Having a partner doesn’t mean you can’t still fulfill your dreams of traveling the world. Once the travel bug bites, it can be hard to ignore. So, why should you? If traveling with your partner isn’t feasible or preferable, nothing should stop you from traveling solo. It could mean making some adjustments, but solo travel while in a relationship is more than possible.
You may even find that striking out on your own has surprising benefits for you and your relationship. And as long as you know the pitfalls before you start, who’s to say you can’t make your travel dreams work solo?
We’re here to give you a realistic glimpse at what traveling solo while in a relationship could look like and some tips to make your travels—and your relationship—thrive!
Table of Contents
- 5 Pros of Traveling Solo While in a Relationship
- 4 Cons to Traveling Solo While in a Relationship
- 3 Tips for Solo Travel While in a Relationship
- Whether You’re Flying Solo or Together, Next Vacay Can Get You Great Deals on Airfare
5 Pros of Traveling Solo While in a Relationship
Traveling solo while in a relationship has its ups and downs. At times, you may struggle with what you’re doing and being away from your best friend. However, it’s worth stepping away from your anxieties to objectively look at all the benefits that come from leaving your comfort zone and striking out to travel the world on your own.
1. It Boosts Your Self-Confidence
Ever been thrown headfirst into a job and forced to learn the ropes quickly, sink-or-swim style? If you have, that sucks, and we hope you have a new job now. But, you may remember owning that new role and the confidence you felt at holding your own and thriving in that new position.
Solo travel in a relationship is a bit like that. By going it alone, you’re forced to call your own shots. Whether deciding where to go, making reservations, or traveling alone, planning every travel step is a huge confidence booster.
For those who typically thrive in these positions, it’ll be an incredible feeling of independence after having to discuss with your partner where the two of you go and what you do. But for others who usually take a backseat to decision-making, this will serve as utterly new territory. And that’s good.
After all, people don’t tend to grow and learn by doing the same thing day after day but by getting out of their comfort zone. Striking out and forging your own path? That’s the stuff adventures—and self-confidence—are made of.
Additionally, it’s natural to lean on one another for support and help in a relationship. However, a solo traveler only has themself to rely on. While you’ll hopefully make friends and still have your partner at home, all the decisions are in your hands. That knowledge alone can boost your self-confidence and make you more sure of yourself and your choices.
And finding and nurturing that confidence within yourself will only positively affect your relationship.
2. It Allows You to Follow Your Passions
Not all couples share the same passions. And when it comes to travel, that can express itself in numerous ways.
Your partner may be completely uninterested in traveling the world. Or, they may have a different set of bucket list destinations than you. In that case, it may make more sense to have separate trips. While it may not be ideal, it at least makes more sense than forcing yourself to go somewhere you have no interest in visiting.
Even if your dream destinations include the same places, you may run into other problems regarding your travel styles. Maybe you’re a traveler while your partner is a tourist. While you want to spend your days learning about the city and meeting new people, they prefer to hit all the cool tourist spots and lounge by the pool.
There’s no right or wrong to these types of travel; they’re simply different. But these differences will undoubtedly make deciding where to go and what to do contentious.
Rather than compromising on where or how you travel, solo trips allow you to put your own interests first. This is especially important when you have limited vacation time, as you don’t want to “waste” your time going places and planning activities that don’t spark your interest.
When you travel solo, you allow yourself to shift your focus outside the relationship onto your own experiences and personal growth without your partner present. Then, of course, when you return home, you can share all of your solo adventures and revelations with your partner.
3. You Don’t Have to Worry About Coordinating Schedules
Unless you and your partner work together, your time-off schedules will probably look different. Very different. For example, if you have a remote job with a flexible schedule while your partner works in a corporate setting, you may have a lot of free time on your hands to travel, time that your partner just doesn’t have available. Or, if you both work different nine-to-five jobs, your busy times and holidays may not match up.
No written rule says couples have to do everything together; if one does, we’d like to see it.
Instead of doing acrobatics worthy of earning you a spot in the Cirque du Soleil to coordinate your schedules, the best method may be the simplest one: traveling separately.
If the reality is that your calendars don’t align, don’t force it. Instead, plan to do your own thing. Maybe that means traveling to Southeast Asia on a two-month sabbatical while your partner works. Or, it could mean them jetting off to Iceland for two weeks without you. As long as you and your partner have discussed these solo trips together, you don’t need to put off having your own solitary travel experiences.
