How To Plan A Romantic Vacation To The Caribbean

By Author: Jesse Henson
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For most people, their dream romantic vacation is on a tropical island where they can enjoy long lazy summer days and sunset strolls along the beach. The Caribbean is such a destination. There are several island nations that each offers a unique vacation experience. Facilities range from glamorous to rustic, and most recreation activities take place on the beaches or in the calm tropical waters. The options are quite diverse; to find the perfect romantic destination for you and your partner, it's worth taking some time to research the different destinations. When doing so here, are a few considerations to keep in mind:

Be Realistic About Your Vacation Budget
This is usually the part that people don't like to talk about. They like to look at brochures and see advertisements on television and decide that's where they'd like to go. Unfortunately, the places advertised are usually five-star luxury resorts which are often above the average person's vacation budget. Decide in advance how much money you have available to spend in total and be realistic about it. A vacation's not that enjoyable when you end up paying it ...
... off over the course of a year. It also isn't that fun to scrimp every cent while on vacation - that tends to take the romance out of it. Once you have decided on your budget, put aside one-quarter of your budget for spending money while on vacation. Unless you are going to an all-inclusive resort, that's approximately how much spending money you will need to do sightseeing activities, buy souvenirs, eat out, enjoy a cocktail or two, and pay staff tips. The three-quarters you have left will pay for your flights, airport taxes, visas, transfers and accommodation. Once you have an idea of your budget, do a search online for vacation packages that fall within that price range. That way, whichever destination you choose, you know you can afford and it makes the rest of the planning process much more fun.

Think About the Type of Destination and Hotel You Want
For some people, unless a vacation is luxurious, they feel it's not a vacation. For others, the ideal romantic getaway is being tucked away in a private beach house on a remote beach and being able to enjoy the destination as though you are a local resident. Think of the type of things that you and your partner enjoy doing together and recall your most memorable times together. Do you love being busy and exploring all that a destination has to offer? Do you love spending quiet time together relaxing in a hammock with a good book? Or do you enjoy shopping in markets, eating out and being part of the social scene? Then read up on destination and hotel reviews, and short-list the destinations that you think will be suitable. Keep in mind that in the same group of islands, you could get different types of destinations. In the Bahamas, for example, the area around Nassau can be very glamorous with many large hotels and resorts. Yet hop across to the island of Eleuthera and you can enjoy uncrowded beaches and a beautiful natural tropical environment. If you have a particular interest such as sailing or scuba diving, read other travelers' reviews on the activities in a destination. This will provide a more objective perspective than a sales brochure.

How Long Will It Take to Get to Your Destination?
Let's face it - no matter how wonderful a remote Caribbean destination sounds, if it'll take you two to three days to get there, it's not worth it. There is nothing romantic about airport waiting lounges and taking endless transfers to and from airports because you have to stay overnight at each connection point. You don't want to arrive at your destination so exhausted that it takes you several days to recover, only to have to start the whole process again to head back home. Most Caribbean destinations have direct daily flights to and from major airport hubs in the U.S. Look for destinations that have the best flight connections to your hometown. At the most, you may need to take a short domestic flight or ferry transfer as the final leg of your route.

Is It a Special Occasion?
If the romantic vacation is for a special occasion, enlist the help of the resort staff once you have decided where you are going. Quite often, they will set up a private dinner for you and provide extras such as a private butler or musician. If you are planning a proposal, celebrating a special anniversary or enjoying a honeymoon, most resort staff will be more than willing to help you make it the most memorable occasion ever.
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