How Travel Benefits Your Marriage, Says a Relationship Expert

Couples often travel throughout the winter months to see their in-laws for the holidays, go skiing for a few days, or plan romantic getaways for Valentine's Day. Furthermore, relationship experts claim that although having a memorable experience together is always enjoyable, travelling may really have longer-lasting advantages.

According to a U.S. Travel Association poll from 2013, travelling builds relationships, fosters passion and intimacy, and results in better, happier relationships. The poll found that "couples who travel together report higher levels of satisfaction with their relationships." People in the study were asked to score their relationships based on a number of criteria, including the ability to maintain romance, the ability to feel emotionally connected to a spouse, and the amount of quality time couples spend together. Couples who have taken a trip together gave their relationship better ratings across the board. Additionally, the poll found that couples who travel together see long-term gains in their sex lives and communication methods, among other relationship aspects.

According to relationship expert and strategist Elizabeth Overstreet, author of Love You and He Will Too: The Smart Woman's Roadmap for Happy, Healthy Relationships, "Something is happening when two people travel together." They are spending time with one another, getting used to and enjoying their new surroundings, and sharing novel and exciting experiences. It's all about discovery, shared experiences, and a desire to just become closer, she says, adding that the start of a relationship often involves intentionality around spending quality time with a significant other. Relationships, however, may enter the "autopilot" phase after the first few months. It might sometimes seem as if everything that was once so shiny and fresh has lost its lustre. Packing your bags together will help with this. Travel, according to Overstreet, "helps break up the monotony, allows you to strengthen your relationship with your partner even more, and gives you the downtime to remember and reflect on what brought you two together."

Overstreet claims that travelling together offers a chance for intentionality in other areas of your relationship, much like how couples are extremely deliberate about the time they spend together in those first few months (this is the honeymoon period). "Travel gives couples the chance to spend quality time together, be intimate, and reassess their relationship. She observes that between our domestic, professional, and parenting commitments, we move quickly every day. Travel is a chance to take a vacation, spend quality alone time with your partner, and mend your relationship.

The authors of a 2019 study by Mojtaba Shahvali, Deborah L. Kerstetter, and Jasmine N. Townsend, titled "The Contribution of Vacationing Together to Couple Functioning," discovered even more data supporting the advantages of travel for couples. According to the research, couples who travel together have greater levels of marital coherence and flexibility because their needs for security, emotional closeness, and novelty are better addressed.

Overstreet notes that individuals may gain from travelling as a family in addition to the couples travel (i.e., simply the two partners) that was the focus of most of the research in these studies. According to her, it is critical for couples to take separate trips as well as family vacations. "The family is built on the union of the couple. And it's crucial that you set aside time for one another, away from your children, to continue laying that foundation. Along with the other everyday tasks you bear, it helps you return as a better parent. Travel may also have an influence on developing enduring love relationships before beginning a relationship. OnePoll surveyed 2,000 Americans who had been abroad on behalf of Exodus Travels, and the results showed that 23% of those asked had married someone they had met while on vacation.

Here are several ways that taking the time to plan travel together may help enhance a long-term relationship, from bonding via shared experiences away from home to creating space for emotional and physical intimacy that may be difficult to achieve during a couple's usual day-to-day.

Finding Your Partner's Qualities Again

According to Overstreet, "travel really is an amplifier for highlighting your partner's attributes." She meant by this that in couples, one person could be skilled at organising the practicalities of a vacation while the other half would prefer to concentrate on making reservations for activities and coming up with interesting things to do. "Dividing up travel-related tasks can help you get to know your partner better and highlight the things you have in common or how you complement one another," she adds. Getting away from your usual day-to-day routine means fewer distractions and more time for both physical and emotional closeness, in addition to serving as a reminder of your partner's virtues.
Changing the norm

Humans are habitual beings. According to Overstreet, because we value regularity so highly, incremental progress occurs when our regular routines are disrupted. She claims that in many cases, relationships that are in trouble have fallen into a pattern where things become stagnant or when partners lose interest or a strong connection. "Couples who can break away from the routine help disrupt their relationship in a positive way," she continues. And it might be advantageous for keeping things fresh in a romantic relationship.

Options for Conventional Travel

While it's tempting to believe that a romantic getaway or extended vacation with your significant other will help you work out any issues you may be having, this isn't always possible due to financial constraints, the demands of working and raising children, and other pressures. Overstreet stresses that a shared new experience doesn't need to be a lengthy, expensive excursionother will help you work out any issues you may be having, this isn't always possible due to financial constraints, the demands of working and raising children, and other pressures. Overstreet stresses that a shared new experience doesn't need to be a lengthy, expensive excursion. When people think about travelling, they can get fixated on the idea that they must do something monumental. But there's frequently a lot in your backyard or nearby that you two can explore on the cheap and still have a great day, she adds. What is her suggestion? Travel together, visit a nearby state or national park, learn something new in your area, or arrange a one- or two-night hotel staycation. Find activities that you and your spouse like doing together that will allow you two to intentionally spend time alone. "If you are unable to do something that requires a longer period of time, sometimes mini-getaways may be what you need."

The Value of Experimenting with New Things

The chance to just try something new together is what truly makes travel stand out as a special bonding activity. Relationships are not symmetrical. It will have its ups and downs. The couples who succeed in meeting the challenge are open to venturing out together, trying new things, and venturing into uncharted territory, says Overstreet. It's how a couple develops, gets to know one another, and forges a strong, enduring tie.