This new year, many travelers may have made one of their resolutions to be about learning a foreign language. However, experience has told me that if your New Year’s resolution is to “speak Spanish/French/Japanese,” you are probably bound for failure.

But fear not! After learning and becoming fluent in many languages, despite only speaking English until age 21, I have developed a few tips that will make it easier achieve your goals with your target language and start speaking from day one:

Have Definite Goals

Let me stop you right now and suggest you abandon your extremely vague resolution to “learn” a language and have a tangible goal to actually aim for.

Set an end-goal like:

• Speak conversational (your language of choice) within two months.
• Have a 30 second chat in the language by the end of two weeks.
• Be able to make phonecalls by the end of the month.

What’s different here is that you have something solid to aim for (rather than a vague end goal of speaking “perfectly”) and a very tight deadline to do it in. If you want to speak conversationally or fluently, then define these terms in a real way.

For example, fluency is not the same as being bilingual, so it’s quite OK to still have an accent and make occasional mistakes, although obviously both should be much less than from when you started. Conversational could mean that you can take part in a one-on-one chat with someone, but have trouble keeping up when natives are talking amongst one another.

Whatever it is, define your goal very specifically and set an ambitious time to reach that goal. Even if you just reach 90% of this, you will have made an impressive amount of progress in a short time! It will give you something more concrete to work towards and help keep you motivated to learn.

Stop Learning and Start Speaking

Another major issue those with aspirations to speak a language have is that they waste too much time on academics, drown themselves in grammar and vocabulary study, and devote little time to actually using the language.

Language is a means of communication between human beings, not a list of facts to be memorised. Because of this, you need exposure to humans (not books) if you want to make fast progress. As the saying goes, you need to “use it or lose it.”

Immersion works not because you are physically in a country, but because you are forced to use your language skills, no matter what, all the time. When anyone is truly immersed and enthusiastic about learning, they will always learn the language, regardless of “natural talent”, age, workload and many other excuses people tend to fall on. [Editor's Note: This point is very true. When I lived in Thailand, I picked up a lot of Thai simply because I had to. It was the only way for me to be able to communicate well with the locals. By the end, I was very conversational in Thai and I am probably one of the worst language learners in the world!]

It is hard at first, but if you wait until you are “ready” you may never speak the language. The best way by far is to let go of your doubts and just speak. Make mistakes, but learn while doing it so you make fewer next time. Locals will be happy you are learning the language and help you become better at it. This process of speaking regularly and gaining confidence in your abilities is by far the quickest path to fluency.

Meet Up and Speak

It’s important to remember that the purpose of a language is communication, and thus requires you to be social. If you feel you are an introvert, you should try hard to get out of your shell and meet up with people. There are many ways to do this that don’t involve walking up to a stranger and, as such, are more accessible to the less extroverted among us.

It’s easier to find speakers of major (and minor) languages than you think! Most places in the world, especially big cities, are filled with people from all around the world that speak all kinds of languages, some of whom may be happy to help you learn, as well as fellow enthusiastic learners at the same level as you. I have been able to regularly practice any language that I choose in almost any location using the suggestions below, and have spoken French in Bangkok, Italian in Amsterdam, and German in Colombia.

A few ways to meet other language speakers:

• Meetup.com: This site’s goal is to gather people with similar interests, to get unplugged from the Internet and to actually meet up in person to share and discuss that interest. It has many regular meetings based on a huge range of interests, including language-specific meetups.
• Couchsurfing.org: If you read any travel blog, it’s quite likely you’ve heard of Couchsurfing by now. But have you tried using it in your own city before travelling? There are regular meetings where you can meet natives of many languages, and one of the most incredible unused features of the site is that you can search your home city by language and simply message people directly to meet up. Of all social network participants in the world, Couchsurfers are much more likely to be open minded and certainly understanding enough to meet up with you to help you with your target language.
• Other social networking sites: Try searching Facebook for [your city name] and [language name] and clicking Events. You can usually find some language events that way. You can also put an ad on Craigslist, or even use a dating site to find language partners. I did speed dating in Amsterdam in order to help improve my Dutch for the three months I was there.
• Offline methods: Ask in your local library or town-hall to see if there are cultural events you could take part in, or ask your friends, or walk up to tourists and try to be helpful!

What to talk about?

When you meet up with native speakers for the first time knowing only a few dozen words or phrases, you may feel intimidated and want to retreat to your books for many more months or years, but there are MANY ways to get started talking to them! I’ve found many ways to keep conversations flowing when my level is basic, making sure they don’t ever get bored  with my hesitations, and using particular phrases that encourage them to keep talking without making me snap out single word answers.

The problem with speaking a language in the early stages is much more about lack of confidence than lack of vocabulary. Keep on learning the vocabulary (a flashcard app and an active imagination can really help) and grammar, but get out there and use the little you know NOW. Before you know it, you will be speaking the language confidently!

Benny Lewis is a professional “language hacker”, but is definitely not naturally talented in languages. He only spoke English when he was 21, and managed to spend an entire six months in Spain initially without learning Spanish. Despite this, he discovered that simply getting out there and speaking with people, even when his level was basic and he was making lots of mistakes, lead to rapid improvement in his language abilities. He blogs full time about his lacking hacking “mission” on fluentin3months.com. He recently started a video project about how to speak from day one.

When I went to Istanbul, the big historical sites – Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Market – blew me away. But I also wanted to find fun things to do that were less touristy.

Locals ended up giving us some great tips. One advised my partner and I to go to the Basilica Cistern, and that was the first we’d heard of it. This bizarre underground cavern turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip, and I didn’t even know it existed prior to going there. I’m also glad that we heeded the advice to go to a real hammam rather than taking the easy route and going to a Westernized version in a fancy hotel.

