Fact: You’ll have plenty of different kinds of sex in your life. There’s romantic sex, kinky sex, makeup sex, breakup sex, and, of course, the ever-legendary vacation sex.
Vacation sex is pretty much in a category all its own thanks to the fact that it’s totally epic. After all, this is pretty much the only time in your adult life when you don’t have some form of pressure or stress looming, and you can just do you. And, ya know, your partner.
“Breaking your routine can ignite passion,” says sexologist Jess O’Reilly, PhD, host of the Sex With Dr. Jess Podcast. “When you’re in an unfamiliar location with an unpredictable schedule, your brain often perks up as you tune into the novelty of your surroundings.”
Traveling with your S.O. also mixes up your regular activities, making everything feel a little more exciting—including what’s going on in bed, she says.
And then there’s the fact that you’re usually just less stressed on vacation. “Part of the reason why people struggle to have sex at home is usually you don’t have much separation from your everyday stressors,” says sex therapist Emily Jamea, PhD. “On vacation, you’re very relaxed.” That makes it a lot easier to get in the mood and even orgasm, she points out.
You may also be more willing to try new things on vacation, O’Reilly says. “Your inhibitions tend to decline when you travel, and you may become more open to novelty,” she explains. That can ultimately bring you and your partner closer. “According to self-expansion theory, when you create and support opportunities for growth, it can increase connection and relationship fulfillment,” O’Reilly says.
Sure, a lot of the appeal of vacation sex is just going with the flow. But there are a few things you can do to make your experience even more memorable and comfortable. Ahead, experts break it all down.
To get to the rest of the tips for having the best vacation sex, you can find more here.