Make Your Romantic Getaway Sizzle

 

When you are traveling with your main squeeze, you want to make sure that you enjoy some romantic moments together.  On a romantic getaway where it’s just the two of you, it may seem like romance should come naturally, but with all there is to plan for on a trip, sometimes romance can get lost in the shuffle.  If you put some thought into it, you can make sure that romance is a highlight of your vacation –  even on a family trip!  Here are our top ten suggestions to keep your special vacation romantic:

 

 

1. Leave the kids at home.

It can be challenging to go on a romantic getaway  without the kids.  Sometimes it’s hard to figure out who to leave the kids with when you are gone.  You can also go through some feelings of guilt for leaving the kids behind.  I remember the very first time we left my ‘babies behind’ so my husband and I could literally go away for one night to the city (We live in the Chicago ‘burbs).  My oldest was 3 and my youngest was 1.  We packed them up and left them with grandma for the night.  My guilt quickly morphed into excitement as my husband and I remembered what it was like to take a much needed adults only break.  We had a beautiful room at the W Hotel that overlooked Lake Michigan. 

That one night getaway really whetted our appetites for more romantic getaways and every year since we regularly take couples vacations sans kids.  As the kids got older we have taken longer and more exotic vacations.  

We would do 3 nights in Vegas, then 4-5 nights in Mexico or the Bahamas.  We did 11 days traveling England for our 25th Anniversary.  It really does not matter how many nights or where you go.  The point is to invest in you and your spouse/partner and keep that romantic spark alive!  When deciding who to leave your kids with;  Some people I know split their kids up and they go to different friends’ houses for sleepovers.  

Grandparents are certainly a great choice and I know people who will even fly the grandparents over to their homes if they don’t live close so they can babysit.  You could make a deal with a friend or your sibling to do “kid swaps”:  You watch their kids for a few days while they travel and vice versa. 

As to feeling guilty:  I have never returned home from a trip to find that my kids were crying the whole time we were gone.  My kids have so much fun when they are at grandma’s house that whenever we announce that we are going on a trip, they immediately start planning all the fun they will have with grandma while we are gone.  This frees me up to plan a romantic trip with my husband guilt free!

2. Have flowers and wine waiting

When my husband and I are on a romantic getaway, sometimes I or he will set up in advance for a bottle of wine or champagne and flowers to be ready in the room when we arrive.  This is such a nice touch and really “sets the mood” upon arrival.  Heck, even when I know that these touches are going to be there because I am the one who set it up it still just gives me all the feels when I arrive. 

I am a wine enthusiast so getting to the room and being able to enjoy a glass or two with my husband feels so special and is guaranteed to get me in that romantic spirit.  (Which is what a couples trip is all about after all!)

3. Get a tub for 2

When I book a romantic getaway with my hubby I am always searching for rooms that have a tub for 2.  We love dipping in a sudsy tub or a jacuzzi together when we travel.  We honestly never do this at home because we don’t have a tub big enough and we are simply two busy people who don’t really have time for that on a normal basis.  But vacations are different!!  

The first thing we often do when we arrive in our room is crack open that bottle of wine or champagne (see our tip above!) and turn on the water in the tub.  I guess we are just so excited to be alone together, away from the kids, that it doesn’t take long to get into that romantic mood!!  Oh, and I love it when the tub is in the actual room of the hotel….not just in the bathroom. 

4. Get romantic before dinner

My husband and I are big foodies so when we travel together, food is a big part of our trip.  When we have dinner we go big:  Appetizers, steaks or seafood, dessert, wine.  Bottom line is that when we are done, we are stuffed, and sleepy, and it’s late, and we often just crash when we get back to the room.  In other words, after a big heavy meal, we are not likely to get very romantic.  Your mileage may vary but I don’t know too many people who feel very sexy after they have stuffed themselves. 

Therefore, we often find that it is best to get in the mood before dinner.  We have found that otherwise we run the risk that this great romantic getaway we have planned could end up a bust if we don’t plan ahead of time.  

Take the two suggestions we made previously to get romantic before dinner… Flowers, wine, and a bath together should all do the trick to create some romantic moments before dinner.  Then you can get ready to go out.  To me, this works best to plan for a later dinner.  Like around 8 rather than 5.  Which is the exact opposite of how we plan dinners when we are with the kids by the way.  That way, when you come back to the room at 10 you can fall right asleep without feeling like you are missing something.  And for those of you who are young and energetic and can fit in some more romance a second time around:  More power to you!!

5. Get a room with a view

Having  a great view from the room is something that  I don’t skimp on.  To me, the view is a big part of the whole vacation especially when you are on a romantic getaway.   Staring  at a parking lot, a brick wall, or worse, the garbage dumpster in back is the absolute opposite of romantic.  You may not splurge for a great room when you are on a family vacation but I really feel that it is a must on a romantic trip with your spouse.  

I also prefer the room to have a balcony and if that balcony also includes a plunge pool it’s even better!!   Yes, getting better views is certainly an upgrade but I often find that many resorts/hotels have several different levels of views.  I may not get the highest level but sometimes the middle option is not much more than the baseline price but will give you a pool view or a courtyard view rather than the parking lot view.  When the goal is romance on an intimate getaway with your significant other don’t skimp on a good view!

