Take it from someone who has been there, done that, got the cheesy couple selfie… for all of fourteen countries over a period of eighteen months. Traveling as a couple is a dream come true, and will bring you closer together than anything else in this world could. But it’s not all sunsets, cocktails and beach bungalows for two…
We’ve asked some of the most successful and loved-up couples who are together on the road right now what it’s really like traveling as a twosome. Spoiler… there’s a lot of myths busted here, which are likely to make any solo travelers reading this feel a bit better about themselves this Valentine’s Day…
You won’t be any more organized just because there’s two of you
As a pair, you’re led into a false sense of security of thinking that two minds and four hands = less room for error. Wrong. If you’re anything like my boyfriend and me, you’ll still miss buses, get hit with late check-out fees, get lost in weird neighborhoods, and permanently misplace possessions on the back of Indian busses. When we were in Sumatra, Matt accidentally booked our flight out to Java a week later than we’d planned to leave, meaning we ultimately had to shack up in Bukit Lawang’s dense jungle for a total of two weeks.
It’s not really any cheaper
Sure, double rooms are often cheaper than two single dorm beds and you can half the grocery shopping, so you’d think that couples spend less than singletons on the road. But as a couple, it’s harder to say no to things. You’ll constantly fancy a beer together, and want to take advantage of every ‘two for one’ drinks sign you see… plus forking out on ‘out there’ experiences is a lot more justifiable when you have someone you want to share it with.
Continue reading: 12 truths about travelling as a couple