Can you honestly say that you really know your partner very well? If you haven’t traveled together and I mean just the two of you, think again. Hence, I dare you to travel with your partner. No friends. No siblings or other family members involved. Just you and him/her.
I used to travel with friends or office mates. And though it could sound really fun (the more the merrier motto), that wasn’t really the case. From the hassles of purchasing tickets for everyone to securing hotel accommodations for a big group, let’s face it: it isn’t easy – most especially if you are the one making all the arrangements. Honestly, do you really think that all of your travel buddies will participate in the travel planning? Of course not. Hence, I resorted to traveling with my other half instead.
All photo illustrations by Janine T. Ongsotto
If you want to do the same, but are currently having second thoughts, kindly note that traveling as a couple has its advantages.
5 Advantages that Will Make You Want to Travel with Your Partner
5. Quality Time.
Being a conservative country, I have to assume that most of the couples in the Philippines either live independently or with their parents. Hence, quality time is usually at a downlow for them. When traveling, however, couples can spend time together for a number of days, 24 hours a day. May it be quality (or quarreling) time, the strong points lie in them being joined at the hip and the lack of other people to worry about.
4. Collection of Memories.
Imagine diving under the waters of Sarangani Bay together, eating turkey meat in Kota Kinabalu or even walking around Coron town proper at night. The best thing about traveling is sharing special moments with somebody and in this instance, savouring them with your significant other.
3. Getting to Know Your Partner.
From understanding the MRT route in Taipei to being left by the ferry in CDO, this is the unsurpassed manner to learn more about your partner. In stressful moments that bring out your worst moods, the true test lies in how you handle each situation. Will a screaming match take place or will you both be level-headed enough to come up with a solution? This is something that you’ll never know if you consistently travel with other people.
2. Affordability.
My boyfriend and I only spent less than P40K – including plane tickets – for our 7-day trip to Taiwan. If you think this is too much, will it help if I say that we visited the north, northeast and eastern parts of Taiwan during the trip? We also had our own driver/tour guide, so we saved a lot of money and hassle of transferring from one bus/train/ferry to another. ‘Expensive’ can be subjective sometimes.
Many people still prefer to travel in groups because they it will be too pricey otherwise. However, if you think about it, traveling in groups may reduce the costs, but it can either be fun or disastrous in the end, as well. Trust me: there will always be that one person who will create some drama during the trip. You cannot expect everyone to do snorkeling or try to slurp that tamilok, either, guys.
1. Less Hassle.
The fewer people that are on a trip, the less hassle the trip entails. No constant reminders on advanced hotel payments, no early alarms for everybody to have ample time to get into the shower before the 8am start-off activity and no one to contemplate whether they would like to go cliff-diving, too. Get it? There’s only you and your partner. And if the other does not want to do the experience, well, make them. Lol.
Exploring the world with your beau is one of the best feelings you can ever experience. Whether you have been together for ages or just for a while, this is one thing that you should try at least once as a couple. Happy travels!
