What’s the best way to get a break from the kids, reconnect with your spouse, and recharge your batteries? A trip alone with your spouse! My husband and I just returned from a short but oh-so-sweet trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico and I’d love to share it with all my readers so you might be inspired to take time away with your partner as well.
(Can’t get childcare for a multi-day trip? A single overnight in a nearby inn or even a date night can still have huge benefits!)
1. Choosing your destination
Consider the climate
When planning your getaway, first you’ll need to choose a destination. Typically, we go on a short ski trip or beach weekend within driving distance. But this time, we wanted to escape the cold temps and go somewhere warm.
Look for direct flights
We knew how far south we would need to go to find warm temps in January. But we didn’t want to waste too much of our precious kid-free time getting to our destination. So we went to our local airport’s website and looked at what direct flights they had. This narrowed it down to only a couple destinations.
Cost and convenience
Not all Caribbean islands are created equal. Some are much more expensive than others. Look at the cost of the flights, but also the price of hotels, food, etc. Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico came up as most affordable in our search, while the Cayman Islands, Aruba, and Turks and Caicos were some of the priciest.
Once we started looking into Puerto Rico, we realized it would be super convenient for Americans since it is part of the US. That means no passport is required to enter the country, and we only have to follow the Covid testing policies for domestic travel.
2. Book your lodging
There are so many options now when it comes to vacation stays. AirBnB, Vrbo, and HomeAway allow you to rent a home that someone else owns. Then there are regular hotels, resorts, and all-inclusives. These are all good options with positives and negatives, so it just comes down to what you are looking for in your vacation.
Personally, when I take a trip I want to relax. I don’t enjoy cooking on vacation so I knew I wanted a resort. After scouring Trip Advisor and reading countless reviews, I chose Royal Sonesta in San Juan. It was upscale, but not out of our price range, and had a great central location.
3. Add fun extras
Now you are ready for my favorite part! Planning all the fun things you’ll do during your getaway.
You want the pace of the trip to match your particular goals and energy level. For us, we like to do some beach and pool lounging, but also see explore the location, learn about the culture, and spice it up with a bit of adventure.
In Puerto Rico, we settled on visiting and learning about Old San Juan, and doing a rainforest trek through El Yunque.
Enjoy your adult getaway!
Don’t spend your time only talking about the kids (I know, it’s hard). Read a book, nap on the beach, connect with your partner, and have fun! We parents don’t get to do this nearly enough.
