Best Romantic Vacations - Five Examples

What are the best romantic vacations? Those that bring a couple together. This means spending time alone, with no friends or family around. It also means an opportunity to do things together. Examples of five of the best romantic vacations follow.

Romantic Beach Vacations

Why are beaches so romantic? Sun, sand, and the sound of the waves relax you and take away the stress and worry of "everyday life." Escaping stress is always good for romance. Just be sure to find a place on the beach, not a hotel miles away. Hassles with traffic, packing and unpacking the car is not romantic.

On a budget? You can do like we did in northern Florida. We stayed in our conversion van at a state campground on the beach. The days were spent collecting shells together, swimming, and flying a kite in the breeze. In the evening we took our chairs down by the water to watch the sunset. The beaches of the Lake Michigan are another great place for a romantic vacation, and are much more affordable.

Romantic Cruises

A cruise is certainly the classic romantic vacation. Escape it all - even the sight of land. Being isolated together out at sea, especially in the comfort of a cruise ship, can be great for a couple. Be sure you both like the idea, and budget enough so money worries don't steal the romance (cruise ship bars are notoriously expensive).

Talk through your options. You could discover that you both were assuming the other wanted a traditional carribean cruise, when in reality you both would love to watch whales and glaciers on an Alaskan cruise. There are many different destinations and even styles for cruises. Find out if the cruise has activities that you'll enjoy participating in together.

Romantic Train Rides

While in Ecuador, my wife and I took a train from Riobamba to Alausi that was scenic, romantic and adventurous. I rode on the roof for part of the trip, and then we snuggled to keep warm as the train went high into the Andes Mountains. After a stop in a small mountain town for lunch, the final destination was a valley where we got a view of a rock formation high above, called "La Nariz Del Diablo," or "The Devil's Nose."

You can find romantic train rides all over the world. Amtraks more scenic stretches take days and can be a vacation in themselves. You can also plan a vacation around one or more "dinner trains" or scenic rides like the one we took from Silverton to Durango Colorado (beautiful mountains).

Romantic Skiing Vacations

These are only romantic if you both ski, of course. Being together in a dramatic setting, sharing something you both enjoy - that is one of the best romantic vacations imaginable. Remember to sit together by the fireplace at least once while you're there.

Romantic Small Town Vacations

Some of our most romantic times are when we stay in small towns. It's especially true if the tourist season is mostly over, or hasn't yet begun. Our trip to Silverton Colorado in September was one of ourfavorites. Almost no crowds, fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, local music and dancing in the bars at night - it was very romantic.

Destination, of course, isn't the most important part of the romance. If you find a place you both want to go to, by all means go there. Just remember to find things you can do together. Vacations that allow you to share time and common interests are the best romantic vacations.

For another example of a one of the best romantic vacations, see the page on Banos, Ecuador.

Related page: Romantic Weekend Getaways.