Bringing Joshua back to Louella Reese and talking about traveling with your significant other.

It’s been awhile since Joshua has graced us with his presence and I felt it was about time he did so! So here he is, spilling all the nitty gritty about traveling with me {eeek!}. And I am doing the same about him!

Traveling is one of our favorite things to do together. There are loads of places that we want to go on vacation together, I’ve even looked at a hotel in downtown Denver, for our next vacation. But I’m still thinking if there is anywhere else that we might like to go first. What is important is that you really try to embrace the culture of where you are going, especially when you are there for an extended period of time. This is why AJ Hoge’s Effortless English has helped so many people. Traveling with your significant other is WAY different than traveling with your family or with a group of your besties. More intimate for one but also a wake up call! You will learn things about your significant other pretty quickly when traveling together. You’ll also learn more about yourself! Some may be good, others may be frustrating! So let’s get right into it…

What’s the number one lesson you have learned from traveling with each other?

Joshua: Pack your patience as most likely something may go slightly wrong or you may get frustrated with each other. This does not happen often for us but it is good to live by. Also frequent bathroom stops are necessary when your wife drinks a ton of water and green tea.

Laura Leigh: Doing something you may not be interested in but your significant other is interested can turn out to be your favorite thing of the trip! Whether it’s trying a restaurant they’ve suggested or partaking in an activity you wouldn’t otherwise want to do. On our honeymoon, Joshua wanted to go sailing on a sunfish {think that’s the name} and I was SO not into it. But I did it for him and ended up having so much fun! I also couldn’t get over how hot my husband looked sailing us around 😉

How do you prepare/plan for a trip together?

Joshua: Laura Leigh asks when we can go on a blog trip then we pick a date and go. I then research some non-bloggy things to do and try to get them on the itinerary. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Even when we take trips outside of the blog, Laura Leigh does most of the planning unless there is a sport related activity then I typically do the planning.

Laura Leigh: I am SUCH a planner! I love to have meals, activities, and everything else planned out. So I usually take lead with the planning and do a lot of research + reach out to friends that have visited where we are headed. This way we have great recommendations for meals, we all know food can really make or break a trip! Being a style blogger as well, I definitely plan out outfits to “match” our destinations + activities. And help Joshua plan looks for dinners out. Otherwise, the man has packing down pretty well! It’s always important that I look at the weather before we go. I use waterproof backpacks and pack plenty of waterproof clothes for us if it’s going to rain a lot.

What are your biggest tips for others traveling with their significant others for the first time? For, every time?

Joshua: If you are traveling for the first time be prepared to find out something new about the person. It could be a really cool thing or a weird thing you did not know about the person. There will be plenty of time for conversation and new experiences so it allows you to grow together. I love finding out new things that I did not know about Laura Leigh or learn about past trips that she has taken.

Laura Leigh: Communicate prior – expectations for the trip, plans you have, and travel arrangements. Patience! Traveling with someone is a learning experience so be prepared for that. As mentioned above, traveling with your significant other is a learning experience and you will learn A LOT on this first trip. Also, in times of frustration {if/when those appear} remember you aren’t always a walk in the park to deal with and you may be doing something that is testing their patience too! Lastly, soak it in! You won’t ever have a “first trip” again. The first trip as a couple is SO special and one you’ll always remember, so soak in those little moments!

What is one way the other has enhanced your travel experience?

Joshua: With the blog we have been fortunate enough to travel to places and eat at restaurants that we may not have otherwise gone to. That has been a huge enhance to our travel experiences and made us step out of our comfort zones a times to try new things. I am super thankful for her connections, the work she puts in to create amazing experiences for us, and the willingness she has to try new things.

Laura Leigh: Joshua pushes me to be more active, try new things, and gives me more energy. The man is an energizer bunny that can go forever and ever. He truly never runs out of energy, it’s crazy! But I love that about him! He makes sure we take advantage of what is around us and create memories doing everything and anything possible on our trips.

How to you manage expectations for your travels?

Joshua: One, I have the expectation that I will be taking lots of photos {of her, us, and our trip overall}. Two, communicate before and during the trip.

Laura Leigh: We are really good at talking before our trips and letting the other know what our expectations are for the trip. Do we want it to be a super relaxing trip where we really lay low {our honeymoon} or do we want to be incredibly active {Savannah + St.Simons last summer}. We find a common ground if we’re wanting opposite things but 90% of the time we are on the same page. Having this talk though really helps us out and makes sure tiffs stay at bay during travels as again, we know what the other is expecting!

What is your favorite trip you have been on together?

Joshua: Our honeymoon has definitely been my favorite trip we have taken so far. Our one year anniversary trip to Savannah last year is a close second though. We had a great time exploring the southern town, eating lots, and soaking in all of the time together, celebrating us. Then third is our trip to the Chatalochee Ranch earlier this year. That place was amazing!

Laura Leigh: I have two, our honeymoon {for obvious reasons} and Cataloochee Ranch earlier this year. Our honeymoon was perfection! Literally I would not do a single thing different other than stay longer if possible. We enjoyed every minute of it and soaked up the time together to the fullest!

Cataloochee Ranch comes in at a close second because the trip was SO us. We both love really laid back getaways and love being outdoors, country everything, and trying new things. Cataloochee Ranch included all of those and also so much more! We enjoyed three solid days together exploring the ranch, horseback riding for the first time together, fishing {Joshua’s favorite}, and lounging around the cabin just taking in the beauty that was around us. Truly, if you’re looking for the perfect romantic, outdoorsy getaway I couldn’t recommend Cataloochee Ranch more!

Interested in hearing more from Joshua and myself? Check out more of our couples posts and our interview with mattress advisor about sharing a sleep space.