Be sure to make the most of your romantic getaway and avoid these common mistakes. Photos by Brentwood Photography.
Booking a romantic destination is the easy part. Making sure you make the most of it is an altogether different thing. Many people find that once they reach their destination they don’t find the experience they were looking for. Everyone wants to reconnect and have one of those fantasy romantic vacations but so many people make simple mistakes that stand in the way of this goal. Below is a list of simple things to avoid while on a romantic retreat.
1. Don’t keep in touch- Leave your electronics behind. Yes, everyone knows you are very busy and important but nothing will spoil the mood faster than chatting on your cell phone with your Aunt Mary or constantly checking for work emails during dinner. If you have a job or other obligations that require contact just do so discreetly and try to limit interaction with the outside world. The idea is to get away from all distractions and focus on each other. Even the friendly IPod is taking you away from a conversation you could be having with your partner.
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Sometimes it's best to leave the phone behind.
2. Don’t hold a grudge- All relationships have issues and hot topics. If you have the opportunity to take a getaway together than don’t bother bringing problems and arguments with you. Remind yourself to stay positive and remember that the point of this trip is to spend quality time together, not time bickering. This is no place to discuss who does the dishes more or where you will spend the holidays.
3. Don’t dwell – Be sure to leave behind work problems, family woes and all other worries. Again, a getaway is supposed to be relaxing and to help recharge you. If you spend the time analyzing office gossip and worrying about the next round of layoffs neither of you will feel any better when you get home. This is a chance to put it aside and come back fresh and ready to tackle anything!
Bring something great to wear for a night out!
4. Don’t be a cheapskate - I certainly don’t mean that you should throw your budget to the wind but be prepared to splurge. If you are going for a nice dinner to celebrate than go ahead and order the steak or an appetizer or dessert or all of the above! It’s your big night out, it won’t hurt if you don’t make it a habit. Don’t go completely overboard. You don’t want to be paying for this for the next ten years with 25% interest. But in the long run an extra glass of wine with dinner or taking that snorkeling trip you always dreamed of will be worth it.
5. Don’t just dress for comfort- Look, I’m the queen of jeans and a t-shirt when I travel. I liked to make sure clothing fits easily in my bag, is versatile, and can mix and match with everything. However, if I’m on a romantic retreat I try to make sure I pack at least one or two “Wow” outfits. The whole point of the trip is to re-connect and fall in love over and over again. Packing something that is new and makes you look and feel great is just smart. And that goes double for sleepwear!
Be adventurous and try the local delicacies!
6. Don’t be a chicken! - This is the chance for you to try things you’ve always wanted to try. You are away from your world, no one here knows you so feel free to cut loose a little. Try a restaurant you never would back home. Try an activity that you never have before. Taking a scuba class, skiing class, or salsa class together will give you something to remember, and perhaps laugh about for years to come.
7. Don’t leave it all behind- Be sure to pick up a souvenir or two to bring home. Something you can sit around your house to remind you of the special times you shared. It doesn’t have to be something expensive. One of the best souvenirs I ever saw were bottles of sand from various beaches a couple had visited on their travels. They lined up beautifully on a shelf, cost nothing except the price of the bottle and were beautiful memories of time spent together.
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Be sure to bring a hat & supplies to stay healthy!
8. Don’t use this time to catch up on your TV watching - Yes, there is sure to be a marathon of America’s Next Top Model but this is not the time to watch it. It is your vacation time and time to unwind but why waste it doing things you can do from your couch at home. Television watching truly should be kept to a minimum, if it’s even turned on at all. Televisions have been known to kill the romance at home, why would you let it destroy your romantic vacation?
9. Don’t forget your sunscreen/medication/etc- Because we all know how sexy sunburn is! Don’t let basic things kill your fun. If you know that spicy foods upset your stomach pack your antacids. If you get headaches don’t leave without your Excedrin. Be prepared so that small things won’t ruin a perfectly good time. My husband is prone to getting blisters when we walk around a new city. So now we know that we can never leave without comfortable shoes and plenty of band aids. It saves a lot of running around looking for the local drug store to simply have what you need on hand. Or better yet, have what you need to prevent the problem before it starts!
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Enjoy some delicious cocktails be in moderation.
10. Don’t overindulge- Yes, vacations are about indulging but you don’t want to drink yourself into a drunken haze, pick a fight and spend the next day apologizing with a hangover. Enjoy yourself but make sure to do it in moderation so you can continue the party. This includes alcohol, sun, and even activities. You want to have a good time but you don’t want to need a massive recovery when you get home.
Follow these simple steps and your romantic getaway will be less stressful, more fun, and certainly more romantic.
All photos by Brentwood Photography.
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