Planning a romantic vacation for a special anniversary can be a wonderful way to celebrate such a milestone and whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive tropical island, a secluded mountain getaway – or even something that seems less “traditionally romantic” – there are many options for the perfect vacation filled with romance.
There’s a lot that goes into deciding where to go though. Of course, whether you’re looking for beaches or mountains, or “something else” is a start, and will be one of the first things your travel agent will want to know. When you want to travel is another obvious consideration. But after those two things, the next big things to discuss usually center around variations of the following:
- What can we do there?
- What is included and what isn’t?
- What is the cost?
It is important to understand that all 3 of these things are actually connected because you can’t (or shouldn’t) consider one without looking at all of them. Most people focus on cost, but if that cost is super cheap (“a great deal”) and you arrive to find out that all of the things you want to do cost extra – or worse, that the place you’ve chosen doesn’t offer the things you want to do – then it’s not really a good deal. But when you look beyond just the cost and consider what kinds of things your destination offers, along with what is included as part of the package and what you have to pay extra for, and then look at the cost, you can determine the value of the vacation package.
And it’s vacation value that you want to go for. If you’re getting a lot of value, then it’s a great deal!
So for example, if the Caribbean is calling, you are likely looking for great beaches and beautiful blue water. You may also be looking for a variety of water sports, but not all water sports are available at all resorts, so if you’re interested in snorkeling for example, you’ll want to make sure you can do that at your resort – and if it will cost you extra. What about things like boating or water skiing? What about entertainment? Is there any and if so, what kind? Entertainment can often be tied to the personality or “vibe” of a resort, so look at this carefully because if you’re happy to party the night away, you totally do not want to be at a resort that “goes to bed” at 10 p.m. every night!
Of course, many Caribbean resorts will advertise themselves as “all inclusive”, so as noted above, you really need to find out what exactly is included, whether it’s those activities you want to do, or whether it’s the food and drink that’s included. There’s nothing sadder than going to an all-inclusive resort that advertises dozens of restaurants – only to find out that only one is included and the rest will cost you extra. That is definitely NOT a good value!
If you’re thinking about a mountain resort or spa, you’ll have the same considerations. You may be looking for a resort that offers hiking, horseback riding, fishing or boating – so it’s important to see how your specific interests match up to what the resort offers, because just like the Caribbean one size does not fit all! Some resorts may have more of an outdoorsy focus with an array of activities like skiing, biking, fishing, ice skating and even dog sledding. Others may provide many activities for art-lovers, with exhibits, classes, and even special events that are centered around the arts. Still other resorts may have decidedly unique offerings such as the spa at the Hotel Hershey which features a number of “chocolate themed” services due to its location in Hershey, PA, the “Sweetest Place on Earth”.
So matching the right resort to what you want to do is important! And unlike the Caribbean with its plethora of all-inclusive resorts, for a mountain getaway, dining and many of the activities you want to do may cost extra. Your travel agent can work with you to help determine any additional costs you might have, so that you can have a clear idea of the value of your vacation.
There’s no better way to celebrate an anniversary than on a romantic vacation – and knowing that your destination provides a great value is even more of a reason to celebrate!
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