ROMANTIC TRAVEL TIPS
- Most importantly: leave the kids at home at least once a year. Grandparents or other relatives will most likely appreciate the opportunity to spend time with your children, and you need the break to renew your relationship.
- Pick a destination that neither of you has been to; explore it together. Or take turns, with each of you sharing a special place from childhood or your past.
- Spend time planning your trip together; make reservations well in advance so that you get your first choice of romantic lodging. There is nothing romantic about driving from hotel to hotel late at night, trying to find a vacancy in high season, and having to settle for second best. We even make advance reservations for some meals, especially at well-known restaurants both here and abroad; you can always cancel if something else looks better or you're not in the mood.
- Don't let the small annoyances (or big ones, for that matter) come between you; see them as obstacles to overcome together. Lots of stuff happens: missed flights, crooked cab drivers, lost reservations. Don't turn on each other, team up and focus your combined energy on solving the problem.
- Even if you enjoy cooking, do yourself a favor and don't cook on vacation. Even if you just pick up some take-out and enjoy it on the patio of your villa or balcony of your hotel, release yourself from the burden of preparing, cooking, and cleaning up after a meal. We often order extra food at dinner and request a doggie bag, which we enjoy for lunch the next day.
- Treat every vacation day as a celebration; order a glass of champagne, toast to your happiness, express your love and gratitude for each other.
- Laugh a lot.
AT HOME OR AWAY: TWENTY THINGS TO DO TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE
To Do On A Daily Basis
1. Compliment your partner in a thoughtful way.
2. Spend twenty minutes of uninterrupted time together; really SEE and LISTEN TO your partner.
3. Check in with each other during the day with a quick call or e-mail.
4. Perform one small and unexpected loving gesture.
5. Say "I love you" at least three times, hopefully more.
6. Thank your partner for something.
7. Take an extra minute when kissing good-bye.
To Do On A Weekly Basis
1. Bring home a small, unexpected gift: flowers, a card, a book, a cd.
2. Share an entire afternoon or evening together and TURN OFF THE TV.
3. Schedule time for the two of to do something without the kids, even if it’s just grocery shopping and then stopping for a glass of wine afterwards.
To Do On A Monthly Basis
1. Go out for a romantic dinner at least once or twice this month.
2. Rent a romantic movie.
3. Spend an evening together planning a future romantic getaway.
To Do On An Annual Basis
1. Make a New Year's resolution to be more romantic.
2. Make plans to spend your anniversary in a romantic inn.
3. Think of how many ways you are grateful for your partner, and show that gratitude!
4. Create a special "Romance" category in your household budget; it’s an investment in your relationship.
5. Plan at least one romantic vacation every year.
