Turn an Ordinary Vacation into a Romantic Escape

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First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the minefield of life: kids, sports practice, ballet recitals, dinner (every. single. night), mountains of laundry and Sundays spent cleaning the garage. Each decade brings it’s own challenges from child rearing to empty nesting and the number of ways to keep your marriage healthy and strong vary from couple to couple. As a travel bug with a thirst for wanderlust, one of my favorite recommendations is to run away with your spouse.

secrets resorts romantic escape

We have all fantasized about it at some point, right? Just getting in your car and driving away from reality with the one you love. So why not? Not forever, just a week or even a long weekend if that’s what you can manage and I’m not alone in my recommendation. According to a survey of 1000 traveling couples , almost two thirds (63%) of the respondents claimed that traveling has helped them stay together. So the question is, how can you turn your otherwise ordinary travels into romantic escapes? 

secrets resorts romantic escape

Go Adults ONLY

I love kids. Ok. Maybe not all kids, but certainly my kid. I love seeing their faces light up while on vacation with their family, or the wonder when they discover something new. That being said, the quickest way to turn a vacation from ordinary to intimate is to leave your kids with grandma and grandpa. There is a time and place for family vacations but there also needs to be time carved out for just the two of you. There is a freedom and inhibition that comes with knowing your kids are well cared for, elsewhere. Resorts like Secrets Resorts & Spas cater exclusively to adult travelers looking for a romantic escape, which means you won’t chance running into anyone else’s kids either. The adults-only brand now has 16 properties to choose from including their two newest locations – Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya and Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica. Swoon.

secrets resorts romantic escape

Go Luxury All-Inclusive

According to a study by TNS, one of the biggest sources of stress for vacationers is how much money they spend while on vacation. This is why we love choosing luxurious all-inclusive resorts for our getaways because are a great way to beat that stress. All-inclusive resorts give you the ability to budget exactly how much you’re going to spend and then leave your wallet in the room the rest of the time, which means less arguing about money and more carefree enjoyment of each other’s time! These days luxury all-inclusive resorts include amenities like 24 hour room service, gourmet dining, premium drinks, on-site activities and beautiful accommodations. We are so pro all-inclusive that it was our #1 requirement when planning our destination wedding. We wanted to make sure our guests had the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy themselves without any surprise bills at checkout!

secrets resorts romantic escape

Keep it Simple

Traveling somewhere new can make people push themselves to the limit trying to see and do it all. But some of my favorite vacations memories with my husband involve the two of us lounging on a beach or next to a pool sipping fruity drinks, laughing and re-getting to know one another. We have so few moments to relax in that way during our busy lives at home. Try to dedicate one whole day to leisure. Sleep in, spend the day relaxing by the water, book a couples massage, take meals in your room, take a nap, watch the sunset, stay up late talking – who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself falling in love all over again.

secrets resorts romantic escape

Try Something New Together

Maybe it’s the free-flowing alcohol, all the noms you can devour, the idea that we just have this one opportunity or just the fact that we have never been more relaxed; but take it from someone who knows, all-inclusive vacations have a way of constructing just the right circumstances for someone to break out of their shell and try something completely new. When you make that leap with your spouse beside you, it creates a bonding experience that you will whisper about in bed at night long after you have gone home when the stress of daily life has taken its toll and you’re toying with the notion of running away from it all…again. The conversation always starts the same “Remember when…” Try horseback riding on the beach, wind surfing, dancing, sailing, scuba diving, or snorkeling. If you can’t find something new, do something your spouse loves – even if it’s something you don’t. 

secrets resorts romantic escape

Enjoy a Delicious Meal

Food can be an experience that is more than the sum of it’s parts, more than just sustaining our bodies. Enjoying a delicious meal together is a way to experience a new culture, to try something new and to discover interesting facts about your other half. I’m still learning exactly which type of fish my husband will and won’t eat. Thus far, it doesn’t seem to have a rhyme or reason but we never fail to discover a new taste while on vacation. The act of eating together also creates an intimate experience because it takes the pressure off speaking and allows conversation to flow, which is why dinner is the “go-to” for first dates. 

While Valentine’s Day is all about the romance and it’s a perfect excuse to plan a romantic getaway, Secrets Resorts & Spas are giving you the chance to spread the love beyond that one day this month! Known for offering adults an extra sprinkling of romance at any one of their luxury beach front locations where everything is included, you can get a “Secrets to Romance” package featuring a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and fresh fruit, Mimosa breakfast in bed (perfect for your day of relaxation!) and romantic turndown for your booking for travel through 2016! 

love is in the air

To receive the deal, you MUST book your romantic getaway at www.secretsresorts.com/secretstoromance before February 29th to take advantage of the Secrets to Romance package. While you’re at it, you should also enter the LOVE IS IN THE AIR! twitter contest for a chance to win a 4-night stay for two including airfare to Secrets Resorts & Spas PLUS the Secrets to Romance package. All you have to do is enter the contest on the Secrets to Romance webpage and then share your romantic photo on Twitter tagging @SecretsResorts and using the hashtag #SecretsToRomance.

This post is written in partnership with Secrets Resorts, but I’ve always been a fan of the brand and the properties, even long before I became a blogger!

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