The Tamesis
You know that feeling when you’re on a dinner date and you can’t stop checking your phone, desperately waiting for the check to arrive. Now, imagine that date is actually a multi-day vacation.
A recent Booking.com survey found that 37% of people are willing to test themselves for a holiday. Known as “turbulent testing,” travelers are increasingly looking to establish their relationships as quickly as the TSA Pre-Check line.
For some, it might be a weekend trip to a lake house for a few hours, where things like driving, making campfires, and cooking can impact the long-term viability of the relationship. For other couples who are a little more adventurous, they might embark on an international trip to Europe or Asia for a week-long marathon to learn everything about each other and see if they can stand being with each other 24 hours a day.
I met my partner on the latter trip, which unintentionally turned into a “turbulence test.” He and I were on the same tour group for a three-week tour of Southeast Asia. We spent three weeks getting to know everything about each other, and eventually, we returned to our separate lives in New York and Melbourne, Australia. Although my mother worried that it was just a holiday romance, the long time together helped us build a solid foundation. Twelve years later, we are still traveling the world together.
After all, if things don’t go well in the relaxed, adventurous bliss of vacation, they certainly won’t go well when you’re working a 9-to-5 and dealing with the stresses of everyday life.
“Travel brings unpredictability such as delays, unfamiliar locations, following instructions, daily expenses, and more. These things can quickly reveal conflict resolution challenges and communication differences,” says Kimberly Miller, relationship expert and lead divorce educator at PartWise.
Hotels are taking note of the travel trend and are even offering incentives for budding couples. At The Loutrel Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, guests who book a “Turbulence Test” stay can receive a $100 credit toward the hotel’s cocktail bar, Veranda Lounge, and a deck of conversation cards to help break the ice and deepen connections.
If the couple is still dating a year later, they can get a 27% discount on their stay in 2027. If they get engaged in a year, Loutrel will offer them a free elopement experience on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, complete with bubbles and wedding cake.
“We wanted to spark couples’ curiosity about their relationship in a way that was both fun and intentional, providing guests with not just a relaxing stay but an experience that deepens their connection or helps them clarify their thoughts,” said Loutrel General Manager Karl von Ramm. “At the same time, Charleston offers a romantic and vibrant backdrop, rich culture, incredible food, walkable streets, and enough unpredictability to create those ‘shaky’ moments.”
Freelance journalist Latifah Al-Hazza took her partner on a trip within the first month of dating. “To be honest, I want this to end. I don’t want to fall in love with someone and travel with them for six months and then realize that they are prejudiced against other cultures, that they are rude to certain races, that they can’t handle mishaps in their travel plans, or that they get frustrated easily,” she said. “I’d rather find out all of this right away, before my feelings get in the way, or as they say, before it’s possible to see things through rose-colored glasses.”
During her trip to Zanzibar, she learned that her date was friendly to strangers and enjoyed learning about other countries’ cultures and traditions. She found that he was open to trying new things and excited to meet new people. But Hazza also found that he was not a big planner and did not like to take the lead in decision-making.
