On vacation with your boyfriend; the survival guide

‘Oh Danique, grow up!’ His usually sexy English accent suddenly sounds incredibly derogatory. I panic and analyze my leg again. Fortunately. The big, black, ugly beast that just tried to land and made me jump three meters into the air with a primal scream is gone. I look at my boyfriend furiously. ‘Grow up? Me? You grow up!’ And he adds an ‘And get over it’ on top. Angrily, I turn around and walk away. This is avoidance behavior. Behind me, I hear: ‘Danique, come on. That’s not what I meant?’ I keep walking. ‘Psh, how dare he.‘ I turn left, then right, around another corner and under a thick branch, straight through the jungle of Laos. ’You’re going the wrong way!‘ he calls from a distance. ’I don’t care,‘ I snap back stubbornly. After a few meters, I stop anyway. The once easily walkable path is now getting smaller and more overgrown with plants, trees, and grass. I sigh deeply and turn around. A few meters back, my boyfriend is waiting for me with his ’I told you so?‘ face. Great, this is just what I needed.
 

After three weeks of vacation, this was our first fight. It was immediately talked out. He apologized again and I mumbled something like: ‘I really can’t help that I find those nasty beasts so scary’ and: ‘Secretly, I’m a bit hungry too.’ A big hug and two Oreo cookies later, everything was forgiven and forgotten.
Going on vacation with your boyfriend is wonderful, but it’s not easy. Is a romantic vacay on your agenda too? Here are the tips.

Leave your stubborn traits at home

I also find this very difficult. I want things done my way. And I can really get annoyed when he does it differently. But guess what? You ultimately gain absolutely nothing from it, so be open-minded and let your man do his own thing. Focus on your own stuff. Believe me, you’ll become a lot less irritable from it.

Be honest

Don’t be stubborn but be honest if something is really bothering you. Don’t bottle it up, it will come out ten times harder. But don’t shout it out during your angry mood. Wait for a good moment to have a healthy conversation. Like on the terrace with a cold beer, for example.

Do things you both enjoy

Do you want to lie on the beach all day, but does he want to visit the museum and go out on scooters? Find a middle ground. For example, go to his museum in the morning and lie together baking on the beach after lunch. This way, you also see something different and get to know each other better.

Always take food with you

Ever heard of the term ‘hangry’? A pack of Oreo cookies in your backpack is the solution. You’ll be amazed at what a little sugar can do for your mood.

Accept that he is still a man

Yes, you guessed it; this tip comes from the man himself. You can get really annoyed by the fact that he has to check the football scores every day and needs five minutes to recover from bad results. But he is and remains a man. Do you need your women’s moment? Let him know. Bet he’s also incredibly interested in the gossip from home?

Written by: Danique van Leeuwenstijn