CLEVELAND, Oh – Dear Ask Yadi: I’ve always loved traveling and trying new places, but my partner doesn’t feel the same way. They prefer staying home, saving money, and sticking to familiar routines. I don’t want to pressure them into doing something they don’t enjoy, but I also don’t want to stop traveling just because we’re together.
Some of my friends say it’s healthy to take solo trips, while others think vacations should be shared experiences in a relationship. Is it okay to travel alone when your partner doesn’t want to go, or does that create distance over time?
ANSWER: You shouldn’t have to stop doing something you love just because you’re in a relationship. Ideally, partners create memories together through shared experiences like travel—but that doesn’t mean that you will each have the same interests.
If your partner doesn’t enjoy traveling, pressuring them to go will likely lead to frustration or resentment for both of you. Vacations are meant to be enjoyable, and it’s hard to relax when someone clearly doesn’t want to be there. Traveling with someone who shares your curiosity about new places, food, and experiences often makes the trip more fulfilling.
That doesn’t mean your relationship suffers if you travel without them. Solo trips, with friends, or even family can be healthy ways to keep doing what you love while respecting your partner’s preferences. What matters most is understanding each other’s expectations and supporting one another’s interests.
When you return, share your stories, photos, and experiences. Instead of letting your desire to travel divide you, let it be something that adds to your relationship in a different way. You’re not choosing travel over your partner—you’re simply fulfilling your need to explore and see new things. Maybe after seeing your photos and hearing you talk about travel they may want to join you next time.
Sometimes supporting your partner means traveling beside them, and sometimes it means letting them explore on their own.
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Check out even more prior Ask Yadi columns here.
Ask Yadi: I love traveling, but my partner hates it. Can a relationship work with different travel interests?
