My partner and I have lived abroad and travelled through 11 countries together over the last 7 or so years — and it hasn’t always been easy, but it’s always been worth it.
Travelling with your partner is a great way to test and strengthen a relationship. I’m not saying it’s easy to be a happy and loving couple while living “normal” daily lives, but living through tense, stressful, and ever-changing circumstances can put a strain on a relationship that many couples may never face (or at least, not so much at once). This is a good thing — it teaches you to adapt as a couple, be more accepting and tolerant of each other, and to make decisions based on the needs and comfort of another person. Plenty of relationships don’t make it through strenuous backpacking trips, but the ones that do are stronger for it.
All that being said, there are a few things I learned along the way while travelling with my partner and witnessing other couples on their own adventures. Here are some of the more effective ways of making it work.
…
