Are You Ready to Begin Traveling Together?

For many couples, traveling together is a big decision. It means you’ve gone from casual to somewhat serious and spending all day—every day—isn’t a problem.

The first vacation together can either make or break any new relationship, if you don’t prepare in advance. Everyone has different traveling styles, and if you and the person you’re dating are very different in those styles, you’ll need to find common ground. Before you get ready to travel as a couple, here’s what you need to consider first.

You will be together. A lot. Depending on how long you’re traveling, you may find that you’re together more than you’re ready for. Which is great for getting to know each other, but if you’re both the type of people who need a bit of alone time to reboot, then discuss that beforehand. You want to both be on the same page about that one, in particular.

You may see a new side of him or her. Crowded airports, delayed flights, and other possible issues can introduce a whole new side of this person to you. People deal with stress differently, and you never know just how they do so, until you’re put in a stressful situation with them.

Your quirks will likely be revealed, too. Maybe you have a fear of flying and must have your lucky rabbit’s foot in your hand before takeoff or maybe you have a thing for collecting complimentary bathroom products. No matter what your idiosyncrasies are, you should be aware that you probably won’t be able to hide them all that well on a vacation.

Budgeting it necessary. If you want to avoid any awkward talks about money while you’re trying to relax, then discuss the money angle before your leave. If you’re going Dutch, you can either split everything down the middle, or one person can agree to cover airfare, while the other handles the hotel expenses.

There will be compromise and lots of it. If you have competing interests, you can each come up with your own itinerary and agree to meet up later in the day, or stick together, but take turns deciding what’s next. To maximize your time together, be as flexible as possible.

It’s all about the experience. Vacationing with someone is a big step in a relationship, yes, but above all, it’s about having a good time and creating memories. The key to having a successful vacation with your new partner is being open-minded and not letting yourself sweat the small stuff. Planes get delayed, rain happens, and no hotel bed will be as comfortable as the one you have at home, but if you can have a laugh and prepare for the unexpected, you’ll have a blast.