Travel is Their Love Language

Marty and Michelle Snell have made it their life's mission to explore the world together. Known for their award-winning travel brand, @ThatTexasCouple, they feature travel guides, resources, tips and photography to inspire you take that trip you've always dreamed of. Both were born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and still call it home today. As much as they love our great state, they know there is so much to learn and explore in other states, countries and even continents. See why they value travel and, more importantly, why they do it together.

When did you first discover your shared a love for travel?

👩🩷: Marty and I share a fun story. We met when I was 15 and dated until I left for college. Life then took us separate ways until we reconnected later in life (about 20 years later, to be exact). We picked up right where we left off and immediately realized we both dream of going to the same places-just hadn’t made it happen yet. When we got married, we planned a dream trip to southern Italy and Paris, which ignited a love of travel we both vowed to keep. We vowed to make up for lost time by creating awesome memories together.

👨💙: We have both always loved to travel, and we took our first trip within weeks of being back in each other's lives. It was an amazing trip that prompted us to “make up for lost time.” We haven't looked back since.

What is your favorite trip together and why?

👩🩷: This is such a hard question for me to answer. My favorite trip would probably be a portion of our honeymoon; we visited the island of Capri, Italy, and stayed at a locally owned bed-and-breakfast in Anacapri. Capri is truly breathtaking. After riding the lift up the mountain, we were greeted with the most incredible view I have ever seen; it truly took our breath away. In the evenings, the day trippers all leave the island, so it feels like you are just surrounded by locals. We found ourselves sipping sangria and eating the best carbonara we’ve ever tasted before participating in ‘la passeggiata’ (a slow, social stroll through the neighborhoods that Italians often do in the evening to chat with friends) with the locals.

👨💙: I think my favorite trip together was our honeymoon trip to Italy. Not just because it was our honeymoon, but because it was a place we both experienced together for the first time. We had both travelled a lot before we were reunited, so at least one of us had been to the places we visited before that trip.

What is the hardest part about traveling with your partner?

👩🩷: Patience! When you’re in a different environment, sometimes things can get frustrating. I have to pause and remember to be patient in different situations because there is more to the equation than just me.

👨💙: Honestly, the hardest part is figuring out where we want to go. The only hard part for me, once we get there, is trying not to wake her up since I really don’t sleep much. If we don’t have a place that I can go to the living room, just trying to not make much noise can be a struggle.

In what ways has experiencing new places together strengthened your relationship?

👩🩷: Traveling with a partner isn’t always easy, but it will definitely strengthen your relationship. You quickly figure out each other's strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to understand one another better. Traveling together has also taught me to be more understanding of different points of view, including my husband’s. And, of course, shared experiences and memories from travel are so powerful.

👨💙: I think we appreciate each other and grow closer as we see how excited we both are to learn about the history and the people who shape the places we visit. Experiencing new places not only bonds us through memories but also makes us stronger as we realize how lucky we are to share these places together.

Do you incorporate outdoor experiences when planning your trips?

👩🩷: We both love the outdoors and strive to ensure these experiences are woven into every trip. We research local parks and outdoor activities that suit our fitness levels. When visiting large cities, we look for opportunities to explore outside or to take day trips to places where we can incorporate outdoor activities.

👨💙: We found early on that even when the trip is planned for a big city, some of our most memorable experiences have come from getting out of the city, such as hiking to a waterfall or some aqueducts in the middle of nowhere (like in Rome). Most trips, we find some time to do something outdoors, even if it is only a small portion of the trip. Then, we just try to plan a trip that just involves something water-related every few trips.

What’s one must-have item you always pack?

👩🩷: Portable power banks for our phones. You never know when you might need them and have needed them on numerous occasions.

👨💙: My iPad. While traveling by airplane, we have shows downloaded to keep us entertained. Once we get to our destination at the end of the day, we cuddle up in bed and watch some of our favorite travel shows to wind down.

Any advice for couples seeking their next getaway?

👩🩷: Find ways to compromise so that you both can get what you want. For example, Marty isn’t huge on just sitting on the beach, but I need that once in a while to recharge. To ensure we plan a trip we will both enjoy, we will spend a day or two at the beach, then a couple of days exploring other activities that Marty enjoys. Compromise!

👨💙: Talk to friends and family about their travels and see what they liked and disliked about the places they've visited. Do your own research and then be open to new places and experiences.

I think they said it best, so where will you and your special someone go next?