Gary Martin: Why travelling with your partner is the ultimate test

Couples travel can offer breath taking vistas, gourmet delights and a non-stop itinerary of travel tiffs along the way.

Speak to any couple who have just returned from some time away and they are likely to point out that travelling together is the ultimate test of whether love can go the distance.

From the moment planning begins to the final leg of the journey, every decision can lead down a bumpy road.

Are you drawn to fine dining experiences at high-end restaurants or do you find joy in the authenticity and variety of street food adventures? Should you spend your days hiking and adventuring outdoors or lounging by the pool with a good book?

Travel tensions can be set in motion long before departure.

Discussions over luggage size, departure times and travel snacks can quickly turn a romantic getaway into a pre-departure showdown.

One partner might meticulously fold and organise their belongings days in advance while the other hastily throws items into a suitcase at the last minute, resulting in forgotten essentials and overweight baggage.

Departure dilemmas can arise when one partner insists on arriving hours early, treating the airport like a second home, while the other thrives on the adrenaline of a last minute dash to the gate.

Once departed, other issues can emerge that require both partners to buckle up for potential turbulence.

Itinerary insanity strikes when one person plans every minute while the other prefers spontaneity.

Dining disputes can flare up when one partner has researched and reserved the best local restaurants weeks in advance even though the other enjoys the spontaneity of discovering new places on the fly.

Activity aggravation sets in when one wants to hit all the major tourist spots and the other prefers to explore off the beaten track.

But with a little patience and a large dose of humour, travel tensions can help a relationship soar to new heights.

Many recommend starting out by communicating openly about expectations and being ready to take a detour to compromise.

And whether it is a sudden change in weather, a delayed flight or a misplaced reservation, maintaining a flexible attitude and a sense of humour can turn potential stressors into memorable adventures.

Others highlight the importance of carving out time for romance such as a quiet dinner, a sunset walk on the beach or simply enjoying a coffee together at a quaint café.

Still others highlight the necessity of personal time, advising couples to sometimes engage in separate activities to recharge and appreciate their time together even more.

In the end, those experienced in travelling as a couple will tell you it is important to remember why you are travelling together in the first place – to create memories and strengthen your bond.

Keep the big picture in mind and do not let small disagreements overshadow the joy of the experience.

After all, travelling together teaches you that the journey is as important as the destination.

Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a workplace and social trends specialist