Travelling & Intimacy: Keeping Connection on the during the holidays

The Christmas holidays are considered a time of joy, indulgence and connection… but for many couples, it's also the season of cramped family homes, shared bathrooms, emotional triggers, travel stress, and absolutely zero privacy. Most of all, intimacy and connection between couples often go amiss during this period, despite the love being very much there.

Let's be honest, nothing quietens the libido quite like sleeping in your childhood bedroom with family members wandering the hallway, or navigating a jam-packed travel schedule where you're both running on mince pies and three hours of sleep.

But it's ok, it's normal, and unfortunately for most of us, intimacy doesn't thrive under pressure, noise, or granny coughing in the room next door. But the good news? There are some ways to keep intimacy alive, even if it's small and simple, to tide you over till you're back to normalcy.

Below are some practical ways to keep things alive while travelling, or while navigating a full house during these festive holidays.

1. Name the Pressure

Holiday sex isn't about performance; it's about connection. If either of you feels "we should be more intimate," give each other permission to relax and explore this in a way that's achievable. Stress, family dynamics, lack of privacy, and disrupted routines naturally lower libido, so try saying, "It's a weird week. Let's just focus on staying close, not on doing anything specific." Removing pressure and expectations often lets desire return in its own time.

2. Micro-Moments of Intimacy Count

When you're surrounded by family, kids or travelling non-stop, intimacy looks less like a spontaneous marathon session and more like:

• A slow kiss in the kitchen while no one's looking
• Hands brushing under the dinner table
• A shared look that says, later…
• A warm shower together while everyone else is watching Christmas films

These small touches help keep desire simmering without needing a full bedroom moment.

3. Create "Pocket Privacy"

Even in the busiest homes, you can carve out private moments if you're intentional and both work to create them. For example:

• Take a late-night walk together
• Offer to "run to the shops" and kiss in the car
• Claim the bathroom for a few extra minutes and share a sensual moment
• Lock the door with confidence, you're adults.

You don't need a hotel suite to feel like lovers again… sometimes you need the excuse of "We're going to get more mulled wine."

4. Bring Back Sensuality When You're Finally Alone

When you do get a moment alone, whether that's in a guest room, your bathroom or the garden shed, focus on intimacy without pressure. For example, take your time with some deep, slow kisses and explore some touching over clothing. A simple whispering of what you've missed about each other can also go a long way. Arrange to meet each other a set times during the day even if it's for 5 minutes of you time rather than familt time.

5. Explore Quiet Pleasure (Even With Granny Next Door)

Let's be honest: some toys were made for holiday stealth mode.

When full-volume pleasure isn't possible, go for toys that are quiet, small and easy to hide in luggage.

A few Bed Nerdz favourites that fit the brief:

SANDY - The Remote Controlled Bullet Vibrator

Compact and discreet, this powerful bullet vibrator easily fits in your purse or pocket, making it ideal for adventurous play anytime, anywhere.

CALI - The Wand Massager

Designed to go wherever the mood strikes, CALI's compact size makes it perfect for targeted pleasure on any part of your body. And if the kids walk in, pretend it's a back massager!

6. Keep Erotic Energy Alive… Even If You Can't Have Sex

Desire isn't only physical. You can stay connected through:

• Sexting each other from across the house
• Sharing fantasies, even if you won't act them out
• Sending a cheeky voice note when you're apart
• Writing each other a playful "after the holidays" wish list

Erotic energy doesn't disappear when sex is off the table; in fact, building up the excitement is all part of what makes great sex happen!

Keeping the spark alive

Being around family or travelling during the holidays will always make intimacy trickier, and that's completely ok. What matters most is staying connected, playful and curious, even if actual sex needs to wait.

And when you're ready to bring the spark back (quietly or not), Bed Nerdz has all the toys you need to make your reunion very worth the wait.