How can more travel lead to more sex and intimacy?

As a relationship Psychologist I make a point of dedicating time to myself, my husband, and our relationship daily. However, from time to time it is crucial that we break out of our routine and escape the comfort of our home and familiar environment.

According to research, the challenges couples faced during the COVID pandemic were not only due to sharing a confined space together over an extended period, but moreover due to the fact that travel became impossible. Indeed, travel is crucial for relationships and here is why.

Compatibility Test

There is no better way to really get to know your partner than travel, especially if you’ve just got into a new relationship. It’s a great way to find out if you enjoy the same things. For example, if you are someone who enjoys adventure and doing lots of activities on your vacation, then being with someone who prefers to just relax by the pool is probably not your best fit. On the other hand, if you usually like to relax on vacation, perhaps traveling with someone who is adventurous could be a way to expand your horizon and try things that you wouldn’t normally do if you were traveling by yourself. For example, thanks to my husband I discovered a passion for snorkelling and diving. Relationship psychologists refer to this as “self-expansion”. Whereby our partners allow us to discover new things that promote self-growth, which is a very important aspect of relationship quality. But also for couples who didn’t go through the pandemic lockdown together, traveling is a great way to spend lots of uninterrupted time together for an extended period of time, in a new environment that can really test your relationship.

Improved Communication

Couples that travel together experience improved communication and connection that extends beyond the vacation. However, couples only reap such benefits when they are aligned on what they want out of their experience, which must include activities that can be shared together and that will nurture the relationship.

Increased Relationship Satisfaction

Several studies show that taking regular trips as a couple is important to rekindle the spark and romance which in turn increases relationship satisfaction.

Novelty

The relationship research indicates that couples in long-term relationships who participate in new, exciting activities together, such as regular travel, tend to be happier in their relationships. That’s because travel promotes novelty. Our daily responsibilities such as work, managing the household and child-rearing can often hijack the romance in our intimate relationships. Travel releases us from these roles and makes us see each other in new ways that will rekindle the spark.

Increased Sexual Arousal

The novelty that comes from traveling, like breaking out of our routine and being in a new environment also promotes general arousal, which can increase sexual arousal. Several studies show that physical arousal from thrilling experiences can be mistaken for sexual arousal. So if you and your partner experience new things together, the arousal you may feel such as an elevated heart rate may be attributed to your partner, which could increase your sexual desire for them. Another reason why travel can increase sexual arousal is due to the state of relaxation you and your partner experience from being away from your daily routine and obligations. Travel lets us escape daily stressors and distractions and lets us focus on our partner.

But here’s the great news: Travel doesn’t necessarily mean exotic destinations or expensive resorts. People who can’t afford to travel may be able to achieve similar levels of life satisfaction through other less expensive activities. For example, you could take a train or drive out of town for the day to explore a new town or the countryside. If you like nature, you could plan a hike with a romantic picnic for the two of you, and if you enjoy culture, you could explore new exhibitions at museums or take a sightseeing tour together. And for those who are foodies, you could explore new restaurants outside of your zip code. There are many inexpensive and creative ways to go about it. For more information, check out my previous blog post on novelty and how to spice things up in your relationship and in the bedroom.