Postcard Getaway

Create a Perfect First Romantic Getaway with the Couples Travel Blueprint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

With Valentine’s Day and spring break right around the corner, many couples start thinking about romantic getaways together to take a break from the stress of everyday life and the cold winter that won’t seem to go away. It’s time to kick back and dream of warmer days with lots of champagne and your sweetheart by your side.

If it’s your first couples trip, fear not. You can take a few simple measures to ensure you have one of the most fun, relaxing vacations with your favorite person.

Set a Budget Together

When you first decide to take a trip, stay transparent and remain upfront with your partner about your monetary comfort level. Everyone splurges on vacation, so discuss what you want to spend more money away ahead of time. Some people prefer to drop more cash on fancy hotels, while others prefer to eat out everyday when they’re away. (I’m the person who needs to eat out haha). Whatever you like to do, communicate that to your significant other.

Furthermore, set a budget for how much money you will spend on transportation. To save money, explore public transportation options. They often cost less than renting a car and taxis, so use subways and buses to your advantage when you can. Finally, plan a budget for extras. How much can you spend on souvenirs and spontaneous activities? Remember to factor tips into your budget if you would like to secure a nice spot by the pool.

Choose a Destination with Shared Interests

When deciding where to go, separate from your partner briefly and make a shortlist of three to four places for each. Brainstormed lists will give you both a base of general ideas for where you want to go. Then, once you compare ideas, determine if some of the places have similar vibes that overlap. Did you both mention the beach? Choose a tropical destination together.

If you have different destination ideas, consider engaging in a destination that offers combined experiences. For example, visit a beach town with cultural sites nearby, a city with nearby hiking trails, or a place where you can access nature.

Finally, factor in travel time. How much time can you take off of work? A trip to Paris might have to wait if you have a long weekend. Don’t worry; local trips have as much appeal as far-flung destinations. 

Discuss Expectations

If this is your first trip together, you might discover you have different vacationing experiences. So, share your travel styles with your partner. Do you like to plan everything? Do you want to go with the flow when you explore? These can impact travel with new people and can cause disagreements when they clash.

To avoid conflict, define a balance between relaxing vs exploring and sightseeing before departing. Some people want to lay by the pool while others want to gogogo. If you and your partner have opposite travel styles, offer to switch activities each day so you can meet in the middle and relax in the way you both enjoy.

Add Small Romantic Touches

Before leaving, pack a small surprise or gift for your significant other on the trip to make it more memorable. For example, my boyfriend knows I love candy and always brings me sweet treats when we travel. Sweet treats work well for both of us because they make me happy, and he gets to eat candy, too.

You can also plan a special moment ahead of time. For example, you could surprise your partner with a trip to a unique library or bookshop if they love reading. You can also arrange a surprise fancy meal or an activity during the trip your partner would enjoy. 

Finally, keep it simple: less is more. You don’t have to surprise anyone, of course, but small gestures show you pay attention to detail and are excited to share time with your significant other.

Plan a Few Activities and Leave Room for Spontaneity

When planning a trip, I like to leave a loose structure with one to two key activities scheduled for a specific time each day. I usually do this with activities I must book in advance, like dinner at a popular restaurant or a packed tourist attraction that sells out. Then, you can leave the rest of the day open to explore the scene around your structured activities. This leaves room to wander into cute shops and explore hidden spots.

Leaving less structure will also allow you to prepare for downtime. Sometimes, you just get tired during a trip and want to relax in the hotel. It happens. Bring a book, play cards, or pre-create playlists on your Spotify. You can also bring your computer so you can watch Netflix movies together.

Split Responsibilities

When planning your vacation, split responsibilities and divide them by strengths. Consider: Who is the organized partner? Who comes up with more fun activities? Leave the details, such as flights/transportation plans, to the one good at organizing or following maps. Leave booking the hotels to the organized person and allocate the other tasks, such as picking out activities, finding meals, and making itineraries, to the other person.

Splitting planning responsibilities balances the trip and encourages teamwork. Remember to check in throughout the planning stages to agree before making final decisions about accommodations and travel times. This way, you know both of you agree on the general skeleton of the trip.

Incorporate Local Cultures

Don’t forget to incorporate local culture on your trip. Cultural activities can serve as a great learning and bonding experience for you and your significant other. This is really easy to do and it can be simple things such as attending a cooking class. You can then try to recreate cooking the treat together on future date nights.

You can also watch a traditional performance, such as a dance show, music performance, or theatre performance. Experiencing live performances helps you engage in the local art scene, and they are also just fun!

If you’re traveling around Valentine’s Day, partake in local Valentine’s traditions. Can you attend a local parade or festival while you’re there? Have a date night at a recommended local restaurant or gift a customary item to each other from that location.

Finally, many couples love doing arts and crafts together. Many people do this for fun date nights, but activities such as making pottery, painting, and jewelry can enhance a vacation. You can craft in many fun ways and even make crafts for each other.

Create a Keepsake

Create a tangible reminder of your trip together and strengthen the bond between you. You can easily assemble a digital or physical photo album with many candid shots. You can also make other DIY mementos, where you collect small items and create a memory box or scrapbook together. These projects can include ticket stubs, seashells, date night receipts, and Polaroid photos.

Many people also like to buy souvenirs for each other. This fun tradition can help you get to know each other better if you’re a newer couple and bring you closer together. Happy traveling!