ONE JOURNEY, three routes

Travel is a true test of compatibility for couples. From the inception of a trip idea to managing finances, booking your stay to finally enjoying at the destination, a lot goes on in between. Today, we hear stories of three very diferent couples who are married but are redefining their roles and responsibilities in one.

FIFTY FIFTY

Elina and Rajeev have contributed equally since the first day of their relationship. They are ambitious but have a zeal for travelling. That’s what they bonded over at their very first date. “Rajeev and I were set up by our friends and we clicked instantly because of our travel stories. I had travelled abroad for studies and work, and him, being from an army family had traveled across India. Our travel experiences were very different yet very alike. We knew that we would make great travel partners.” Elina runs her fashion boutique and Rajeev works for a startup, both busy in their professional lives through the week. “Weekends are when we try and

explore nearby spots. We love to trek around Bangalore, or drive to Kabini or Coimbatore and relax in a change of space. The idea is not to plan elaborate itineraries, we do as much as we can given our work schedules. But since we both earn just about enough, we allot a part of our salaries towards our travel.

We like to accumulate our vacation days and make it a point to go to one international destination every year." Elina and Rajeev are lucky that they share the love of travel. "So we do our fair share of research and come up with 2-3 destinations that fall under our budget. We have an understanding, we like to live in fancy resorts but also love to spend a few days in a hostel and live a local life. So we split our days and get the best of both worlds." The key to a successful trip is research, nowadays with YouTube and Instagram, its easier to plan a holiday. But disagreements arrive in every relationship. " In situations when I and Rajeev don't necessarily agree on something, we flip a coin, we literally take our chances.