And if you and your partner have some vacation time that overlaps? Plan to do something together in that time. Have a romantic staycation exploring your home base, or plan a vacation you’ll be able to enjoy together.
4. It Can “Prove” Your Relationship
It can be hard to extricate yourself from the “we” mentality of being in a relationship. This can be especially true when you’ve just started dating.
Time away from your partner can be a good thing in a healthy relationship. It reminds you that aside from being a part of a couple, you’re still your own person.
Use this alone time on your solo trip to take stock of your relationship. Being in your own company can put things into perspective by reinforcing your sense of self, goals, and feelings. It can be good to realize that while you miss your partner and look forward to seeing them again, you still enjoy your solo travels and the time to yourself.
On the other hand, does the thought of returning home fill you with a sense of dread? Or are you contemplating cutting your vacation time short because you feel an anxious desire to return?
If you’re feeling some way about returning, it may be time to sit down and have an upfront discussion with yourself about your current relationship and what may need to change.
5. It’s a Great Opportunity to Work on Your Communication Skills
When out doing your solo travel thing, you and your partner may be in different countries, time zones, and even hemispheres. With that distance comes a new dynamic to your romance: the long-distance relationship.
We know that word can be scary for some—long-distance, we mean (otherwise, we have some questions for you). But long-distance relationships aren’t some impossible thing. They simply require the willingness to employ a different set of tools to continue connecting with your partner in meaningful ways.
How can you do that? By understanding each other’s love language and your own. If you’ve never heard of love languages before, then it may be time to learn and discover what yours are. When you and your partner understand each other’s needs, you can ensure you’re still fulfilling them even as you gallivant around the world.
Of course, some love languages, like physical touch, can be harder to satisfy with distance, but not impossible! You may just have to do some creative brainstorming. Maybe text them how you can’t wait to hug them when you see them next or give them a physical gift like a blanket or pillow they can use to cuddle while you’re gone.
Long-distance relationships can be challenging, no doubt about it. But, if you’re both aware of the difficulties and intent on overcoming them together, you can make your relationship work even as you travel solo.
4 Cons to Traveling Solo While in a Relationship
While solo traveling can be amazing, we do have to take off our rose-tinted glasses and take a look at some of the pitfalls you’ll no doubt face. However, these are by no means things that should hold you back from solo travel while in a relationship.
Nevertheless, they’re important to consider as you and your partner prepare for the first solo trip and possibly many more trips down the road.
1. You’ll Miss Your Significant Other
We won’t beat around the bush: you will miss your partner. Even if you love traveling solo, with all the freedom and alone time it grants, you may find yourself stuttering a step.
Maybe you’re not used to making all your own decisions. Maybe you’re not used to having all that personal time to yourself. Maybe you’re not used to having so much fun without your significant other, and it feels weird.
Some days you may not think about their absence all that much. While some experiences make you wish they were there, sharing those magical moments with you.
There’s no cure to missing your partner while on the road and no handy teleportation device to zap from one side of the world to another. Communicating and finding time to connect with your partner even as you travel solo is vital.
You may even find yourselves connecting on a deeper level when you return because you’ve had the opportunity to miss one another. After all, they do say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
2. It Can Be Difficult to Communicate
Trying to make long-distance work can be tricky, even more so in a foreign country. You’ll likely run into issues with time zone differences, weak Wi-Fi signals, and maybe even problems simply navigating a conversation with your significant other.
Dealing with all that at the end of a long day full of tightly packed travel plans can feel like a lot. You may not want to drag yourself somewhere with working Wi-Fi to make a video call or stay up a few hours later to check in.
But the more time you’re away, especially on longer trips, the more important it becomes to reconnect with your partner, especially if they’re setting aside time for you.
3. It May Spark Feelings of Jealousy
Being away from your significant other, it’s normal to wonder what the other person is doing. There may even be lingering fears of missing important milestones or experiences in your relationship.
On top of that, solo travel means both partners experience a kind of freedom from each other. Only one of you may be traveling, but you’re still doing things independently and experiencing things by yourself while navigating being in a relationship.
It can be hard knowing that your significant other is out doing things and having experiences without you. It may stir up feelings of jealousy or even insecurity. As a result, one or both of you may feel left behind, unwanted, or ignored.
A strong relationship that puts trust at the forefront is key to overcoming these emotions.
