How To Survive A Road Trip With Your Man

Road trip home for the holidays?

Traveling with a loved one, especially for new couples, can be tricky. Here are a few tips to help make sure your holiday travel plans don’t lead to a stocking full of coal.

*Decide on a route ahead of time. Try to make this as democratic as possible. If you get your way on the route, be open to conceding on some other point later on.

*When planning the route, take into account rest stops. Spending hours in the car can lead to boredom and tension. It might be a good idea to stop somewhere midway for some alone time. A short walk or some shopping – anything to give you a fresh point of view. Venturing out on your own will give you both something new to talk about, as well.

*Before you get on the road, designate the Map Reader. The Map Reader will be in charge of making sure you stay on track. The non-Map Reader should allow the Map Reader to make the decisions – this will cut down on fighting for control of the map. Getting lost or finding the way, whatever, it’s all a shared adventure anyway, right?

*What do you listen to? If your tastes in music are not in sync, then it’s going to be time to get democratic again. One of you chooses the tunes, the other chooses the next meal stop. Bring cds as radio signals can be tricky out in the middle of nowhere. This could be a good time to listen to some of those oldies you have previously listened to only in secret. A game of “remember when…” could recharge the conversation and sharing memories builds intimacy.

*Take some healthy snacks. Arriving with a bellyache is never a good beginning to a family holiday. I have a collapsible cooler that works well for trips. It has wheels on the bottom, so we’ve used it for many family outings, too. Fill yours with something fresh like fruit slices, string cheese, plenty of water.

*Bring your own pillow. This has nothing to do with traveling with your boyfriend, it’s just really good advice.

*Have realistic expectations for the trip. Your family might not love your boyfriend the way you do. That’s fine. I’ve found that the best way to ingratiate my man with my family is to say, “Hey, Steve’s great with the drinks (chopping, cooking of any sort).” The ladies in my family love a man in the kitchen. Find a similar way to highlight your guy’s strengths.

*Try to relax. If this is your maiden voyage, you’ll gain valuable insight for next year. Nothing is going to go perfectly. Accept that and move on.

*Try to have fun – it’s the holidays after all.

image credit: All Posters.com