Going away for your first vacation together as a couple is a great way to strengthen a relationship and feel more comfortable with your partner. Research even shows that getaways for couples are best taken around the 10 month mark for the smoothest experience, and will improve your new relationship.
But we know that it can be daunting to travel together for the first time, and it’s a big step that needs careful planning and shared priorities to get it right. We’ve put together this simple guide for making your first “baecation” as special as it can be, and to avoid the pitfalls and hurdles that often get in the way of a good time.
Use this holiday checklist to plan your couples vacation, and you’re sure to come home closer than ever.
Imagine your dream destination
Are you all about soaking up the rays on a popular beach, or chilling in a remote ice hotel with no one around? Everyone has different ideas about their ideal getaway, and enjoying your trip as a couple will rely on finding a destination where you can both relax and focus on enjoying each other’s company.
What kind of break do you and your partner want? Try to focus on the type of break rather than a specific location – if you have a shared image of what you want, planning your holiday will feel much easier than trying to convince the other to go to a specific country or place. Compromise is the name of the game here, and if compromise leads to an unforgettable shared experience then surely it’s a win-win.
Try writing down five priorities each for your trip, find the similarities and prioritise those when looking for locations. Does it need to be hot and sunny? Are you looking for a remote getaway without any interruptions? What about activities? Is good food a top priority? Once you’ve got a vision for your ideal trip together, you can start looking at options for destinations. Looking forward to a trip together can be almost as good as the trip itself, so remember to enjoy it!
You can use our Explore map to find inspiration and narrow down your search. Make a shortlist of destinations that fit the bill, and then think about some other key things you might want to do there before booking your tickets.
Plan activities that suit you both
Once you’re closer to choosing a destination, think about how you are going to fill your days. You can’t spend the whole time gazing lovingly into each others’ eyes, and even the most sparky couples will run out of conversation eventually, so plan some things you’d like to do!
Keeping stressful situations to a minimum is always good for letting the good times roll, so maybe save the rock climbing and lion taming for later in your relationship… Take a look at the different things to do in your potential destination, and make a bucket list. This could even become your ultimate bucket list for life, so think big about the experiences you might like to share, and see unfinished business as a good starting point for your next trip together. Remember that you don’t have to do everything with one another, and planning an activity apart could be a great way to recharge and have something fun to talk about over dinner. If one of you wants some pampering while the other wants to get active and sweaty, then why not meet at the bar after?
Try to plan at least one activity that is new to both of you, and don’t always fall back on things that you like to do. Never been snorkelling before? Why not discover it together. Once you have a list of potential activities, try to book one or two ahead of time so that you don’t end up disappointed.
Set a budget
There’s no bigger buzzkill than stressing about money, and everyone’s budget is different. Find some common ground on budget early on, and try to be guided by the lowest budget between you. Set a rough cost for the big ticket items like travel and accommodation first and do some research on what you can afford and what kinds of places tick your boxes. Remember that activities, food and drink can easily add the same again to your overall expenses.
Do some research before you go about rough costs by looking at menus and prices of activities online, and make a list of cheaper options so that you can economise when needed. Having a shared budget doesn’t mean that you can’t treat each other or splash out, but it lays the groundwork for mutual footing for your vacation.
You’ve planned it – now enjoy it!
You’ve managed to find the ideal destination, you’ve booked somewhere that works for both your budgets, and you’ve nailed down and organised some exciting activities to spice up your holiday. Basically, you’ve done the hard bit, and hopefully you’ve learnt more about each other and grown closer along the way.
But now for the fun bit: enjoying your time away! To make sure it’s all plain sailing, here are a few more tips for when you’re away together. They may seem simple, but these are tried and tested relationship savers. You can thank us later.
Avoid navigation frustration
Finding your way, particularly on foreign streets can be a recipe for disaster, and getting lost or missing your turning are bound to create stress. If you’re travelling by car, make sure you have a way of navigating. Remember that using your phone can gobble up data, and if your roaming is limited then think about other options like renting a Sat Nav. The same goes for walking around city streets, which always seem to have been laid out in the most confusing way possible, as if they’re willing you never to find your way to the restaurant you’ve booked…
Try downloading offline mapping apps that work when you’re away from data so you can still navigate, and agree to take it in turns to find your way. And one final tip – promise not to get annoyed with each other if there’s a navigational mishap!
Always bring snacks!
We all know what it’s like to be ‘hangry’, and you don’t want this to ruin your first vacation together. Getting peckish and being short and snappy with the person you are with is a sure way to cause stress when on holiday. Many relationships have been saved by a simple handful of nuts or cereal bar, so stick some snacks in your bag – it may be the most romantic gesture you make!
Leave your phones behind
Take some time to be together without the distraction of your phone. We don’t mean when you’re hiking up a mountain or need to use a map to find your way around, but if you’re out for an evening meal then why not try to remove the distractions and focus on each other instead. Simply putting your phones silent or leaving them in your hotel will really help you to be present in the moment.
Go with the flow
Just because you’ve made plans and done your research, you can still be spontaneous and follow your noses! A big part of travelling is finding the unknown, so if you see something that didn’t come up in your searches, be willing to drop everything and see where it leads you.
