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Why Travel Is the Best Test for Any Relationship

Travel with a companion and you’ll learn about a lot more than just the destination.

Studies and surveys have proven time and again that those who travel frequently are, on average, happier than those who don’t. It’s easy to see how dreamy destinations and regular breaks from a hectic schedule could be the key to happiness—but what happens when you apply that logic to a relationship?

Are people who travel together more likely to achieve bliss?

OK, maybe not bliss. Travel, like a relationship, is a bumpy, winding road. The lows teach you just as much as highs, and the best of both challenge you to experience new and exciting things.

Psychologists have said the best way to test your compatibility with someone is to take a trip with them, and the U.S. Travel Association has found that traveling couples are typically happier and have more sex than non-traveling couples. Whether you want to strengthen a romantic relationship or test the waters of a new one, setting out on a journey together might be the best thing you can do.

Here are some of the ways traveling will challenge you and your partner, and why that’s good for your relationship in the long run.

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Associate Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter for more insight and adventure.

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