How To Plan A Vacation With A New Bae

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It’s time. You and your new significant other are ready to take your first vacation together. You’ve seen all the travel couples out there on Instagram, tackling the world as one, and you want to join the ranks. You’re ready. But Instagram might not show you the nitty-gritty of what it’s like to travel as a duo, much less travel with a new significant other. Here are five things to keep in mind when planning your first vacation with a new bae.

1. Try a weekend first.

It might be tempting to jump head first into a week-long adventure with your partner, but test the waters first. Just like with any friend that you want to travel with, there are things you don’t know about each other until you’re sharing a hotel room, living out of a suitcase and dealing with travel chaos. Stick to two or three days and then, if that goes well, go for a week.

2. Talk about money.

We know, we know, money talk sucks. But it’s important before any vacation to discuss your respective budgets so you know if you’re eating every meal at a restaurant or cooking in your Airbnb. And then there are the rules of chivalry coming into play. We’d suggest splitting everything 50/50. This isn’t a first date in the 1950s — it’s a vacation in 2018. If one of you wants to treat the other to a nice dinner, go for it. But if one person has less money to use, operate on that person’s budget. It’s only fair, and it’s the best way to make sure you both get what you want out of the trip without feeling awkward or resentful.

3. Be prepared to be close.

We don’t mean extra-bonding close or sexy-time close — although those will probably come with vacationing together, too. We mean that there’s no escape from morning breath, occasional grouchiness and bare-faced, no-makeup wakeups. This will bring your relationship to a new level in a good way, but you have to be ready for it.

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4. Choose a destination with split interests.

If bae is into rock climbing and you’re into sipping espressos in quaint cafes (or vice versa), that’s cool. You can definitely find a destination with both climbing spots and charming coffee hookups. Greece, perhaps? But if one of you is feeling tropical and the other wants alpine hiking, you might have to compromise.

5. Plan alone time.

Even though you’re on a romantic getaway, you still shouldn’t spend 24/7 together. Everyone needs a little space. You don’t have to spend prolonged periods of time away from each other, but taking an hour or so alone can help keep things feeling lovey-dovey when you are together.

P.S. Leave the camping for your second getaway together unless both of you are pro-level campers. Camping is a lot for that first excursion together.

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