6.  Get a separate room for the kids.

This is some advice for long family trips when you should absolutely create some private moments for you and your spouse/partner.  This means making sure there is a wall and a door between you and your children. 

Sometimes this may involve booking a one bedroom suite at a hotel so you and your spouse have the bedroom and the kids get the sleeper sofa/roll away in the living room area.  It may mean booking a “condo-tel” or an airbnb type rental that gives you a couple different bedrooms.  Or maybe you book 2 connecting rooms – one for the kids and one for you and your spouse.  I have actually done every single one of these options and we have found that they are all worth the extra cost to give my husband and I some quality time alone on that long exhausting family trip.  In fact, my husband is far more likely to want to do a family vacation when he knows we will have a separate room and some private moments.  

To be honest, the kids prefer having their own space as well.  They likewise don’t want to be hanging around their parents the whole trip and they sometimes like retreating into their own space. 

This doesn’t  mean that you need to have your own room the whole trip.  You could do a split stay, meaning that you switch hotels or rooms during the trip.  Maybe the first part of the trip, you share a room with your kids and then the last two days you upgrade to a bigger room category that gives you your own space.  The main point is that you and your partner should have and deserve some romantic moments on that family trip that you worked so hard for.  

7.  Go for a stroll.

This is some advice for long family trips when you should absolutely create some private moments for you and your spouse/partner.  This means making sure there is a wall and a door between you and your children. 

This is some advice for long family trips when you should absolutely create some private moments for you and your spouse/partner.  This means making sure there is a wall and a door between you and your children. 

My husband and I regularly take walks together.  We stroll our neighborhood with the dog,  take walks down the beach when we are in Mexico,  hike through the woods when we are in Wisconsin, and take in the city scenes when we traverse the neighborhoods of London.  There is something very intimate about a walk together.  You can feel each other’s closeness and feel a sense of stability together. 

I love seeing an elderly couple walk hand in hand together down a sidewalk, knowing that this is a timeless tradition that they have done countless times together.  We all want to be that couple.  You and your partner may go for walks regularly at home together but don’t forget to weave it into those romantic getaways together as well. 

In truth, some of my favorite memories of our trips together are the moments my husband and I  just went for a simple stroll;  taking in our surroundings and enjoying each other’s company.  It’s hard not to feel romantic when you return to the room after all that couple chemistry flowing through you after an intimate walk!

8.  Dress up for dinner

If you are on a romantic getaway with your husband/partner it makes a big impact to dress up for dinner.  Even if you don’t dress up often, you really should for your big trip!  Put on a strappy dress!  Wear some heels!  Show off some of that special jewelry he bought you!  When I take the time to dress in a special way it makes him feel special because I went through all that trouble for him.  

To be honest, it makes me feel special too.  When it comes to dressing for a nice dinner, I simply feel more confident and romantic when I dress the part.  It’s also a nice little perk that he gets to help get you out of that dress when you return to the room!  😉

9.  Catch the sunset

There are few things more romantic than watching the sunset so you definitely want to make sure you catch it on your romantic getaway.  When you watch the sunset, you are reminded of all the excitement of the day.  I also like to think of all the places in the world that I have watched the sunset and remember that it is the same sun, whether you see it over a city view, a line of trees, or in your own backyard.  My favorite way to watch the sunset is over the water on a beach.  With that sand between your toes and the sun essentially floating on the water as it touches the horizon.  

It’s just so inexplicably beautiful and gives me all the feels.  This is one of the reasons my husband and I take so many beach trips.  It is incredibly romantic to watch the sunset and therefore, my mantra on a trip is to “not miss a single sunset”!  

10.  Secretly pack some sexy lingerie

If you are taking the time to go on a romantic trip then you should definitely dress the part! 😉  Before a romantic getaway, I like to do some shopping and find some lacy lingerie that I know my husband is going to enjoy!  I will certainly not show it to him before the big reveal!!  What man doesn’t like to be treated to his wife or partner wearing some sexy lingerie on an intimate getaway!!  

This also works well on family trips…..if you take our advice and book a separate room from the kids for at least part of the vacation.  You could let your hubby put the kids to bed at the end of the long hectic day and while he is tucking them all it,  you can be changing into that secret new negligee that you packed.  Won’t he be surprised when he returns to the room!  Between dressing up for dinner and packing that fun, sexy lingerie, the right wardrobe is definitely important when planning a romantic trip with your man!

Romantic getaways with your loved one are the best!  I hope you can take them often.  Make sure to incorporate our suggestions the next time you plan for your special adventure to ensure that romance abounds!

 

Happy Travels!

Your Thoughts

How do you make your vacation romantic with your significant other?  Which of our recommendations have you done?  Which of our recommendations are you going to try?  Do you disagree with any of our suggestions? Join the conversation and share any tips, questions or additional thoughts in the comments!

For more travel ideas be sure to check out our other posts!