Planning
a honeymoon...or a romantic getaway to bring back that honeymoon
spirit? You've come to the right place. Whether it's Paris or Rome,
the slopes or the Caribbean islands, or just a weekend getaway,
being in love and getting away from it all are cozy bedfellows. If
you're planning the ultimate romantic
getaway and need a little help getting started, the CaribbeanLime
has a few ideas for everyone. Check out RivieraBooks.com
they specialize in books about all aspects of
romantic travel, from
destination weddings to honeymoon planning. On these pages, you'll
find
ebooks available for instant downloading right to your
computer.
When it comes to planning a romantic getaway. You can reserve the
best hotel room, make reservations at the finest restaurant, and
then jet into the most beautiful remote island to partake of it all,
but if you don't tend to the little things. We'll get you started,
and then offer a few thoughts on how to make your trip special with
that tiny detail that brings it all together.
One important note before we get start priming the pump of every
romantic fool's heart: although you certainly need to be a happy and
willing accomplice in this effort, romance can be in part about
selflessness. Many and varied are the ways of the human heart.
That is, don't try to dream up your perfect romantic outing;
you have to make the choices that will most please your sweetheart.
Trust me, it will all come back to you, and then some. And your
selflessness will look, to you at least, like a beauteous, bountiful
selfishness.
Start planning early.
To do this right, you'll want the window seats on the plane that
flies you into paradise, the corner room facing the beach, the
window table for sunset, the roses fresh and waiting for you when
you arrive. All of this takes the proverbial stitch in time.
And when it's all set, you can drop tantalizing hints, build to the
moment, even make the ride to the airport something special. If
you're running around planning the trip, you won't know ahead of
time that you've arranged for a deep massage and a morning in the
sauna in your room, and won't be able to say things like "After
we arrive, all you'll need is yourself and your imagination,
honey."
Where to?
City mouse or country mouse, sun or snow, bustle or quiet? You need
to think about what makes your sweetheart warm all over. Sometimes
going against the grain of stated preferences works well, too; many
a country boy can discover his romantic streak under the city
lights; that sun-worshipping damsel may blush happily in the glow of
an apres-ski fireplace snuggle. You might have to work a little
extra hard if you take this tack, but it can really work, especially
for a "mature" relationship. If you've been together a
while, yet another weekend in the same cabin probably isn't going to
cut it.
Often, I think that romance is about inspiration, not merely luxury.
What inspires your loved one? Breathtaking vistas after a vigorous
hike, or languid hours of pampering and relaxing? The sensation of
water rushing against their skin on a snorkeling expedition, or the
deep soak of a bubble bath? Maybe a little of both? If you want to
stoke his or her romantic imagination, use yours!
Getting There
By far the most hazardous part of getting away is, well, getting
away. Sticker shock, airport hassles, luggage worries, money
matters; all of these can cast an early pall over what could still
turn out to be a glorious interlude. Don't take chances with these
issues; check
Today's
Travel Bargains for great airfare ideas, and often to the most
romantic destinations on the planet; and the Travel
Tips page for information on just about every aspect of
getting there and back, from Bargain
Tips and Packing Tips to Foreign
Currency information and Money Safety,
with just about everything along the way.
Where to stay?
Many a tremendously successful romantic getaway has been described
thusly: "We were in paradise, and we hardly left our
room!"
Where you go to sleep (and where you wake up) could make or break
your trip. You want a known entity; unless you're the adventurous
sort, pick established, reputable lodgings, go on recommendations
from friends, or pick up one of the guidebooks.
You want a hotel that is either extremely well-situated (right on
the beach, at the foot of the mountain, or in the middle of
absolutely nowhere would do nicely), extremely well-outfitted (with
"essentials" like cozy robes, fireplaces, discrete room
service, and a spa), or both.
One option that will work out for almost any romantic trip, from an
elaborate, extended escape to a weekend "quickie" while
the kids are with the grandparents, is a Bed & Breakfast or inn.
Atmosphere, peace, and just the right amount of personal attention
can converge to make the perfect romantic mood. See our guide to Bed
& Breakfasts, and check out Lanier's www.BedandBreakfast.com
There are exceptions to every rule; for some of us, a grass shack on
an exotic beach is far more romantic than a luxury hotel bustling
with servants. For one person, a heart-shaped bathtub is romantic
heaven; for another, it conjures images of "Boogie
Nights." A mountaintop campsite more romantic than a four-star
hotel? Factor in the view of an uncountable number of stars, a cozy
fire, and heated conservation tactics in the tent, and the answer is
absolutely!
For a potentially spectacular experience, you might want to look
into renting out a villa or the like for several days, and live like
people hiding from the paparazzi. Try
Vacation Rentals
page for more broad tips on choosing the
perfect hotel, see our Lodging
area.
