With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, there’s never a better time to start planning a romantic weekend break with your partner.
Whether your relationship is just blooming or you have years of marriage behind you, there are plenty of ways to make sure that you make any trip together special for the two of you.
It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking about four-day city trips, midweek cruises or weekend hot tub breaks, as there are lots of options out there for trips catered to couples.
But if you want to go that extra mile, consider these suggestions for ways to make any getaway an even more romantic experience.
Treat them to a special meal
It’s a classic for a reason. You may not want to go for the full candlelit dinner under the stars, but even simply sharing a good meal together is an excellent way to cap off a relaxing day spent in each other’s company.
Enjoy some local cuisine, perhaps try out a dish neither of you have had before, and rest easy in the knowledge that there won’t be any cleaning duties to worry about tonight. Make sure to leave room for dessert too, and perhaps have a romantic toast as you watch the sun set.
Use a proper camera
We’re all guilty of using our phones to document our lives. But if you truly want to get the most out of your weekend getaway, then it’s worth putting the mobiles down. Leave them silent and resist reaching for them when you want to snap the perfect picture.
Instead, go old-school and take an actual camera with you. It doesn’t have to be a premium model—unless you already happen to own one—as even a disposable camera can work wonderfully to immortalise the moments on this trip that really matter.
Plus, this way you get the fun of waiting for the pictures to develop, which the two of you can enjoy once you’re back home, to relive your favourite moments from the holiday.
Indulge in some pampering
Nothing says romance like some relaxation. Unwind from all the stresses of everyday life so that you can focus only on each other by treating yourselves to a proper spa day. Plenty of spas offer couple massages and treatments that allow you to enjoy the soothing experience together.
And, after a day of being pampered in the spa, you can take a dip in a hot tub together, sitting back in the bubbles and soothing away any lingering aches or worries.
That said, pampering can also come in simpler forms that are just as heartfelt. Treat them to a box of their favourite chocolates or get them that beautiful holiday souvenir they want and make them feel extra special.
Don’t overbook yourselves
When you’re visiting a new place—or any major destination—it’s very easy to fall into the trap of wanting to experience it all. After all, you don’t know when you’ll next get the chance to do these things or see these impressive sites. However, a full itinerary generally only encourages stress instead of enjoyment.
So, to make sure that you both get the very best experience out of your time away together, put away the guidebooks for a little while and avoid trying to cram everything into one weekend. No matter how fast you go, you’ll never be able to do all a place has to offer in a handful of days, so save yourself the worry and don’t even try it.
Focus instead on a couple of key things that you’d both like to do or see, and then spend the rest of your time taking it easy. You might even find that your most romantic moments happen while you’re simply exploring together.
Try something new together
Obviously, the main point of a romantic getaway is spending time together and bonding. Even if you’ve been married for a decade, it’s never a bad idea to seek out new bonding activities. Nothing brings a couple together more than making fresh, fun memories with each other.
Take the opportunity while you’re on holiday to try out something that’s new to both of you. Maybe you’ll try out surfing, or maybe pottery? Whatever you choose, even though you’re unlikely to start off as pros, you can laugh off any mistakes together.
Ultimately, the only ones who can make your weekend break a truly romantic one are you and your partner. If you both approach the trip with the right mindset, then anything can be romantic.
Still, it never hurts to make that extra bit of effort to show them just how much you love them and create memories you’ll both always treasure.