Don’t miss Istanbul’s major sites. But once you’re done them, here are some lesser-known gems and activities to explore:

Descend into the Basilica Cistern

I walked on top of this ancient cavern for days without realizing it. After entering an unassuming doorway and climbing down a gloomy set of stairs, we ended up in an underground former water reservoir. This massive chamber was built in the sixth century under the Byzantine Empire. It is filled with centuries-old columns and is dim, only eerily lit in shades of orange. Water still sits on the ground and there are koi fish swimming in it; you have to walk on wooden planks to get around. You can hear drips echoing, and there are two mysterious statues with the head of Medusa. It feels like you’re in a scary movie.

Explore the Asian Side

Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents; it spans from Europe to Asia. The Asian side, also called the Anatolian side, is separated from the European side by the Bosphorus Strait. You can take a bus over the famous Bosphorus Bridge, or you can ride over in a ferry. The city’s main tourist sites are on the European side, but if you’ve never been to Asia, it’s fun to cross over so you can say you have been there. If you are interested in shopping, check out the popular markets in Kadiköy. Other worthy activities include touring the Beylerbeyi Palace, riding up to the top of Çamlica Hill for incredible views of the city, and strolling along Ba?dat Caddesi to explore the many restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Visit a real hammam
(Picture not available – everyone was naked inside!)
Many of the swanky hotels in Istanbul have hammams, otherwise known as Turkish baths, but they aren’t the real deal. They are made for Westerners looking for a cushy and modest experience. Real hammams have been a Turkish tradition for thousands of years, and they have served as both a place to cleanse and to socialize. Most hammams are separated by gender, and women generally go topless. You transition through several different rooms of different temperatures, one being the hot steam room much like a sauna. You can opt to pay an attendant to give you a thorough scrub-down. It’s rough but invigorating! We went to the Çemberlitai Hamami and really enjoyed it; another popular one is Cagaloglu. Both are in the Old Town.

Go to Princes’ Islands

This chain of nine islands off the coast of Istanbul provides a unique getaway from the crowds. It’s an easy day trip during the warm months — the islands are just a quick ferry ride from the city. Most travelers visit the four larger islands, as the other five are very small and mostly residential. You can explore historic buildings, eat at tasty cafes, and see beautiful homes. Motorized transportation isn’t allowed on the islands, making them peaceful and quiet. You can get around by walking, bicycle, or horse and carriage.

Take a ferry

A great way to explore this massive city is by boat. You will see many boats that offer paid tours of the Bosporus. However, if you want to save money and have more flexibility, take a regular ferry ride instead. The fare will be cheaper, and you won’t be competing for space with other tourists trying to take photos. You will pass by Topkapi Palace, the Bosphorous Bridge, gorgeous mansions, mosques with massive minarets, other castles and palaces, and more. You can hop off, eat some fresh seafood, and then head back.

Explore the Jewish history

While Turkey is predominantly a Muslim country, it holds a surprisingly large amount of Jewish history. There are Jewish heritage tours you can take, or you can explore the stops on your own. Jews have lived in Turkey for thousands of years, but the population really grew during the Ottoman Empire (which includes some of Turkey) in the 1400s. Growth increased in 1492 when Spain expelled its Jews and the Ottoman Empire welcomed them (They had good business skills and came with money). Istanbul’s Galata quarter and Balat quarters are steeped in Jewish history, and you can find historic synagogues there and in other areas throughout town. Istanbul also has a Jewish museum that is very good.

Watch the fisherman on Galata Bridge

Every day, dozens, if not hundreds, of local men form a row along the top level of the Galata Bridge and fish over the edge. It’s an incredible sight. They spend hours hoping to catch fresh seafood, and some of them will sell it to you while they’re still out there fishing. Many of the men haven’t even made a catch; they seem to enjoy just standing there hanging their pole over the water. There is also a fish market at the base of the bridge, and the many booths of fresh-caught fish are fun to look at (though it can also be a bit gross).

Istanbul is a very large and crowded city, and it can be intimidating. But it’s also home to some of the world’s most lengthy and powerful history. Regardless of how many of these attractions you are able to fit in your first time in Istanbul, you will undoubtedly still be in awe of the city’s majestic architecture and complicated past.

Emily Starbuck Crone is a professional writer and editor based in Austin, Texas. She runs the travel blog Maiden Voyage, which is geared toward 20-somethings. Find her on Twitter at @TheMaidenVoyage or on Facebook.

You’ve just finished your life-changing travels and now you are back home and considering how you are going to find work again. Whether you’re travels were a career break, gap year, or sabbatical you will need to figure out how you account for the time and experiences on your resume. I often work with travelers who are re-entering the workforce and are faced with the following questions when trying to update their resume.

Normally you need to account in some way for the time spent away from work. If employers see a gap in your resume that isn’t explained, you may not make it through the first cut of resumes.

Where should it go on my resume?
It depends. Do you think the experiences you had traveling apply to you finding a new job in your field?  If so, then place it in the main part of your resume. If you don’t feel like it applies, then it probably belongs in a section reserved for ‘Additional Information’ or ‘Hobbies’.

Kristin Zibell of Takeyourbigtrip.com is a frequent career breaker and she keeps her resume flexible saying, “I found the recruiters and hiring managers were looking for the professional story in my resume. Every statement on my resume needed to support this story and show situation, action, and results.  If my travels and experiences had a direct relationship to the position, like my blogging or volunteering abroad, then I listed it like a position – “Travel Blogger” or “English Teacher.” Most of the time, I found that travel was an interesting fact about me and explained the time gaps, but not directly related to the positions. In this case, I placed my travel experiences at the bottom in an ‘Additional Activities’ section that colored who I was and what I had done. “

Kristin’s resume highlights her travels as international experience:

• Ten months of travel to India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe from October 2008 to May 2010.
• Activities included volunteer work at Mother Teresa Mission Charities in Kolkata with disabled women and teaching English to street children in Jaipur.
• Designed and authored three travel blogs during multi-month these solo trips. Currently editor of Takeyourbigtrip.com.

