4 Things Couples Should Ask Themselves Before Embarking on a Travel Adventure
Have an itch to travel with your SO? Well, why not plan a trip that includes a little excitement and a lot of adventure! Seeking thrills on your travels can really get those endorphins pumping and bring you closer as a couple — just be sure to ask yourself these crucial travel questions.
Do You Have the Right Car and Insurance for Your Couple Adventure?
Taking a road trip is a rite of passage for any relationship. If you plan on hitting the road together during your travels, however, you don’t want car troubles to spoil those plans. So, before you take that scenic road trip, do some homework to see if your car is truly up for the journey. For example, sedans are not the best choice if your route will take you on dirt roads or put you in the path of inclement weather. In those situations, it may be worth your investment to either rent or even purchase a used SUV with greater capabilities. Be sure to research the pros and cons of these vehicles as well.
Once you’ve chosen your vehicle, you’ll need to think about car insurance and what’s right for your situation. If you’re going to be on the road for a long period of time, it’s often recommended that you get full coverage, which combines collision and comprehensive coverage. In this case, your car will be covered for if anything unexpected occurs, such as your car being stolen, vandalized, or damaged by the weather. Also, when reviewing your coverage, consider switching to a highly rated company if you’re unhappy with your current company. For example, Allstate, Progressive, and Nationwide all have A+ ratings via AM Best.
Do You Have a Reliable Smartphone?
Before setting off on a road trip, it’s essential that you have a smartphone that you can trust. You can use your smartphone for getting traffic reports and directions, finding places to eat and stay, and using helpful apps in case of emergency. And many of today’s latest phones come with helpful features that can make long drives a little easier. For example, Apple’s latest smartphone, the iPhone 11, comes with a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature which can mute calls and texts and automatically send your contact a message that you’re on the road. It also has a long-lasting battery life, which can come in handy if there’s an unexpected emergency. If you prefer Androids, the Samsung Galaxy S9 has Driving Mode, which also rejects calls while you’re driving and sends a quick message to the caller.
Will Your Adventure Help Cross Items Off Both Your Bucket Lists?
Just like any other aspect of your relationship, compromise is usually key to adventure travel bliss. If this is your first big adventure together, you should sit down and talk about the world destinations and travel activities you each have always dreamed about. Perhaps you won’t be satisfied until you have experienced a moonlit safari through the African wilderness, but your partner would prefer to seek thrills swimming alongside whale sharks off the coast of Mexico. Explore and discuss these options so you can plan your travels to possible cross more than one item of your lists or take turns choosing different adventures.
Since cost is usually a top concern for travel-hungry couples, it may help to come up with a vacation budget for each trip, as well as for your travel plans together as a whole. Maybe you have enough room in your budget to really splurge on each adventure or you could travel closer to home when your budget gets tight. Being on the same page when it comes to travel plans and expenses can go a long way in preventing tension and arguments on the road.
Have You Made Plans to Care for Your Pets and Your Home?
Travel is such a good way to relieve stress, especially when that travel allows you to experience new and exciting places and activities. If you are stressing out over things at home, however, neither of you will be able to properly enjoy those benefits. So, as you plan your adventure together, also plan to secure a few things before you go. If you have pets, for instance, you will need to find a dependable pet sitter to take care of your furry family members while you are away. That is unless you both can agree on a travel adventure that is pet-friendly, such as running trails in Oregon. As far as your home, you can hire a sitter for peace of mind there as well, or you can invest in a home monitoring system that could end up costing you less in the long run. Many systems even link up with your mobile phone, so you can peek in on your house (or pets) while you are out enjoying the open road with your partner.
Couples who adventure together live happier lives together. Well, at least your travels together can be happier when you use the tips above and do some additional research to thoroughly plan out your trip. Of course, you could always just wing it and plan on just having fun. Either way, you are bound to make incredible memories as you explore the world as a couple!
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