What does romance mean to you? Exotic shores, silky linens, candlelit dinners, soft violins? Romance can be a side attraction or the main feature of the vacation you choose. First, you need to decide what romantic goal it is that you want to accomplish on your escape from reality. If you're new at the romance game perhaps newlyweds or newly together, then the focus should be on time together. Forget the endless museum tours or long jungle walks that leave you wanting nothing more than a good foot soak at the end of the day. Instead, plan for fun casual activities that leave your evenings free to explore the wonder of being together. Here are some ideas for togetherness vacations.
1. Anywhere on the coast. From Hawaii to New England, if your day involves swimming or just walking on the beach, you can do it hand in hand. Watch sunsets and sunrises together. Listen to the conch shell or the fog horn and then cuddle up in your private getaway with only the sound of surf as your witness. The Caribbean is a wonderful place to soak up the sun and each other. St. Martin/Maarten is ideal with its French-Dutch duality. Shop on the Dutch side for great bargains and eat on the French side with its culinary delights. Swim, snorkel, and walk on the beaches. Aruba is the fun island basically Las Vegas on the beach with lots of great restaurants, swimming beaches, and casinos to try your luck. If you live on the West Coast, Catalina is a romantic treat. Relive the days of Zane Grey in her namesake motel and watch the ferry boats come into Avalon. The village abounds with eclectic restaurants.
2. Mountain retreats. A cozy cabin in the woods is the perfect place to grow your love after a day on the ski slopes or hiking meadow trails. From Aspen to Mammoth Lakes to the far flung snowy attraction of the Alps, you can find a chalet perfect for two. Have the hot chocolate ready and a roaring fire to enhance your evenings of romance.
3. Cruises. If you're the kind of couple who likes to be around other people but still want your private evenings, a cruise may be the answer. You'll definitely have company as many as 3000 or more fellow travelers, but yet there are private spots on a cruise ship. Find your own place to watch the moonlight on the deck; relax and dance in a piano lounge, or retreat to your private cabin. You can go anywhere from the Caribbean to Mexico to Europe or even around the world. Cruising is an economical way to travel with elegant meals, first class entertainment, and a chocolate on your pillow every night.
Perhaps you've been together a long time. You know each other's stories so you don't need the long firelight chats. You're into adventure and educational trips, but still you'd like romance as a subplot. Consider a place with lots of history to explore. Paris pops into mind first with its wonderful museums, the Eiffel tower, and historical places like Versailles just a short distance away. Go ahead and walk your feet off and fill your head with memories in the day, but save the evenings for romantic dinners in small cafes and a moonlight stroll along the Seine. Venice is another romantic city in Europe with its canals, art galleries, and incredible food. If you're a music lover, choose Vienna. You can find a concert every night and ride back to your hotel in a horse drawn carriage.
Maybe helping others is what makes your own love grow. While a mission trip to help with the medical or educational needs of another country may not leave you much time for romance, it could lay the groundwork for an even better relationship between you. Why not add a few days just for yourselves to the end of it at a place that has the luxury of running water, flush toilets, and real beds? Not only will you enjoy the wind down time, but the contrast with what you've seen will make you even more aware of your own fortune in life and with each other.
Romance should be part of every vacation. Even an Elderhostel can have its quiet moments just for the two of you. The thing that makes romance happen is not so much the place as you. If you save time for each other and decide that each day will be filled with love, you'll remember your vacation as the most romantic time of your life.