Before you depart on your solo travels, talk with your partner. Establish firm boundaries for what you both find acceptable. For example, you may want to attend festivals and go out to bars, which may cause your significant other some discomfort.
Talking about these things and establishing what makes them uncomfortable can help ease stress. Additionally, you can brainstorm solutions that make them more comfortable without sacrificing your autonomy.
4. You’ll Probably Get Lonely
If you haven’t traveled solo before, you may be unprepared for the feelings of loneliness that can crop up on the road. Sure, you’re meeting new people, learning about other cultures, and having a good time. But traveling solo while in a relationship will undoubtedly highlight the person-shaped hole missing from your travels.
When you’re around someone all the time, you become used to companionship, even if that’s just your partner sitting quietly on the other side of the room. However, when you start to travel alone, that absence can leave you feeling a little unbalanced. You may be used to the sound of your partner humming or singing. You may miss small touches of affection or even their snores.
Having your own space and all that solo time is great, but it comes with caveats. If you’re determined to travel solo but a bit anxious about it, you can always plan short trips first to ease your way in before you start planning trips away for weeks at a time.
3 Tips for Solo Travel While in a Relationship
Navigating a solo adventure simultaneously as a serious relationship can be challenging. However, that’s not to say it’s impossible. The most important thing to remember is that while you may be traveling solo, you’re in a relationship. So, here are some tips to ensure you continue to grow your relationship even as you travel.
1. Make Your Partner Feel Special
You’re bound to have fun traveling, maybe so much that the days start to blend. The only reminder of what day it is will likely come from your phone when you check the time and notice it’s the middle of the week. That’s not necessarily bad—until you realize your partner started a new job yesterday.
There’s nothing wrong with finding solo travel important. We’ve gone over all the benefits it can bring to your relationship and personal growth.
With that said, you want to achieve a balance. You don’t want to put solo travel above your relationship or partner any more than you want to do the opposite. So, mark down special milestones like birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates. If traveling during these occasions, don’t forget to check in with your significant other. Maybe plan a special delivery with gifts or loving notes.
Show your partner through both words and actions that distance doesn’t matter. You can still be invested in your relationship, even from thousands of miles away.
2. Schedule Times to Connect – And Stick to Them
One way solo travel can wreak havoc on your relationship is by highlighting imbalances. It can’t just be one partner making an effort. It has to be a joint commitment to set aside time for each other, whether that means rearranging schedules, adjusting travel plans, etc.
As you create your travel itinerary, check in with your partner and schedule times and spaces to connect through Skype, FaceTime, or simple voice calls.
Make this time together a priority, and commit yourself to the schedule, but being physically present is just the start. You want to engage with what’s being said during your conversations, not spend the whole time thinking about tomorrow’s schedule or what you’ll eat later.
Focus on your partner, listen to what they’re saying, ask questions, and be present in your conversations, so your partner feels heard and seen.
3. Talk About What Coming Home Will Look Like
You may have pictured it a thousand times—returning home a triumphant solo traveler intent on sharing a million pictures and stories with your partner. But unfortunately, the reality may be slightly different. You may find yourselves settling into new skins as you reign in the independence you just spent weeks experiencing to cohabitate with another human being again.
Adjusting from being on the road to being home takes time. Even welcoming someone back can feel like an invasion of space after spending weeks with free reign of the place.
Think about forming rituals or routines around your return. Consider bringing home a bottle of wine to celebrate with your significant other. Maybe they cook dinner or order something special, and you catch each other up on everything that didn’t make it into the Skype calls.
This can also be a great way to share some special moments and reestablish your connection now that you’re both in the same room.
Furthermore, knowing what to expect when you come home can help ease tension and stress for both of you.
Whether You’re Flying Solo or Together, Next Vacay Can Get You Great Deals on Airfare
Solo travel can be life-changing. It’s why so many people do it. Of course, as a wandering soul, we’d never want to tell you to follow the pack. But discovering your sense of self and being able to grow and strengthen your relationship? That does all the talking we need.
So, if you’re ready to conquer the world alone or looking to take your next fairy-tale vacation with your partner, you’ll need to plan how you’re getting away. Let Next Vacay help.
With flight deals delivered right to your inbox, you can experience great solo travel destinations or fun romantic getaways.
Feed your wandering spirit and travel the world with Next Vacay!
