Comments on: When Relationships and Travel Collide

By: Kaylin05

Kaylin05 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:19:10 +0000

I don’t think if you are gone for a short period (only a month or two), that you should break up. If you are going on a year-long, round the world finding-yourself journey alone without your partner, then yeah, maybe it is time to reconsider things. I think it depends solely on you two as people and the situation involved.

For me, right now, I am planning to move to France for 7 months this fall. I have a boyfriend. We have already found our way back to one another once, so I think it’s the real deal, and I wouldn’t break up with him just for that… I’ll be back (our hometowns are near one another), and he can come visit. It’s just France, not a third-world country; there are phones and internet there. I don’t sleep around with random people when I’m single, so why would I do it when in a relationship, just because I’m in a foreign country? doubtful. My boyfriend is even less about partying and sleeping around than I am, so I wouldn’t be worried about him doing something crazy at home while I was gone.

(Plus, I don’t think French men are that attractive as they all seem to be shorter than I am! plus I have hips and they don’t seem to like that either.)

By: iris

iris — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:41:10 +0000

If it was a one-time thing without any strings? They were alone for that period so I could understand it. I would be upset but could move past it without harboring any bad feelings and holding it against them. We’re human afterall. I don’t think it’s the same as being in a relationship and having an ongoing affair which many people do without travel needing to be involved.

Believe me, I’m all for traveling alone. I think it’s an enlightening experience and is different than traveling with someone else whether it’s your partner or otherwise.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:27:40 +0000

What if your partner at home also happens to meet an exotic stranger while your away? How would it make you feel if years later you found out about his/her random and memorable experience?

By: iris

iris — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:08:40 +0000

I think it’s beneficial to travel alone as it does bring something exciting and new to the table and also encourages you to be independant and brave, but I don’t think you need to break up with your significant other to do so. If they love you and are understanding (and patient) then it shouldn’t matter to them because anyone who loves someone should realize that personal growth and experience is important, and if you’re worth waiting for then they will. It’ll most likely bring challenges to your relationship, but so does everyday life (bills, flirtations, etc). You can go to the supermarket and meet someone new and exciting, although maybe not as exotic, but the point is you can have your cake and eat it to, and if by chance you hook up with that exotic stranger it’s probably best to keep that to yourself and chalk it up to one of those random and memorable experiences. That doesn’t necessarily lead to ever lasting love nor should it interfere with it!

safe travels!

By: admin

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:39:08 +0000

Thanks for your sincerity Melissa

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:33:58 +0000

Hey this is great advice, even though people might not like it. I actually JUST did this exact thing. I broke up with my boyfriend of almost 4 years about a month ago, because I wanted to travel the world and he didnt. Did I want to break up? no. Was it hard? extremely. And it still is! But I know that I NEED to travel, more than anything in the world, and I know that it is going to change me as a person tremendously. I didnt want to leave for 6 months or more and then come back a different person, while my partner hadn’t changed a bit. If you really want to go together, then by all means go for it! But I have to agree that things will change once you get out there and see all the possibilities that await. And as you grow, you each might find you grow apart, and that I think would be worse for me to travel with someone I loved at the beginning of the trip, but no longer do. Having said that, only you know whats best for you.
Happy travels

By: Zaven

Zaven — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:29:23 +0000

Hey Malin, I don’t understand why your so hurt by this article… To me this sounds like you just have a boyfriend just to have a boyfriend and nothing else… if your doing all that traveling ALONE then your relationship is already bad so if you like to travel dump the loser and get on with your life. No self respecting man would be that cool with their girlfriend doing all that traveling. That’s unless he has a mistress that you don’t know about and he enjoys it when your gone.

By: Backpackers Guide 101: Planning & Research | Off Track Planet - The Backpackers Ultimate Travel Guide

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:22:21 +0000

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By: Malin

Malin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:01:38 +0000

This is absolutely ridiculous!! You encourage people to break up just because they want to travel? What the hell is that for advice? Typing this I am in Mexico, whilst my boyfriend is back home in England. Last Christmas I went to Tanzania for a month, whilst my boyfriend was back home in England. For Easter, I went to Morocco, Spain and Portugal – and guess where my boyfriend was? Back home in England. Oh, and by the way, while I was in Tanzania I was robbed with machetes. So don’t come tell me I was “deprived” of things because I had a boyfriend. I don’t think the robbers will ask you anyways..