There’s no better way to test the strength of your relationship than by traveling together. Whether for a few days or a few weeks, traveling forces you and your significant other to plan a trip together, be together for long periods of time, and solve any problems that may arise. If you and your significant hate each other by the end of the trip, it’s probably safe to say that you will both have a rough road ahead. But if you find yourself having the time of your life together, your future looks much more promising.

My boyfriend and I have been together for a little over two years, and have gone on about seven trips together. Although we were together 24/7 during our vacations, we never ran out of things to talk about, and we never got annoyed with each other. Although conflicts do sometimes arise on vacations (for example, agreeing on a restaurant or what activities to do each day), it’s how couples resolve them that sets the tone for the trip as well as the relationship. Can you both calmly discuss the issue and come to a compromise without sulking about it? Being able to do so shows the health of your relationship.

With each vacation, I have learned more about my boyfriend and we have grown even closer. By simply choosing which activities you both are interested in, you can get to know your significant other even more. For instance, my boyfriend loves history, so I always make sure to find any historical sights that may be in the area we are visiting. I love animals, so my boyfriend made sure to buy tickets to the D.C. Zoo and the Tampa Bay Aquarium when we visited those cities.

Although it’s important to plan your vacation ahead of time, it’s still fun to include surprises for your significant other. They can be small, for instance, my boyfriend decided to take a detour through Tennessee to get to North Carolina because I had always wanted to go to Tennessee. Or they can be big, such as sending flowers to a restaurant so they are waiting at the table for your significant other when you arrive. I love these spontaneous surprises because they make the trip even more meaningful.

Despite all of this, my favorite part of every trip is the journey. My boyfriend and I usually drive to our destinations, which means we rock out in the car to our favorite music and always look for our favorite restaurant, the Cheesecake Factory, to eat lunch at. We will talk for hours on end and make goofy faces at other drivers. It is these moments that I feel closest to my boyfriend, because we act like best friends that have known each other our whole lives. Then, once the magical car ride is over, we get to spend time exploring and going on adventures in an unknown city together.