So many travellers I speak to say that travelling with their partner is less fun than going alone, be that because said partner snores like a trombone, or because their presence stops you from making as many friends as you might do by yourself. That said, there are plenty of successful travel blogger couples, and – believe it or not – some people do actually enjoy love-filled, functional relationships that travel well. It also depends on whether “making friends” is one of your top travel priorities. I’m coping with my divorce and its delightful intricacies, but I really don’t feel like getting involved with anyone until it’s over…
On the other hand, my cousin, who ended a long term relationship before heading off to Australia at the end of 2011, said she “really didn’t need” to fall for anyone whilst out there, but she did, and his long-term travel experience made her own trip vastly more interesting.
Of course, “making friends” doesn’t have to be a euphemism. It stops being one, in fact, the moment I stop putting quotation marks around it. And making friends on the road is one of travel’s true pleasures. They may turn out to be short-term travel buddies, for sure, but actually I find these friendships are much more enduring than most people expect, even over long periods with no contact. Networks like Facebook and CouchSurfing makes it even easier to stay in touch with folk you’ve met on the road, and let them stay with you when they’re in your neck of the woods.
Travelling alone lets you:
- go wherever you want, when you want, without worrying about another’s needs
- sleep comfortably in cheap beds. At least, there’s a better chance of it.
- make conversation with whomever you want to (and make your excuses and leave when you want to)
- be more flexible when using sites like CouchSurfer, or staying with people you’ve met
- learn new skills, like planning, confidence & bartering
- trust yourself, as you discover how much you can depend on yourself
- be more open to fresh attitudes and new ideas
- meet more people
Travelling as a couple lets you:
- fill in for each other’s weak points (eg inability to calculate exchange rates/sweet-talk taxi drivers). A more positive description would be “learn to appreciate each other’s strong points”.
- pool resources, financial and otherwise
- enjoy a mutual life-changing experience that doesn’t involve redundancy or childbirth
- make awesome memories together
- not worry about relating every little detail when you get home
- avoid making your partner miserable or jealous by trotting off round the globe without them
Of course you have to assess these lists according to your own situation. If you’re itching to escape from your relationship, then perhaps you could do with some space. But if you and your partner get up and make breakfast for each other at the weekends, and you’re both up for being sociable together, then you might travel very well together. Perhaps the answer is to try a short trip first – it’ll be over quicker if you don’t enjoy it, but – if you do – it’s a good indicator of how you should proceed.
Related Article: 6 Ways I Deal with Loneliness as a Solo Traveler
One Response
I personally love traveling with someone else, because it allows me to feel safer in a foreign land, discuss what I saw with someone else, and take risks where other people wouldn’t go. Cliff-diving where it is forbidden, going into dangerous parts of town, etc. When I’m picking a travel date I usually ask one of my friends if they’d want to go with me to a nearby basketball game that is occurring on that day. They usually say yes!