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Wish you could get away with your romantic partner? A beach vacation is a perfect destination for a fun and fancy couple’s vacation. Despite being stuck inside, for the time being, dreaming up your perfect vacation with your partner can be a fun activity and get you pumped for the future. Plus it’s a great chance to learn more about your partner and to start saving early so you can have the vacation you have always wanted. So stay indoors, grab a drink, and start planning with these beach vacation tips!
Make A Budget
Before you start packing your bathing suit, you need to sit down and think seriously about what you’re doing. Vacations are expensive and you can easily overextend yourself if you’re not careful. The first step of any vacation is planning out a budget to avoid such a fiasco.Sit with your partner and work out how much you can spend. It’s important to factor in not only airfare, cruise tickets, hotel rooms and the like, but also food, shopping, activities and emergency money. It’s best to keep vacation costs to about what you make during the time you’re taking off. However, if you save up over the course of a few months, you can have quite a luxury vacation without worrying. Try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to vacation budging, you will never be able to account for everything, but you should at least make sure your largest expenses are covered. Once you know exactly how much you can spend, you can start planning out your perfect beach vacation!
Then Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More
Once you have a budget, you can focus on the fun part! Find out what you want to do and where you want to go. There are all kinds of options available for a beach vacation. There are cruises, resorts, condos, rentals, hotels and more. First, you should figure out where you’re going. There’s are tons of options to choose from:
Caribbean
Hawaii
Fiji
Mexico
European Coast
US West Coast
US East Coast
Australia
A Multitude of other islands worldwide
Those are just a few places to choose from. Once you know where you want to go together, you can look into accommodations, activities and so much more. If you need to save money, look into all-expense-paid resorts or cruises, Groupon discounts, and couples packages.
You can even turn into a fun game to play together, listing out all the places you want to visit than having each other guess based on clues you provide. Then compare notes, see if you have any of the same places, if you do, decide together which sounds like most fun or interesting. If you find yourselves at a standstill, divided on where to go, play a round of your favorite board or video game and let the winner decide.
There are also hundreds of websites that can help with planning a vacation. Google Flights can help find cheap flights to a variety of destinations and help you decide where to go. You also use Kayak, Hopper, and Booking.com. If you’re trying to find out about different locations Tripadvisor.com can help you narrow down where to go. If you’re really unsure about what you want to do or what your options are, consult a travel agent to help you plan your vacation
But Don’t Be Afraid to be Spontaneous
Sometimes it might be best to throw the meticulous plans you made earlier and see where life takes you. Don’t be afraid to try new restaurants, activities, and adventures. While it’s great to have a plan to keep you centered, if you find out there’s something you both really want to do, then do it! Let go and have fun together. The best part about getting away together is exploring new experiences and enjoying where life goes. However, make sure when you pick activities on the fly, they’re things you both want to do, don’t force your partner or yourself to do something you are uncomfortable with.
Divide and Conquer
Don’t try to be responsible for every part of the vacation. You and your partner will have a much easier time if you divide the responsibilities between you. Have one person take care of preparing your home for your absence by unplugging electronics, emptying the fridge, getting sitters for children or animals, forwarding or making plans for mail, newspapers, and other deliveries. The other can focus on buying supplies, packing, paperwork and letting family and friends know when you’ll be leaving and when you’ll be back. When you get where you are going, make sure to continue to divide responsibilities like money tracking, navigation, paperwork, and packing for the day. You can divide responsibilities however you wish but neither of you should be solely responsible for the vacation details. Learning to depend on each other is part of the vacation experience and it will help you grow into a stronger couple.
Know Your R&R
One of the most important things you should know is the rules and regulations of where you’re traveling. Make sure you know if there are certain cultural rules you need to be aware of, laws that apply to tourists and check to see if there are certain items you won’t be allowed to bring home if you’re traveling overseas. Make sure you’re also aware of the rules of the place where you’re staying, especially if you choose a cruise or resort. There might also be clothing requirements for certain restaurants and other areas you should be aware of. For example, in the Caribbean civilians are not allowed to wear camouflage as it is reserved for the military. If you’re traveling to another country altogether brush up on general laws so you know what you can get in trouble for and how to avoid it. A lot of Tourists end in bad situations because they didn’t take the time to look into where they’re traveling.
Emergency!
