- My partner and I have contrasting approaches to travel.
- While he occasionally enjoys vacations, I have a passion for frequent exploration of new places.
- In fact, I started traveling alone a year into our relationship, and it has had a transformative effect on both of us.
Like many couples, my partner and I share a love for vacations.
However, after being together for over two years, I’ve come to realize that our perspectives on travel differ greatly.
For my partner, visiting a caravan site on the west coast of Scotland, just a three-hour drive from our home in Glasgow, is a cherished tradition. He makes it a point to go there at least once a year, and it holds a special place in our memories as one of our early vacation destinations as a couple.
I appreciate the site’s scenic location overlooking the sea, and the warm hospitality of the people, many of whom have known my partner since childhood.
Mikhaila Friel/Insider
He also enjoys international travel, and we’ve had incredible experiences together. However, at heart, he is a homebody who deeply loves Scotland. This isn’t a negative quality in any way.
On the other hand, I thrive on exploring new and unfamiliar destinations. Travel reporting has always been a dream of mine, and over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to visit remarkable places both for work and personal trips.
About a year into our relationship, I started traveling alone, and it has been a game-changer for both my personal growth and our relationship.
Traveling solo has nurtured my individuality
My partner and I met in November 2020, shortly after the easing of social distancing restrictions in the UK.
During the early months of our relationship, we primarily had home dates and focused on each other, creating a strong bond within our own little world.
Anyone who has been in a new relationship knows how easy it is to lose oneself in the presence of another person. Without prioritizing one’s individual interests and connections, it’s easy to lose a sense of identity.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to embark on my first solo trip in October 2021, almost a year after meeting my partner. I was assigned to report on a luxury European cruise, the first to leave the UK since the pandemic.
Mikhaila Friel/Insider
The experience was incredible. I met fascinating people, enjoyed dressing up for formal evenings on the ship, and indulged in delicious food. During dinner, I would often be asked if I had company, which would elicit surprise and sympathy when I mentioned I was traveling alone. Initially, this bothered me, as it seemed narrow-minded to assume one can’t have fun without a partner or a group.
However, over time, I realized that these reactions were projections of others’ own limitations. Solo travel may not be for everyone, but I felt proud of my independence and happiness in my own experiences.
Since then, I’ve taken several solo trips for work and personal purposes, as has my partner. When we reunite, we thoroughly enjoy sharing our experiences with each other. When we plan trips together, we ensure they are activities that both of us genuinely find enjoyable, rather than settling for compromises.
I believe everyone in a long-term relationship should experience solo travel at least once—it’s a transformative opportunity.
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