Enjoying new experiences and exploring foreign landscapes is fodder for any loving relationship. Whether you’re in the midst of a 20-year marriage or celebrating a six-month anniversary, traveling with an affectionate partner can be the adventure of a lifetime.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you go. The destination of choice could be halfway around the world, a new and remote locale across the border, or merely a cozy cottage in the countryside. The success of the trip will ride on the subtle accents and details of each mini-adventure and activity.
After questioning a slew of friends and acquaintances, I have compiled a list of tips that can transform a mundane trip into the romantic extravaganza of a lifetime. It is important to recognize that well received romantic gestures are bifurcated by gender. Accordingly, I have divided my advice by sex. Husbands and boyfriends, you are up first!
Tips to Treat Your Princess
Surprises Reign Supreme
I know that your first instinct is to make the vacation a team effort. You want equal input on every activity so as to make your partner feel like a valued contributor. As nice and politically correct as this strategy sounds, women love to be surprised. For every woman I have spoken with, the common string that connects memorable vacation experiences is the thrill of the unexpected.
Take inventory on her likes and dislikes, and secretly choose one to three experiences that you know she will absolutely love.
Some examples are: (1) a restaurant reservation at an exclusive place that serves her favorite type of food, (2) a romantic performance or show that you know she will like, or (3) an adrenaline pumping activity like skydiving, bungee jumping, or scuba diving.
Serve Her
Most women spend their lives taking care of men. They cook and clean for their male counterparts on a daily basis, usually on top of meeting their career obligations. The holiday is a time period is where you can turn the tables. Not only should your princess be free from labor, she should feel like you are doing things for her.
Some excellent examples of service are as follows: (1) picking up breakfast while she is asleep and bringing it into bed, (2) giving her a surprise massage after a long day, or (3) carrying her into the room when she’s tired. These might sound cheesy at first, but loads of women have recounted numerous gestures like these in the bubbliest manner imaginable.
Have a Present Waiting in the Room Upon Arrival
You don’t need a path of rose petals and an array of candles in the shape of a massive heart to win your lover’s affection. Instead, something simple yet thoughtful can go miles. A present waiting in the room demonstrates that you have planned ahead. It shows that you cared about her experience well before the trip began. I can’t tell you how many of my female friends gushed over the smallest gifts that were laid out prior to arrival.
Some examples are (1) a box of her favorite chocolates with a thoughtful note, (2) a single red rose on her pillow, (3) a pair of event tickets waiting in the room, or (4) a bottle of champagne on ice.
Not only will these small gestures get your girl swooning over you, they will set the tone for the entire trip and make every event thereafter a little sweeter.
Build in Activities that Foster Communication
Movies are out. As much fun as an awesome cinematic adventure can be, it is a highly isolating event. When the two of you zone into the captivating film, you may as well be alone at home. The idea of a vacation is to reconnect and build new bonds. Accordingly, choose activities that are entertaining but also encourage communication and interaction.
Watch the Sunset At least One Night
Every woman I’ve spoken to seems to have a vacation sunset story. Whether it’s viewed from a beach, a skyscraper, or remote sidewalk, this epic scene is always burned into the memory of a romantically charged female. The best part about watching this awesome event is that it’s 100% free. If you boys thought that all loving gestures have a hefty price tag, think again!
Tips to Coddle your Prince Charming
Select a Fun Nightclub and Go Wild
For a man, going on a vacation is about letting loose and acting crazy. Guys love bachelor parties because it gives them an excuse to hang with their buddies and party hard for an entire weekend as if they were back in college with a dozen shots of Jagermeister in their bellies.
But who says you can’t embrace the party scene and show your man an epic time? Buy some liquor, pregame in your hotel room, and then whisk him away to a nightclub or bar. Spend the night dancing, talking, and having fun while boozing up your beau. Give him one night where he can let go and party hard alongside you.
Choose one Night for an Amazing Steak
Men. Love. Meat. A succulent slab of prime beef is the pinnacle of dining experiences for almost all men. You’ll find a lingering smile plastered across a man’s face for hours after the meal has ended. Even if you’re not a huge steak fan, let your loved one enjoy this super treat at least once on your holiday adventure. I guarantee he will be talking about that awesome steak dinner to his friends when he gets back to reality.
Take him to a Local Sporting Event
We all know your man spends hours watching sports back home. We also know that you want the vacation to be about the two of you spending time with each other. As unappealing as a sporting event might sound, if the two of you go together and experience it as a couple, it can be a wonderful memory and an awesome date.
This is especially true if you are venturing to a foreign country. A good friend of mine surprised her boyfriend with a pair of tickets to see a football game while in Brazil. She wasn’t a sports fan, but the excitement and energy was so palpable in the stadium that she had an absolute blast. Oh, and her boyfriend? He framed a picture from the game and hung it above his bed!
Fun Lingerie and Sex Adventures
Surprise, surprise… guys love sex. For them, good vacations and plenty of sex go hand in hand. If you want to spice up the holiday and keep your man smiling for weeks to come, bring along a secret stash of sexy underwear. And make sure it’s something he’s never seen before (since a new look can rejuvenate a sputtering sexual life).
In addition, be willing to try new things in the bedroom as well as places other than the bedroom for that matter! Crazy and wild sex escapades will be remembered fondly by your lover for years to come. It’s generally the first thing mentioned by every man I interviewed when recounting their romantic trips.