One of the most important parts of vacation planning is often one no one thinks enough about. Plan for emergencies. Make sure you have all the necessary information with you for medical or legal emergencies as well as other kinds of mishaps like lost luggage. One important tip is to set aside an amount of cash, $500- $1000, in your carry-on or purse in case of emergencies, lost luggage or other issues. Make sure you know what to do in other kinds of emergencies as well such as getting caught in riptides, shark sightings, hurricane weather, getting lost, and so on. It’s always best to over-prepare than to be totally at a loss when you’re on vacation. Injuries are also possible while you’re vacation so it’s best to purchase travel insurance if you’re accident-prone.
Schedule Time Apart
It may seem strange to suggest spending time apart while you’re on a romantic getaway together, however, it’s actually very important. While you’re going on vacation to be together, vacation is stressful and difficult. There’s nothing wrong with one person going on a spa day while another goes surfing. Time apart is a great way to come back to each other refreshed and ready for more fun. It can also be a great way to alleviate vacation overload. You can always find each other again during the day or keep in contact via cell phone if you want to. Needing space isn’t a sign you’re not a perfect couple, in fact, it’s natural to need time alone after being stuck with someone for 48+ hours.
One Night
Trying to be romantic and go on a dinner date every night can be very overwhelming. Instead plan for one night of vacation to be the romantic date night where you dress to the nines, eat your fanciest meal, and enjoy each other’s company. You can even pair this night with a day at the spa together or separate to get ready and nighttime activities like comedy shows. Having one romantic night planned out will keep both of you from getting underwhelmed by the expectation that every night should be the most romantic night ever and can be something that you and your partner cherish forever. It also lets you be spontaneous during the rest of your trip without worrying you’ll forget to have a nice dinner together.
Perfect Your Packing
Now that you know where you’re going and what you’re gonna do when you get there, it’s time to pack. Here is a shortlist of essentials you’ll want to bring no matter where you go.
Sunscreen!
Aloe Vera for when you get burnt anyway
Water Bottle (Collapsible is best)
Tote Bag to carry during your daily activities
Sunglasses to protect your eyes
Sun Hat for your face
Bug Spray/anti-itch cream
Swimsuits – bring more than one so you don’t get stuck in a damp suit
Beach Cover-up
Entertainment (Cards, Tablet, book, mobile gaming device, etc.)
Beach Towels or yoga mats
Casual Clothing 2-5 outfits
1 or 2 fancier outfits
Charges for phone, tablet, etc.
Sandals or flip flops
Walking and evening shoes
Birth Control/prophylactics
Prescription Medication
A small first aid kit with bandaids and Neosporin
Toiletries – toothbrush, hairbrush, etc.
If you plan to spend a lot of time lounging at the beach, a yoga mat may be a more comfortable route than a beach towel and it’s waterproof. Other items you may want include are a waterproof bag for electronics and valuables, baby powder for chafing and drying off easier, snorkeling equipment, and over the counter pain relievers, allergy medication and antacids. You can DIY a lot of useful gear for spending a day at the beach, like using an old sunblock container to hide valuables, creating a bag out of your towel, adding a pillow to your towel, and more. Keep your packing light, and don’t forget to leave room for souvenirs!
Snacking All the Way
Food and water are important. And sometimes there might not be much around or you may be too tired or unable to get any because you’re at a secluded beach or in a museum. Always have a snack and a water bottle with you. Not only will you avoid the hangry (hungry and angry) arguing over where to get food and when, but you’ll also avoid dehydration, which can be very harmful in warmer climates. Snacks can be anything you like, granola bar, jerky, fruit, candy, etc. as long as it is something that you both can agree on. Bring enough to ward off hunger for a short period of time, and make sure they aren’t anything too messy or difficult to eat so they can be munched on the run.
Fresh drinking water can also be used to clean any cuts or wounds, and to rinse out an eye if something gets in it. Be careful when filling up your water bottle though, in some countries tap water may not be drinkable from the tap. If you’re on a cruise there are usually places where you can fill up and most hotels should have drinkable water, but be wary in local buildings and/or if you’re staying in a residence through Airbnb or couchsurfer.
And Finally…Have Fun!
Don’t get caught up in the minutia of your vacation, just enjoy the time you have and be happy together. Remember that it’s okay to disagree and fight, it happens and don’t be afraid to let your partner know how you’re feeling. The best way to have a great time together is to be open, and honest. Your getaway will be over before you know it, so savor every moment you get with your partner. Take all the selfies and pictures you can, but don’t be distracted from the moment. Being together is the best part of taking a vacation with your romantic partner so be together! Have fun and be in the moment, because you’ll never get those moments back!