When love ends but the trip is booked: 51% would travel with an ex, according to a new TUI Musement study
The survey explores how couples travel together, from first trips and shared budgets to decision-making and relationship red flags on holiday
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, romantic getaways are once again high on many travel wish lists. But what happens when everything is booked and the relationship ends before departure?
The survey also looks at other aspects of travelling as a couple: how long people wait before taking their first trip together, how couples make decisions while travelling, how expenses are shared, and which behaviours are most likely to trigger conflict during a holiday.
Travelling together is often seen as a real test of compatibility, and according to the survey results, many couples are willing to take that step sooner rather than later. More than 35% of respondents feel comfortable travelling with their partner after just one month of dating, while 10% would do so after only one week. Among Italian and Spanish men, this figure rises to 16.5% and 17%, respectively.
Overall, and regardless of nationality, men tend to be more willing to travel within the first three months of a relationship, while 16% of women would prefer to wait at least a year before taking a trip together.
By age group, Generation X (13%) and baby boomers (14%) are the most likely to travel together after just one week of dating, suggesting that with age comes greater confidence and less hesitation when it comes to sharing a holiday.
Deciding what to see and what to do is one of the key elements of travelling as a couple. According to the survey, 66% of couples prefer to make these decisions together, a trend that is particularly strong in Spain, where the figure rises to 75%.
In the UK, however, planning tends to be more individual: in 45.5% of cases, one partner clearly takes the lead when it comes to organising the trip.
Age also influences how decisions are shared. More than 70% of Gen X travellers and baby boomers plan their trips jointly, compared with51% among Gen Z.
Managing the travel budget remains one of the main sources of tension for couples on holiday. Overall, 69% of respondents say they either split costs equally or use a shared budget. Spain stands out as the country where expenses are most evenly shared, at 80%. In contrast, in the UK, one partner pays more in 45% of cases.
While travel is often associated with enjoyment and relaxation, it does not always go smoothly. In fact, more than 42% of respondents admit they argued more than expected with their partner while on holiday.
The behaviours most likely to cause friction include having a negative attitude or complaining too much, trying to control decisions without considering the other person’s opinion, being late or disorganised, and poor money management.
The analysis also highlights differences between men and women. For men, particularly irritating behaviours include an obsession with taking photos or posting on social media, as well as overpacking. For women, prioritising partying over shared activities or experiences is more often seen as a red flag.
*Independent study conducted by Appinio for TUI Musement in December 2025 in the UK, Spain and Italy.
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About TUI Musement
TUI Musement is a global Tours & Activities business that combines a highly curated product portfolio, scalable digital platforms and in-destination service by local teams, to source, develop, distribute and deliver products in three categories:
- Experiences: Excursions, activities & attraction tickets
- Transfers: Between airports, hotels and ports
- Tours: Multi-day itineraries encompassing hotels, experiences, guides and transportation
Available in all major beach and city destinations, products are sourced from leading travel businesses or developed in-house by TUI teams, including the TUI Collection, the flagship experiences portfolio of TUI Group.
Products are distributed to customers, including the +34,7 million TUI customers, through TUI websites and apps – such as the Tours & Activities dedicated TUI Musement app, as well as in-destination local teams and B2B partners, including some of the world's leading OTAs, tour operators, airlines, hotels, travel agencies and cruise lines. TUI Musement is one of the major growth areas of the TUI Group and employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide.