(Photo via http://spirittourism.com/tag/honeymoon/)
After questioning a slew of friends and acquaintances, I have compiled a list of tips that can transform a mundane trip into the romantic extravaganza of a lifetime. It is important to recognize that well received romantic gestures are bifurcated by gender. Accordingly, I have divided my advice by sex. Husbands and boyfriends, you are up first!
Tips to Treat Your Princess
Surprises Reign Supreme
I know that your first instinct is to make the vacation a team effort. You want equal input on every activity so as to make your partner feel like a valued contributor. As nice and politically correct as this strategy sounds, women love to be surprised. For every woman I have spoken with, the common string that connects memorable vacation experiences is the thrill of the unexpected.
Take inventory on her likes and dislikes, and secretly choose one to three experiences that you know she will absolutely love.
Some examples are: (1) a restaurant reservation at an exclusive place that serves her favorite type of food, (2) a romantic performance or show that you know she will like, or (3) an adrenaline pumping activity like skydiving, bungee jumping, or scuba diving.
Serve Her
Most women spend their lives taking care of men. They cook and clean for their male counterparts on a daily basis, usually on top of meeting their career obligations. The holiday is a time period is where you can turn the tables. Not only should your princess be free from labor, she should feel like you are doing things for her.
Some excellent examples of service are as follows: (1) picking up breakfast while she is asleep and bringing it into bed, (2) giving her a surprise massage after a long day, or (3) carrying her into the room when she’s tired. These might sound cheesy at first, but loads of women have recounted numerous gestures like these in the bubbliest manner imaginable.
Have a Present Waiting in the Room Upon Arrival
You don’t need a path of rose petals and an array of candles in the shape of a massive heart to win your lover’s affection. Instead, something simple yet thoughtful can go miles. A present waiting in the room demonstrates that you have planned ahead. It shows that you cared about her experience well before the trip began. I can’t tell you how many of my female friends gushed over the smallest gifts that were laid out prior to arrival.
Some examples are (1) a box of her favorite chocolates with a thoughtful note, (2) a single red rose on her pillow, (3) a pair of event tickets waiting in the room, or (4) a bottle of champagne on ice.
Not only will these small gestures get your girl swooning over you, they will set the tone for the entire trip and make every event thereafter a little sweeter.
Build in Activities that Foster Communication
Movies are out. As much fun as an awesome cinematic adventure can be, it is a highly isolating event. When the two of you zone into the captivating film, you may as well be alone at home. The idea of a vacation is to reconnect and build new bonds. Accordingly, choose activities that are entertaining but also encourage communication and interaction.
Watch the Sunset At least One Night
Every woman I’ve spoken to seems to have a vacation sunset story. Whether it’s viewed from a beach, a skyscraper, or remote sidewalk, this epic scene is always burned into the memory of a romantically charged female. The best part about watching this awesome event is that it’s 100% free. If you boys thought that all loving gestures have a hefty price tag, think again!
Tips to Coddle your Prince Charming
Select a Fun Nightclub and Go Wild
For a man, going on a vacation is about letting loose and acting crazy. Guys love bachelor parties because it gives them an excuse to hang with their buddies and party hard for an entire weekend as if they were back in college with a dozen shots of Jagermeister in their bellies.
But who says you can’t embrace the party scene and show your man an epic time? Buy some liquor, pregame in your hotel room, and then whisk him away to a nightclub or bar. Spend the night dancing, talking, and having fun while boozing up your beau. Give him one night where he can let go and party hard alongside you.
Choose one Night for an Amazing Steak
Men. Love. Meat. A succulent slab of prime beef is the pinnacle of dining experiences for almost all men. You’ll find a lingering smile plastered across a man’s face for hours after the meal has ended. Even if you’re not a huge steak fan, let your loved one enjoy this super treat at least once on your holiday adventure. I guarantee he will be talking about that awesome steak dinner to his friends when he gets back to reality.
Take him to a Local Sporting Event
We all know your man spends hours watching sports back home. We also know that you want the vacation to be about the two of you spending time with each other. As unappealing as a sporting event might sound, if the two of you go together and experience it as a couple, it can be a wonderful memory and an awesome date.
This is especially true if you are venturing to a foreign country. A good friend of mine surprised her boyfriend with a pair of tickets to see a football game while in Brazil. She wasn’t a sports fan, but the excitement and energy was so palpable in the stadium that she had an absolute blast. Oh, and her boyfriend? He framed a picture from the game and hung it above his bed!
Fun Lingerie and Sex Adventures
Surprise, surprise… guys love sex. For them, good vacations and plenty of sex go hand in hand. If you want to spice up the holiday and keep your man smiling for weeks to come, bring along a secret stash of sexy underwear. And make sure it’s something he’s never seen before (since a new look can rejuvenate a sputtering sexual life).
In addition, be willing to try new things in the bedroom as well as places other than the bedroom for that matter! Crazy and wild sex escapades will be remembered fondly by your lover for years to come. It’s generally the first thing mentioned by every man I interviewed when recounting their romantic trips.
(Photo via http://spirittourism.com/tag/honeymoon/)
 | In March 2010 Jasper gave up his finance career to pursue a lifelong dream: to travel the world full time. To support himself, he runs several online businesses. He shares his adventures with the world through his blog, The Traveling Dutchman, which he also wants to use to inspire others to live their dream. |
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