What type of information should I share about my travels?
It’s probably NOT a good idea to put that you were a beach bum for 12 months, or that you traveled the full moon party circuit. Instead, think about what you did on your travels that had to do with education, skill building, volunteering, and business skills and highlight them in a professional manner. But there are some other skills you might want to consider:

Volunteering
One should always represent any volunteering done while traveling on their resume. For me it demonstrated my commitment to education, giving back to other cultures, and global experience. You should always include where your volunteering took place, what your responsibilities were, and if there was any end result. The end results could be tangible things such as building a house, cleaning up after a natural disaster, or restoring wetlands.

• Extensive international travel background, comfortable working with and in different cultures.
• Volunteered with Cross Cultural Solutions in New Delhi, India teaching computers, conversational English, and interview skills in order to assist young adults enter the workforce.

If not covered somewhere else in your resume, also consider including any resume building intangible results such as improved leadership skills, proven ability to take initiative, as well as listening and communication skills. Finally, if your volunteering was for an extended period of time such as 6 months to a year, then consider putting this experience in your work or education history.

Working
I have found that more and more people are working while they travel; I lived and worked in Vietnam for a year. Work that is relevant to your field is important to highlight. Did you do any freelance work, consulting, working at a hostel, or teaching ESL?  If so, this can belong in your work history.

I highlighted my various work experiences as international work experience:

ESL Intructor: ILA Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

• Teaching adults English as a Second Language (ESL).

Consultant:  CAMENAE, Singapore

• Delivered a usability analysis of the e-commerce site and led subsequent redesign.
• Conducted tests and created a regression test plan.
• Consult with owners on their business vision and ensure that it can be supported on the site.  Offer guidance on short and long term business plans and their technical implementation.

Blogging
Did you blog, write for publications, or do photography; all of these things illustrate that you took your travels seriously. Think about the new skills you learned when maintaining your blog. Did you increase your knowledge about Search Engine Optimization, marketing/sales of affiliate programs, coding, and social media tools?

Laura Keller did a career break with her husband Ryan and blogged about it at www.roundwego.com . She represented her blogging in the following way:

Digital Entrepreneur, Travel Blogger & World Explorer

• Expanded economic and cultural views while exploring 20 countries in 14 months of extensive travel across six continents
• Created, launched and hosted the travel website RoundWedGo.com, attracting 10,000 unique monthly visitors
• Governed online traffic, social media and SEO to create advertising and sponsorship revenue for RoundWeGo.com
• Contributed travel articles to leading lifestyle and travel Web sites and blogs

Talking about the soft skills
Even if all you did was lounge around a beach all day and drink beer, you picked up some business skills while traveling around the world.  It’s hard to think about the mundane day-to-day experiences as skill building, but they are. There are a lot of business skills you can learn without actually having gone to business school. In fact, these “business skills” are simply important life skills that can give you an edge:

• Negotiation skills – All that time spent in markets haggling over the cost of a magnet was beneficial.  You were exposed to and employed various negotiation tactics that can be highlighted. Businesses want people who are sharp negotiators and can make deals not people who are push overs.
• Budgeting and Planning – You most likely had to plan and save for your career break.  In addition, you continue to monitor your budget and assess any financial risks.
• Adaptability – When you travel, things go wrong, plans change, there are mudslides that you can’t predict.  As a traveler you are forced to change plans constantly.  You handle the issues that are hurdled your way quickly after a few months on the road. In the ever changing world of business, the ability to adapt is important.
• Communication  – When trying to converse in foreign cultures every verbal and non-verbal communication is necessary to overcome language and cultural barriers. This skill is helps you deal with people which is an important aspect of any job. Workers with good communication skills are the ones who rise fast.

All of these new skills belong on your resume. And when you are asked about them in an interview, you’ll be able to share an amazing story about “that time in Vietnam…” when a skill came in handy and how it can help you in your job. As Kristin Zibell says “In an interview, I used travel stories to illustrate soft skills like dealing with adversity or ambiguity. I shared my travel experience as a part of my professional story. This technique made me a more memorable and interesting candidate.”

Bottom Line
Use your travel to make you stand out. Keep in mind that many of these experiences, if described in a professional manner, will make you stand out from other candidates.

Don’t hide your travel when searching for a job; embrace it!

Sherry Ott runs the site Ottsworld as well as Meet, Plan, Go!, a career break planning site. If you’d like to learn more about how to plan and conduct your travels with your career in mind, then don’t miss Meet, Plan, Go!. It’s a career break travel event on October 18^th in 17 cities in North America. (Matt says: I went last year to the one in Boston and loved it. If you have the time, make your way to one of the events.)

I’m not an ambitious traveler. Let’s get that out of the way before we even start this post. I’m sure plenty of people would try to see more in Santiago in a day, but after leaving here for 7 years, this is simply my idea of an ideal 24 hours in Chile’s capital.

Please note: There are plenty of typically touristy things you could do that aren’t on this itinerary. I figure if you want the obvious stuff, you could find ten million other blog posts written on the subject. I’m not going to go there – you’ve heard it all already. This is my unique take on the city.

AM: Parque Quinta Normal

There are several massive parks in Santiago. The beautifully green Quinta Normal is my favorite for several reasons. It’s a lush oasis in the middle of the bustling city, for one. But the Quinta is part of the working class neighborhood aptly named Quinta Normal. So in general, people who frequent this park live lives that are fairly representative of an average Chilean lifestyle. I love it because it’s a great place to people watch and get a good feel for a Santiago family’s day to day.

