The travel bug can hit you anytime, anywhere, and with anyone – especially your partner. Jackie and Justin of Life of Doing didn’t immediately define their relationship with wanderlust, but eventually figured out that the world was a place they wanted to explore more fully. So, here they are, over 20 countries and lots of stories later, sharing their experiences and advice with us!
What’s your story?
Justin and I met during our freshmen year at the University of California, Davis at a women’s basketball game. We dated for 6 years before getting married. Traveling and adventures werenât as prevalent in our minds during the college years. We went snowboarding, camping, and took day trips, but nothing international. Our longest travel at the time was a one-week family road trip from California to Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri. That was quite the experience!
Our mindsets changed after marriage and our honeymoon to Greece. The travel bug clicked. We realized that we can balance both work and travel. Thank goodness for company paid time off (PTO) accruals and also having supportive managers who allowed us to take off for our crazy adventures.
Travel is a part of our lifestyle and we wouldnât trade the experience for anything else. Together weâve traveled to over 20+ countries and are currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. How else can we eat delicious food (especially street food), see amazing landscapes, summit mountains, and improve our overall well-being?!
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
Luckily we have similar travel styles so it makes things easier to plan and execute. Weâre planners so we research everything in advance. We have a Google Doc with information such as public transportation, where to eat, and things to see, and confirmed items, such as hotel accommodations, tours, and airfare. Before we leave the airport, we pick up a map of the city from the tourist kiosks at the airport. Sometimes Google Map fails on our phones.
The itinerary is not as packed as you may think. We used to have every hour scheduled with an activity. Now we allow for flexibility in case something happens to the schedule or if we have other interests.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
Traveling together is a rewarding experience. Here are three things that weâve learned about traveling as a couple:
1) Open communication is important so you know what the other personâs expectations and requests are for the trip. Plus, it helps to bounce ideas from the other person and for everyone to be on the same page.
2) Planning for a trip is not easy so itâs best to divide and conquer tasks. Justin books flights and rental cars (if needed) and researches restaurants. I find places to visit and how to get there via public transportation, and book hotels. It works to have some sort of system in place.
3) Laugh and smile throughout the travels. Sometimes travel hiccups occur such as a plane delay or a scooter accident that requires surgery, but in the end, everything works out. Plus, you have a good story to tell!
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
The best part is experiencing new things together! Weâve ran international marathons, hiked crazy mountains (Mount Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu), and even saw animals in their natural habitats on a safari in Tanzania. Weâre seeking the next adventure and it helps to share the epic journey together.
One of the biggest challenges is figuring out what to eat! Even though we did past research on restaurants, there are too many options to choose from. It took us 20 minutes to decide which dim sum restaurant to go to for lunch in Hong Kong. We also enable each other to order foods that may not be the healthiest (ie: ice cream or a beautiful looking dessert). Our thought process is that we can enjoy on our vacation.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
Congratulations on taking this big step! We suggest doing a pre-vacation trial run with a day trip or even a camping trip to learn more about the other person during travels and how he/she reacts during stressful conditions. This can lead to better planning and expectations for the larger trip.
On your big trip together, remember that you may want to do a lot of things each day, but itâs best to not overload your schedule with activities. Itâs recommended to see 1-2 large attractions each day and then take it slow and relax for the rest of the day. Itâs okay to go with the flow when you. Otherwise, youâll burnout from the vacation.
Any additional thoughts or words of wisdom?
Have fun traveling together. Donât have any regrets during your travels. If you want to do a diving excursion or relax on the beach all day long, go for it! Itâs about the memories and doing something awesome as a couple.
Don’t forget to share the wisdom!
Planning the perfect romantic Finger Lakes winter getaway
