Travelling as a couple is one of the best adventures you can share, but it isn’t always smooth sailing. After more than 20 years travelling together and 70+ countries, these are the tips and take-outs that have helped us make it work.
When John and I set off on our first long stint of travel together – way back in 2004 – we’d been dating for a little over year, and we hadn’t yet lived together. We knew it was going to be a make or break experience.
More than 20 years later, we still find ourselves pausing to reflect on just how much of our life together we’ve spent on the road, and the extraordinary amount of time we’ve spent one-on-one as we travel for months, sometimes years, at a time.
So what’s our secret to happy couple travel? Do we agree on everything? Definitely not. Do we fight when we’re on the road? Oh yes. Do we wish we were on different continents when we’re hungry, tired, and can’t decide on anything? Absolutely.
Even in our worst moments though, we wouldn’t trade any of it. Travelling together is our very favourite thing to do. Over the years though, we’ve learned a few things about what it takes to travel together well, and still want to be around each other at the end of the trip.
Here are our top 10 tips for travelling as a couple.
If you’re new here, you can read more about our journey here.
Our 10 Tips for Travelling as a Couple
Planning to travel as a couple? These are the top 10 tips and take-outs that have helped us stay happy together on the road:
Tip 1: Be on the same page
Tip 2: Talk to each other
Tip 3: Trust each other’s instincts
Tip 4: Be patient with each other
Tip 5: Don’t try to do it all
Tip 6: Share the travel load
Tip 7: Take time out – together and apart
Tip 8: Eat well, travel better together
Tip 9: Have a budget for special experiences
Tip 10: Appreciate every moment
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Tip 1: Be on the same page
Every few years, John and I pack everything into storage, and head back out on the road. Each time we go, we stay away a little longer – our first trip was six weeks, then it was a year, then two. Right now, we’re full-time digital nomads.
Choosing this kind of travel has shaped the life we’ve built together. It’s meant taking a less conventional path to most people we know. And while there are certainly times we might reflect on some of the choices we’ve made, they’re usually short-lived – especially when we wake up somewhere new and realise we’re exactly where we want to be.
What’s mattered far more over the years is that we’ve been aligned on our travel goals. Not just the big-picture decisions about how we want travel to fit into our lives more broadly, but the practical travel questions too – our pace, our budget, where we want to go, and what we want from each trip.
Even now, we check in with each other regularly to make sure we’re still on the same page. Because whether you’re travelling for a few days, a few weeks, or longer, having that shared understanding makes everything else on the road a whole lot easier.
Take-out: Before setting off together, be honest with each other about what you both want from travel – big picture, trip-to-trip, and day-by-day.
Tip 2: Talk to each other
It goes without saying, right? Pun intended. When you’re travelling together, every day is a talkfest: where are we going, what are we doing, how are we getting there, what does it cost, and – most importantly – when are we going to eat.
But when you’re in each other’s space day in and day out, it’s easy to fall into a rhythm and develop something akin to an unspoken language as you navigate new places and experiences. Reading each other’s cues becomes second nature. Or so you think.
When we argue on our travels – and believe me we do – it’s usually the result of a tiny miscommunication or because we’ve missed or misread a cue from each other.
This most often happens when we’re tired, hungry (see Tip 8) or navigating somewhere new and aren’t communicating as well or as clearly as we could be.
Checking in with each other regularly, and being upfront, honest and clear with each other makes an enormous difference, even if you feel like you’re on the same wavelength most of the time.
As individuals, you’ll always have your own thoughts and emotions, and travel has a way of challenging and stirring up those thoughts and emotions more than you realise.
Saying things out loud, even when they seem obvious, helps avoid small misunderstandings turning into bigger frustrations. At the very least, it will give you the chance to unpick any knots before they become too tightly wound.
Take-out: Simple things like checking in with each other about the plans for the day can prevent misunderstandings before they escalate into frustration.
Tip 3: Trust each other’s instincts
Communicating with each other is even more important when it comes to travel situations that don’t feel quite right.
Just about every traveller will at some point experience that prickly, uncomfortable sensation when their instinct kicks up a notch in response to a perceived threat or danger.
It could be a reaction to a person, a place or an experience. Instinct is one of our greatest assets and it should never be ignored.
That doesn’t mean avoiding everything that makes you nervous, but instinct is a trigger for weighing up a situation, and making a reasoned decision together that feels right for you both.
As a couple travelling together, you might have completely different instinctive reactions to the same situation, so if one of you is having a negative gut reaction to something, say so. If your partner raises a concern, don’t ignore or trivialise it – talk it through.
Over the years, we’ve learned to share and trust each other’s instincts as much as our own. If one of us doesn’t like a situation, or isn’t keen on going down a certain road, we discuss it and make a decision together. We’ll never make each other do something or go somewhere the other doesn’t want to.
Take-out: If one of you feels uncomfortable about a situation, pause and talk it through rather than pushing ahead.
