Most travel couples can do a pretty great job of appearing to “live the dream.” But then you meet college sweethearts-turned married travel badasses like John and Michelle of The Great Wide Somewhere, and you know you’ve got the real deal.
They’re conquering the world one country at a time, and returning home to share tons of pertinent advice and experiences with the rest of us. Luckily, they’re also open to giving us a glimpse into just what makes their partnership work so well when they’re on the road.
What’s your story?
My husband John and I met at a party in college. Once we finally started dating, we quickly realized an intense love of travel was one of the biggest things we had in common. Early on into dating we backpacked around Peru and Bolivia for 3 weeks, and this was the best way to get to know each other, as travel can bring out the best and worst in you all in one day. We had both traveled a lot independently, but once we found a willing travel partner in each other, we knew we had many adventures to come!
Four years later when we got married, we actually had a travel themed wedding (which you can check out on our website!), and guests gave money to our honeymoon registry to help us fund an epic trip to Tanzania for a safari. Since then, we’ve been taking at least one big international trip a year, and hope to keep this going as long as we can!
We choose to travel together as a couple because we know we make a good team. I tend to be the planner and itinerary coordinator, and John brings the “field skills” like reading maps, finding good food, and hidden gems to visit. We also are both very into photography, and don’t get annoyed with each other for the excessive amounts of photos we take.
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
Overall we really have quite different travel styles. I like warm and tropical climates and a good amount of relaxation. I also tend to prefer places with historical sites and unique architecture. On the other hand, John loves being active, and traveling to natural destinations with colder climates. Together, this has pushed us to travel to a variety of places rather than sticking to one thing. It’s also probably why I tend to travel to Europe alone or with my friends! John isn’t much of a big city person.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
Traveling together really allowed us to get to know each other on a deep level before we got married, and allows us to continue to get to know each other now. Travel can often be chaotic, stressful, and uncomfortable. Being together through these experiences and seeing how the other reacts to conflict has been very meaningful to our relationship. I think our partnership works because even if we have small arguments or differing opinions about where to go or what to do, at the end of the day we have the same goal of wanting to experience as much as we can in the destination we’re in.
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
The best part is always having your loved one with you – definitely makes loneliness obsolete.
The biggest challenge is not getting sick of each other after multiple weeks together in a place in which you know only each other.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
The best advice is to know that you are about to get to know this person on a whole different level. You will see each other at your best, and maybe worst. You will navigate language barriers, getting lost, or getting sick abroad as a team, and it can make you or break you.
Another piece of advice (if you’re on a longer trip) is to still be social – talk to other people and try to make some friends. You don’t want to get sick of each other and then go home wanting space!
Any additional words of wisdom?
Traveling with my husband has truly made us into the couple we are today. You both start at square 1 in a new place and culture, and have to rely on each other through the good and bad. It’s a great way to enhance the dynamic of your relationship, and gives you plenty of amazing shared memories.
Save and share the wisdom!
From Cayo to Placencia: Your itinerary to plan a trip to Belize for 8 days
