Resorting to desperate measures to improve your relationship is not always the best solution. Dr Eve dishes out some safe-sex travel advice for couples. 

"In the last year she became acutely aware of his neglect and even outright rejection of her. Initially she put it down to his new job and the “stress” it brought - he had too many clients to entertain, which in turn lead to copious amounts of alcohol without enough recovery time between each lunch and dinner meeting.

A holiday, reputed to be a relationship rescuer, seemed like the perfect solution. She took her life's savings, without consulting him, and booked her dream trip to Las Vegas - including a date at an Elvis-enshrined chapel. A day's notice of renewing their vows didn't bode well and needless to say he was completely against it.

Desperate housewife?

She was confused when he slept and was not interested in any mile-high fun. After nights spent weeping in her Victoria’s Secret sleepwear she decided to do the only thing left to get her man’s attention. She made the call to turn his lifetime fantasy into reality; within minutes the sex worker was there for a threesome.

Talk about regret sex.

Or rather regret holiday sex. Months later, divorce was on the cards. It wasn’t about the threesome. It was about a 'dis-ease' that had set in long before “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” took hold. People have become more reckless on holiday, which paradoxically is great if the risks are well-thought out.

Travelling can be a killer on couples. Preparation or rather, prevention is recommended.

Try this safe-sex travel guide for couples:

1. Agree to disagree. The first step to safe travelling is deciding upon the time and place. If you can't stretch yourself with generosity into your partner’s dream destination, allow them the freedom to go alone or choose another mutually-agreed upon companion. If you do bite the bullet and go despite your reservations be prepared for a sex-free holiday. You might be withholding and angry – this is no good for the libido, erections or orgasms.

2. Rule of thumb: if you met on the internet, it's not a good idea to make your first in-person meeting a holiday away from your safe base. If you do, make sure you stay alone in a hotel or with friends.

3. If you argue about which restaurant to eat at for the evening and end up going to bed hungry - you are not ready to travel together. Travelling as a couple requires cooperation of the highest order. It requires conversation. Don’t depend on the road trip or hours in the air to break the ice and lead to the first decent conversation you've had in a while.

4. Making out in his caravan was cute whilst you were courting. Talk caravans, Harleys, road trips and claustrophobia of cruises before signing up “till death do us part”. Of course your travel needs will change over time but basic travel ideologies must be discussed in your pre-nup.

5. Human behaviour can be predictable – we stick with the familiar and known. Avoid angry spouses with variety, instead of visiting the same holiday spot over and over.

6. Do a relationship safety check before you travel. Ask yourself first and then your partner what the motivation and expectation is of the trip. Do you hope to renew the sexual attraction, to rev up a flagging libido or to repair damage of an affair or another abuse-of-trust situation? Being transparent about your intentions goes a long way to having them fulfilled.

7. Islands seem to be the place where women in my clinical practice have the most orgasms. Away from kids, their moms and their jobs many women allow themselves to relax into their bodies and thus can experience bliss.

8. Holidays are not the time to try out new toys, lubricants and striptease acts. Try everything out at home first. Often so much courage is taken to purchase the sex products; hours are spent at pole-dance or lap-dance classes; only to find that your partner breaks out into fits of embarrassed laughter at the newness of the situation - which could knock back your sexual assertiveness by at least five years!

9. Taking a holiday with the kids requires creativity and the ability to orgasm quickly. Think of when you were teens and making out on the family couch. Those skills can be put to good use now. Choose destinations with babysitting services or deep glades in which you can still keep an eye on the kids while having some fun.

10. Condoms, condoms, condoms! 

Want to put the spark back in your relationship the right way, as suggested by Dr Eve? Try one of our Romantic deals.