In a busy world, sometimes we don’t have enough one-on-one time with our significant other. Okay, maybe not sometimes – maybe it’s often. What are the best ways to spend time together, have time to talk, catch up and just be alone?
For people who love to travel, there is no better place than a car. While some might view being “trapped” in a tiny space with a person for hours upon hours as torture, for those of us who enjoy and miss each other’s company, a long road trip may be heaven sent.
We can pick our routes together, and choose a pace. We can go slow and stop at every interesting thing we see, every roadside fruit stand or interesting vista, or we can be ambitious and pick long trying routes where we can be silent for long periods of time and listen to our playlists and the hum of wheels on the road while holding hands.
These moments are ours and ours alone, and they can bring us closer than a crowded tour bus or a busy all-inclusive hotel resort. Here, it’s just us and the road. The “togetherness” begins at the planning stage before you even take a step out the door.
If you don’t have time to plan absolutely everything, there certainly are tour companies all over the world from Iceland to Africa that can get you a car rental and a personal itinerary – great deals on self-driving tours through Ireland or England are plentiful, so don’t worry if you can’t commit a lot of time for research.
And if you don’t have enough time to find the places that can save you time, here is a quick list of self-drive tours from around the world that will take care of you and make sure you concentrate only on yourselves and exploring together:
Tour Ireland
Ireland has some incredible road trip routes. The greatest part of it is that the country is relatively small, and if you take a two week holiday, you can actually say you have driven around the whole island!
There is the Wild Atlantic Way, which encompasses some of the most scenic parts of the Irish coast. Bring comfortable hiking shoes, because it’s worth to take your time exploring here on foot.
Along the way, you can stay in quaint little Inns and bed and breakfasts, or luxurious castles and hotels. It’s your choice – if you want your trip planned for you and everything is taken care of, book your self-drive tour through Ireland with GoIrish Tours.
Namibia
If you don’t mind roughing it a little, have a sense of adventure and just happen to have two weeks off with your partner – a self-drive tour through Namibia is a must. Of course, you don’t have your pick of luxury hotels. On this amazing 4 wheel drive adventure, you will experience rooftop camping and stays in little hotels.
Bring your camera and enjoy the wildlife that you have only seen in nature films, and spend romantic nights under the milky way. Rainbow Tours will plan it all for you and give you much-needed pointers when they give you your adventure car.
You will see Etosha National Park, and camp in state-owned self-catering campgrounds. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience, as well as a chance to bond! You can also visit the Namibia Tourism Board for tips about excursions and where to go.
Golden Circle, Iceland
Iceland is quickly becoming a very popular off the grid travel destination, mainly for its amazing otherworldly scenery. It is remote, barren and thought-provoking – statistically, one in ten Icelandic people will publish a book.
If you feel like you need some time to get your creative juices flowing while watching the aurora borealis, check out the well-planned tours put together by Artisan Travel, a UK company. You can cuddle up with your significant other in the hot thermal waters of the Land of Fire and Ice.
The best time to travel is when you can experience the midnight sun in the summer. You will get enough vitamin D to keep you flying high for the rest of the year!
Japan
When we think of Japan, we too often thing Tokyo and big, modern cities. If you take your time to drive around this breathtaking island, you will find mountains, forests, seascape and villages. If you can’t decide if you prefer a tour of the urbanscapes, the snow country or the countryside, visit Inside Japan Tours, and they will help to guide you through many levels of trips – from the budget conscious to the luxury.
California
We couldn’t find just one company with a plan, so if you go to visit California and take a look at all the choices, you can pick your favourite yourself. California has never-ending possibilities for road trips. Mostly for long road trips. You can drive along the coast starting in San Diego, through LA, winding up the steep hills with amazing ocean vistas and stopping by local taquerias and burger joints. See the mysterious Big Sur, Sequoias, Monterey, and all the little secret places and ocean side galleries on the way to San Francisco. Or you can choose not to see the Pacific at all and drive through the desert – get a spiritual experience in Joshua Tree, rent a trailer in the middle of the desert and then head to the High Sierras, Lake Tahoe, Lassen Volcanic Park or Mount Shasta. You can relax in a yurt in the middle of Wine Country or at a retreat in the heart of an ancient redwood forest. Better plan well, because it’s easy to spend months wandering around this diverse state.
