From getting stranded on buses in the jungle at night to adventuring in luxury in Morocco and across the work, Peter and Heather of Conversant Traveller – have been through it all. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve been through it all together as a travel couple. And we’re fortunate enough to have them on this week’s This Seat’s Taken to share all of their amazing experience, stories, and advice!
What’s your story?
Not many people know this, but we met through a magazine! Not one of those dodgy ones mind. It was actually an adventure travel publication, so at least we knew we had something in common right from the start!
To begin with, we started with European city breaks, but soon realised we both much preferred the great outdoors to big urban sprawls, which is how we ended up on our first epic adventure together in Guatemala. We chose it using the good old method of sticking a pin in a map, and it was definitely a trip to make or break a relationship, with food poisoning, being abandoned on a broken down bus in the middle of the night (in the jungle), and being stranded on an island without water. But we survived, and as they say, have never looked back. Whilst we still travel all over the world, these days you’ll find us often visiting Morocco, our favourite destination and somewhere that feels like a ‘second home’.
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
Had we not got together 17 years ago our travelling lives would probably have gone in totally different directions. Peter would be following in the footsteps of great explorers, having strenuous adventures in remote places. I on the other hand would be flying off to a private island for some snorkelling, fine dining and huge four poster beds.
Yet over the years we’ve realised the two can actually be combined rather well, which is why we set up our ‘luxury adventure’ travel blog (during yet another trip to Morocco). We’ve had grand adventures all over the world, from exploring the Amazon rainforest in Peru and ploughing rice paddy fields in Laos with water buffalo, to camel trekking in the Sahara and being charged by leopards in Kenya. Yet no matter how intrepid we are during the day, we’ll always have somewhere luxurious (and often a bit quirky) to sleep at night. Like castles, treehouses and catamarans!
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
It’s all about compromise. Spending so much time together on the road is wonderful, but it’s also where we have our ‘best’ arguments. At home we both work, and have time apart pursuing our own interests or visiting friends, which means we’re not used to being together 24/7. Things often go wrong on holiday, nearly all of which are unavoidable, and it’s during these times that we get frazzled and cross with each other. Usually over something stupid.
We’ve learnt the trick is to take a step back, realise it’s not anyone’s fault (it’s just because it’s so hot, or we’re sick, or the hotel isn’t quite what it said on the tin), and turn the situation into something amusing, with an ‘us against the world’ mentality. It usually works, as long as he relents and agrees I’m right!
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
We love the same things and hate the same things, so travelling together is actually really easy. Because we’ve been doing it for so long it just feels so natural, and we never have to second guess how the other person will react to what we’re seeing or doing. It probably sounds silly, but our biggest challenge is breakfasts. Peter loves his breakfasts (and it’s a great way to get to know the food of another country, Moroccan breakfasts are the best!), but I don’t like to eat before about 10am (or I’d be running to the toilet every 5 minutes!) and never have breakfast at home. So every morning of every holiday I have to sit and watch him eat breakfast, glad that he’s enjoying himself but wishing I could join in too.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
If you’ve never travelled together start with something small, like a city break, where there’s plenty of things to do and the environment isn’t too intense. If that works out, then gradually start exploring further afield and for longer. And when arguments happen (because they will), just remember that it’s probably only because you’re suddenly spending so much time together, and that you’ll be laughing at it in years to come.
Don’t forget the wisdom – pin it and save it for later!
Tang cocktails and learning to play shuffleboard in Richmond VA at Tang & Biscuit
