Travelling The World As A New Couple? Read This First!

You’ve finally talked to your partner about taking the trip of a lifetime; travelling around the world! And they are 100% on board. Yay! Are you picturing the two of you soaking up the sun on a deserted beach in Thailand, or swimming in Mexico’s crystal clear ocean, maybe some steamy sunset sex in Brazil. Yeah, I had all those visions too, but it’s not quite as glamorous or the everyday reality you think you’re going to experience.

Travelling in my twenties was fun, but it was always on a budget, and in short stints. There’s something quite magical about travelling in your thirties with someone you really love and trust, and when you have more money and know what you want to get out of your trip.

If you’re a new couple wanting to do long term travel it can be daunting because you don’t know what to expect so let me tell you everything there is to know.

What To Expect When Travelling The World As A New Couple

Me and my boyfriend, Matt, began our travelling life together just 3 months after we started dating. Fast forward a year and we’re still travelling (we are in Bali as I write this and yes, we are a digital nomad couple). Whilst it is certainly the lifestyle for us, and we wouldn’t change anything, it does come with its own set of unique situations that we were not prepared for as a new couple.

The Sewage Situation

The developing countries, such as Thailand, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Guatemala etc are often the places we want to travel to. They offer a different culture, cuisine and climate. They also have very different versions of sanitary toilets. Quite often they are an outside shed, or a hole in the ground. Toilet paper isn’t always available let alone a sink with running water and soap.

In a lot of these countries you aren’t even allowed to flush toilet paper because of the sewage system. However, there is usually a bin to throw your toilet paper and period products in, so be warned, you are about to become very close and get to know each other’s toilet habits quickly.

But, this is all part of growing as a couple and becoming more and more comfortable with each other. Soon the ’embarrassing’ things won’t phase you.

You're Going to Get Sick

I would say this is almost a 100% certain. Again, with developing countries, you cannot guarantee a high level of hygiene everywhere you eat, and you’ll be eating out a lot because you’ll want to try all the local delicacies. Or your accommodation doesn’t come with an equipped kitchen.

Being sick is never ideal, let alone when you’re away from home, so look after each other and do your research beforehand. Check for information on whether you can drink the tap water, how to wash fruit and vegetables, research local restaurants with good ratings and make sure you have all your relevant vaccines before leaving your home country.

Don’t forget your travel insurance too, getting sick can sometimes come at a cost if you need to visit a doctor and pay for medication, or worst, cut your journey short and book a last minute flight home.

Get yourself one of these Mini Travel First Aid Kits, it fits in your backpack without taking up much room and comes with lots of useful first aid pieces. It came in handy for me when I ripped one of my toenails off and when my friend stood on a sea urchin!

Travel In The Same Way

If you want to explore the world and visit as many different places as possible in your travel stint, that sounds great! Equally, if you want to work remotely and move at a slower pace, also a fabulous idea. You just need to make sure that you’re both are on the same page and wanting to travel in the same way.

I am grateful that me and Matt both work remotely. If he was working and I was sat twiddling my thumbs waiting for him to finish work everyday, I would get bored very quickly and our travel journey just wouldn’t work. We have a mutual understanding and respect when it comes to our working hours and availability to travel.

Take Time Out For Yourself

Travelling as a couple can get intense. It’s mostly just the two of you and there’s bound to be a few arguments here and there. Matt and I have been living out of each other’s pockets for the last year, and whilst that has made us incredibly close, we also love the occasional alone time too!

Sometimes we go out to dinner on our own and we take some trips separately too! There’s also been occasions where we have separate friends and don’t always invite each other along. Then it’s nice to come back together and actually bring something new to the table with conversation. It also makes ‘date night’ feel like a real date!

Figure Out Your Finances

Before you leave, money should be at the top of your travel planning agenda. You need to understand and be on the same level when it comes to money, budgets and expectations for the type of travel experience you both want.

Getting the money conversation out of the way first will enable you to plan the rest of your trip. You don’t want one of you looking at hostels and the other person seeking out 5 star resorts. Check out my post on How To Manage And Talk About Money With Your Partner for tips on

The Two C's

With ANY relationship, no matter how you’re set up as a couple, where you are living or how long you’ve been together, you have to communicate and compromise. I would say this is even more important when you’re travelling as a couple. You can be in situations that are outside your comfort zone, you don’t feel safe or make you feel uneasy and you need to speak up. This should be one of the best times of your life and you both want to have the same experiences and memories.

If you’re worried about travelling too soon as a couple, don’t be. You’re in your thirties, and you know yourself better than anyone. There will always be people that have an opinion and care abut you. But coming from someone who travelled with her boyfriend after only 3 months of being together, if it feels right, go for it!

Enjoy your new adventure as a couple!

Amber x

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