The Scoop: Whether you’re traveling with your longtime spouse or as a single person, you’re bound to make lasting connections on one of Backroads’ exciting biking, hiking, and multi-adventure tours from around the globe. We talked to Backroads’ Marketing Content Coordinator and Trip Expert, Joey Coe, about how a Backroads journey is the ideal place to form lasting romantic bonds.
Dark, winding trails; mountainous terrain; exhilarating highs and lows … either this is the beginning of a fairytale, or a love story — perhaps both!
This also describes the average Backroads vacation, where relaxation is balanced with adventure.
You’d be hard pressed to find a love story that doesn’t include a heart-pounding adventure. I like to think Cinderella and Prince Charming would enjoy a rousing biking trip together. After all, a Backroads trip is the ideal opportunity to grow with your partner and establish new and lasting bonds.
“At Backroads, we create active, adventure-focused trips around the world,” Joey Coe, Backroads’ Marketing Content Coordinator and Trip Expert, told us. ““We aim to have a positive impact on the places we visit, creating memorable, life-enriching experiences that connect travelers to each other and the world.”
Surrounded by nature and cultural hotspots, you can walk (or bike) away with a new sense of self, rejuvenated bonds with your partner, and even brand new romantic connections.
Opportunities For Renewed Connection, Whether New Or Renewed
The people who participate on a Backroads trip are usually there for three reasons: to get their blood pumping via a biking, hiking, or multi-adventure excursion, to see new parts of the world, and to make lasting connections.
“Backroads trips are a great way for people to connect with others who share their passions,” Joey told us.
When people slow down to enjoy their time at each destination, they have a chance to bond with the other people on the trip or with their partners.
“Backroads Trip Leaders handle all of the logistics and details,” Joey reiterated. “When traveling with us, guests just need to show up and have a good time.”
“(There are) group meals, happy hours, and shared cultural experiences,” Joey said. Plus, trip itineraries balance activities with downtime, so couples have just as much time to explore each other as they do their surroundings.
And good times — and lasting connections — are aplenty on a Backroads vacation.
“We often dine at some of the finest eateries in an area, whether it’s a Michelin-starred restaurant or a local nonna’s kitchen,” Joey said.
Even more alluring than new, interesting foods is the promise of adventure. “Each (trip) brings the culture of a place to life, from salsa lessons to coffee tastings,” Joey said. “Our trips attract guests who want to live their adventure.”
A Backroads vacation encourages couples to establish good habits: trust, vulnerability, and communication, to name a few. And with these habits, you can make lasting connections.
Having a shared interest in a brand new environment can help the conversation flow. “Backroads naturally brings like-minded people together by creating an environment where shared activities, like biking and hiking, make it easy to connect,” Joey told us.
He even confirmed that Backroads trips are often the settings of romantic connections. “Backroads has countless stories of people forming deep connections on our trips, including over 50 marriages among our trip leaders,” he said.
Romance blooms on the sun-streaked streets of Madrid, the rocky cliffs of Croatia, and the windmill-lined bridges of Amsterdam. It’s why couples often choose Backroads for celebratory vacations.
“It’s not uncommon for us to have couples celebrating anniversaries and honeymoons on our trips,” Joey told us. “We have had numerous engagements take place on a Backroads trip.” Joey told us that the many friendships made on Backroads trips have undoubtedly led to romance.
A couple celebrating their 25th anniversary may not have the desire (or flexibility) to pedal up a mountainside for a week, but they may still want to bond in an active, outdoor setting. Backroads Trip Consultants can plan a physically accessible trip for them, too.
“We also offer Women’s Adventures, private groups and themed experiences like culinary tours and snow adventures,” Joey added. With so many themes to choose from, you and your partner will undoubtedly find a shared interest.
The Journey Is More Important Than The Destination
On a Backroads journey, you can bond with your partner by overcoming obstacles and making lasting memories.
And as Joey told us, the journey is just as important — if not more important — than the destination.
“All of our trips bring people closer to nature, which is often a profoundly moving experience for people,” Joey pointed out. “And deep connections tend to organically happen when you experience something deeply moving.” Your trip can resemble a romantic getaway more than an exhilarating adventure, if you’re so inclined.
The self-satisfaction gained by biking up a mountain can be addicting, but not as much as the bonding you experience when you overcome challenging obstacles with your partner.
And although you can coordinate how challenging the journey will be with your Trip Leaders, there’s no denying that hiking or biking up a mountain isn’t for the faint of heart.
There are bound to be literal bumps in the road, and traveling over these bumps with your partner by your side should bring you two closer together.
On a Backroads vacation, you focus on a new task every day. Everything from where you’re going to how you’re going to get there is subject to change on a dime, depending on the weather and your group’s needs. “Backroads trips naturally attract people who value the realness in the world,” Joey said.
You can make decisions, encounter challenges, and experience new cultures with your loved one by your side. It’s a completely unique kind of intimacy.
When you’re surrounded by new sights, smells, tastes, and sounds, you’re also more attuned to your partner. “Our guests find themselves more open to the world and to others,” Joey told us.
“The close-knit environment of a full-ship active river cruise trip often makes it especially conducive to forming deeper connections,” Joey pointed out. There are over 100 guests on a Backroads Full Ship Celebration, which creates “a close-knit environment that fosters instant connections as travelers share the same journey, activities and experiences.”
Cruises aside, the average Backroads group consists of just 15 people. There’s no reason why you can’t make lasting friendships or romances in such small, intimate groups.
Single Travelers Are Welcome
We’ve established how Backroads trips can help couples bond, but what about singles? Rest assured that connecting with new people, places, and cultures is all part of the Backroads philosophy, whether you’re coupled up or flying solo.
“If a guest was looking to travel solo or looking to travel with people at a similar stage of life, they can always call our Trip Consultants to learn what the demographic make-up of a given trip is,” Joey said.
The point of a Backroads trip is to see the world in an unconventional way, so you might as well ensure you’ll be in good company.
“With our carefully planned itineraries and friendly guides, there is plenty of opportunity to bond with fellow travelers, making it more likely that those connections will last well beyond the trip,” Joey pointed out.
And don’t worry: If you’re on the shy side, your Trip Leader can do some of the initial talking for you, Joey told us. “Our leaders play a key role, actively facilitating introductions and fostering a sense of camaraderie throughout the trip.”
After all, these are the people you’ll be sweating, eating, and sleeping alongside for the duration of the trip. It’s nearly impossible to leave without a new friend!
Joey gave some advice to people who are interested in the Backroads lifestyle.
“Switch up who you sit next to at meals, or bike and hike with, to get to know everyone in the group,” he suggested. “You might even organize a small outing or invite others to join you for a coffee or a walk during downtime.”
Most importantly, remember that connections don’t have to fade because the trip ended. If one of your fellow travelers caught your eye, consider staying in touch. “When the trip is over, don’t forget to exchange contact info,” Joey said.
To make these connections a reality, Joey advised people to ignore their self-doubts. “Don’t be afraid to start conversations or share your own stories,” he said. “Everyone is there for the experience, and chances are, they’re just as eager to connect as you are.”
