44 Types of Couples Travel

Planning your next trip might be as simple as hitting “repeat” on whatever you did last year. A couple days in Florida when the weather is cold where you are? Check.

On the other hand, we have a few ideas that will help you brainstorm a some different vacation ideas for you and your better half. These will help get your creative juices flowing and out of the travel rut you may be in.

Traditional Honeymoon – leave a day or two after your wedding and head off somewhere secluded to start your life together.
Arts & Culture – like art museums or Broadway shows? This might be just for you.
“Babymoon” – similar to a traditional honeymoon but with a newborn or when expecting.
Backpacking – the Appalachian Trail is calling you. Are you listening?
Beach/Resort Vacation – lots of sand, sun and those fun drinks with umbrellas in them.
“Buddymoon” – travel with another couple (hopefully people you enjoy spending time with).
Budget/No Frills Travel – either out of necessity or as a personal challenge to spend less than “X” dollars per day.
Casino/Gaming – Have fun big roller. Just be sure you’re both on the same page with how much you can afford to “contribute” to the casino.
City Focused – soaking up the energy in one of the grand cities of the world can be energizing.
Cruise – a sea or river cruise can be a great self-contained respite from the day-to-day back home.
Points and Miles driven vacation. Maybe you have a pile of American Airlines miles or Hilton points hanging around. You can construct a nice trip using those as currency. There’s a whole sub-genre of travel dedicated to points and miles – basically you can go a lot of places without a lot of cash out of pocket if you know how the game works.
“Earlymoon” – find a great shoulder-season deal on a destination before your big day? Don’t let the tyranny of the calendar hold you back.
Eloping – weddings can be big and stressful affairs. How about just the two of you (and an Elvis impersonator officiant) at that kitschy Vegas Wedding Chapel.
Family Heritage – travel to country or region of your ancestors.
Tag-on Trip – if you have a work trip or family event that takes you to a particular place, you can add on a few days to the front or back end and explore that area together instead of keeping it just “business.”
“Familymoon” a honeymoon for couples with children coming along too.
Giving Back/Volunteer – a growing trend, see something new and maybe help with painting a room in a school while you’re at it.
Golf/Tennis/Spa Focused – Chances are you’re not Serena Williams and your partner isn’t Tiger Woods. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a blast playing a lot of golf or tennis on your trip.
Hobby Focused– Indulge a shared interest in photography, history, SCUBA diving or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Hunting/Fishing – A sportsman’s holiday during the right season might allow you to check out game and scenery not usually found near home. It’s natural to think of this as just for guys, but there are plenty of couples who like spending time in the great outdoors together.
LGBT Focused – This might include traditional places of LGBT history or interest like Provincetown, MA, the Castro District in San Francisco or a trip by the Stonewall Inn in New York. On the other hand, it may just be a sunny beach somewhere that you aren’t going to be hassled while hanging out drinking a beverage or two.
Bucket List – everyone’s buck list is a little different but maybe seeing the pyramids in Egypt, climbing Kilimanjaro or taking a riverboat up the Mississippi river are on yours.
Luxury Travel – stay and be pampered like royalty at the Ritz Carlton or the Waldorf Astoria. Just don’t expect Holiday Inn rates.
“Manymoon” – series of short trips throughout first year of marriage
“Minimoon” – a short getaway right after the wedding, a night or two up to a long weekend might fall into this category.
Mountain, Lodge or Cabin Based – get away from the hustle and bustle of city life for a dose of clean air and good views.
“Mystery Travel” – the idea is that it is planned by one half of a couple without telling the other one details (or sometimes by a third party after extensive discussions about preferences). You won’t know where you’re headed until you’re on your way. Some people love this idea, others are horrified by it.
Nightlife/Partying – finding the best clubs and DJ’s around and partying till dawn. Bring some fashionable outfits and maybe an extra bottle of aspirin.
Off the Beaten Path – an option for well-seasoned travelers, a trip to Croatia, for instance is a good option for the couple that doesn’t the usual guidebook locations.
Old World Romance – just like in the Casablanca…..we’ll always have Paris. Or Rome. Or Vienna.
One of a Kind – See also, Luxury travel. This involves a custom planned, bespoke trip based around a particular couple’s preferences. As one prominent provider says, “An unforgettable journey isn’t just about where you go — it’s also how you get there.”
Outdoors/Adventure/Eco Tourism/Safari – Hurtling down a zip-line in Cost Rica? Visiting a wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania? If these appeal to you there are plenty of options for this type of travel. Don’t forget pictures of your first time hang gliding to show your more sedate family at home.
Roadtrip/RV Trip – this might be a trip together in a “fun” rented car along Route 66. Alternatively, how about taking an RV across the U.S. to see sights like Mount Rushmore or (if you’re truly lucky) the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota?
Season or Date Based – grab your calendar and book a trip for fall foliage in New England, stay in an ice hotel in Quebec, or celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square.
Ski/Snowboard vacation – nothing’s better than the fire in the lodge after a long day on the slopes.
“Solomoon” – this may be a bit more of a media phenomenon than a real thing, but the idea is a solo trip designed to help you recharge and get ready for an upcoming wedding. This can sometimes be in place of a bachelor or bachelorette weekend.
Spiritual/Religious Travel – head to Tibet, Israel, the Vatican or other place of spiritual renewal together.
Staycation – plan a trip from the eyes of a ‘visitor’ to your town. Do all the things that you usually pass by in your day-to-day.
“Tinymoon” – similar to a minimoon, this involves spending a few extra days in the place where you get married (assuming it isn’t where you normally live).
Themeparks, Themeparks, Themeparks – perfect for the Disney aficionado, there are plenty of theme or amusement parks to fill your next several vacations if you choose this path.
Transit Based – think about a Cunard Cruise across the North Atlantic, a trip on the Orient Express, or a more traditional train trip across the Canadian Rockies.
Unplugged – no technology to disturb your togetherness.
U.S. Only – some people have reasons for not wanting to travel outside the United States. There are plenty of places to visit and if you include territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can get a taste going abroad without actually leaving U.S. soil.
Wine/Cooking/Foodie – this might involve going out to dinner at some great independent restaurants (or one owned by your favorite celebrity chef), a trip though a wine region or maybe even cooking lessons together at a culinary school or center.