A travel journalist whose husband planned their trip to Quebec, Canada, shares advice from couples therapists and a financial coach on ensuring a successful couples' vacation.
Key Details
The husband took over trip planning after the wife, a travel journalist, experienced burnout from planning all family trips. The couple chose a spa in Quebec, Canada, with an all-inclusive package covering flights, car rental, accommodation, and meals.
Advice from Experts
Find your "why": Couples therapist and travel advisor Marissa Nelson recommends discussing the purpose of the trip and how each partner wants to feel, to align expectations.
Prepay what you can: Financial coach Jenny Whichello advises paying for as much as possible in advance to avoid financial disputes during the trip.
Plan alone time: Couples therapist Will Messer suggests balancing together time with solo activities to accommodate different social needs and reduce overstimulation.
Don't fear conflict: Nelson advises naming emotions to oneself before communicating with a partner to manage disagreements constructively.
Take the good vibes home: Messer recommends discussing trip highlights and identifying ways to replicate positive experiences in daily life.
Outcome
The couple found the trip successful and upon return, implemented an offline evening routine by setting their home Wi-Fi to turn off automatically each night.