The Quinta is also home to many of Santiago’s museums. There is a train museum, which is fun if you’re into that sort of thing. There’s the National History Museum, which I think is kind of boring, personally. Then the Science and Technology Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum and the Children’s Museum are all located there as well – none of which I have been to.

Inside the Quinta is a public swimming pool, a football field, as well as several other smaller fields for pick up games, picnic tables and grills, a jogging or walking track, what used to be a greenhouse but it now just a cool abandoned glass building, a pond with row boats you can rent, statues, playgrounds, fountains and more. I would advise anyone who visits to walk around and just observe.

LUNCH: Peluqueria Francesa

This restaurant is also of Chile’s protected historical buildings. It was built in 1925, so I supposed by European standards it’s not that old – but when you consider how many massive earthquakes it’s had to survive that makes the lifespan a little more impressive.

The décor inside is a very eclectic mix of antiques. Anything hanging on the wall is for sale, and I’ve heard that you can buy the actual furniture as well. There’s also a working barber shop! Old men in little white coats will give guys an old fashioned shave.

If all that weren’t cool enough, they’re home to a bodega that’s still conserved in the style of the early 1900’s. You have to ask if you want to see it though, it’s not always open to the public.

The food is yummy too, serving traditional French dishes. Not only that but instead of having Happy Hour, the Peluqueria Francesa is host to Happy Sour where any “sour” drinks are half price – so for about 3 USD you can toast with a Chocolate Sour (highly recommended), a Pisco Sour (Chile’s national drink, a must try when in the country), Mango Sour, Rum Sour and many more.

This restaurant is absolutely my favorite in Santiago.

As an added bonus, their menus feature maps of the Yungay neighborhood, and you’re welcome to take one with you when you go. In fact, La Peluqueria Francesa is the start of the Historical Patrimony Route in the area. The map points out the highlights. But before doing that, I have other plans for your afternoon.

PM: Museo de la Memoria (Memory Museum)

This is one of Santiago’s newest museums. The building is gorgeous and is in a very modern style that’s not typical of Chile. However, everything was deliberate. The structural beams show on the outside, and as a guide will explain, they are representative of how all Chileans were affected by Pinochet’s dictatorship.

Yes, this is a dictatorship museum. But it’s fascinating because this is recent history. There are videos, photos, interactive displays and more – all in English and in Spanish. You can opt to go with a guided tour and also have the option of choosing a guide who speaks English or Spanish.

When I went I only allotted a half a day for the museum. I’d like to go back because I feel that there was far more to see, but a half a day takes you through the basics.

There’s so much to see and watch and hear. The museum is fascinating.

SUNSET: Barrio Yungay

Using the map that you took from La Peluqueria, head out into Barrio Yungay to explore. By following the map, you’ll find some of the historical churches, schools, plazas and statues in the area. There is beautiful architecture and though the neighborhood is a bit rough around the edges it’s certainly worth a visit if you want to see what typical Santiago used to look like. It’s also a photographer’s dream!

DINNER: Barrio Brasil

While exploring Barrio Yungay, you’ll end up in parts of Barrio Brazil. Right near Plaza Brazil there are tons of bars and restaurants. It’s a great place for a high energy night on the town, and it’s not as expensive as some of the more touristy places to go out in Santiago.

By the time all is said and done, you’ll have explored some of the most typical Chilean neighborhoods and parks, learned about the fascinating recent history (Pinochet’s dictatorship ended in ’90 and he remained as head of the military until ’98) of this country. As an added bonus, you’ll have eaten some delicious food. Not a bad way to spend a day in Santiago, if you ask me.

Kyle Hepp is a traveler and photographer that lives in Santiago, Chile. You can find her on twitter @kylehepp or on her blog, Kyle Hepp Photography.

It has almost been 2 years since Anthony and I started traveling together. In that time, I’ve learned more about Anthony and our relationship than I ever could have if we had stayed in Sydney. I certainly believe our travels have only strengthened our relationship. And so I began to wonder what have other couples learned from their trip. I’m sure they would have so much advice they could share so I decided to contact a few couples and hear their thoughts, tips and perspectives of life as two on the road.

Life After Kids: The Gypsy Nesters
I was interested to talk with a couple that are now traveling after they’ve raised their kids. David and Veronica from Gypsy Nesters have been together for 30 years. And, since their kids have flown the nest, they are enjoying life on the road and have been traveling full-time for the last 3 years.

David says traveling has been the couple’s best way to share experiences together as a newly-minted empty nest couple. “Our plan took on a life of its own – leading us to sell everything, including our house. Now every day is a new experience and our relationship is stronger than ever.”

Of their travels together, David says, “In some ways this is a bonus time for us since we spent a huge portion of our first twenty years of marriage separated because of my work… Now, we get to make up for some of that lost time.”

For Veronica, traveling has opened her up again and she feels free. She says, “Sometimes ‘holing up’ in one place can make you fearful of the world. As a mother, I turned into a protector. My main focus was keeping my children from harm. Though that’s a very commendable thing, it made me fearful.”

So, after 3 years of full-time travel, I had to ask them what they thought their most important piece of advice was for couples who want to travel. Their answer? “Dial back the day-to-day planning, embrace the unexpected and look for the unknown gems along the way.” They both agree that, initially, they were trying too hard to see everything in a minimum amount of time. “We had been known to vacation like that, but it’s [our travels now] not a vacation, it’s our lives.”

David and Veronica have really got their lifestyle, relationship and travel style down pat, and when I asked them to sum up their travels in one word they simply answered: “Discovery.”

A Decade Of Travel: Wanderlust Fever

Karen and Eric from Trans Americas Journey are no novices when it comes to long-term travel – or couples travel for that matter. In total, they have been traveling for just under a decade, and have been on the road constantly for the last 5 years.

