So it's happened. You've gone from first message to first date, had a string of meet-ups and become boyfriend and girlfriend. It's an exciting time, and now it's summer it could be time to take things to the next level as you start to plan your first holiday as a couple.

Vacations with that special someone can be some of the best times you'll ever have with them, but it's a good idea to take some time to put the right planning in place.

Picking the location

So where should you go together? It's all very well surprising your other half with a pre-planned trip. But especially if you're expecting to go halves on the cost, it can be much better to have a discussion and choose somewhere together for that first time away.

Make a fun date of discussing your options: Head to a coffee shop or bar and look up places to go and transport options on your smart phone, tablet or laptop while you're there.

Be honest about what you can both afford. If one of you is on a long-haul budget and the other would struggle to cover a night's camping, you'll have to be considerate of each other's needs and pick something that fits in for both of you.

If you're desperate to pay for the trip in full yourself, do remember that your other half might feel embarrassed by this, so don't be surprised if you have to do a little persuading!

Short and sweet

Before you start living together, holidays can often represent the longest time you'll actually have with a boyfriend or girlfriend uninterrupted.

If it feels right, jump into that two week overseas break. But don't be afraid to start out with a long weekend and get used to being in each other's company for a more extended period that way if you prefer.

Talk to each other about the things that might happen while you're away that might not have occurred in the relationship up to this point. For example, if one of you is quite introverted, you might at some point want to spend some time away from your other half doing your own thing, but it's a good idea to tell them in advance that this might happen.

How will you spend your time?

It's a good idea to talk about how you both like to spend holidays in advance, too. If one of you is into museums and the other would rather drink on the beach, you might want to compromise by deciding how much of each you'll be doing and planning your days a bit – while keeping the door open to spontaneity, of course!  

Don't rush in

There's no need to head on holiday with someone before you feel comfortable with the idea. As always, it will vary from couple to couple when you feel close enough to head away with someone you've been seeing. There are no hard and fast rules in this area. Some relationships move very fast, others take a slower, more cautious approach.

Help each other out

Check with each other that you both have your passport, that you've both booked the parts of the trip you said you would and that everything is going smoothly – without getting to the point of nagging, of course! By keeping tabs on each other's progress in this way, you'll be using the fact you're a couple to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible!

Don't put too much pressure on it

Your first holiday together will create a lot of good memories. Even if it's home to your first real argument or terrible weather, this can still be the case. Things may go wrong, so don't set your heart on a completely perfect trip. Be flexible if something doesn't go your way and you'll likely find you can laugh about it later.  ADNFCR-2867-ID-801738776-ADNFCR

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