totally fine, and hopefully your partner lets you enjoy and explore without you having to message them non-stop throughout the day. 

However, communication is the key component of any relationship. So while you may want to live in the moment, it’s also important to make some regular time to converse with your partner while abroad.

Whether it’s first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed, or maybe if you have some time to chill out during the day, take the time to call, FaceTime or message your partner.

PRO TIP FROM ALYSSA: Calculate the time zone differences before your trip and write out the time frames when you both are awake, that way you know when to try to chat and can plan accordingly!

Sharing (Information) Is Caring

You’re likely to have lots of exciting bits of information to share about your travels. 

Maybe you saw an epic sight like the Eiffel Tower, maybe you tried some new cuisine, or maybe you met some awesome locals. Or, and this is super cute, maybe you saw or experienced something that reminded you of your partner or your relationship!

Take the time to reflect on whatever it was that you saw or experience or learnt, and actually share this information with your partner. They’ll probably be excited to hear about your experiences, and feel like they were there with you enjoying the moment.

Ask Questions

Yes you are traveling and yes this is a really exciting time for you! But, a relationship is a two-way street, so it can’t be all about you.

Ask your partner about what they’ve been up to while you are away. And, take the time to listen to their updates and stories. It’s such a small thing to do, but it has a real positive impact on your relationship.

Keep Things Interesting

Pro Tip from Alyssa: Only talking about your travels or their work day can get exhausting or even redundant. Try to find other ways to keep things interesting like by playing games!

There are several apps you can download that require two people like Trivia Crack, or you can play text-games like “Would You Rather”.

If you want to be super cute and intimate, you can also play “3 Things I Like/Love About You” every day, and of course…there’s always sexting. 😉

Traveling With Your Significant Other

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! 

We did say it’s the key component of a relationship. 

Communication with your partner is especially important when you’re traveling with your partner. You’re going to be spending a lot of time together. So, you need to make sure you’re aware of each other’s thoughts and feeling as much as possible.

Ahead of your trip, take the time to sit down together and share what sights and activities each of you wants to see and do. Then, categorize each site and activity into a list of the things you both want to do, and the things that only one of you wants to do. 

From there, you can plan an itinerary that ensures you can both enjoy all the sights and activities you want to, without one person feeling like they missed out. 

Once you’re on your trip, be sure to communicate with your partner when you’re ready to move on to a new sight or activity (or if you’re not ready to move on). And, always let them know if you need to sit down and rest or get some fresh air, or if you need to have a slow day. 

Similarly, at the end of the day, take the time to reflect on the day with each other. What did/didn’t you love? Did you learn anything? Would you be happy to see or do certain things over and over again? You’ll both enjoy your trip more when you’re across how the other person is feeling!

Eat Well And Stay Hydrated 

Anyone else guilty of getting hangry and snapping at those around them?!

Being well fed will guarantee you and your partner get the most out of your travels and your relationship.

So be sure to eat regularly, and keep some snacks with you at all times to avoid moments of hanger. 

And, as always, be sure to drink lots of water while traveling. Your body and brain need water to function well, so keep those fluids up! 

This is even more important if you and your partner are traveling in warmer climates. The last thing you want is for one or both of you to end up dehydrated or get heat stroke.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is super important for you to maintain your health and wellness while traveling.

But did you know it’s super important for the health of your relationship too?

If you and your partner are well rested, you’re more likely to be able to function well each day and enjoy your daily adventures. Annnd, you’re way less likely to snap at each other. This can happen easily when you’re spending a significant amount of time with eachother. Which brings us to our final tip …

Give Yourselves Some Alone Time

When traveling, you and your partner are going to be spending every minute of every day together. 

Of course spending a ton of time with your best friend is never a bad thing.

But, let’s face it, no matter how much you adore someone, you need your space from time to time! And this is totally ok!

One of the best ways you and your partner can have some alone time, without sacrificing travel time, is to separate and see sights or do activities that only one of you wants to see or do.

It may sound silly, but having some alone time will really help you and your partner balance your relationship while traveling.

Have you ever had to balance travel and a relationship? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and, happy traveling!