Ah, the twitterpation of new romance and the promise of a budding new love – it’s exciting, intoxicating, and sometimes a little scary. 

The first phase of any new potential romantic relationship is replete with jitters, hopes, and tender moments.  If you’ve recently met someone, you can probably relate.  

Starting a new relationship poses a roller coaster of emotions and possibilities. One way to explore the potential of a new relationship and learn more about each other is to take a trip together.

There are a lot of pros and cons attached to taking that first maiden voyage with someone you’ve just recently met. That’s why we’re sharing some tips for first-time travel with a new romantic partner.

Tips for First Time Travel With a New Romantic Partner

Why Taking a Trip With a New Love Interest Could Be a Good Idea

There is nothing more mind-expanding than travel. It’s the anticipation of new adventure, and experiencing incredible cultures only travel can provide that makes it an effective venue for testing a new romantic relationship. 

Travel has a way of shifting us all out of our comfort zones. Because of this, it’s a great way to see the “real stuff” in travel partners.

Travel can also coax out different aspects of personalities in a travel companion that you might not see in a traditional courtship situation.

Taking a first-time trip with a new romantic partner is a big decision. Because travel can be so polarizing, a trip with a fresh love interest could make or break the bond completely. If you think about it, you and your heartthrob are thrust into unfamiliar situations. 

This is the perfect opportunity to see how you two work together to find solutions, and observe how you both react in foreign scenarios.

Ultimately, taking a trip allows you to get to know each other more intensely. So intense, in fact, you may be able to determine if this person is an unsuitable match, or your perfect paramour after the trip is done.

Preparing for Your First-Time Trip Together

If you’re taking the travel leap with someone you’ve only dated for a short time – that in itself could be considered an impulsive move.  While being spontaneous is a wonderful quality, it never hurts to prepare before you go. 

One big prep step to take is notifying friends and family about your trip.  Let’s get real. How well do you really know this person with whom you are traveling?

If the relationship is in its early stages – odds are you don’t know them that well at all.  That’s why it’s crucial to let a few trusted friends or family members know what you’re doing, where you’re going, and when the trip will take place.

Take a cautionary step further by giving your friends and family the contact information for the hotel, flight information, and any details you can provide them so they know where you are.

We’re not suggesting your new love interest might be a threat to you, but it never hurts to be safe rather than sorry.

You might also consider getting a female at home STD test, and have your partner do the same. We realize this might be an indelicate topic for a new couple to broach. However, if either you or your new honey has a sexually transmitted disease, then that is a first-time trip that has “disaster” written all over it. 

Here again, this is about covering bases so you both can enjoy your new adventure without worrying about harmful consequences in the future.

How Long Should Your First-Time Trip Be?

The answer here is completely up to you.  However, the ideal length of time (and probably the most convenient for you both) is starting out by taking a weekend trip.  Of course, this limits where you might travel. 

Unless you own a private jet, a weekend trip will probably be a getaway to someplace relatively close.  This could work in your favor, because if it’s painfully clear you two aren’t “meant to be” – you don’t have as far to travel back home if you want to ditch the travel date early. 

On the other hand, if you both are undeniably crazy about each other, you could plan a longer trip. 

Where Should You Go?

The location of a first-time trip with a new romantic partner could easily be decided by following the combined passions shared by you and your newfound love-mate. 

For instance, if you both share a deep affection for the tropics, then a trip to the Bahamas might be your ticket.  Alternatively, if you both are fans of historic places then that shared interest should narrate your trip plans. 

Of course, how long your trip is, and your budget may also factor in your plans. Where you go is all about assessing both of your interests, finances, and viability.

Who Should Pay?

The old conventional wisdom that the breadwinner of a partnership should pay for everything is out the window. Today, gender and position don’t factor in as heavily as it used to in the old days.  

However, if your new romantic partner brought up the idea, and insists on paying for the whole thing, should you go along with it? It depends upon how it makes you feel.

If you get the sense that there might be some kind of “strings attached” with your partner paying – then definitely don’t go for it.  The last thing you need is to feel an obligation on your first-time trip together.

On the other hand, if the trip was your idea, and you can afford it – you may want to foot the bill.  This might allow you to feel more in control, as well as give you the ability to make adjustments to travel plans more easily if the need arises.

The sensible tact to take is to split trip expenses in half. This eliminates any kind of unspoken obligations, and leaves you both free to enjoy yourselves without weird financial issues or commitments getting in the way.

The Last Word on Taking a First-Time Trip With a New Love

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when taking a trip with someone you’ve been dating for a short period of time. 

And while vacationing with someone you’ve recently connected with can be wholly exciting, it’s important to ponder these and other details before setting sail on the next love boat. 

Just remember to be safe, take precautions, and above all else – have a wonderful time getting to know your new paramour on your first-time travel adventure.