The adventures of this tiny lady has a +1 these days. After 10 years of travelling solo, or with friends, I finally found a partner who loves to travel and explore just as much as me. We’ve taken 4 trips together so far and I’ve learned many new things along the way – about me, about him, and about us, as we take on the world. But more importantly, about everything that travel gives you a chance to learn as a couple. Here are a few I’ve listed:

You can be adaptive and agile:

Travelling away from the comforts of your home serves as the primary test on adaptability. Not being around a familiar environment or simply being faced with the unexpected, tests how well you can cope in situations. You want to be with somebody who is able to adapt well when situations change unexpectedly. If you lose your luggage, or miss a connecting flight, or get sick during your travel expedition, these are the perfect opportunities to observe how your significant other reacts. See if they step up, take control of the situation, and deal with these problems – an important characteristic to have when considering the future of your relationship. An ultimate test of whether you’re able to trust your life in this person’s hands. We’ve had to take care of each other while being ill, and also had to find ways to entertain each other whenever our flights were delayed.

You can make unforgettable memories and stories:

Damian loves quoting this Doctor Who line “We’re all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?” And i couldn’t agree more! Talk, laugh, eat, experience – do everything you want to do and do it together. It’ll someday be a story to tell your friends or your kids. Travel memories created last a lifetime, and these are moments that you will love, cherish and treasure forever.

You each have your own exploration pace:

It’s important to know if your partner matches your pace at exploration. While a balance can be found by indulging in a day filled with fast paced activities and planning timely coffee breaks in between, it’s always good to check on how they’re holding up. Even better if you each run your plans by each other before the day starts. The pace at which they live their life needs to match yours in order for your relationship to work.

Date nights can be very romantic:

Romantic experiences are just waiting to happen, from dining in caves to walking hand in hand, by candlelight, to discover Petra by night, or even picking the catch of the day for your dinner on a houseboat. Date nights can be much more exciting when you travel.

As much as you both need your own space, you also need to make each other feel special. You’ll get used to the same baggy clothes, messy beach hair and lack of makeup but girls, once in awhile it’s worth it to put on that pretty dress and boys, it’s worth it to buy her flowers and take her out to do or experience something you’ve never done before. It’s all about making that effort. Make sure you treat each other every now and then. It’ll keep the sparkle going.

It’s possible to hit mutual exhaustion

Travel makes for a perfect opportunity to test your limits when you are exhausted. Travelling with your partner will involve shifting of time zones, jet-lag and fatigue. You will be able to see how much you can tolerate each other on two hours of sleep. Delayed flights, delayed baggage, and long queues are just the tipping point while travelling. You’ll be able to gauge their patience levels while dealing with situations like this. It’s also a personal test to see if you have the patience to deal with your partner when they lose theirs.

Damian somehow brings balance to my frenzy and stays positive through thick and thin, and on rare occasions when he’s super tired, I’ve noticed that he gets a little sarcastic with random stuff, so I lighten the mood and try to make him laugh.

You’ll learn to trust and rely on each other

Outdoor travel experiences with you partner, such as hiking and camping in the woods, will help turn you into a better team player. You’ll realise that home is where the heart is. and if it’s with him/her you’ll fall in love with the way you travel. You’ll indulge in simple joys of an afternoon nap on a flight/train knowing that they have your back.

A peek into their preparation mojo:

Observing your partner as he or she packs, plans and saves money for your vacation together can give you a rough insight into the way they handle some of the most important undertakings in your relationship. If organising a travel through India is enough to make your partner irritable and frantic, how do you think they’ll  handle life plans? We love our lists and plots and planning. Sometimes our Skype dates involve planning our next adventure. It’s almost vital to be on the same page while planning.

Travel allows you to talk, really talk.

You begin to understand each other on a whole new level. Whether it’s your views on Islamic traditions in a country or even your views on the perfect slice of cake. You’ll talk about everything and anything. It is what will see you through all you free time. And it helps assess his or her likes, views, opinions on the smallest things, and sometimes the biggest things, like life and the future.

Other Secret Perks Include:

• Extra baggage space.
• Unlimited kisses and cuddles.
• Someone to split all your dessert calories with.

What are the things you’ve learned, while travelling with your partner?

And lastly, since travelling with your partner is a different kind of adventure, here’s a sneak peek at our first of many, through Kerala: