With the spring season well underway and the summer at the doorstep, many couples and newlyweds are cashing in on those travel plans they'd been planning on. And while many trips were romantic and lived up to couples' expectations, a recent survey suggests some Canadians learned things about their significant other that they weren't anticipating.
According to social networking website Zoosk.com's Spring Travel Survey, a majority of Canadian couples who recently travelled together say their vacations brought them closer together by increasing the emotional bond that they share. However, nearly one in five - 18 per cent - of respondents said their vacations were revealing, in that they discovered some fairly annoying habits about their partners.
For instance, among Canadian men, the top three annoyances they complained about regarding their significant other were being disorganized, carrying too much luggage and being routinely late for important things, such as airport departures.
Meanwhile, the three irksome habits Canadian women complained about regarding their partners were them snoring too loudly, being messy and showing a lack of organization skills.
Relationship expert and certified life coach Shannon Tebb said that while these annoyances may seem trivial and not worth talking about, couples shouldn't be bashful about getting what they feel off their chest, so long as it's done light-heartedly.
"If you're taking a trip together, you should already be at a point in your relationship where you are comfortable sharing your feelings and talking out problems," said Webb. "If you feel like you're getting on each other's nerves, try and diffuse the situation with humor. Most things couples worry or stress about are not 'serious issues,' so it helps to realize this and laugh about the situation together."
However, major issues can occur which could seriously affect a household's travel plans. Travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage can help families cancel a trip if they can no longer afford it due to a job loss or other financial hardship.
Overall, the U.S. remains the top destination for Canadian travellers, with Europe and Asia also remaining popular. If finances are a minor concern for those looking to visit the U.S., a separate study may prove useful in pointing people toward travel destinations that they can afford without breaking the bank.
According to its Budget Hotel Report, the U.S.-based CheapHotels.org found that the city of Orlando has some of the most affordable lodging and hotel costs in the U.S., averaging around $33 per night. Other inexpensive destinations for hotel lodging include Las Vegas at $36, Anaheim at $45 and Atlanta at $52.
On the other side of the coin, the most expensive U.S. destination as far as hotels are concerned is Boston, as visitors spend an average of $194 for an overnight stay. New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans rounded out the priciest U.S. locations for hotel accommodations.
