Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It marks the perfect occasion for planning a romantic getaway with your significant other. Whether you’re trying to spark a new flame or celebrating a well-established love, we’ve delivered the five steps necessary for a superlative weekend escape.
1. Know Your Lover
“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” ~Robert Heinlein
The best way to provide a memorable getaway for your lover is to plan according to their interests. This weekend is the time to reserve seats at her favorite restaurant, buy airline tickets to the city he’s always hinting about visiting, arrange for that perfect picnic, or finally get that babysitter for the kids.
Romantic Fireplace © Arild Storaas
2. Gifts
“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” ~Pierre Corneille
Gifts are an expression of our feelings. Be sure to enhance the experience with attention to detail. We are often very generous with the present itself, but fall short on the delivery. Try to spend a significant amount of time, before the getaway weekend, on presentation. Does she love roses? Consider spreading rose petals across the bed sheets or running a warm bath with petals and candles. Does he love chocolate? Skip the yearly heart-shaped box of chocolates for a basket of hand-selected pieces from a local or online specialty shop. Jacque Torres, Godiva, and B.T. McElrath are a few of the top chocolatiers. Even better, sign yourselves up for chocolate-making classes.
3. Location
“Laughter is an instant vacation.” ~Milton Berle
If the means are available, leave town for the weekend. There are countless romantic places to venture off to either locally or globally. Venice Carnival will be in full swing, the evening lights of Paris will be shining bright, the charming locals of Hawaii will be waiting to greet you with a Lei, and New York City will be working to keep you partying all night.
If not, pick your partner’s favorite place, near home, for a day trip or weekend. Be sure to pre-arrange for any romantic details for your trip. On arrival, leave your daily life behind. This is an occasion for laughter and relaxation.
Romance © Brandon Warren
4. Conversation
“We do not remember days we remember moments.” ~Cesare Pavese
This getaway is a chance to indulge in reminiscence. We rarely return to the stories of our first days together. Take this point in time to talk about your awkward meeting, funniest moments, or the instants that defined your relationship. It’s also important to accentuate the experience with photographs. Bring your favorite images on an electronic-storage device or in a nicely decorated box. Be sure to flirt and hold hands.
5. Compliments
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” ~Mark Twain
Compliment your significant other. Our lives are often busy and we forget to express gratitude for their love. Don’t assume that planning the weekend or buying presents is enough of an indication. It surely meets the requirements, but saying it aloud has a magical effect.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.
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Lisa
Nice for any weekend. Nice with the butt squeezing, lol. Already e-mailed this to my husband 🙂
Seth
I’m planning something nice this year. Going the bed and breakfast route. I’ll remember to hold squeeze the Charmin too 😉
We went to Paris a few years ago for Valentine’s Day. That’s defiantely the most romantic city. Especially at night. You can view the city from atop so many different monuments. Arch, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur.
Happy and healthy to everyone!
Tim
Well said, bro. Jacque Torres is great. Looking forward to next weekend. Set up reservations for a nice restaurant for Kayla. I’ll throw in a little hand-holding
Ashley
“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
Love that quote. It’s so true. I love the photo and story idea too. Nice!
Gennaro
@Lisa
Have to keep you humor 🙂 Thanks for sharing it with your husband.
@Seth
Agreed about Paris. Amazing city. Enjoy the B&B.
@Tim
Have a great dinner.
@Ashley
Thanks. Photos help tell the story. That quote is so true.
Lance
I love this Gennaro! It’s a great reminder for me – to make sure I do bring out that romantic side more often. We won’t be celebrating over Valentine’s day, as both my wife and I will be spending the whole weekend working at a basketball tournament – yet I will work to get something setup shortly thereafter. Thanks much!
Expressions
These are all wonderful ways to show someone you love them. The romantic getaway is a great idea, plus taking time to talk about some of your special times together would make it all the more meaningful.
Gennaro
@Lance
Thanks. That basketball tournament sounds fun. One of my favorite sports.
@Expressions
Agreed. And it would be great to do this more than once per year.
Taris Janitens
I say don’t compliment TOO much – too much is a killer!!
Charles Ravndal
First timer here. Wonderful tips! Too bad my Valentines is a bit boring since my better half is not with me for the time being.
Gennaro
@Taris Janitens
Never want to overdo it…may lose the effectiveness 🙂
@Charles Ravndal
Thanks, Charles. That always puts a damper on things. Always possible to pick another weekend!
Sire
OK, first let me say that I dislike Valentines day as it’s just a way to suck money out of people. Woe the poor bloke who forgets to buy his girlfriend or wife something on Valentines day, it’s worse than forgetting a anniversary because it is so heavily advertised.
Having said that, there is nothing wrong with romantic getaways, which I think are way more romantic when you don’t have your arm twisted behind your back.
Gennaro
@Sire
I think it’s great to have your romantic weekend or day trip on your own terms. For some, a specific day is a reminder. It has become commercial, but that’s true of most holidays. This post is in part to keep all the blokes out of the doghouse 🙂
Trey - Swollen Thumb Entertainment
Too bad I have to work on Valentine’s Day.
These are all good tips though. Not just the usual tips that I read that are easier said than done. Well timed too, because this is a good amount of time to prepare, without being too far off, or too soon.
I think remembering the early days of a relationship is a unique tip, and good advice. We all like to visit memory lane, and it’s interesting to think about how the relationship has evolved since its inception.
Gennaro
@Trey
Thanks. There are so many little things we can do in life that don’t require anything extravagant to achieve. Remembering the good times in one.
maiylah
great ideas here!
love that quote by Cesare Pavese … 🙂
Gennaro
@maiylah
Thanks. I love quote too,
Ryan | Lifegawker
Thanks for the heads up Gennaro. I tend to overlook Valentines Day as a holiday, which thankfully my wife does somewhat as well (OK well maybe not). But, that still does not mean we should not do something special for each other every once in a while (more often than not), why do we need Valentines Day as a reason. Me wife and I are going to be go to SoCal at the beginning of March, I will be sure to keep this article in mind, especially the butt squeezing.
Gennaro
@Ryan
I think we all tend to overlook this stuff. SoCal should be a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
What a great list! I wish we could get away this weekend, but alas… it won’t happen this year. But we can still make it special, right? 🙂
Gennaro
@Tabitha
No doubt. It all starts at home.
RennyBA
I’m new here, so hello – great blog – keep up the good travel work!
I found my dear wife from America on the net and now she’s been living with me for 10 years in Norway. Who can ask for a better Valentine? 🙂
Gennaro
@RennyBA
Welcome. That is, indeed, a perfect Valentine. Congrats!
Giovanna Garcia
This is a great post. I love the photo of the lilly pond, it is beautiful 🙂 And I love the reminder about getting a baby sitter, thank you for that one.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Gennaro
@Giovanna Garcia
Thanks. Hope you had a great one.