5 tips on how to travel as a couple when you disagree & create a blissfully memorable experience.
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Roger & I travel as often as we can.
As you can imagine we have had our fair share of disagreements along the way.
And even though you know I love to get all personal & honest with you about myself, when it comes to our marriage I do like to keep some things private because there is another person involved.
A person I’m rather fond of, to put it mildly.
So while I definitely want to share with you what we have learned from traveling during the last (almost) 7 years of marriage I’ve decided to skip the personal anecdotes as they are, well, personal.
But I can assure you that there have been enough disagreements while traveling over the years that we have learned how to cope with difficult situations in our marriage while traveling.
The awesome part about traveling together frequently is that we learn valuable lessons on each trip, which means each vacation we embark on is better than the last simply because we know each other better!
I hope you find these tips helpful as you set off on another grand adventure with your best friend!
1. Stop & Think
Disagreements usually happen at the worst possible moment.
Sometimes they sneak up on you while you are walking down a busy street, caught in a torrential downpour, or lost in a foreign country.
The moment you realize your difference of opinion is turning into a full-on disagreement I highly recommend that you stop & think.
Because the problem with sudden disagreements is that you are often both caught off guard & unprepared which too often leads to making comments & claims you will regret later.
Often the best thing to do is to stop, wherever you are, finding a quiet place that is just the two of you (so as not to cause a scene & allow you to work it out privately) & to think about the situation before moving forward.
If all you need is a private moment to figure things out, great!
But if you realize your disagreement needs a little more time…
2. Take a Few Minutes Apart
Traveling as a couple is my absolute favorite.
And even though Roger is my best friend & we have been together for 10+ years, sometimes I just need a break.
Because even though I wish I could be with him 24/7 during the work week the reality of being with someone nonstop is that you never have any alone time.
We’ve found that sometimes we just need 10-15 minutes of alone time when a disagreement begins to arise.
Now I know this is not always easy when you are in a foreign country, but if you can swing 10 minutes of alone time at the beginning of a disagreement it can change the whole outcome for the rest of your day, maybe even the rest of your trip!
3. Consider Your Spouse’s Opinions
But don’t waste those 10 minutes allowing your anger or frustration to build up further.
Instead, take that time to consider your spouse’s opinions.
Marriage is not just about you, but a relationship with two people striving to be one (Genesis 2:24).
And while you can’t control what your spouse ponders about during those 10 minutes, you can control how you spend yours.
You can either take the time to focus solely on yourself & why your husband is wrong or you can consider his opinions & work on a solution that compliments both of your desires.
4. Look Longterm
If you choose the second, also remember to look longterm.
Minuscule disagreements that are left unresolved can pile up & lead to a tainted experience or even a ruined trip.
You have an opportunity here to be the bigger (not better) person.
Try not to focus on getting your way in this one disagreement, instead focus on how you can resolve this situation together in order to make your trip one that is filled with memorable moments together.
5. Pray, Discuss, & Move On
Once your 10 minutes are up it’s really important to come back together & work out the disagreement.
And instead of starting your conversation with heated words I highly recommend you start with prayer.
Once you’ve both prayed, discuss the situation openly.
Rather than starting by sharing your feelings & opinions, discuss your spouse’s opinions.
Share how you (are trying to) understand their point of you & what you ultimately want for your trip & marriage.
Once resolved, move on.
Don’t linger in the disagreement or even in that location.
Start fresh, say a prayer, & begin your day anew.
Honestly, you both want the same thing.
A happy loving marriage & a blissful trip.
And two people who are ultimately striving for these two purposes while traveling will have no problem finding them together!
If you love to travel as a couple be sure to share a picture & tag @DomesticallyBlissful on Instagram so that we can all see your fun adventure!
And if you enjoyed this travel post, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter below so that you don’t miss out on another blissful tip!
Where are you planning your next trip to with your spouse?
I’d love to hear from you & about your experience!
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With love, G
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV
