A family holiday is for everyone. It’s a chance for the adults to wind down from the stresses of work and raising children. It also allows the kids to experience new countries and have a bit of fun. But it should also be an opportunity for you and your partner to enjoy some romance. And what better time for this than when you’re in a new country surrounded by picture-perfect landscapes and delicious food and drink?
But when you’re traveling with the kids in tow, it can be hard to make time for each other. You are constantly dealing with infantile squabbles, applying suncream, and making sure your kids don’t get swept out to sea. But carving out special time is essential for any couple. It strengthens your relationship and boosts your happiness. If you spend the whole holiday babysitting children, you won’t get to enjoy these benefits.
But as long as you are smart about your vacation planning, you will be able to spend some quality time alone with your partner. Follow these three tips, and you’ll find your next family vacation can also double as a romantic getaway.
Book separate rooms
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, it might be tempting to book one large room for the whole family to sleep in. But for a week-long vacation, this will end feeling overcrowded and tensions will rise. It will always be worth splashing out on an additional room. This way, your little ones can enjoy not being watched over by their parents the whole time, and you are your partner can enjoy some well-deserved quality time. If you’re worried about leaving young children alone in a separate room, just check on them regularly, or use a baby monitor to ensure they aren’t getting up to mischief.
Stay with friends and family
It might seem counterintuitive to suggest you can enjoy more couple time by staying with relatives, but they might be able to take a lot of the parenting strain off your hands. If you have friends or family living abroad, why not arrange to stay with them? This will save a lot of money on accommodation, and it means you have someone who can babysit the kids while you and your partner enjoy a romantic date night on the town. Your children can enjoy an evening playing Monopoly with the Aussie grandparents, while the parents find out what to do in Brisbane at night.
Take a road trip
Traveling cross-country in a car is a fantastic way for you and your partner to spend time with each other. While the kids are sleeping or playing games in the backseat, it will feel like you’re in a completely separate world up front. Enjoy in-depth conversations or listen to your favorite audiobook together. For a while, you might even forget that it’s not just the two of you.
Finding alone time on a family holiday is challenging, but you just need to get a little creative to make it work. Follow these tips and you will be able to inject plenty of romance into your next trip.
