What it’s Like to Travel Internationally with your Significant Other for the First Time

Disclaimer: I wrote this post in 2018 about my first major trip with my then boyfriend who then eventually became my fiance. Yes, the fiance that decided not to marry me after all. I’ve scrubbed his name and imagery from my blog for his privacy, but I’ve otherwise kept the content in this post unchanged.

Taking a big trip with your significant other is always so exciting, but it can be challenging too, especially if you’ve never traveled together before. Traveling long distances and into foreign countries is an exhausting and sometimes frustrating experience that will show both you and your significant other at both their best and their worst. For those who have never traveled extensively with their significant other before, it’s certainly a test for the relationship.

I took my first major trip with my former boyfriend in 2017 when we went to Thailand and Cambodia for a month together. I will say that we had taken some smaller trips together before and had visited each other while apart in our long distance relationship, but this trip to Thailand was like nothing we had ever done before, even individually. Here are some things I learned while traveling extensively with him for the first time:

It’s helpful to discuss your travel interests and goals ahead of time.

You can’t plan for everything, but it’s good to know from the start what your partner wants to get out of the trip and the experiences he or she would like to partake in. Take the time to figure out things that you both will want to do and consider the things that you may want to do individually. We probably could’ve done more planning with this before our trip, but it’s something we’re doing more of for our upcoming trip to Iceland, which I think will make the travel experience less stressful.

Planning a budget and discussing money is essential.

Building off of my first point, it’s also necessary to set financial expectations so that both you and your significant other are on the same page. Are you planning to split the trip 50/50? How much do you both plan to spend? These are important questions to ask yourself and your significant other before making any decisions.

Figuring out travel roles can be helpful.

I found it helpful to establish certain “travel roles,” if you will. My then boyfriend, for example, would typically carry the hotel keys and coordinate public transportation, and I would often navigate us when walking on foot. I got the idea for this from my favorite travel podcast. It’s helpful to do things like this so that everything’s clear and there ‘s never an instance where someone says, “I thought you had the key.” Dividing up tasks can also make the experience more enjoyable and less burdensome for both parties.

Communications is always key.

Like anything else in a relationship, communication is always key, but it’s especially important when you’re both placed into an unfamiliar and challenging setting. Be honest with your partner and tell them how you feel so that you both can make productive decisions and make the most of the trip.

You’ll find out if you have support when you need it.

Honestly, Thailand kicked my butt in a number of ways. Between a sprained ankle, food poisoning, and a plethora of other ailments, I had some struggles while traveling. I’m so thankful to have had him there with me during those low points. I’ll never forget the way he comforted me during those times and took care of me, While I would wish none of my ailments on others, the experiences did give me the wonderful opportunity of seeing how loving and nurturing he can be. It’s always a good test of character to see how your significant other reacts when things go wrong.

If the experience goes well, you’ll grow even closer.

You’ll see so many more sides to your significant other while traveling and experiencing a foreign country. Assuming all goes well, you’ll both feel so much closer afterwards because of it. Navigating a foreign country requires problem solving and teamwork, which will help you both feel accomplished as a couple.

So there you have it! Those are just a few of the things I learned while traveling internationally with my then boyfriend for the first time. I hope you find them helpful if you’re preparing to travel with your significant other for the first time. Best of luck and happy travels!