Every couple needs to occasionally treat themselves to a romantic getaway. No friends or family involved. No kids. Just you and your partner. It could be the perfect chance to reconnect if you’ve been getting distant, or simply a way for you to both let your hair down. There may even be a milestone such as an anniversary that you can celebrate together.
Romantic retreats can come in many forms and finding the right type of break is important for setting the right mood. You also need to make sure that it’s organised correctly – you don’t want your holiday to end in stress and arguments. Below are some tips that will help you arrange the ultimate trip.
Define your idea of romance
Every couple has a different concept of romance. Some are drawn to traditional romantic activities and destinations – fine dining, sunset views and gondola rides in Venice. Others prefer the unconventional – roller discos, paddleboard trips and cat cafes. Some couples like the setting to be glamorous – a fancy hotel or cabin on the beach. Others are happy with a camping trip or B&B. Some couples like being able to meet people, while others prefer complete intimacy in a remote location. All in all, it’s important to think about what makes you both connect.
For some couples, throwing surprises is all part of the romance. This could include a surprise activity, or entire surprise holiday. This requires more careful planning and potentially a cover story to keep a certain date free. Other couples prefer to plan things together. You could even schedule a romantic evening to plan your getaway.
Choose the right accommodation
The centrepiece to your romantic getaway is the accommodation. This needs to be somewhere within budget that you can both be yourselves.
When looking into hotels, skip the basic chains and consider boutique options. You could look into couples-only hotels or couples suites where there are likely to be romantic amenities like private balconies and king-sized beds. Hotels with spa facilities could even allow you to look into couples massages. Some may also have restaurants on site, so you don’t have to look elsewhere for food.
AirBnBs could offer a more secluded escape. These come in all forms from cozy log cabins with fireplaces and hot tubs, to city apartments with skyline views.
More outdoorsy options could meanwhile include camping, glamping or treehouse experiences. These could be a more rugged but cheaper option in which you can still enjoy many romantic activities like stargazing or huddling up by a campfire.
Book restaurants and activities in advance
Nothing kills the romantic mood faster than scrambling for dinner reservations or missing out on a sunset cruise because it’s sold out. Plan your romantic break well in advance, so that you have time to compare more available options before they all get booked up.
Certain popular but limited access activities may need to be booked a month in advance. This includes theatre shows, private boat trips and certain exclusive cooking classes. For theatre shows, booking early can be particularly worthwhile for making sure that you get the best seats.
When it comes to popular restaurants, look into how restricted the opening times are. Michelin star restaurants that are only open on certain evenings may require you to book a table several weeks in advance. For less popular restaurants, booking a table a few days in advance is still recommended. Planning where to eat early will allow you to compare menus in the area and find places off-the-beaten track that you might not otherwise stumble across. Be wary that some trendy restaurants may require deposits.
Tap into shared passions
You don’t have to settle for generic romantic activities. Think about what passions you share together and plan activities around these. Both love music? Combine a night away with a concert. Enjoy hiking? Plan to take on a scenic trail together with a picnic along the way. Both passionate about wine? An overnight stay at a winery or a tour around a wine region could be exciting romantic getaway options.
If you both have different passions, you could both compromise by doing different activities that you each like (you could even arrange these as a surprise). For example, when planning a city break, you could agree to a sports stadium tour in exchange for a shopping spree.
Try new activities together
While shared passions can provide comfort, trying new activities together is often what keeps the spark alive. Such activities are a chance to both step outside your comfort zone, learn new things about each other, and create new memorable ‘first’s.
Consider new activities like ice-skating, chocolate making, paragliding, karaoke, salsa dancing, pottery classes or skiing. Ideally, choose activities that neither of you have tried.
Allow time to relax
It’s important to not cram too many activities into your trip. You need time to relax – especially if you both lead stressful lives back home.
Consider contrasting fast-paced activities with slow activities where you can talk and unwind. If you’ve got an evening activity or dinner planned, you could even keep a few hours free beforehand – not just to get ready, but to spend some downtime together.
Finding time to relax can be harder if you’ve only got a short window to spend together. Avoid travelling to places too far away – you’ll spend most of it getting there and back, forcing you to cram in activities when you arrive. A local spa retreat or camping getaway will give you more time at your destination.
Add some personal touches
Finally, consider some personal touches. These could take the form of small surprises that are based on private jokes or are references to past romantic experiences.
For example, you could bring a bottle of wine that reminds you of a previous date, put a secret note in their suitcase or create a personalised playlist of your favourite songs to accompany a road trip. With some hotels, consider that you may also be able to ask for requests, including surprise gifts in rooms.