As Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and love is in the air, I thought I would share some reasons why I love travelling with Mr Ayla so much. I spend so many hours at home just staring at our giant world map on the wall, amazed at all the pins in the places we’ve been, wondering where we’re going to discover next, and I wouldn’t want to fill up my map with anyone else.
I applaud those people who travel solo but it’s just not for me. I once took a flight from London to Edinburgh – yes, only an hour long – and it just felt so strange. I had no one to excitedly make my way to the airport with, no one to point to things out of the plane window, and no one to help me lift my heavy hand luggage into the overhead compartment. Sigh.
After 12 years of exploring the world together, Mr Ayla is my favourite travel companion. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere without him and here’s 10 reasons why…
1. Learn more about each other
We had been together for almost 5 years before we went on our first big round the world trip and surprisingly there was still so much we didn’t know about each other. I never realised how utterly clumsy my husband was which I found out after his numerous accidents from tripping over – a lot – to somehow managing to fall off a stationary moped in Thailand, causing a domino effect of falling mopeds! (I also didn’t realise how much he liked telling exaggerated stories because his version sees him hurtling down the biggest hill in Thailand, crashing into a whole load of mopeds at the bottom of the hill and somehow coming away with only a few scrapes and bruises. It so didn’t happen that way.)
2. Experience new things together
You get to share those feelings of excitement and anticipation when visiting a new place, eating a new food or trying a new activity. Adrenaline has coursed through our veins as we jumped out of the same plane in Namibia; we got scared swimming with sharks in Australia; we have been awe-struck seeing gorillas in the wild in Uganda; and we’ve encouraged each other when climbing the challenging Inca Trail. The list of experiences we’ve had together goes on and on, and that’s a bond that just can’t be broken.
3. You can rely on each other
When you’re feeling homesick or have become ill in a strange place, travelling with someone you love means there’ll always be someone there to look after you. We always have each other’s back.
4. Always have something to talk about
You know those couples who sit in complete silence, eating a meal with absolutely nothing to say to each other? That’s never us and I don’t think it ever will be. We have so much to talk about whether it’s future travel plans or places we’ve already been and things we’ve done before. Just a sentence that starts with “Do you remember when…?” could lead to so many funny and interesting conversations.
5. You never get bored or lonely
Long-haul flights to Australia, overnight train rides in India, or overland bus trips across Africa, all are incredibly long and can get extremely boring. Arriving at a hostel full of people who already seem to know everyone else can sometimes make you feel incredibly lonely, but with someone by your side, it never seems as bad as you always have each other.
6. Photos
No matter how beautiful those landscape shots might be, we all want some photos of ourselves too when we travel and travelling with someone else means you can take it in turns to get in the pic. Plus there’s the bonus of not feeling quite as silly when you take a selfie with two people instead of on your own!
7. Learn to work as a team
You learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses when you spend so much time in each other’s company which comes in so handy when travelling for long periods. If we wanted to meet some locals or other travellers, Mr Ayla always has the confidence and makes friends so easily, and he always keeps a check on our money. Whereas if we wanted to explore somewhere off the beaten track, needed a bed for the night or a plaster, then that’s more my forte.
8. Brings you closer together
Spending every waking second with someone else can be hard work, especially when you’re away for long periods of time. You can either get along better than you ever have before or just annoy the hell out of each other. They say travelling as a couple either makes you or breaks you and, for us, it only ever makes us stronger.
9. Someone to make you feel safe
A lot of people avoid travelling because they’re scared of going alone (which you shouldn’t be!). But when you travel with someone else, especially someone you love, there’s no need to feel scared. Whether it’s walking through the crowded, bustling streets of Old Delhi with lots of locals staring at you and asking to take your picture; getting lost in a different country where you don’t understand the language; or almost get mugged in Namibia, you always have that person there to make you feel safe and comforted no matter what.
10. Create lifelong memories together
The memories we’ve created from our travels will last a lifetime and we’ll always have thrilling and adventurous stories to tell our kids and grandkids when we’re old and senile and, no doubt, still travelling!
Who do you love travelling with most? Let me know in the comments below or at:
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This post is part of the Travel Link Up with Emma, Angie, Jessi and Kaelene. This month it’s all about what we love!
