Going away together as a couple is a milestone in your relationship. It can also be the deal breaker. Spending time with someone after work or on weekends is totally different to being around someone 24 hours a day. Your relationship will either only get stronger or you will leave never to return phone calls!

Holidays can go either two ways…

Here are a few things to consider before and during your holiday together – whether it is a romantic weekend getaway, or a week long break by the sea.

Decide where to go together. You make love camping but she may hate it. She may want to go to the seaside while you want to explore an inland vineyard somewhere. If you are planning a surprise then ask her friends or try bringing it up in conversation to get an idea of what she may like to do. Trips cost money and a lot hinges on them so you do not want it to be a fail before you even unpack.

Who doesn’t like camping and not showering for a year?

Work out who will pay. If you can afford it and want to spoil her then great but if you simply can not then talk to her about it. Discuss the best way for you to be able to afford the break you both want. Either a 50/50 split or you pay accommodation and she pays food and petrol. Money can ruin a relationship - so talk about it.

Check with the place you are staying if the bed is a double or two singles pushed together or just two singles. There is NOTHING worse than trying to cuddle on two single beds pushed together. Then make sure she is ok with a double – may sound like an odd request since you are planning to get lucky (a lot) but just make sure, before you find yourself sleeping on the couch.

The classic push two beds together act

If you are staying at a self-catering place then discuss the cooking arrangements up front. You are both on holiday so do not assume she can cook or that she wants to. Maybe split it up or suggest eating out a few of the meal times. Suggest that breakfast is easy stuff like cereal or toast and that you have only one cooked meal a day. Sure fire way to get her to re-consider your relationship is if you assume she is going to do all the cooking and do not even bother to offer assistance.

If it is your first holiday together and you do not live together or stay over often at each other’s houses then I suggest you find a place that has many attractions. If it is a total fail then at least you have stuff to do to make the time go by. Preferably activities that are not aimed at togetherness. Things like a pool on the premises or TVs in the room or a golf course.

Play golf, getaway from the other half!

You need to have a game plan when it comes to the driving. Work out the route before you leave. Make sure you know where you are going and how long it will take you. If you are planning on taking in the sights, make sure you know what you want to see, where it is, what time it opens and how much it is. Nothing can cause irritation as disorganization. Yes some may say getting lost is an adventure – its not. It is just annoying.

Going away can be fun. Nevertheless, the ground rules need to be there. You need to know what is expected of each other and have all the formalities sorted out. Once you have all that out the way – ENJOY your time together!

You may end up really, really happy!