Hi Billy and welcome to Talk Graphics. You do seem to be confusing the subject far more than is required. I suggest before you start to create your template you decide whether you need them in portrait or landscape orientation.

What gives with all this swapping orientation?

If you're going to make tickets two abreast in either portrait or landscape then they are obviously going to be of two different widths. The widths of a portrait ticket are going to be less than a landscape image. Do you require greater width for the tickets than can be produced on portrait mode? Then use landscape mode. Following me so far?

Having decided which orientation you wish to use, stick to it. Create your template within that mode.

Finally Save and Export your Xara template as a pdf.

The pdf will print in whatever orientation it was created in without the need to change your printer settings..