Traveling together for Eric and Karen is what they describe as a “long-term endeavor — more [of a] lifestyle than anything else.” For them, the one to two week vacation just seems “foreign and impossible.”

Eric and Karen say that their biggest challenge on the road is spending all of their time together. (This is also one of the biggest challenges Ant and I face). However, to Eric and Karen, this challenge is also seen as their biggest gift. Many people say to them, “If you can travel together, you must have a perfect relationship.” No such thing, they say. Being with someone all the time means it is “important to find a way to give in to your partner’s needs on his or her deal-breaker issues, and vice versa,” they said.

For them, it is the popular relationship ‘buzz word’ – compromise – that is their single most important tip for traveling couples and for maintaining a great relationship on the road. They suggest to “compromise when making decisions (where to go next, budgets, this hotel or that hotel, etc), especially when it comes to the two or three core elements that are most important to your partner.”

On The Flip Side: The Beginning Travelers

With such great advice from two truly inspiring couples, I also thought it would be great to talk to one couple who have only just started out on their travels. Is their perspective any different? What have they learned in their short time on the road?

Skott and Shawna from Get Up And Globe have just started traveling together in June of 2010. Their plans of long-term travel stemmed from deciding where to go on their honeymoon. The wheels were set in motion when they realized they wanted to spend time in more than just one location.

Although they weren’t really nervous about traveling together for so long, they do think their travels have been a whole lot easier because, prior to this trip, they worked together. “Working together prepared us quite well. We got to know what makes the other person tick in challenging, high-tension situations,” they said. Skott and Shawna suggest that if you are worried about spending so much time with your partner, all day every day, try “getting yourselves involved in an activity where you are stuck with each other for at least a few days without escape. For example, a week-long canoe trip or camping.”

Whether you are a couple who has been traveling for 2 weeks or 2 years, there will always be lessons you can learn that can potentially strengthen your relationship. For Skott and Shawna, communication and trust were two major aspects of their relationship they focus on. “Communication is an area where we are absolutely continuing to grow. If one of us is getting annoyed, we are learning that it is better to explain why you are upset instead of keeping it bottled inside… We are learning we need to trust each other more. Whether it is planning a certain element of the trip, finding our way around a city, or even working on our blog, we need to recognize that the other person is just as competent, and that they need to be given a chance to show what they can do!”

While Skott and Shawna said it took them some time to find their ‘travel legs’, they absolutely love that they “have someone else to share every incredible experience and every challenging moment with. We will share these moments forever.”

While all three couples have such different relationships and travel experiences, I loved from the start there was no sugar-coating the fact that traveling together is hard and takes work. Yes, the times on the road will be tough, but each couple looked at their travels as time to spend with one another, share special moments and problem solve as a strengthened unit.

Traveling with your loved one really is a very unique and rewarding experience. I know I wouldn’t change my travels with Anthony for anything.

Elise is one half of the dynamic duo at Positive World Travel. Both are writing about their experiences and thoughts on what long-term travel is like as a couple. You can also follow them on Facebook for more of their travel updates.

When traveling the world as a couple, there can come a time when the your relationship “spark” can lose some its brightness. While exploring new cultures and racing around the world, it is easy for your relationship to fall to the wayside or end up in a rut.

I’m talking from experience. We have had our relationship become boring and mundane a few times, but have found many ways to keep igniting the flame over and over again. The important thing is to try and keep your relationship as fresh and as exciting as the countries you are visiting.

Elise and I have found many ways to keep our relationship interesting:

Date Night
As corny as it might sound, going out on an actual ‘date’ can do wonders for your relationship. It can get monotonous sightseeing, eating cheap meals or cooking your own food day in and day out, so making time for a special night can be something to look forward to. Elise and I plan a date night every 2 weeks. We spend a little extra money, go to a nice restaurant and dress up as best we can. We spend that night not talking about our website or what we did that day, but talk with one another, put our dream caps on and play the ‘what if’ game.

Elise loves to chat about our eventual wedding and even though it can drive me crazy at times (I never knew you could talk so much about floral arrangements!), date nights are a great way to share and chat about her - err I mean our – dream wedding. Date nights let you listen and reconnect with one another outside the traveling experience.

Be Spontaneous
Traveling as a couple can take its toll on each of you and this tip is one of our key ingredients to success. Elise likes our travels to be somewhat planned and I try and mix things up and be spontaneous, which keeps her thinking because she doesn’t know what I have planned next.

If you have extra time in the city you are in, head out for the day and just act on a whim. Do activities you hadn’t really thought of before, and engage in romantic things like going for massages, seeing a movie, or going bowling. Traveling doesn’t always have to be about sightseeing, you can spend time during the normal things you did back home, too.

Celebrations

Even while traveling, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries is equally important to any relationship. It doesn’t matter if you are in the middle of nowhere, the fact that you will go to a little extra effort and get creative will always make your partner happy.

Once when we were camping, it was Elise’s birthday and we were far from any nice restaurants. So, the morning of her birthday, I woke up early to blow 23 balloons up and then gently placed them throughout our tent. I woke her up to an out of tune singing birthday candle and a dry piece of cake I found at a corner store the day before. She was delighted that I had gone to the trouble of making her birthday a little special even though we were camping. We spent the rest of the day at a deserted beach and Elise says that it was one of her best birthdays ever.

Surprises
Even though you are traveling together and you may be on a limited budget, a surprise every now and again will always excite your better half. Elise knows that I am a sucker for dark chocolate and I always get excited when she has been out to run some errands and when she returns, jumps on the bed with both hands behind her back. I love that she thinks of me while she is out. Not only does it bring joy to our relationship but also I think it brings a smile to both of our faces.

