My long-distance love and I recently got married so no more suffering from a LDR weekend and LDR holiday. It was a magical weekend with family, good food and lots of love. The official date of us closing the distance will be January 2017 (that’s eight months away!), but I in the next coming months, I am slowly moving to Australia where my husband, Don, lives. Now that we’re married, we have our honeymoon to plan!
Some of the best perks of being in a long-distance relationship are the visits or going to vacation together. Every visit is like a vacation, and nothing brings a couple, or anyone for that matter, closer than when you’ve traveled with them. Don and I have traveled and taken road trips together over the years we’ve been together. Thankfully, all trips went by without a single scratch. We came home happy, and our wanderlust grew.
Here are some of my tips for planning a stress-free vacation with your significant other.
Understand Each Other’s Travel Styles
I think one of the reasons why our travels have been smooth is because we understand each other’s traveling style and needs. Don is a traveler, and I am vacationer. He has backpacked around the world, and I have only been on holidays. Whenever we go somewhere, we will compromise on the destination and itinerary so that we get the best of both worlds. Once you understand each other’s traveling style, it makes planning so much easier.
Do Research
Before any LDR weekend trip you go on, you should always research the place you want to visit or any potential places. Research how much flight ticket costs for the both of you. Keep a lookout for flight deals or any promotions happening. For accommodations, sometimes hotels give upgrades to couples. Or if you travel during non-peak season, they can upgrade you to a suite. Don’t forget the most important thing: things to do. Every time I research places, I make sure I have a balance of adventure for Don and pampering for me. He enjoys sightseeing and exploring the city. And as much as I do enjoy all of the above, I also like shopping, going to spas and eating!
Plan an Itinerary
I know some people prefer going on holidays without itinerary so they can go wherever the city takes them. I tried doing that with Don, but it didn’t work out for us. We felt lost and unsure. We did have fun exploring the city, but we’re itinerary travelers. Personally, I like having a very detailed itinerary because I want to see and do as much as I can. It can get very tricky trying to fit everything in your short trip. You may feel like you are not getting the whole experience because of the time constraints. If you’re a more laid-back traveler but still want to have an itinerary, what I suggest is having a simple guide of what you want to do. For example:
Day 1
Morning: Go to the waterfalls
Lunch: Chicken Rice Café
Afternoon: Visit the bird park
Dinner: Find restaurant along the beach.
With that said, after a few of days of detailed activities, I will always keep one to two days free for leisure activities. This will be the time when Don and I explore the hotel facilities, hang out by the pool, have a drink at the bar or check out their game room (if they have one).
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Even with a very detailed itinerary, things beyond your control can go wrong. You’ve been traveling the whole day, you can’t wait to get to your hotel and crash, but the room isn’t ready for the next two hours. Or you misplaced your booking and such. Whenever these things happen, just breathe and let it go. Find the next easier solution, and go along with it. The more you complain or think about it, the more upset you get.
Have Fun
I think most LDR couples tend to forget to have fun because they want to make sure that every minute is well spent. When things don’t go according to plan, they stress out, and it creates an unpleasant vibe (speaking from experience). Just have fun with your LDR holiday, and enjoy each other’s company.
Take Lots of Photos
This should go without saying, but I take LOTS of photos of us on our trips. I then pick a few of the nice ones and frame them. This is a great souvenir for the both of you to be reminded of a great LDR weekend trip.
Do you have any other tips for other LDR couples planning a stress-free vacation?
I get pleasure from, cause I found just what I used to be taking a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye