Holidays are meant for relaxing – but what if you add an ex-partner to the mix? Here are some pointers to help you have a happy, stress-free trip.
Whether you’ve split up after booking a trip or are travelling together for the sake of your children, these days more and more people are choosing to go on holiday with their ex-partner.
Travelling with an ex can be a fraught experience. If not handled properly, it can throw up many issues, lead to arguments, awkwardness and hurt feelings.
However, there are positives to holidaying with an ex. You
- Know each other well,
- Share similar interests,
- Feel comfortable with each other and,
- Want to be economical with your spending. For ex-couples with children, it can make financial sense.
So don’t dismiss it out of hand.
An insurance company has offered advice on travelling with an ex. With careful planning and clear communication, you can have a fun and rewarding trip.
Set Clear Boundaries
To avoid misunderstandings and potential arguments it’s important to set and agree on clear boundaries before travelling.
If one of you is going into this hoping for a reconciliation, you could have a very awkward trip ahead. This is also a good time to discuss more practical issues such as holiday finances and how you will spend your time on the trip.
For example, do you plan on spending all your time together, or do you want some days to yourself to go off and explore?
If you have children, will you be sharing the child care? Discussing these things at the start will help to avoid conflict further down the line.
Plan Carefully
Careful planning is also key to a successful holiday – particularly if you’re travelling with children. In particular, you need to think carefully about your accommodation arrangements.
If you’re travelling as a family, then renting a villa or a holiday home is often a good solution, as it will enable you to all stay under one roof, but will also give you both your own space.
Keep Your Temper
When travelling with your ex it can be easy to fall back into old habits. Old resentments and irritations can soon rise to the surface.
A big argument can ruin the holiday for both of you, so if you are prone to bickering, take steps to minimise the risk of falling out.
If you do feel yourself getting irritated, take a deep breath and try to stay calm – now isn’t the time to bring up that fight from two years ago.
Be Wary of Alcohol
Holidaying with an ex can be a stressful situation, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of drinking too much alcohol.
In this situation, you might find yourself having a drunken argument or even trying to rekindle your relationship – both of which could make for an awkward few days. Take it easy when drinking in the sun, and make sure you drink plenty of water.
Have a Contingency
In spite of your careful planning and best intentions, going on holiday with an ex sometimes just doesn’t work out. It makes sense to be prepared for this and have a contingency plan in place.
So there you have it – holidaying with a former partner does not have to be awkward and stressful.
With clear boundaries and open lines of communication in place, you can kick back, have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