Face your fears
Doing activities that one or both of you have a fear of can bring you together and bond you. Sharing a fear and overcoming it will definitely bring the spark back and a sense of achievement for you both.

Elise has a small fear of heights and she has regularly pushed herself to confront this fear over the past 18 months. She has jumped out of planes and jumped off cliffs into fast flowing rivers. Each time she faces this fear I get so proud of her and it deepens my love for her.

Supporting your partner and giving them the encouragement they need to face their fears or overcoming them together is an instant bonding moment shared between the two of you and only strengthens your relationship.

Getting Intimate

It has to be noted that sex is an important part of every relationship and when you’re not having any, you are bound to be fighting more. Traveling in dirty environments and staying in shared accommodation can be a dampener to any sexual relations. Finding time for a romp when there are train schedules to work out, long and sweaty bus rides to take or a day battling annoying touts can be difficult.

Spending a little extra money from time to time and staying in a private room is the best way to find some alone time as having sex in hostels can be quite tricky otherwise. Elise and I do this from time to time as to always make sure we can have intimate moments together.

Even couples that have been together for years and years all need to take time out every now and again to make sure the spark is still there. The most important tip is to work out what works for you as a couple. What is your dynamic and interests? Elise and I always make sure we not only have time for long term travel and all that it entails but also for making our relationship work on the road and keeping the spark alive.

Ant is one half of the dynamic duo at Positive World Travel. Both are writing about their experiences and thoughts on what long-term travel is like as a couple. You can also follow them on Facebook for more of their travel updates.

One of the biggest sacrifices I made in order to travel was leaving a relationship. Naturally, one of the very first questions people ask me is what it’s like to be single on the road.

I’ve had an incredible year in Latin America as a solo female traveler, and I have learned that having a relationship on the road can be a tricky balance of exhausting and exhilarating.

People imagine a series of MTV Spring Break hook-ups or meaningful Eat Pray Love soul mate stories. But it’s neither. In fact, I’ve encountered a lot of unexpected challenges.

Age
Most people assume the biggest hurdle for a woman in her 30s would be to find love at all. Sure, at first it can be frustrating to see men your age chasing after gap-year backpackers who likely couldn’t buy a beer in the United States. But then you learn it’s fair game.

Age doesn’t seem to be as monumental or divisive on the road, and no one seems to care that they are 10 years younger or 20 years older than you. The only painful ego blow is when you make a cultural reference that your new “friend” doesn’t understand because when it was popular, he was still in elementary school.

Cultural
We do see cultural differences when we first meet people, but we’re drawn together by those differences and lured into thinking that they’re cute and lovable.

But reality will slap you into sensibility. I learned quickly that Latin men are passionate, feel things deeply, and are attracted to the fierce independence of Western women. Seems like a match made in heaven – until you ultimately struggle over issues of jealousy with friends of the opposite sex.

Longevity
Travel seems to condense the average span of a relationship, and it’s common to have a one-week love that passes through all of the phases of a traditional coupling: getting to know each other, lovers honeymoon, settling down, growing apart, awkward break-up.

You can meet someone on a Monday, think the sun shines just for them all week, and by Sunday be happy they have to catch a flight out of the country. It’s best to accept that every season has an end, be casual friends on Facebook for a few weeks, and then never speak to each other again.

Jealousy
Hostels are fantastic for meeting people, but are also the ultimate breeding ground for jealousy. One day you meet a great guy, seem to hit it off spending every moment of the day together, then a new group of girls arrives and one of them realizes how great your guy is and makes a move.

It never ends well. You either resort to high school tactics, hoping your “old” hostel friends you have only known a few days will shun her, ultimately making her move on to a new city and away from your man, or, better yet, there’s a drunken night out where you confront her or him. Either way, you look like a fool for becoming psychotically attached to some boy you have only known for 3 days.

Then you move on because you are so embarrassed and cannot bear to face any of these people ever again.

Compatibility
The thrill of sun-drenched locales and unfamiliar faces can mask the reality that you have nothing in common with your new-found love.

Sure, you can have a magical full moon moment on the beach, staying up until sunrise talking about your dreams, but eventually you realize that, in any other location, you would struggle to hold a conversation with the very same person. You know this guy will never open a hostel or the ultimate banana pancakes street stand. It’s a nice dream, but instead of trying to make it work, move on and let it become a nice memory.

But that’s not to discourage anyone from trying to find love on the road. The bumps along the way are what make great stories amongst friends that you will laugh and cry about later. [Editor's Note: Here are my own experiences on finding love while traveling.]

Some are lucky and do find love on the road – and that’s what keeps us all hopeful.  In fact, a friend of mine met his wife in the airport, happy that the girl he had been staring at walked over to his gate and was on his plane. Today, they have three children.

I’m not ruling out finding love in any place. And I’ll never rule out that the sun-kissed cabana boy just could be “the one.”

Ayngelina left a great job, boyfriend, friends and apartment to find inspiration in Latin America. You can read about her adventures at Bacon is Magic (which it is!).

In a previous post, Anthony wrote about how compromise and communication are key factors in maintaining a successful travel relationship. I also wrote about how “me time” can do wonders for avoiding arguments and keeping the relationship fresh.

But, there is also another important tip to keep in mind: making sure each partner has certain responsibilities on the road.

There are many tasks to perform when you travel. Questions constantly need to be answered. Where are you going to stay? What visas do you need? What currency is accepted? Who is going to make transport inquiries? Who’s going to book flights?

By splitting up these tasks early on, it can make traveling with your partner far easier and much less stressful, giving you time to focus on the thrills and experiences rather than the mundane and nitty-gritty aspects of long-term travel.

Anthony and I learnt from the get go that it pays to know who is doing what on the road. We both now have our own little roles we take on every day.

