Traveling with a significant other

why we travel — By Bob Riel on February 15, 2007 at 7:45 am

O.K., so Valentine’s Day was yesterday, but love is still in the air, right? Is anyone considering traveling with a significant other in the near future? Rolf Potts had a column a few days ago about the benefits and challenges of being on such an adventure. He considers a list of ten factors to keep in mind, ranging from flexibility and space to stress and romance.

Few things test a romance like traveling together. In packing your bags and hitting the road with your lover, you aren’t just leaving home – you’re leaving behind the habits, routines, and comfort zones that keep that relationship on neutral ground.

Sometimes, the shared novelties of a new adventure can result in a closer romantic bond (and I have several sets of friends who decided to get married after completing a long-term journey together). At other times, being together full-time on the road can reveal just how mismatched you are with a person you thought you knew intimately.

Taking a long trip with a significant other can no doubt be stressful. But it can also bring you closer together than you ever imagined. Lisa and I have done two round-the-world journeys together, as well as numerous shorter trips, and we’ve had a great time. You can read about some of those travels here.

Or, for more advice, you can also check out Mary-Lou Weisman’s light-hearted book, Traveling While Married.