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ONE in four couples consider themselves incompatible travel partners, with tensions most likely to flare over budgets, itineraries – and even bedtimes.

A survey of 2,000 people in a relationship found of the 89 per cent who have travelled with their partner, 23 per cent don’t think they’re well-matched in their preferences.

Only 28 per cent think their partner ‘ticks all the boxes’ when it comes to travelling together.

Among the top things couples disagree about when having a trip away were where to eat, what times to wake up and go to bed, and the budget.

Yet differences aren’t always a deal-breaker, with a quarter believing opposites attract because it helps avoid arguments such as not wanting to sit in the same seat when sharing transport (43 per cent) and encourages them to step outside of their comfort zone (35 per cent).

The research, commissioned by Railcard.co.uk, also highlighted the upsides of travelling as a pair, such as creating memories together (57 per cent), always having someone to talk to (47 per cent) and strengthening emotional connections (36 per cent).

More than half (52 per cent) think it takes just one to two trips to know if they are truly travel compatible with someone.

Those who are in sync (77 per cent) credit shared preferences around accommodation (60 per cent), activities (48 per cent) and budget (43 per cent).

Catherine Lyver from Railcard.co.uk said: “The study shows that travelling with a plus-one comes with its quirks – from debating who gets the window seat to discovering you have very different definitions of an ‘early start’.

“But that’s all part of the fun. Travelling together sparks the kind of conversations that help you learn more about each other and create the memories you laugh about later.

“And with a Two Together Railcard, couples, friends or relatives can save a third on their rail journey while enjoying quality time – even if it’s spent negotiating playlists.”

The research also found despite nine in 10 believing travel compatibility matters, over half (51 per cent) think compromise is key to a happy relationship.

Being more considerate of each other’s needs (34 per cent) and discussing priorities before a trip (25 per cent) are among some of the ways travellers have overcome differences with a companion.

Of the 30 per cent who said a train journey is where they and their partner are most travel compatible, 55 per cent viewed these trips as quality time together and 41 per cent said it gives them a chance to catch up.

The study, carried out via OnePoll, found 37 per cent said a rail trip makes them feel more connected with their other half.

Catherine Lyver added: “This Valentine’s Day, it’s likely many couples will be travelling together for a day trip or night away.

“Why not make the train journey a part of the experience and make the most of the quality time together”.

One in five tourists have confronted others for ruining their holiday photos at crowded landmarks like Time Square and Eiffel Tower

Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and the Trevi Fountain have all been dubbed some of the most challenging places to get a good photograph when on holiday, mainly due to the amount of tourists.

A poll of 2,000 adults found that to combat the crowds, a determined 27% admitted to waking up earlier than 6 am to beat the rush at popular tourist spots and secure a crowd-free picture. One in five travellers also admitted they have queued for longer than an hour to get photos in certain spots, with the Taj Mahal in India requiring the longest waiting time.

Other iconic locations cited as near-impossible to photograph without getting other people in were the Mona Lisa, the Colosseum, and even Buckingham Palace. The Great Wall of China and Niagara Falls were also difficult to photograph without getting countless people in the background.

The study discovered 21% ‘hate’ when their shots get ruined by others lurking in the background, while 55% of travellers grumble about the difficulty of manually removing unwanted people from their images.

Still, over four in 10 (42%) said getting the perfect photograph for social media was a top priority when travelling. But as the survey shows, this can often be difficult so a fifth of holidaymakers have returned to revisit major attractions because they failed to good photo originally.

One in five have even told someone off for getting in the way of their photo, with 70% feeling frustrated by the issue.

The research was commissioned by Samsung to highlight the capabilities of their Galaxy AI on the S25 Series.

Annika Bizon, from Samsung, said: “Everyone wants to travel home with a photo that represents their incredible trip to some of the wonders of the world, but capturing the perfect snap can sometimes be near impossible.

“Galaxy AI features like Generative Edit can help time-strapped travellers who would prefer not to have to wake up before 5 am to queue for a photo, with just a speedy tap removing any unwanted guests.”

TOP 10 TOURIST HOTSPOTS HARDEST TO GET A ‘CLEAN’ PHOTO OF:

1. Times Square – New York City, USA
2. Eiffel Tower – Paris, France
3. Trevi Fountain – Rome, Italy
4. The Mona Lisa – Louvre Museum, Paris, France
5. Buckingham Palace – London, UK
6. Taj Mahal – Agra, India
7. The Colosseum – Rome, Italy
8. Great Wall of China (Badaling section) – Beijing, China
9. Niagara Falls – USA
10. Shibuya Crossing – Tokyo, Japan