How NOT to kill your significant other while traveling

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” An excellent quote, but he could have added one more item to the list of things traveling often destroys– relationships.

A long trip with one’s significant other frequently has a way of transforming an extended honeymoon into an exercise in controlling one’s murderous desires. Habits and idiosyncrasies that once seemed endearing can turn into annoying character flaws, especially when you’re with the same person all day, every day.

In honor of the approaching Valentine’s Day, Budget Travel has a new article on how not to let traveling together destroy your relationship. Some of their tips?

“Play silly games. Like ‘Which movie star does that driver we just passed look like?'”

Hmm, that was kinda dumb. This one’s a little more like it:

“You don’t have to spend every minute together. On a trip to London, we set aside an afternoon to shop on our own for jewelry and music. After a few hours of exploring alone, it’s fun to regroup and share your adventures.”

One last one: “Find your own phrase to say to support your partner when you don’t have the privacy you want or when life on the road is getting you down. For instance, a simple ‘Good morning’ can mean ‘I love you.’ “

That was sooo sweet. And, no, I’m not crying, my eyes are just watering. That’s my allergies– there’s a lot of pollen in here.

Read all the tips here.