Travel dates can help refresh your relationship. Here are my tips for taking one.

Have you and your partner done anything special together lately? There’s nothing like a destination date to bring excitement to your relationship.

It’s easy for you and your partner to fall into the monotony of an everyday routine once the honeymoon phase wears off. While there’s nothing wrong with being comfortable, it’s important to keep your relationship fresh and engaging.

What better way to reignite the spark than on a date to a new city? Whether you’ve been together for 6 months or 40 years, a travel date is the perfect way to bring a fun, new adventure to your relationship.

Why my boyfriend and I take travel dates

My boyfriend Michael and I have traveled together all over the world, including a 72-hour layover in the UAE. We’ve visited five countries so far, and the list of plans keeps growing. Traveling is one of our shared passions, so it’s a must in our relationship.

We agreed to carve out time and money for “travel dates” this year. Last month, we went to Iceland, one of the best places to visit during the summer. 

Here’s how we made the most of our time together, along with some tips for how to do the same with your special someone.

Tips for a successful travel date

Plan some “normal” activities

Michael and I wanted to have at least one romantic plan in Iceland. We dedicated a Saturday evening to a special date night. This included dinner and a walk through town near our hotel. It was a typical, yet timeless, plan for two.

Planning a date night within your travel date reminds you both why you took the trip in the first place – to get closer to each other. Instead of only participating in touristy things and exploring crowded places, set aside some one-on-one time in a place you could only visit in that particular location.

This spot for us was Downtown Reykjavík. We visited the famous church, then got pizza to-go and enjoyed it together in a public square. We got to catch up on everything we haven’t paid attention to about each other over the past few months.

Next, we walked hand-in-hand through the streets and people-watched to end our night. It was such a simple date, but it felt brand-new in a foreign setting. I think you’ll feel the same when you go on a date abroad with your hunny.

Plan some new-to-you activities

On the flip side of our do-it-anywhere date was the do-it-here-and-only-here date. We try to plan an excursion that is totally unique to our destination each trip. This time we decided on a tour of the famous lava tunnels along the Golden Circle.

This magnificent attraction is one of the largest lava tunnels in the world. Since we’d never seen or done anything volcano-related before, we decided this would be our brand-new date idea. We geared up with helmets, headlights, and walking sticks and got to experience an integral part of what makes Iceland so special – volcanoes!

Plan a date with your partner that is local to your destination and your destination alone. That way you can make memories trying something completely new together. I know Michael and I won’t ever forget our trek through the Icelandic lava tunnels.

Find the perfect place to stay – approved by both of you

Michael and I tossed around ideas for where to stay before taking off for Iceland. We agreed on three main ideas: to stay close to attractions, to have some privacy, and to go cheap. We found the perfect downtown condo for just $125 a night, which was about $100 less than everything else I found. 

Talk to your partner about what matters most to them during your stay. If location is one of the main factors, look for something in the heart of it all. If the price is a concern, you can book a single room in a shared Airbnb. There’s a huge range of options out there nowadays, so you should be able to agree on a stay that suits you both. 

Agree on a budget and save up before you go

My boyfriend and I are always very courteous of each other’s budgets. When one of us isn’t feeling so good about finances, we help each other out and take the pressure off of doing expensive things… like traveling. It’s important to discuss realistic travel goals on a budget.

A big thing we always agree to do is fly standby (a perk of my job). Although it’s risky since it doesn’t guarantee us seats, it saves us a lot of money when it works out. We calculate what we save on flights into our trip budget.

Set aside money for your travel date. That way you’ll have enough saved to feel confident before taking off. You could save for a road trip across the state or a flight across the globe. Whatever fits your budget works. Just make sure you communicate your money situation beforehand so you don’t both wind up penniless while traveling like I did in Europe.

Iceland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. This fact dissuaded Michael and I at first. But by combing for deals, we managed to spend less than our budget accounted for. Be mindful of your spending, but make sure you save up enough to enjoy yourselves when you want to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Get a fresh perspective on spending time together

Scenic drives, walks in the park, museums, and restaurants. Nothing we did was totally different from what we love to do at home in Arizona. But it felt like a completely different experience because the environment was entirely new.

Plan a day of fun activities that you normally do at home with your hunny. It’ll bring a whole new variety and a fresh perspective to your typical dates. And it’s a great reminder of why you enjoy doing life together. 

You can do this wherever you travel. Before you know it, you’ll have a huge collection of awesome travel photos and memories from all over the world.

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Traveling with your partner can be thrilling and daunting at the same time. But it’s undoubtedly one of the best ways to bring newness to the table and get to know your love on a higher level. I also find it helpful to have something to look forward to as a couple. A travel date is a flint to ignite the spark.

I hope you’ve gotten some inspiration from this article and can incorporate some of these tips into your future travel dates. Don’t hesitate to share your relationship travel tips with me in the comments!

For more on travel and relationships, check out Laura’s article: Is it okay for couples to travel separately? next.