5 surprising curveballs travelling as a same-sex duo

Hey there, I'm Ella, the Global Head of Sales at JENZA Travel Group. From solo adventures to group gallivants, I've dabbled in all sorts of travel fun. But let me tell you, nothing quite compares to the rollercoaster ride of being a globetrotting lesbian duo!

Here are the top five nuggets of wisdom I wish I'd known about travelling with my partner before taking off.

1. "Welcome to the hotel! I noticed you booked a double room. Did you intend to book a room with a double bed?"

Arriving at a new hotel can sometimes feel like Groundhog Day for same-sex couples. Get ready for the classic "two single beds" surprise! Who needs a king-size when you can play musical beds every night, right?

2. "Oh, is that your sister/best friend?"

Exploring new spots and meeting fresh faces is my jam! But brace yourself for the wild assumptions when you hit the road. Nope, she's not my sis or BFF... she's my partner in crime. Cool with that?

3. How many times do we awkwardly ask, "Is it cool if we hold hands in public?"

My partner and I have lost count of the times we've pondered if it's safe to hold hands while venturing into uncharted territory. In a single-sex relationship, this wouldn't even be a blip on the radar, but surprisingly, it's a recurring question for us. So, how do we navigate this? Well, truth be told, we always turn to our trusty friend Google for some LGBTQ+ safety reconnaissance to ease our minds and plan our adventures.

4. "Are you two paying as one?" when your joint card is the lone ranger on the table.

The classic scenario: you place your joint card next to the bill, hoping to signal "we're in this together," only to be hit with the dreaded, "Are you two paying as one?" Seems like the universal lone card confusion is here to stay! It seems that whether jet-setting or just popping out in the UK, the struggle is real.

5. Nope, she's not giving you the cold shoulder - she's simply dialling down the intensity to keep things low-key.

Who would've thought this would make it to my top five list? But hey, it's a hot topic that needs to be discussed.

I'm all for lovey-dovey moments, handholding, and sharing laughs with my partner, but when we're travelling, wrapping my head around a toned-down romance vibe can be a head-scratcher. I often wonder, would things be the same if we were in a straight relationship? Keeping a low profile seems to be our relationship's travel mantra as we trot around the world, avoiding any additional unwanted attention.

Finally...

True, travelling as a same-sex duo can definitely alter aspects of our globetrotting adventures. But also, it's been a welcome eye-opener to see how some places have welcomed us with open arms. I'd always advise checking out resources like Lonely Planet, your own country's foreign office website, or having a good Google to just get the lay of the land whenever you're venturing somewhere new. Happy Pride and happy travels!