Where to Travel When You and Your Partner Have Different Vacation Wants

When you want to dip your toes in the sand and sunbathe on the beach, but your partner wants an active vacation with good hiking, head to Hawaii. Whether you visit Oahu, Kauai, or the Big Island, you'll have stellar beaches and hiking opportunities available. Travelers can book a stay in famous Waikiki, wake up early to hike Diamond Head or the Olomana Trail, then recuperate with a piña colada by the water. Or, head to the less touristy Kauai for a luxury stay in the beachfront Princeville, and add Wailua Falls Trail and Kalalau Trail to your itinerary. From well-developed to secluded stretches of sand, and easy to difficult trails, beautiful beaches and hikes are numerous throughout the Hawaiian islands. 

If you're primarily interested in seeing every historic sight a city has to offer, but your partner is hoping for a relaxing getaway involving many breweries, compromise with Berlin. Germany's capital is artsy, hip, and safe, plus packed with many things to do. Any time of year is suitable for tourists, and several breweries allow visitors to pop in for a pint after visiting iconic attractions such as Checkpoint Charlie, German Historical Museum, and Gendarmenmarkt. Top breweries in Berlin include Hops & Barley, Heidenpeters, and Brauhaus Lemke. Other pros: Berlin is affordable, easy to navigate by a 24-hour train system, and one of Europe's nightlife capitals (with many bars that never really close).

You and your travel partner don't have to pick between exploring elaborate temples and feasting on culinary delights if you go to Tokyo, Japan. Between the skyscrapers and convenient subway system, this buzzing city is packed with historic temples, like the iconic Sensoji Temple, a striking Buddhist structure built in the seventh century. Even easier to come across are the city's impressive eateries, as Tokyo has the most Michelin-starred restaurants of any city. Excellent street eats, cute cat cafes, and conveyor-belt sushi are also easy to find here. Don't forget to go shopping in Harajuku, buy something from one of the many street vending machines, and spend a night at Robot Restaurant.

If you want to spend hours upon hours strolling through museums, but your partner wants plenty of vacation time to sip on wine, go to Tuscany. Spend a good amount of your getaway in the gorgeous city of Florence, which has over a whopping 80 museums -- comprising art, history, and other specialties. Plus, centuries-old churches, palaces, and squares will have you feeling like you're in a museum while simply walking down the street. While every restaurant and bar will have ample wines to buy, head straight for the rolling hills of Tuscany, one of the best wine regions in the world. Be sure to try the Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino here. Numerous tiny towns are worth checking out, or stick to bigger cities such as Lucca and Siena.

So you both love adventure, but one of you is more keen on extreme sports, such as skydiving, and the other would rather view wildlife. Fortunately, the perfect compromise can be found in Cape Town, South Africa. This port city has a lot going for it, from historic museums to beautiful beaches to hiking at Table Mountain. Wildlife lovers should book a guided safari in hopes of spotting hippos, giraffes, lions, and elephants, plus head to Boulders Beach to see roaming penguins. Meanwhile, adrenaline junkies can choose from skydiving, cage diving with great white sharks, and paragliding above the city.

Maybe you want a week-long yoga retreat disconnected from the modern world, while your partner would rather unwind by partying till the wee hours of the morning. If that's the case, book a ticket to Bali, Indonesia, where you can fill your time with plenty of downward dogs and acai bowls, as well as dancing around the clubs come nightfall. This scenic island is also home to great surfing beaches, terraced rice paddies, a monkey forest, and breathtaking vistas from the nearly 10,000-foot Mount Agung. Kuta is the best spot for partying with backpackers, while Ubud is a more spiritual oasis. Luckily, they're an hour drive from each other.

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