Most couples look forward to summer as a time to get away from the grind at work, take in some cool sights, and above all, spend time alone to relax and reconnect with each other. Travel plans have been made months in advance, and they've been excited to go on their travel adventure.
However, readers at MarsVenus.com tell us that things don't always turn out as expected. Is it possible to spend a vacation together 24/7 and get along in blissful coupledom the entire time? Are you and your mate one of those rare couples who are completely flexible and relinquish all control of the schedule with a quick peck on the cheek and a "Sure, see you later honey"? Or, is your vacation schedule etched in stone -- chiselers beware?
For the schedule junkies, no matter how planned to the minute a vacation may be, there will inevitably come a time when she is ready for a romantic dinner at the new hot spot that is booked two years out, and he decides instead to catch the final waves of the day and go for a burger later at the hotel bar. Or, maybe she wants to pass on the museum he's dreamed of exploring since he was 12 years old in favor of catching up on some reading in a quaint little coffee shop.
Some couples that are otherwise flexible experience the problem of indecision on a vacation. They book flights and hotels, but nothing else, thinking that it will be fun to be completely spontaneous upon arrival. Then, suffering from jet lag or the possible fear of going home as unfilled tourists, they start a dead-end conversation:
"What do you want to do?" "Gee, I don't know. What do you want to do?" "Why do I always have to be the one who decides for us?" "Because you always have things your way, anyway, and I don't want to be wrong about what you want!" Suddenly, vacation in paradise has turned into vacation in purgatory. The result of these last-minute turns of fancy or flights of indecisiveness can be feelings of hurt and abandonment or just frayed "vacation nerves," which lead to harsh accusations and unnecessary blowouts. Add to the fray any forgotten, un-thought-of or lost items, and summertime "fun" has just become a four-letter word. If your summer travel plans include all together-ness, with no flexibility allowed, we at MarsVenus.com have some hot tips to get you safely and sanely through the vacation and ensure you emerge as a happy couple on the plane ride home: Remember that you are on vacation; you want to be relaxing no matter what's going on. Try to keep in mind that this holiday is not all about you. Be respectful of your partner's time and wishes. Turn-about is fair play. If your travel companion gets to change his/her mind about the itinerary ... so do you! Keep a sense of humor -- or get one quick! Before you throw a full-blown tantrum over being left alone, take a deep breath and think of the fun you will have later when you are both completely enjoying yourselves as a couple. Do something nice for your mate. If you insist on shopping instead of golfing 18 holes as planned, bring home some special "finds." Massage oils or special bath salts will go a long way in soothing hurt feelings. If all else fails, remember that sex is always more fun away from home and in a strange bed. So look forward to having a good time while making up!! Summertime travel is the perfect time to chill out when it comes to getting along with our partners. A little give-and-take goes a long, long way -- especially when we are away from home and expecting our high-priced trip to be truly special. Keep in mind that no matter what comes up, if you keep our simple rules in mind, your vacation adventures will be wonderful because you are experiencing them with the one you love! John Gray has helped millions of men and women develop better relationships with his phenomenal New York Times bestseller Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus (HarperCollins, 2004). For insight into dating and relationships today, visit Relationship Advice from MarsVenus.com.
Source: Relationships & Love