Food Glorious Food
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach; in this
post-feminist age, it's clear that there is no gender resistance to
the romance of a good meal. A superb meal is just the start of a
romantic evening, but as such it must be a good start. The old
standbys like the Russian Tea Room, Tavern on the Green, or
dining-and-dancing at the Rainbow room in New York, the Le Bec Fin
in Philadelphia, or almost anywhere in San Francisco still work
well; every city has its corollary restaurant-for-lovers.
Then again, I know of one middle-aged card who took his
"girl" to a drive-in restaurant, a drive-in movie, and
then went "parking" afterwards. It reminded them both of
their fiery courtship in years past in a way that no cruise line
cabin, exotic beach, or champagne-shaped bathtub could in a
lifetime. And then there's the scene from "When Harry Met
Sally" in the Carnegie Deli; you never know where you'll find
romance.
Hey There, Dreamboat
Many an intrepid traveler has sought adventure and romance by taking
to the Seven Seas. These days, you can do the same in style and
utter comfort (well, save for tiny cabins) on a cruise.
Memories
Are Made of This:
Memorable romantic getaways aren't made solely of places and things,
such as roses in a cozy ski lodge (though you probably won't go
wrong with that!), but of what you do once you get there. A
professional massage at a famous spa, a deep kiss high above the
planet in a balloon, the clinking of champagne glasses at a rooftop
restaurant in the greatest cities on Earth. It's all in...
The
Details:
Surprise
As we mentioned before, the element of surprise can make the mundane
marvelous, the routine romantic. Simply planning a quick getaway to
a nearby B&B? Don't tell your sweetheart where you're going,
just tell them that you are going. This is when attention to detail
can really pay off; clean the car, make a romantic tape for the
drive, pack a few special something you bought at the Victoria's
Secret or some other retailer of items lover-ly.
Spontaneity
If you don't have kids, pets, or the bathroom refurbishing to worry
about, a get-up-and-go outing, completely out of the blue, is just
the ticket. Get on the mailing lists or check the Web sites for
Internet specials, which typically come out on a Tuesday or
Wednesday and feature low-cost travel options good only for the
coming weekend. You could find yourself half a continent from your
daily grind with about two days forethought.
Then, shepherd your loved one on a whirlwind weekend jaunt, coasting
back in at the end of the weekend. Come Monday, give your honey a
call at the office, reminding him/her of what a good time you had.
Don't forget to mention one or two juicy details from your time
together; after all, this is about creating great memories that will
keep things crackling when you're not romancing around the globe.
A word of warning: Your impulsive streak may be your most charming
quality, but it's not going to get you on a sold-out plane.
Surprises and spur of the moment getaways can infuse new life into a
romance; but with advance purchase requirements, sold out planes and
hotels, and the like, you'll need to find the path of least
resistance.
The Little Things:
Call ahead to your lodgings, and ask them to have roses waiting in
the boudoir. Or better yet, have them delivered with a card minutes
after you've arrived. That's just the beginning of what you can do -
get the band to dedicate her favorite song, or the song that was
playing when you met, or the song you picked for your first dance
when you were married.
If you're taking some time out from your romantic getaway to go to a
ball game or some other gathering, think about getting in touch with
the venue, and have them put your names in lights. If you really
want to splurge, hire a skywriting or banner-towing plane to
announce your devotion high above the beach.
New Ideas
If you really want to be romantic, DON'T go back to the same place
you've gone for four of the last five vacations, unless you are
REALLY sure there's some magic left over. The thrill of the new can
mingle with the thrill of love to breach new heights you'll never
reach at the old cabin.
On the other hand...
The latest resort being hawked by the travel packagers might not
be your best bet. I've gone to hyped new resorts, only to find
untested lodgings, untrained staff, and almost nonexistent
infrastructure, hardly the stuff of a luxurious, carefree romantic
getaway. One beach was covered with greasy lumps of tar from a
clearly visible offshore oil rig. Do your homework!
You can't always go home again
Hey, I wish it weren't true, but even Bogie couldn't pull it off;
maybe he'll always have Paris, but he still didn't win back the
"dame." Say you met at a party in a big city, and
afterward went to a tiny little bistro, almost a dive. But the
intimate surroundings and a touch of fate made a perfect elixir for
love, and here you are years later, still together.
So you're thinking, exactly, we'll go on a trip to that city, and on
the first night there, I'll renew my vows at that same bistro. Not
so fast. If the bistro is still there, it might no longer be
"almost a dive," it could have taken its own dive,
straight into the hole. Same for resorts, old hotels, your favorite
college hangout, the now-aging rock band you went to see on your
first date, the country club your parents belonged to.
This is also one of those situations where you want to think about
what your sweetheart would like, not what you would like. She/he
might have been merely humoring you at that Chicago concert when you
were courting. Don't take them to an Atlantic City casino years
later to see Chicago desecrate their own harmony lines, and expect
your lover to blush with desire. Look before you leap in these
situations.
Finally...
Romance is in part about fantasy - fulfilling fantasies, creating
new ones, and giving yourself over to them fully. There's no room
for ironic distance in the romance department - go for it! And don't forget the roses!
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