While balancing busy work & family lives, Canadian couples often overlook the most important thing: each other.

Relationship coach Owen Williams shares insights on how to re-connect while on vacation, as outlined on a recent survey.

Owen joined us live on Tuesday, Sept. 26 and discussed how you can make your next getaway as exciting as that first vacation together.

CANOE  Thank you, Owen, for joining us today. Our readers have submitted many questions for you and are eagerly awaiting your responses. So, let's get under way. Owen  Owen Willams here and looking forward to receiving your questions on Canoe Chat. Jill in Unionville  I find it hard to believe that 34 percent of couples with kids are traveling separately, much less without the kids. What kind of example is that? Owen  Dear Jill: I think this speaks to what is going on in our society. Many couples are stressed with the demands of daily life. Whether this be career, dealing with aging parents or children or a combination of challenges, parents have to look after themselves and find ways to de-stress. If it means going on holiday by themselves at seperate times, then it can contribute to the health of the overall family. Owen Janice in Belleville  I think vacationing separately would drive my husband and I further apart. While we do like to do different things when traveling, it's still nice to get together in the evenings and further unwind together. There ought to be numbers here for traveling together and spending time apart. What would you expect to see? And do you think that this is better than traveling separately? Owen  Couples really need to talk throught what they want from being on vacation. Being together on vacation is really important to build connection in relationship. Talking through your expectations and gaining an understanding of what it is you want is essential. Expedia.ca gives couples the luxury of customizing their perfect vacation so that both of you can get what you want from the trip. Owen Mary I am worried that when my husband and I go on vacation in November that we will just take our problems with us and end up arguing over the same things there as we do at home..do you have suggestions? Owen  Yes I do. Conflict is growth trying to happen! Couples only fight about six things. Work, children, Sex, In-laws, Money and the Relationship itself. These are circular arguments that go nowhere. This is because the issues are deeper that the surface topic. Conflicts about Money are not about monet. The deeper issue is about, Power, Control, Freedom and Value. Get underneath what the conflict is and get to the real problem. Pack your bags and leave your baggage at home! Blessings Owen Dave in Whitby  At what age do you think parents can begin to consider traveling without their children? And what should i say to them to help them feel okay about being left behind? Owen  Great question. I get that you are asking about the age of your children? I think the whole process needs to be introduced gradually and there are many factors at play here. Firstly it depends on who is going to look after your children and how well organized the time away from you is structured. Start with and overnight getaway for the two of you and get the children excited about "their holiday" at home without you. At age appropriate times you can explain to your children how it is that Mum and dad need time to themselves. That way it is seen as a bonus rather than being left behind. Blessings Owen Jill in Unionville  Hi again. Thanks for answering my question, but I still do not agree. The family should be a unit. Traveling separately would make my kids feel like second-class citizens. And I don't know anyone who travels without their kids. It just seems to me that the family isn't as sacred as it once used to be, and that leads to more social problems. Traveling separately would just make this worse. Owen  Jill: I do see your point, thank you. The family unit is challenged by todays fast paced society and needs to be held sacred. I see many couples who have lost focus on their relationship which also becomes a detriment to the family unit. I believe we need to balance the whole unit and demonstrate to children the value of parents attending to their relationship. Hope this gives you an added perspective. Blessings Owen Douglas in Maine  In your opinion, what is a best time of the year for couples to travel? In Fall or around Valentine's Day? Or even some other time of year? Owen  Douglas: Thanks for the question. I think travel together is important at any point. Depends what is going on for each couple. Being very careful with my Travel Dollars, I like to go away whenever there is a good sale on. Check out Expedia's latest Adult Getaway Sale if you are looking to travel in the fall. Blessings Owen Susan P. in Calgary  I love my kids, but shhhh.... I need a break from them. I don't think that make me a bad parent. But how do I break it to them? My boy is 6 and my daughter is 4. I know they wouldn't be happy about the idea. Owen  Dear Susan: Of course you love your kids! I get it. And you need to love yourself enought to bring the idea forward in a way that is creative. It stands to make you a better parent to look after yourself first. See my answer to dave above. Blessings Owen Roy in Ottawa  An adults-only vacation sounds great. Fantastic, really. But we've been holding off for a surpise Florida/Disney vacation with the whole family, but that won't help my wife and I de-stress, as we so desperately need. Can't afford two trips. Your thoughts? Owen  Dear Roy: Then de-stress it needs to be. You clearly know this and so finding a vacation that you can all go on and still have the support that you need as a couple is important here. Check out an All-inclusive package on Expedia.ca and see how you can get something that would "feed your relationship" Lots of all-inclusive places have graet childrens programs that will free you and your wife up. Consider the suprise Disney trip for next year. Blessings Owen Amy in Red Deer, AB  My husband and I are busy with young children and work, and we really need some time away for just the two of us. My husband says he wants to get away but really isn't showing any interest in planning a trip. I don't want to plan something on my own and then drag him along for the ride. This is supposed to be something exciting for the two of us. How can I get him to want to be more involved? Owen  Dear Amy: A common theme here! The feminine understands relationship and masculine doesn't! Now that is a sweeping generalization, I know, and I have learned everything I know about relationship from women. Typically men seem not to tend to the relationship. Check on-line and serve him up for dinner (with dinner) some options that you figure would work. Start the ball rolling and ask him to join you in the process "because it is important to you". Blessings Owen john boland in montreal  gotta bring the blackberry. company rules. wife doesn't like it, but i have no choice. wife really doesn't like it. what to do. Owen  Dear John: Simple answer here. If it is part of the job and you cannot get anybody from the office to handle it while you are away, then negotiate a time of the day with your wife to answer the calls. Same time every day and for a set period of time and KEEP YOUR WORD! That way you will get her support. Blessings Owen Harold Ainsley in Ontario  I want to surprise my wife with a romantic Fall getaway. We have one weekend and a fairly tight budget. What do you recommend? Owen  Dear Harold: Ottawa/Quebec City/Niagara all in our backyard. September tends to be an "off season" time when you can get great deals. Expedia.ca has great options right now. Check them out and have an amazing time together. Good for you, holding the focus in tour relationship to get away. Blessings Owen John in Edmonton  I do so much business travel (every week!) that I really don't want to get on a plane when I finally get time off. But my wife wants a trip together. She wouldn't travel on her own. Any suggestions? Owen  Dear John: I understand that getting on a plane after being on one for work isn't so appealing. GO with her and do the right thing. One option would be to go on a SPA holiday that for you would bring in relaxation and down time. Are there options where you can drive that are options in the meantime? Blessings Owen Owen  Thank you for your questions and I appreciate the opportunity to be of service. Remember, It isn't what you say that kills a relationship - it's what you don't say. Clear the air and have an extraordinary relationship. Blessings Owen CANOE  Thank you again for spending an hour with us today. Lots of insightful answers there. It's much appreciated. Hopefully, you can join us again.