5 Romantic Travel thoughts or resolutions

By Guy Besley, Latitude Resorts Port Douglas

For most of us a new year always means a chance for a new start. Although its not quite the New Year, you and yours can begin by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel designs focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities! Or whatever else is different to what you have been doing all along.

1. We are going to plan a real Holiday. No, it doesn’t have to be an around the world cruise or first class over seas flight (but if you can afford it, what are you waiting for?) But It does have to be an honest-to-goodness break. No mobiles or laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it  like you’d keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun one and an activity that either one of you can plan for months.

2. We are going to involve each other in the trip planning. All to often, one partner gets the job for planning a trip…and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the web for information. There is a lot of information on the internet these days, just use Google.

3. We are going to do something we have rarely done. Here you can be as mild — or as wild — as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive, on the Great Barrier Reef of course. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.

4. We are going to take four mini-vacation every month. Whether it’s for the night or for the night out, plan one tiny slice of a holiday every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you are on holiday. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it’s usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway. Dont just talk about it, DO IT.

5. We are going to go to at least four festival. Special events take place at  about every community around the world. Whatever your interests — from sporting persuits to sandcastle building — you’ll find a festival or a race celebrating with a day or two of fun and food. If you don’t have the time or budget to go far, contact area chambers of commerce or tourism offices within a day’s drive of your home for their calendar of events. Again, this information should be easily found via Google. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you have got the time and resources, check out a quantity of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Sports avents or concerts. Don’t forget your costume!