Traveling with the whole family can be a wonderful experience, but there are times when you and your partner need some time alone. A romantic vacation might be just what you need, and, fortunately, there are many ideas for couples out there.
The first thing to consider when choosing a romantic vacation is what romance means to the two of you. Some people feel as if certain activities or settings can ruin the mood. So make sure you deeply think about what you two need and want to get out of your vacation.
The best romantic holidays are those that bring a couple together. This can mean just spending time alone, with no friends or family around. It can also mean a chance to do things together. Here are 5 of the best romantic vacation ideas for couples!
1. Romantic vacations at the beach
The sun, the sand, and the sound of the waves take away the stress and worry of everyday life. Relaxation and escaping stress are always good for romance, so there’s no wonder a beach getaway is at the top of our list of the best romantic vacation ideas for couples.
If you’re a couple traveling on a budget, try northern Florida, where you can camp by the beach. You can spend your day collecting shells, flying kites, and taking long walks on the beach, of course! And, at sunset, you can move your chairs by the water and watch the beautiful sunset.
Another beautiful couple destination, but in a tropical setting, is Barbados. This Caribbean island located in the Atlantic Ocean is renowned for its fantastic coastal holidays. Barbados offers a variety of entertainment venues and restaurants that you can enjoy during your romantic vacation.
Tahiti is another romantic vacation idea for couples. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most stunning islands in the world. With so many romantic resorts, restaurants and activities for couples to choose from, you’re sure to have a romantic vacation in Tahiti!
Romantic vacation ideas
Book a hotel right on the beach or close to it to avoid dealing with traffic.
2. Romantic vacation on a cruise for couples
Despite huge workloads, hectic lives, and babies, many couples need a break from their daily routine. If you and your partner are looking for romantic vacation ideas for couples to fully disconnect from daily stress, you might want to explore the possibility of a cruise. You’re going to escape everything – even the sight of the ground. Being alone together, particularly in the comfort of a cruise ship, can be wonderful for a couple.
Before booking a romantic vacation on a cruise, you should weigh a number of factors, as there are a number of different cruise ships and cruise lines. For example, you may not be able to enjoy a romantic vacation if you’re on a cruise ship that’s overrun with children. If you are interested in having a private, enjoyable and romantic vacation, you are advised to look for a cruise ship with an age limit for its passengers. These cruise ships often restrict children from coming on board.
Many famous cruise lines sell boats exclusively for couples, and the length of the getaway can range from three to ten days, often longer. You’re likely to find a lot of relaxing, romantic, and exciting activities on board that you can enjoy as a couple.
If you are unable to find a romantic cruise, find out where couples with children are to be placed. A number of popular cruise ships are working to keep families and couples apart. If this regulation is in effect, a cruise line is expected to show the policy on its website. The same information can be obtained by contacting a representative of the cruise ship directly.
The size of the cruise ship is also likely to determine the level of intimacy onboard. If you enjoy intimacy, a smaller cruise ship might be your best bet. Larger cruise ships have more corridors and more passengers, meaning it is also more difficult to have private moments on board.
In addition to all this, cruise ships often dock at several ports, and a ship with a romantic theme is more likely to stop at ports with romantic settings. Although it varies by cruise ship, you are often allowed to explore the port area for a few hours or a whole day. A lot of couples feel that this type of discovery feels like a different holiday trip.
Romantic vacation ideas
Make sure that you both like the idea of a romantic vacation on a cruise, and budget enough to not worry about the money, so that nothing steals the romance. (The cruise ship bars are notoriously expensive.)
Think about your choices. You could uncover that both of you were thinking the other wanted a typical sunny Caribbean cruise, when in fact you might love to watch whales and glaciers on an Alaskan cruise. There are a lot of different types and destinations for cruises. Check if both of you will enjoy the activities available for your romantic cruise.
3. Romantic train trips
Train trips are on my best romantic vacation ideas for couples because they are doable for most couples, no matter how long or short the available time, and no matter how generous or tight the budget may be.
In Ecuador, I went with my boyfriend on a romantic train ride from Riobamba to Alausi. It was a gorgeous, adventurous, and romantic vacation. I spent part of the trip by the window, then snuggled to keep warm as the train went up into the Andes Mountains. The final part is a gorge where you can see a rock formation right above, nicknamed La Nariz Del Diablo or The Devil’s Nose.
But there are spectacular and exciting train trips all over the country. Some more scenic train trips take days and can be a vacation on their own. Otherwise, you can plan your vacation around one or more dinner trains or scenic rides like the one we took from Silverton to Durango, Colorado.
4. Skiing vacations for couples
What could be better than a romantic getaway with someone you love? And when that getaway involves a shared love for a particular activity, that’s a lot better. For those who love skiing, romantic ski holidays will offer the best of all worlds, especially if you have an ikon pass – a chance to get on the slopes, experience fine dining, luxury lodging and, most importantly, spend time together. That’s why this is one of the best romantic vacation ideas for couples you can imagine!
It needs imagination and preparation to prepare a memorable ski holiday. The Internet is a great place to research a number of different locations to get ideas about prices, weather considerations, events to consider planning around etc. Look for package deals that allow you to bundle services such as travel, accommodation, meals, and ski passes.
When you choose the hotel, consider reserving a room with special amenities such as a beautiful view from a romantic veranda where you can enjoy champagne. Or a hot tub!
Simple touches prepared ahead of time will help make your romantic vacation ideas amazing – such as having breakfast in bed, having champagne in the room, and/or rose petals in the bathroom. Making special dinner reservations before your arrival will also make your getaway more romantic.
Make every moment count on your romantic ski holiday. After all, at the end of the day, it’s about the time you spend together – on the slopes and off.
You should also read about skiing in Austria.
5. Romantic vacations in small towns
I’ve found that some of our most romantic times were when we stayed in small towns. This is especially true if the tourist season was mostly over or didn’t begin yet. Silverton, Colorado is one of our favorites in September. No crowds, fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, local music, and dancing at night in the bars – it was very romantic.
Romantic vacation ideas: discover the pros and cons of low season travel.
Keep in mind that location is not the most important part of a romantic vacation. While it’s good to find a place that you both want to go to, it’s more important to find things that you can enjoy together. The best romantic vacation ideas for couples aren’t really about the destinations, but about shared interests.
Cristina Popescu is a Romanian blogger who has been traveling since 2008. She has visited 100+ countries across all the continents and accumulated firsthand knowledge about beautiful travel destinations. There is nothing she won’t try at least once in a lifetime and she wishes to encourage others to get out and see the world, too.
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