Tip 4: Be patient with each other
Patience is something just about every traveller will tell you is essential on the road. Whether you’re waiting for a bus running on ‘local time’ or battling the crowds at an overrun tourist site, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practise it.
But patience with each other is even more important when you’re travelling as a couple.
For us, hiring a car and hitting the road is one of our favourite ways to explore – but it’s also where some of our most memorable ‘carguments’ have taken place, usually while trying to drive and navigate somewhere new. It’s also where our patience with each other tends to fly right out the window.
Fortunately, those moments don’t last long and we’re pretty good at moving on quickly. We’ve also learned where the pain points are and how to manage them – for example, we tend to road trip better with me behind the wheel and John navigating.
The other thing when you’re travelling together, especially for longer stretches, is that you’re generally in each other’s space 24/7. Small quirks that barely register at home can quickly turn into outsized frustrations on the road. If something is really starting to grate, it’s better to be honest than let it build into something bigger.
Sometimes, it’s just about perspective. What might seem like an annoying quirk, like needing to be at the airport five hours early (I’m looking at you, John), is often just part of who your partner is. We all have quirks. Learn to appreciate them where you can, and find solutions together.
We’ve turned our early airport arrivals into a happy, stress-free, pre-trip ritual where we get to settle in, relax with a drink, and chat about what we’re looking forward to most. And we’ve never missed a flight.
Take-out: Patience goes a long way, as does trying to understand, appreciate and work with each others’ quirks and ways.
Tip 5: Don’t try to do it all
Of course, this is as much a tip for solo travellers as it is for couples, but the fallout of trying to do it all can hit a bit harder when there are two of you in the frame.
We’ll be honest: despite two decades of travel together through dozens of countries, this is still a work in progress for us.
We always want to see and do everything. But it’s just not possible. Not unless you plan to stay a good while, or come back (I try to have this running on repeat in my head when we’re trip planning).
We know from experience that trying to cram too much into each day is one of the fastest ways to turn a great trip into a stressful one. When you’re constantly rushing from one place to the next, small bumps in the road feel bigger. And when the pressure starts to build, couples travelling together start taking it out on each other.
That’s where some of our earlier tips come into play: being on the same page about things like travel pace and what matters to each of you, then compromising and planning in a way that reflects that. It’s about finding a balance between seeing seeing and doing the things you want to, and leaving enough breathing room to actually enjoy them together.
No one wants their trip to feel like an episode of Race Around the World – especially if it ends in frustration with each other rather than great memories made together.
Take-out: Agree on what matters most to both of you, know each other’s limits, and plan your itinerary so you have the time and pace to enjoy it.
Tip 6: Share the travel load
While your travels might seem like one long cocktail on the beach to everyone back home, there’s actually a shedload of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the adventures rolling.
From researching and planning destinations, to getting from place to place, finding accommodation, searching out meals, managing a budget – and for many travellers these days, juggling online work – there’s always a part of each day dedicated to what we call ‘travel admin’.
As a couple, the best thing you can do is share the load. Splitting tasks makes everything easier, especially if you can play to your strengths. But it’s just as important to be fair about sharing the fun stuff as well as the more tedious jobs.
I love trip planning, while John has far more patience for sifting through accommodation reviews to find the best stay for our budget. So I usually take care of where we’re going and what we’re doing, while John focuses on where we’re staying and how we’re getting there. Every now and then, we swap.
When it comes to budget, I manage and track the day-to-day spending, while John handles the monthly reconciliation, credit card payments, and overall numbers.
At the end of the day, making travel happen is time-consuming, and sharing the load is one of the biggest advantages of travelling as a couple. Get it right, and before long you’ll be a well-oiled travel machine… with more time for those cocktails on the beach (or beers, in our case).
Take-out: Share the load and play to your strengths – it makes travel smoother and a lot more enjoyable for both of you.
Tip 7: Take time out – together and apart
When you’re travelling as a couple, taking the occasional hiatus from the itinerary is essential for recharging and reconnecting. Time out can mean the difference between loving your travels together, and wanting to pull the pin on the trip – and your relationship – entirely.
There’s a world of work that goes into making travel happen (see Tip 6). If, like us, you’re busy travellers who enjoy being on the go, the daily cycle of planning, moving, navigating, doing, packing and unpacking can, after a while, start to take its toll on both of you and, eventually, lead to burnout (see Tip 5).
While we try to travel a little slower these days, we still make a point to factor in extended stops on longer trips so we can unpack properly, settle in, and chill for a couple of days.
For us, this is usually when we upgrade our accommodation and indulge a little. It’s also when we make space for some personal time, whether that’s getting a massage, going for a solo wander on the beach, or just reading a book by the pool.
Even on shorter trips, a less hectic day, or even an afternoon, can help recharge the batteries and revive your collective enthusiasm.
Take-out: Make time to pause, with each other and alone – it helps you recharge and enjoy the journey together.
Tip 8: Eat well, travel better together
This might sound like a slightly strange travel tip, but trust us: eat well, eat local, and don’t skip meals.