For example, I now am the official key bearer to our room, which means I am responsible for making sure our room is locked and that I have the key safely tucked away and on me at all times. We spent far too many nights early on our trip having the same conversation:

‘Do you have the key?’

‘No, I thought you took it.’

‘Well, I didn’t take it. It was on your side of the table.’

‘Where is it then? I don’t have it.’

It’s a small role, but it’s an important one nonetheless and we save ourselves from getting into fights.

Splitting up the responsibilities of travel also has other benefits. You can save a lot of time and frustration if you both give each other certain planning jobs when organizing your onward travel.

For example, instead of both looking for accommodation, one person can be finding accommodation while the other can be figuring out transport. This in turn can save time and reduce conflict and stress. By assigning part of your ‘workload’ to one another, you each have a single focus rather than trying to cope with everything at once.

For instance, Anthony is in charge of booking and organizing all onward travel, whether overland or by plane, and I am in charge or researching and finding accommodation at our next destination. We both decided on these roles fairly early on. A month or so into our trip we were finding ourselves being disorganized in terms of transport and accommodation. I remember specifically, in Borneo, we were traveling late at night into the town of Semporna. Ant had told me that he already had accommodation in mind. However, when we finally got off the bus, Ant didn’t have a clue where any of the hostels were or how to get to them (and, of course, there were no Tuk Tuk drivers in sight!). We were left on the road deserted bar a few stray dogs. A heated argument ensued and it wasn’t until much later that we ended up in a hostel room. This only had to happen once for it to be decided that I would be in charge of finding accommodation on our trip.

When deciding who will take on what roles and responsibilities, it all comes down to knowing your partner. You must have an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.

I am in charge of finding and researching accommodation. Why? Because I’m good at it. While we try not to plan too far into our trip, I love to be organized. Anthony can’t stand spending time online looking for places to stay and reading reviews. But me? I love it! Anthony trusts that I will choose a good place to stay, and he is happy that he doesn’t have to do it himself.

What I’m not good at is directions. Never have been. Getting from A to B has never been a strong suit of mine. In India a few years ago Anthony bravely handed over the map for the day, as I demanded that I was fine in directing us through small towns and villages high in the north. It wasn’t until 4 hours later (when we should have reached a town by then) we were still walking slowly up hill. Anthony then asked for the map, only to then announce that I had been leading us in the total opposite direction! Tired and fed up, we hitchhiked our way back to the starting point, fuming silently in the car.

I also know that Ant is better with money. That is his strength. He sorts out exchange rates and conversions, and knows when best to exchange our money.

Of course, when you are out on the road, there may be times where these responsibilities will change as your travels develop or things crop up, but at least having an idea of who will do what is a good start.

The key to making this work is being consistent. Don’t chop and change all the time or become lazy at what you are both supposed to do. It may sound like being back at an old desk job, but being consistent with tasks – even when traveling – only makes things easier.

But, while splitting up jobs and taking on different roles all helps make travel easier, there is one job that you should still both do together: making decisions.

While compromising will come into play when making decisions, don’t take the idea of splitting up the jobs of travel to the extreme and only have one person make all the important choices during your trip. Remember, traveling as a couple is about working as a team and doing things together.
By balancing the workload, knowing your partner and staying consistent, you can be sure that it will make your travels easier, happier and more rewarding.

Elise is one half of the dynamic duo at Positive World Travel. Both are writing about their experiences and thoughts on what long-term travel is like as a couple. You can also follow them on Facebook for more of their travel updates.

In the last 14 months, I have traveled from Mexico to Argentina solo. What surprises me most are people’s reactions to a female alone in Latin America; they often ask what special safety precautions I take. My first reaction is that I have none. But then I realize that after nearly two decades of traveling, some things come second-nature and feel like common sense.

The Basics
Scan your driver’s license, passport, and health card and e-mail them to yourself and a friend or family member. If you lose your passport, it makes getting a new one much easier.

Always let someone know where you are going, when you expect to arrive and where you are staying. When you arrive, confirm those details. If something should happen, at least one person knows where you are.

Trust your instincts. If someone approaches you and you feel uncomfortable, do not worry about being rude. There are many times I have ignored men who approached in a way that didn’t feel right. I keep walking and ignore them. I may sometimes be wrong, but it’s not a chance I am prepared to take.

Smile. When you appear to be friendly, other people will reach out to you to help you. A simple smile actually saved me from being robbed once. I gave a pregnant woman my seat on a bus while two other people were trying to convince me I should get off the bus early. The woman overheard the conversation and gave me a look that I knew meant something was wrong. They got off and she told me that I did need to get off and was going the right way.

Transportation

Public city transportation is ripe for pickpockets. Never carry anything in your back pocket, and always be aware of your surroundings. It’s not just young men that pickpocket, either. Sometimes it is a group of women who will kindly bump into you or cram around you on a bus.

On longer rides, if you would prefer to sit next to a woman on a bus or train, simply ask. In some cases, the clerks have passenger information and are happy to help you.

On buses to other cities, I introduce myself to the bus driver and tell him where I am going. It seems a bit silly, but a lot of the bus drivers will call my name when we reach my destination, and some pull my backpack off first and sit it next to them so no one else grabs it.

Lastly, find out how much a cab will cost from the bus station. I always find this out from a hostel. To double check, I ask the security guard inside the bus station where to find the best cabs so that when I walk outside I am confident on where to go and the price to ask.

Walking Around
Although I am a brunette, I am still learning Spanish. My goal is not to blend in as a local (there are too many subtleties that I cannot learn), but I do aim to look as if I live there and know what I am doing. My best hope is that they think I am an expat and shift their attention to someone who looks easier to rob.

