The Perfect Romantic Holiday
As deep-rooted as clichés about romance are, there’s nothing more romantic than going on a holiday with your loved one that’s perfectly catered to the two of you. It’s fine if there are no single red roses or candle-lit dinners in sight. Perhaps camping out on a mountainside is your idea of romance. Or spotting lions through binoculars. Or exploring the ruins of Egyptian temples. Or coming face to face with carnivorous sharks. Whatever your idea of a romantic getaway, follow these tips to make the most of it.
Planning
Whether you have three days or three months for your holiday, you can ensure that you get it just right with a little bit of planning. For short trips, look into going somewhere close by so that flight time and jet-lag don’t eat into your holiday. And for long vacations, choose somewhere that has the perfect attractions for the two of you. Perhaps choose a country with a good balance of sight-seeing and sunbathing.
It’s also an important consideration whether you want to go somewhere new or revisit a meaningful spot that holds some personal significance. Remember, Paris isn’t the only ‘romantic’ city in the world, places like Venice, the Italian lakes, Monte Carlo and Nice can be equally full of amour.
Make sure that you get the weather right. Do plenty of research into your preferred destination and make sure you plan your trip during the appropriate season. In Caribbean destinations, don’t forget about the hurricane season.
Something New
If the usual city breaks seem a bit obvious, maybe think outside the box; you might find a new favourite city and even save money by going somewhere off the beaten track. There are plenty of beautifully rustic villages across Scandinavia or exotic unspoiled islands in the south Pacific.
Wherever you go, try and create new experiences. Book a day trip or activity that you’ve never done before. Try white water rafting in the Grand Canyon, scuba diving in Cuba, a safari in South Africa, or a tour of the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Creating fun-filled memories and taking plenty of great photos will make it a holiday not to forget.
Itinerary
For sight-seeing holidays, such as city breaks, having a detailed itinerary is a good thing. Even just a good guidebook will help ensure that you don’t miss any of the big sites. However, don’t underestimate the attraction of spontaneity. You don’t want the holiday to seem like a chore, or a shopping list. Allow plenty of time to relax, sleep in, enjoy a cosy meal and for deciding to do something in the spur of the moment. However, do make sure you look up some restaurants before you go so that you don’t waste time finding a good one.
For beach holidays, the less things on your to-do list, the better. For these breaks, perhaps you should prepare a list of things that can be done in the area, just in case you fancy a bit of a change from sunbathing.
Money Matters
Just because the break is romantic, it doesn’t have to break the bank. It’s always nice to splash out, and if first-class seats and three-course meals are what this holiday’s all about, then go for it. But if you’re on a budget, be sure to have a certain amount saved up for the trip which you can spend without having to worry about overdrafts back home.
Romance doesn’t rely on money; it doesn’t rely on Paris. It has nothing to do with candlelight, sunsets and champagne. All you need for a romantic break is yourself, your loved one, and a thoughtfully planned, fun and relaxing holiday.
