Couples who travel together, stay together.
Amin Atiatullah and Manar Al Omayri are the Saudi couple who are trending on our list of #couplegoals. The traveling couple was recently in Turkey where they spent the better part of their Ramadan, and made a whole cache of new memories together.
You might know them as aminonara on Instagram where they share updates and moments from their travels. It all started in 2015 with their honeymoon in the United States. In true Amin and Manar style, they began their life together by going on a 40-day road trip that took them across the country through 49 states.
“We are also encouraged by the idea that we will never be the same again after seeing the world,” they explained. However, traveling is not just the passion to explore; being socially aware is also a part of it. “For us, traveling is a form of education. We want to build bridges to show people who we really are and to learn more about them. We want to break stereotypes.”
In their time together, Atiatullah and Al Omayri have been exploring the western areas of Saudi, from the forests in the North to the coasts along the South. Across the world, they went to the furthest point of Scotland in the hope to witness the Northern Lights. While they failed to witness the phenomenon due to clouding out, Atiatullah and Al Omayri met wonderful strangers and saw breathtaking scenery. Last year, they spent their Ramadan and Eid in Indonesia, a Muslim country with beautiful traditions that touched their hearts and helped them understand the culture and its uniqueness.
The couple don’t have a list of places to strike through. “Sometimes we just open a booking website and look for the cheapest airfare to anywhere. We book the tickets and start our research.” That first smart step already cuts down costs. Traveling the world does seem like a costly venture, but the couple further tackle finances by being minimalists. “We say no to expensive hotels and yes to guest houses and camping. We also prefer local street food over fancy dining.”
“We travel twice a year for almost two months each time, and we manage the cost by using budgeting apps. We think traveling couples should avoid wearing expensive clothes or accessories, skip shopping for clothes and use public transportation wherever they can.”
With this routine, Atiatullah and Al Omayri have built a strong bond. “We spend more time together, and traveling has taught us a lot about decision making and how to express our feelings. Being together in unknown and foreign places have made us best friends.”
Some may argue that traveling together may limit the overall experience; after all solo backpacking is a forever trend. However, these two think differently. “It really depends on your relationship and whether you’re listening to what your partner wants.” They’ve both been able to venture into new territories because they have each other.
Even couples who’ve been together for decades need to take time out to spend in each other’s company. Whether you’re starting a new life together or have grown old together, book a flight and plan nothing but your daily budget.
Lost in Indonesia
“We booked a bus from Yogyakarta to Bandung where we planned to spend the last three days of our trip. After a long bumpy ride, the driver stopped in the middle of nowhere, dropped our backpacks and told us we’re in Bundung. Google Maps revealed we were two hours away from the city! We had to climb a wall together to get to a bus that dropped us at the wrong location. It was a scary experience but we had each other and we eventually reached our destination safely. We choose to see it as a happy memory because we don’t think we will ever be scared of anything after that night.”
Travel Tips for Couples
- Don’t say no to new experiences.
- Your first trip together should not be a camping trip.
- Start with a weekend holiday.
- Eat healthy and fresh foods to keep you energized.
- Speak to locals about the best tourism spots.
Instagram, Snapchat: aminonara
