What’s it really like to travel as a couple?

Long term travel conjures up exciting and magical images of lazy days on soft white sandy Thai beaches, treks through the impressive ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia or maybe Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. It is all of these things and so much more but it comes at a price that isn’t monetary. For those who have experienced long term travel this is familiar ground but those that haven’t most likely have this image that travel is one big long holiday. Long term travel is much harder than most people realise and as a couple there are even more obstacles to overcome.

Back packing is a trade off. You get to see and explore this amazing and diverse planet of ours in all it’s glory but you have to put a lot of work into achieving it. Fair enough if you have loads of money you can “Flash pack” instead of back packing. You can stay at great resorts. You can have your transport and guide all arranged in advance but at a huge expense. If you are like ourselves and travel on as low a budget as possible you have the logistics of pulling all of this together yourselves and trust me this can become stressful and tiring. Throw into the mix traveling as a couple and it’s a potential relationship breaker. I’ve read so many articles over the years that say that traveling as a couple either makes or breaks you and I have to say that I couldn’t agree more with this statement. Thankfully for myself and Dani it’s something that works very well for us and in all honesty we are at our best when we are on the road overcoming the various obstacles together in order to experience these amazing things in our lives.

In Vietnam we bought a scooter in Hanoi and rode over 2,500 Km down the length of the country to Saigon. Heading off each day into the unknown with nowhere planned and nowhere to stay is a big challenge. We came across various groups such as the Vietnam “Easy riders” which is a company that will take you wherever you want to go on the back of a Harley at huge expense but it doesn’t compare to doing it yourself and having to overcome such things as getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere or finding somewhere to sleep for the night when you are up in the mountains and haven’t seen another single sole for hours. These are things where we work best as a couple, as a team. We are there for each other every step of the way. When I’ve had a soul destroying day bouncing through pot holes on a tiny scooter in a South East Asian monsoon for 12 hours non-stop it’s Dani who spurs me on and encourages me to keep going. Likewise when it comes to problem solving, it’s me that is the logical, thoughtful one who will work out a solution to whatever situation we are in. You really have to play to your strengths and work as a team and if you don’t your whole trip and relationship can be in tatters within a short space of time. We have witnessed this first hand whilst on the road. Met other couples who are doing the same and then within a few days you only see one of them who tells you that things were getting too much and they have parted ways. You need a massive amount of understanding and tolerance with each other and I really feel in our case we bring the best out in each other.

There is no time to worry about the dank, cockroach infested cheap beach hut you are having to stay in as there isn’t anywhere else to find. You have to get through it and be there for each other. When you are stuck in the middle of rural Laos struggling to find any transport you have to work together to come up with a solution. You have to be comfortable and close enough to each other to understand each others needs during difficult times. Put up with each others personal hygiene issues when living out of a small van for weeks on end. Maybe issues you weren’t even aware of previously. You really learn a lot about each other when you travel this way and have to adapt quickly or arguments will follow. I really do recommend long term travel, there really isn’t anything quite like it. Being on the open road road, only ever looking forward never back.

If you are thinking of traveling, particularly as a couple these are things you need to consider. It certain isn’t all full moon parties and cocktails on amazing beaches but it can be that and so much more if you are willing to sacrifice a lot and work hard to make it happen. The main thing that I try to achieve with our travel blog is honesty above anything else. If it’s been a hard tough day to get through we will say it how it is in the hope that it gives our readers a true insight as to what back packing really involves. Keep this in mind if your considering traveling. Above all the rewards far outweigh the hard work it takes and I hope our stories inspire you all to go out and explore mother Earth as much as you can. It really is a beautiful place and life is far too short to sit there wondering “If only I had…..” Take that leap and live with no regrets.