I have a very tattered bag that goes over my shoulder. On travel days, it carries my netbook, DSLR and iPod, but you would never think electronics are in it because there are no special brand names on it or fancy padding. It’s a bag that has been torn and patched many times and never signals ‘expensive things are inside’.

Never wear your iPod while walking around. Not only does it make you less aware of your surroundings, but it makes you a target for thieves who will either pick pocket you or just confront you with a weapon.

Carry small change in one pocket and larger bills in your bra (or undies, men). Never flash big bills to anyone.

If you need to look at your map, never do it in a street. Pop into a store or restaurant – anywhere but on the corner.

Accommodation

When I arrive at a hostel, I try to be as friendly as I can at the desk. After I put my bags in, I ask the front desk if they have a map and can point out the bad areas of town. I also ask if they are common scams that I should know about. I am shocked at how many people arrive in Buenos Aires without their hostel or hotel telling them about the many, common scams all the locals know about.

Carry the business card of wherever you are staying. Hostels and hotels have such generic names that it is easy to forget and get lost, especially if you are out drinking.

One last word:
If you are traveling alone and you do get into a situation where people want something that you have, just give it to them. There are some very poor people in the world who do bad things, and unfortunately stealing is one of them. It does not mean they’ll go the extra step and harm you.

It is why we have insurance. You can get another iPod or laptop or backpack. Don’t take a bad situation and make it worse by fighting back.

My goal is to be aware, not afraid. I take steps to minimize risk, but sometimes it’s all about luck.

Ayngelina left a great job, boyfriend, friends and apartment to find inspiration in Latin America. You can read about her adventures at Bacon is Magic (which it is!).

Elise and I fight. A lot.

It is usually about petty things that don’t really matter, but, in the heat of the moment, sometimes even the smallest issues get blown out of proportion.

It’s the stupid stuff, like where we should go next or what we should see. We argue about food a lot, too. Elise is always hungry and needs to eat throughout the day, whereas I can last all day on one big meal. And our filming often causes disagreements. We don’t always share the same ‘vision.’

Spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with someone is bound to take its toll at some point or another. It’s normal. In all honesty, I would be more worried about our relationship if we didn’t fight after spending this much time together.

Our fights typically occur on travel days, when one of us is either tired, hungry (mostly Elise!) or fed up with the day. Travelling 18-24 hours on buses, trains, or planes hardly brings the best out in anyone. The snapping begins over something so trivial (like what taxi to catch) and before you know it we are fighting about how Elise never listens or how I never ‘understand’ her feelings.

One classic fight that should have earned us a spot on Jerry Springer happened when we were travelling from Kathmandu to Chitwan in Nepal. Chitwan is only 150km away from Nepal’s capital, but the road conditions are really poor, so we were on a cramped mini bus for about 8 hours.

As soon as we got off the bus, Elise started complaining about how she had a sore neck and just needed a sleep and a shower. I, on the other hand, was feeling pretty good. The motion sickness tablets I had taken knocked me out during the trip, and I had managed to grab some sleep on the bus.

That’s when the bickering started.

We snapped at each other about the best way to reach our guest house, what guest house we were going to stay at, and how long we would be staying there. We bickered the whole time until we found a place to stay. As soon as we were in our room, things got worse. The fighting eventually escalated until I went for a walk and Elise had a sleep.

When I came back from my walk, the fight started again. This time it was about how I never put my toothbrush or contact lens solution in the right spot and how Elise can never remember where she keeps things in her backpack.

The fight continued for another several minutes, and we began to pick on issues totally unrelated to the original topic. When does a fight ever stay on topic anyway? You always end up fighting about irrelevant issues. You say things you will regret later and don’t even really mean in the first place.

With tears in Elise’s eyes and myself so exhausted by the whole argument, it was at that point we had to make a choice. Either continue fighting or come to our senses.

I told Elise we both needed to calm down and look at what we were fighting about. What was the root of the argument? Nothing but a bumpy bus ride.

I think Elise was just as relieved as I was to end the fight, and we ended up talking about ways we can resolve these conflicts and stop them from happening in the future.

How to Resolve Conflicts
The thing with fighting on the road is that the arguments take on a different form than the fights you have at home. At home, there are distractions – friends and work to keep your mind off the argument. When travelling, however, there is no escape. You have to talk about how you feel or what is bothering you and come to a resolution.

What works really well for us, is having a “word”. One word that you can both use if you think the other person is picking a fight for the sake of it. You both have to like this agreement. You can’t abuse the word and say it whenever you want just to shut your partner up. It has to work for both of you.

This approach has really saved us and prevented a lot of fights from starting. For instance, if Elise is complaining about how long we have been walking or how hungry she is, it tends to get on my nerves. I’ll make comments back to her that can be a little heated, and Elise will simply use the word. It snaps me straight back into line. Even though it may sound silly to act so quickly on one little word, it really does help us to prevent situations from spiraling out of control. I realize that what I am saying is unnecessary. Problem solved. Fight avoided. Happy days.

Honesty is another important part of a relationship that can help resolve conflicts. Not being afraid to express how you feel is so important during an argument. You have to be able to listen to each other’s point of view, and take both criticism and advice to heart.

Arguments are no different than a disease, and prevention is always better than a cure.

After 16 months on the road, we, as a couple, have pretty much figured out how to avoid the bigger arguments. We still bicker a lot, but it’s never anything as serious as the fight in Nepal. We are now conscious of what can set each other ‘off’ and always try to minimise those actions before they escalate out of control.

Travelling lets us work together in stressful situations and solve problems, but it also allows us to learn how to prevent arguments. The latter is the most challenging thing about travelling as a couple by far, but I think we are slowly mastering it.

Anthony is one half of the dynamic duo at Positive World Travel. Both he and Elise will be writing about their experiences and thoughts on what long-term travel is like as a couple. You can also follow them on Facebook for more of their travel updates.