How To Add Romance While Also Traveling With Kids
Before the kids became part of the family, it was easy to find romance while traveling. But things are a lot different now that the household has grown to three or four. Nevertheless, couples can still find romance on their next vacation, even with the little ones in tow. Here are a few tips on how to add romance on a family vacation.
Travel To A Romantic Destination
What better way to instill passion on a family vacation than visiting an area known for romance? Stateside places like Savannah, Aspen, Hawaii, California Wine Country and the Monterey Peninsula are all highly regarded as both family-friendly and romantic destinations. And many more international cities offer entertainment for all ages while also being acclaimed as among the world's most romantic destinations. These include Paris, Venice, Cinque Terra, Majorca and Tahiti, among others. Even when the kids are tagging along, walking on a secluded beach, taking a stroll down the Champs Elysées or taking a gondola ride on Venice canals can make for a truly magical experience.
Related: Best Cities To Visit With Kids Less Than Five Years Old
With a wealth of family-friendly resorts all over the world, parents can find time to add some romance to their trip while the kids are preoccupied with fun activities. Take, for instance, the fabulous Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas, currently offering special offers through April. This enormous island resort features seven luxury hotels, a high-end spa facility, a championship golf course, a gigantic water park and the largest casino in the Caribbean. There are many fun things to do for children of all ages, from toddlers through high school ages, including a kids' club, gliding through amazing water slides, viewing underground aquariums, snorkeling and a nightclub for teenagers, with an internet lounge and video gaming room. Another top-rated resort is the Grand Wailea along Wailea Beach on Maui, which features luxury accommodations, award-winning spa treatments, a mini-resort for kids and extraordinary swimming pools, including nine pools on six levels.
Make Hotel Reservations For A One- Or Two-Bedroom Suite
Because not every couple with children can afford to escape to a family-friendly resort, another option is to make hotel reservations with a private bedroom and a sofa bed in an adjoining room or a two-bedroom suite. This way, a couple can enjoy intimacy behind closed doors, especially after the kids are fast asleep. Another nice feature in a hotel room to add more romance is a balcony with a view or an in-room fireplace. In the morning, parents with or without their kids can enjoy a gourmet breakfast in bed. Additionally, some hotels offer an evening child care service, allowing couples to enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner or a few extra hours in the seclusion of their rooms.
Book A Couples Spa Treatment
If childcare or other activities are available, parents can also add romance into a family excursion by pampering themselves in a relaxing couples massage. This is a perfect time to really unwind away from the stresses of parenting, but there are multiple benefits of massages, such as increased flexibility, better circulation and back pain management. Each spa facility offers its own set of packages for couples such as a mud bath or hot tub with fruit/chocolate and champagne followed by a side-by-side massage in a candlelit room. Other spa treatments can also be enjoyable from facials to body wraps and some spa packages may include a romantic dinner for two.
Book A Vacation Rental
In recent years, the vacation rental industry has exploded in popularity with sites such as VRBO and Airbnb drawing worldwide interest. In many instances, families with children can find great rentals at prices often much better than what's found on online travel sites or directly with a hotel. A quick search of rental properties in Paris revealed a studio equipped to accommodate up to four people, with a full kitchen and a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, for 109 Euro or about $132 per night. Similarly, a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco can be rented by the day, week or longer for under $115 for night. And rentals are not restricted to just studios and apartments – other accommodations available on Airbnb range from windmills, treehouses, houseboats and ranches to luxury villas, castles, yachts and fairytale cottages.
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.