by Elsa Hou
Last week Zoosk announced the winning couple of our big RomanceFTW competition, who took home the grand prize of $10,000 plus a free romantic getaway paid for by Zoosk. That got me thinking about both the rewards and the challenges of going on a romantic getaway with a significant other. Certainly, taking a vacation with your partner can be one of your fondest experiences. Browsing my friends’ couple profiles on Zoosk, I can’t help but notice that many romantic moments occur while on vacation. But it can also be a daunting task to embark on. In light of that, I thought I’d put together a few tips for couples on how to make a romantic trip together a success from start to finish.
1. Be realistic about the status of your relationship. Is your relationship really at the stage where planning a vacation together is a good idea? In the beginning of relationships, emotions are running high and you have never been happier, but this is not necessarily the best time to plan a big trip together. A lot can change in a month, and when it’s time to finally depart, you don’t want to be wishing you had never purchased those non-refundable plane tickets to Hawaii.
2. Set expectations for what you are looking for from this vacation. Do you want to stay in hostels or luxury hotel rooms? Do you want to relax on the beach or do you want to scuba dive? Discuss what types of activities you look forward to while on vacation and select a destination and activities that you will both be happy with.
3. Be prepared and plan in advance. Have a list of places and restaurants that you want to check out. Pack appropriately for the activities that you have planned. For places that tend to get booked in advance, make reservations. The better prepared you are, the fewer issues there will be to argue over.
4. With that in mind, relax! Remember that some of the most memorable moments are the ones that are out of your control. Be flexible and have fun. Make the most of your time together in an exciting new environment. Ultimately, enjoying each other’s company is what a romantic vacation is all about – so enjoy.
Do you have more tips for romantic travel? Share them in our comments section!
About the author: Elsa Hou works in the Zoosk Marketing Team. She is a native Californian and enjoys music, dining out, and traveling.
Photo via Flickr. Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs.
This is perfect for my summer trip!
Great article! Sometimes a tried and true (read: easy) destination is the best for a relaxing romantic vacation.
Darius James. Brenda Johnson, Vernon Franklin. Three examples of when (#1) *Keeping it real* went wrong.
In all seriousness, with regard to #1, it’s not always best to be so absolute. As couple’s vacation can be a formative and defining moment of a relationship, IMO there’s justification for doing something spontaneous and, well, exciting.
Every relationship has its own dynamic, so if you are really at a high point in passion, it makes sense to expand upon that and undergo a real trial. After all, – *extra cheese* – doesn’t love conquer all?
Nice Article, Elsa!
Couldn’t agree more!
Nice read Elsa, good tips!
great article- this is really helpful and timely for me!
Good article, Elsa! Your points are dead on, especially around #1 about being realistic about your relationship status. Unfortunately, I have heard many stories of trips breaking up couples.
Great tips – Thanks!
great tips, can’t wait to plan my next trip!
I think if you don’t see yourself going on vacation with the person you’re with, that relationship is probably not going to work long-term. Just something to keep in mind.
I like the first one. Because let’s be realistic, telling someone to be more realistic will always make them be realistic.
cute article. tots agree
cute article. totes agree
Great advice! Thanks, Elsa!
Great article! Will definitely take this into consideration when I plan my next romantic getaway.
Kerry, if you’re looking for someone to take on a romantic getaway, I’m only 3000 miles away. Just something to keep in mind.
Good tips to keep in mind to avoid spoilers on a romantic getaway!
Beneficial info and excellent points you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great work!!
i like to all