Couple on a balcony

Ultimate Guide for Planning a Couples Trip

Hopeless romantics unite, this is the year you decide to treat your partner to the ultimate trip for the both of you. But first, how to start planning the best couples' trip? Sometimes the planning stages for any trip can be extensive and time consuming, going back and forth between options, when really the most important part is finding somewhere you can both enjoy together. So, without further ado, let’s share our top tips to creating long-lasting memories on your next couples' getaway. 

Tables of Contents: 

  • Top 5 Steps to Planning a Couples Trip

    • Together Have an Honest Conversation

    • Picking the Perfect Destination

    • Finding Activities You’ll Both Love

    • Choosing Accommodation to Fit Your Vibe

    • Keeping the Romance Alive

Top 5 Steps to Planning a Couples Trip 

Taking a trip as a couple can be an exciting way to bond and create long-lasting memories you’ll cherish. But let’s face it, planning can come with its own set of challenges. Luckily for you, we’ve been organising small-group tours for over 30 years, so we’d like to think we’ve picked up the best tips along the way. From knowing the perfect viewpoints to capture the setting sun's glow atop the terractorra rooftops of Italy, to the idyllic hamlets of England that feel like you've stepped into one of Shakespeare's plays, whichever route you decide to walk, know that we’re here to guide you as much or as little as you’d like. 

Together Have an Honest Conversation 

First things first, before you even begin booking flights, transport and travel accommodations, you both need to be on the same page about what you want from this couples' trip. Are you dreaming of a relaxing European getaway, spending time in the rolling hills and local vineyards sampling the very best flavours each city can offer? Or perhaps you’d like to experience something a little more remote? How about the scenic, yet rugged, cliffs of the Wild Atlantic Way or another of Ireland’s charming regions? Each destination is the foundation for your trip, but it’s the company you spend in it that’s truly important. Having these conversations early on in the planning process can help to avoid any conflict or potential disagreements later down the line.  
couple travelling

Picking the Perfect Destination 

Once you’ve figured out the style of holiday you both would like, you can begin to narrow down destinations. Perhaps you’d like to explore a region fueled with historic charms and quaint cobbled streets, while the other craves the bustle of a city and vibrant atmosphere. Our recommendations for this scenario? Begin your search with a trip to Edinburgh or a tour of Bath. Each fulfills the agreed requirements, and on opposite ends of the UK, you can decide which could be the perfect fit. 

When considering your destination, our top tips to think about are: 

  • Your budget – Locations vary in price, even when located in the same country. Keeping to a budget can help to ensure that you enjoy your couples' trip, without the worry of dwindling funds with no backup. 

  • Travel time – Depending on your starting location and your trip duration, ideally, you’d like to have the most time in your chosen destination. So, thinking about how long it could take you to arrive is important. 

  • Seasons – Do you want to travel during the winter months, height of summer, or somewhere in-between? Always best to double check if your destination accommodates guests during the off-peak season as some may not, eg. some of the Scottish Islands depend on ferries to transport guests from the mainland and during off-peak they either run less frequently or not at all. 

Finding Activities You’ll Both Love 

Destination decided, now comes the chance to dive into the details. Depending on if you’re a Type A or Type B traveller, we’d recommend a rough itinerary is planned to help provide some guidance towards a daily plan. While this can be flexible, some people like to ensure everything is booked ahead of time to ensure they have plans solidified. All we’d say is communicate the types of activities you’d both like to experience while on your couples' trip, and perhaps, if anything, get those booked ahead of departing. This could be taste-testing local cuisines on a food tour, walking in the footsteps of your favourite actor while partaking in a film location tour, or even taking your chance to spot a friendly Highland Coo while touring Scotland. Our number one tip for finding the coos? Never ask to see the coos! 
couple walking in europe

Choosing Accommodation to Fit Your Vibe 

Depending on the style of your couples' trip, you could be spending a fair amount of time within your travel accommodation, which is why it’s so important to find one that fits your vibe and your budget. We understand that options could be limited within more remote locations, but if you’d like help sourcing the perfect overnight stay, you can contact our team who’d be happy to help. Take it one step further and get in touch with our private tours team. They can help to plan your couples' trip from start to finish, making it as unique as your love for each other. 

Keeping the Romance Alive 

Above all else, the most important consideration when planning a couples trip is to remember that it’s one of the best ways to reconnect with each other. Daily life can be busy for most households, and when we get into routines, it can often be hard to remember to create time for each other. When the time for your trip comes around, remember to unplug from the daily distractions and try to focus on being present in the moment.  Take the time to really listen to each other and focus on what it is about each other that brings you happiness.

While it’s a couples trip, you can also give yourself permission to relax individually. If something doesn’t quite live up to how you’d planned, that’s OK, some of the best moments and stories we remember are from those unexpected moments.

Let Us Plan Your Trip for You 

Being an award-winning, small-group tour provider, we can help make your dream couples trip a reality without the fuss. Trust us to seek out the trails less trodden, the tales only told by locals, and the worthwhile viewpoints to cosy up together to. And our top asset? We can make your chosen destination feel unique to you when you contact our private tours team to arrange your trip. Whether you’re travelling to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or much needed time away together, our team go above and beyond to provide every aspect.  

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