Into The Wild: Your First Trip Together

by John Meils

The big meltdown happened on day 27, which is not to say that we didn’t bicker, disagree, and snipe at each other across the previous 26 days. We did. We also saw monasteries painted inside and out in mosaics, drank way too much bad Hungarian wine, and crashed a house party in Bucharest. Along the way I also came to see how differently I—as a man—traveled compared to Lorri. Here’s what I learned:

1. The Game Plan
Take your time when choosing a destination. Fantasizing about different locales is half the fun of getting away together.

“Anticipation is an aphrodisiac,” says Dr. Barton Goldsmith, author of Emotional Fitness for Couples. Also, make sure it’s somewhere you really want to go or you’ll end up sitting on a beach while he surfs or diving with sharks the day after you get your scuba certification. Once you settle on a place, let him book the itinerary if he wants. Men are task-driven, control freaks. Use it to your advantage. The upside is he’ll let you dictate more of the agenda when you get there, as his work is done. However, keep an eye on what he’s doing or you’ll end up in a one-star hotel after connecting twice when a direct flight was only $50 more.