4 Fights Couples Always Have On Vacation (And How To Avoid Them)

When you go on vacation with your partner, you’re looking to make the most of your time together. But the pressure to enjoy yourselves mixed with travel stressors and deviations from your normal routine can also make it a ripe time for fights.

“We love vacations, but they take us away from the comforts of home and the routines that keep us balanced,” therapist Nicole Saunders, owner of Therapy Charlotte in North Carolina, told HuffPost. “This dysregulation feels stressful and can build over several days. Many couples tend to consume more alcohol on vacation, and alcohol mixed with stress can easily lead to an argument.”

We asked relationship experts to share the disagreements that most often pop up on vacations and some helpful tips on how best to avoid them. Here’s what they told us:

We Need To Relax vs. We Need Some Adventure

It’s quite common for couples to clash over their preferred travel itineraries, said Los Angeles marriage and family therapist Abigail Makepeace. There might be one partner who wants to spend their trip sipping a frozen drink by the pool, while the other is craving adventure and wants to fill the days with excitement and different activities.

“Balancing these differences can be challenging, especially given the financial investment and coordination required to plan a vacation,” Makepeace told HuffPost. “The pressure to ensure both partners enjoy their time away can intensify the need for effective communication.”

Her advice? Before you leave for the trip, have a conversation with your partner about what your ideal vacation experiences look like. Knowing each other’s expectations for the trip ahead of time can stave off arguments about differing preferences once you get there.

“Agree in