Mama Ayla's Adventures 
How adorable are you two?! Pumpkin deals with all the money now wherever we go too – I feel like I’ve become seriously de-skilled as before him, when I travelled, I always managed these things, navigated myself (albeit badly) but I like to think I bring the ideas to the table 🙂
That’s a great way to work as a team – you bring the ideas and he looks after all your stuff so it doesn’t get lost 😉
This is so cute! Having travelled solo and despite it feeling amazing to accomplish things by myself, I always prefer travelling with Alan because of a lot of the things you listed. It’s so nice to share that excitement with someone and work as a team 🙂
I do admire people for travelling solo but it’s just not for me. Hope you and Alan have lots more adventures to come! 🙂
Awww this is so lovely and I totally agree that travelling with your other half is the best! Travel has become our thing and we love all the time we spend together planning the trip, the trip itself and talking about the memories afterward. Here’s to many more years of travel with someone you love 🙂
Thanks Steph! And the same goes to you. Many more adventures with our loved ones to come 🙂
A really, really gorgeous post!! I totally agree, I don’t think solo travel is quite for me, I love being able to build memories with someone. xx
Glad you agree Angie. It’s the best isn’t it 🙂
Oh, Ayla, you two really are the loveliest couple I know. You’re right, solo travel can be tricky, especially if you do it knowing that you’ve left a special someone back at home. I just know that you and Mr Ayla have plenty of more adventures – and memories – on the way ❤
Aww thanks lovely 🙂 I hope there are plenty more adventures for us both to come with our loved ones – and with each other ❤️
How adorable !! I couldn’t agree with you more! I love traveling with my husband and every trip just makes us stronger and fall in love with each other all over again 🙂
Exactly! It’s the best feeling and I love it every single time we go away 🙂
Awwww – you two! I love all your reasons, serious and not so 🙂 I love travelling with my friends because they will happily take all my suggestions for places to eat / drink / visit and they are also always keen for a drinks break 😉
Haha you’re the planner then obviously! It’s great being able to experience it all with someone else, whether it’s a partner family or friends 🙂
Oh my goodness this is so so so cute. I’m so grateful that I experience all my travel adventures with my husband too. I can’t imagine it being any other way. It’s exciting & exhilarating to create those experiences & memories together to look back on when you’re grey and old too.
Bee | QueenBeady.com
It’s the best and I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Beautiful! One of the best parts of travelling is creating memories with people you love… I always get a sense of loneliness come over me when I read solo travel tales…
I do admire those who travel solo but it’s just not for me. I love creating and being able to a her some of my best memories with someone I love 🙂
Traveling with the people you love is just the best, it is a huge part of my relationship and I love all the memories we have created together when traveling.
Isn’t it just the best?! So glad you agree 🙂
What great reasons to travel with someone you love.
Thank you! 🙂
These are great!! I 100% agree with all of your points, I love creating new memories with my husband through our travels 🙂 Sweet post!
Thanks Marcella. Love that you enjoy travelling with your husband so much too 🙂
Aww, I love this. You’re right, I’ve tried solo travelling once before, to Berlin, and I found it far too lonely! How lucky that you’ve found the perfect travel companion to share your adventures with 🙂
Sophie
I guess we all have different ways we like to travel but for me, and obviously for you, it’s with loved ones. It’s the best way in my opinion!
Agreed, traveling with my husband is the best! One of my favorite things is the excitement around planning for the trip. So many possibilities and anticipation!
I love planning a trip but Mr Ayla isn’t quite as enthusiastic as me about this part. Sharing the actual trip together though is even more exciting and love that we can do it together 🙂
You two are the most adorable couple ever! 😍 I completely agree with you about not travelling alone. It’s always so much nicer to have a companion, especially when it’s someone you adore! My boyfriend is my favourite person to do anything with – and I’ve managed to convince him to come to 3 different countries with me in the next month alone mwahahaha ;D xxx
3 different counties in the next month?! That sounds super exciting and I can’t wait to hear all about it! Hope you make some amazing memories 🙂
Ahhhhh YOU TWO!!!! Love this, a lot. I feel exactly the same about my travel companion.
Polly xx
Follow Your Sunshine
It’s the best isn’t it 🙂
All so true – I love having adventures with friends too, but travelling with Mr P does exactly what it says on the tin that you captured so well!
Thank you! Glad you love travelling with your Mr so much as well 🙂
Aww, this is such a lovely post and so good to highlight how travel is such a good thing for a relationship. I think our trips always bring me and Justin closer together and it’s great to have some special time away from those everyday distractions – like work ha ha!
Some of our favourite memories tie around adventures during our travels, often during hilarious incidents when things didn’t go to plan. Basically travel is good for the heart!
It does bring you closer and in such a fantastic way. And what great memories you can share with each other when you’re home 🙂
yesss – the best thing is having something with you on long haul flights. Long flights on your own are even longer. great list. that one really struck accord. but great list 🙂
Thanks Andy. I even find short flights dull on my own so it’s always good to have someone else there for the company and to share your excitement 🙂
I think this is what I love about travel – finding that level that is right for *you*.
Ps. You two are so cute!
Everyone has a different style of travel but this is my favourite way 🙂
Such a lovely post! I know exactly what you mean by finding weird to travel solo. I’ve done it a few times while I was younger, but nowadays I get so nervous when I have to do it. When I went to London without W I was so stressed out hahaha and I was so happy when he arrived a few days later 😀 it’s so good to have someone to share those moments with us.
You both look so lovely together!
Aww thanks Allane! At least you had me and Shika for a day before W came over to London 🙂 It is good to share adventures with someone else though ❤
It was definitely great to have spent a day with you both! It was the best day actually 😀 I hope we can do it again!
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