Going on a romantic escape with a new beau for the very first time is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. There is a lot of pressure associated with your first couple’s holiday – there are all the typical stresses that come with travelling, plus more anxieties associated with spending uninterrupted quality time together for the first time. Below, we’ve rounded up the golden rules that you should follow to ensure a smooth sailing trip.
There would be nothing worse than going on your first holiday with someone only to discover that you are not as well suited as you first thought and then have to spend the next week together. Don’t let the giddiness of booking a holiday overpower your rationality – as romantic as a far-flung trip to the other side of the world might seem, “finding out things might not be as rose-tinted as you thought in the middle of a month-long trek through the Amazon would be catastrophic,” advises Sarah Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveller ’s acting commerce editor. It is far more sensible to book a short and sweet break to ease yourself into it – and a whirlwind weekend in a romantic European city is the perfect way to test the waters.
Money is always a tricky subject, and as it’s unlikely that both of you will have identical salaries, it’s definitely a good idea to touch base before you start planning to make sure you have similar expectations for your trip – neither of you wants to wind up disappointed or worrying about your bank balance when you’re trying to focus on the other person. Plus, setting a budget is a great test to see how well you align and how to work together financially. More often than not, people relax in different ways, so having a conversation about what you are really looking for in a holiday will help you decide on the destination, the accommodation, what activities to plan, etc.
“I’m not suggesting you plan a full itinerary, but you don’t want to land in some exotic location to discover that your idea of a holiday is reading by the pool while your partner wants to hike a volcano,” says Sarah James, Traveller ’s deputy digital editor. “Figure out what you both like ahead of time and plan in bits of both.” As much as your ideas of what makes a holiday may differ, it’s always worth broadening your horizons slightly to accommodate your partner’s interests – you never know, you may end up uncovering a new favourite hobby.
“I’ve never been into sports, but my partner loves them. While I’m never going to want to do a three-day bike ride or spend the day at a golf course, we’ve discovered that attending live games together is something both of us really enjoy,” Sarah James says. “Part of a relationship is finding common ground, and you might discover that holiday activities you previously turned your nose up at are a lot of fun with the right person.
” Once you have a better idea of the type of holiday you both want, you can start planning the trip. The best way to do this is by divvying up the duties beforehand – there’s nothing worse than one person being left with all the admin tasks and getting frustrated before the holiday has even begun. “Share the load: don’t take all the responsibility for planning, or let your partner do so,” Abbi Malbon, global audience development manager, advises.
“It should be a time to share your passions, so splitting the planning and itinerary is a good way to enjoy the trip without feeling overwhelmed.” There is nothing that fast-tracks a relationship as quickly as a toilet-related scenario. “It’s an increasing trend for modern hotels to have completely glass bathrooms – including loos – which might be too much too soon for a first-time trip together,” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor, tells us.
“Check with your hotel that your booked room offers some privacy.” Another top tip is to “always check out where the nearest communal hotel bathroom is – away from your shared loo,” advises Jessica Rach, global content planning manager. “You want to keep some things a mystery whilst in the fresh throes of romance.
” “Holidaying is supposed to be fun, but travel is often stressful, and people react in funny ways when faced with things like cancelled trains, airport delays or other mishaps,” says Sarah James. “Often, the stress of travel brings out the worst in all of us. Remember that we all have quirks and don’t run a mile if you suddenly discover that they’re the type of person who clams up when trying to get a taxi in a foreign city or wants to get to the airport gate an hour early – no one is perfect.
” No one wants to be caught out when travelling, but the situation is even worse if you don’t feel fully comfortable with your travel companion. “Take a small collection of essentials each, just in case things don’t go according to plan,” suggests Megan Wilkes, art production manager. “Tissues, antibacterial wipes, anti-sickness tablets, plasters – all may be useful at some point.
” As romantic as spontaneity can be, it can seriously kill the vibe if you’re left stranded without a phone battery or can’t find a restaurant both of you like the look of. Leave some space for improvisation, sure, but try to have backup plans and a vague idea of things to do or places to eat in the area you’re visiting..
