Amelia Edelman

Whether you're more of an introvert than your partner or you're craving more togetherness time.

Here's Marissa.

If you, like me, are the hooray couples trip, let's spend all our time together partner and feel like planning solo time on a couples trip is defeating the purpose, well, Will says don't discount the restorative power of being alone together.

Set aside some reading or journaling time when you're not having to engage, but you're still nearby, maybe even cuddling.

Whether you're having alone time, together time, or alone together time, make it intentional.

Marissa says to plan a few mindful you and me activities, whether creative, active, or relaxing.

Parents in particular might experience a cluelessness as to what activities to even plan.

Maybe it's your first trip away without kids, like us, or maybe your kids have grown and you're re-acclimating to what it's like to live as a duo.

Marissa advises couples to remember that you're not always going to have all the same trip goals or want to do the same things.

She says the best thing you can do is expect that conflict will happen, but you can self-regulate and communicate when it does.

That's takeaway number four.

And when you do find yourself butting heads with your partner or getting triggered, check in with yourself first before trying to address something with your partner.

Maybe you've realized you scheduled a ton of cultural tours and your partner is not into it.

Or maybe they made an offhand dig that you were spending too much time on your phone and you felt yourself start to respond with, but you're the one always on your phone.

Marissa agrees that traveling with a partner can bring up a lot.

But she says we shouldn't fear conflict or feel like it's a bad thing.

When you are a bit more regulated and ready to bring up an issue with your partner, Marissa cautions against letting the emotions get lost in the semantics.

You know, like the back and forth of you said this, I said that.

Instead, slow the process down.

Will says a great way to ensure that connection on your trip and beyond is to celebrate where you are aligned but honor your differences.