When you’re travelling, it’s easy to push food down the priority list – maybe you’re busy exploring, watching your budget, in transit, or arriving somewhere after everything’s closed. Whatever the reason, it’s a bad call. Exploring is active, and being active requires fuel.
A hungry traveller can quickly become an angry traveller. ‘Hangry’ travellers make poor decisions, and hangry couples tend to take it out on each other.
I’m guilty of doing this a lot when we travel. John has learned to spot the signs early, and I’ve (mostly) learned to admit when I’m hungry instead of pushing on while my mood goes from simmer to boil.
But it’s not just about mood. When you’re on the go, it’s easy to slip into bad habits – snacking on the fly, eating at odd times, and not always getting what your body needs. Eating well helps keep you healthy on the road, and that’s what keeps you moving.
The upshot? Eating is one of the best parts of travel. Try the street food. Search out the local and regional specialties. Sign up for a food tour or visit the market. Turn meals into a chance to immerse in local cultures and flavours while recharging your energy, and keeping things running smoothly between you both.
Also, if you know it’s going to be tricky factoring in food stops on the move, plan ahead so you don’t get caught out with nothing but crisps from the petrol station.
Take-out: Eat well and often – it keeps you going, keeps things smooth between you, and makes food part of the adventure.
Check out some of our favourite travel eating and drinking experiences around the world.
Tip 9: Have a budget for special experiences
When you’re travelling, budget generally shapes decisions about where you go, where you stay, and what you do. Even more so when there are two of you to factor in costs for.
On more than one trip, we’ve chosen not to do certain experiences or activities for the sake of saving money, and without fail, we’ve regretted it later.
We’re not saying you should throw your budget out the window. But it’s worth leaving a little wriggle room to occasionally splash out – whether it’s a nicer place to stay for a night or two, a special meal, or that one-off, incredible experience. Especially if you aren’t likely to return.
Some of our most memorable travel moments together have come from those decisions – black water rafting in New Zealand, cenote diving in Mexico, hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, exploring an ice cave in Iceland.
These days, we set aside part of our travel budget specifically for special experiences together, particularly if they’re unique to a place. As the old saying goes, looking back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
Take-out: Make space in your travel budget for special experiences together – they’re worth it.
If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve shortlisted 26 epic adventures around the world that we think are absolutely worth saying yes to.
Tip 10: Appreciate every moment
It’s said that if you can travel successfully as a couple, you’re a couple for life.
Travel puts your relationship under a spotlight, and reveals the best and the worst of you both, especially when you’re exploring challenging places or pushing your comfort zones.
On the road, you are each other’s constant through the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Even after 20+ years together, John and I are still learning about each other. And travel – as much as our lifestyle because of travel – constantly challenges us to be the best we can be for each other.
At the end of the day, travelling together should be the time of your life! It’s a chance to spend intense, quality time with each other and navigate the roadmap of your relationship together.
When you’re in that kind of travel hothouse, it can be easy to take the days – and each other – for granted after a while. All the more reason to pause each day, reflect on the ups and downs, appreciate where you are, and that you’re on this journey together.
Because when the travels wind down and you’ve returned to lives and routines that send you off in different directions each day, it’s those long stretches on the road together – the incredible experiences as well as the moments you can’t wait to leave behind – that are the memories you’ll cherish together forever.
Take-out: Travel may test your relationship, but it can also strengthen it in ways few other experiences can. Make the most of that time together.
Final thoughts on travelling as a couple
Travelling together isn’t always easy, but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.
Over the years, we’ve learned that it’s not about getting everything right. It’s about figuring it out as you go – together. The missed turns, the disagreements, the long days and the incredible ones, they all become part of the story you share.
In the end, it’s not just the places you go, but the time you spend side by side and the memories you make together, that stay with you.
Happy travelling together!
Plan your travel together
Stays: We use Booking.com for its wide choice of stays and Genius perks.
Airport Transfer: Take the hassle out of arriving somewhere new with a Welcome Pickups transfer from the airport to your stay.
Car Rentals: We use DiscoverCars for a wide choice of hire cars with great rates and free cancellation.
eSIMs: To stay connected when we’re travelling, we use Airalo eSIMs.
Tours: Check out GetYourGuide to find a great range of tours, local experiences and services around the world.
What are your top tips for successful couple travel? Drop us a message below!
For travel inspiration, check out our 100 Ultimate Road Trips and 26 Epic Adventures Around the World.
Did you just coin a new term “cargument?”!! I love this! We’ve had so many carguments that end the minute you get out of the car.
Haha! I wish we could claim it, it’s one of our favourite terms, but we heard it somewhere a while back and have been using it ever since. You’re exactly right, they’re over the second we leave the car. That’s the best bit really. Happy travels! 🙂
Our top tip would be to avoid two-person Kayaks at all costs…
Good advice guys ….. although I think we’ve even mastered that challenge for the most part!!