Every couple is sure to have dreamt of a romantic holiday, but a lot goes into making that dream come to life. We’ve curated a handy guide to help you plan your next intimate travel vacation. By Bayar Jain
1. Don’t call it a ‘romantic getaway’
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While an antithesis of what an intimate travel vacation is, calling it a ‘romantic getaway’ could soon amount to a buzzkill. By adding the R-word to your holiday, chances are that you and your partner would raise expectations throughout the holiday and incessantly rack your brains trying to make the getaway ‘perfect’. By avoiding the phrase, however, you have higher chances of avoiding the cliches and genuinely enjoying the moment.
2. Factor experiences, not destinations
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While choosing the destination is important, it shouldn’t be the driving factor. When planning an intimate travel vacation, you and your partner are bound to have an individual bucket list in mind—probably one that doesn’t converge at any point. The ideal way to break away from this deadlock is by narrowing down on the experiences both of you would like to share or listing out the experiences before embarking on the holiday to avoid unwelcome surprises.
3. Plan thoroughly
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Unless one of you is an easy-going partner usually amiable with every decision, it’s best to plan every detail of your intimate holiday in advance. This way, none of you will spend your precious vacation smoothening out misunderstandings and trying to cheer the other person up. When planning, factor in budget, accommodation, activities and more. If possible, do this days—or even weeks—prior to the holiday to give yourselves enough time to mull over every decision.
4. Plan ‘me-times’
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They say distance makes the heart grow fonder and it holds true for an intimate travel vacation too. While the two of you might be on a couple’s holiday, not every waking moment of your vacation must be spent together, particularly when wishing to do something your partner doesn’t enjoy. If either of you have interests that could be a deal-breaker, opt for undertaking the activity separately. However, bear in mind that such plans shouldn’t occupy a large chunk of your itinerary. After all, it’s still a two-person getaway!
5. Talk money
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Talking about money can be a sore spot in a relationship, but it’s important to keep it in mind while planning a holiday. Agree on a budget that is easy on the pocket for both of you, or decide who will be paying for which aspect of the trip. This division depends entirely upon you and your partner, however it is ideal to have it pre-decided. Plus, with a budget in hand, it becomes easier to finalise on the accommodation, transport and experiences.
6. Unplug your electronics
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Unless you’re an Instagram travel couple, unplug from the world and stray away from using your electronics. Consider waiting to return from your vacation before posting about it on social media, and avoid work-matters till absolutely necessary. If required, set aside some time every day of your trip to cater to the digital world, however, don’t let it be your permanent travel buddy.
Bayar Jain
Senior Content Manager
Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppies and kittens.