5 Ways to Add Romance to Your Getaway

Fun ideas for how to dial up the romance factor on your next vacation.

There’s a reason a couple’s massage is the go-to romantic option: a treatment for two enhances intimacy and invites couples to relax and reconnect. If you’re a first-time spa-goer, Brandon Schwalbe, reservations agent for the Agave Spa at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, recommends choosing a Swedish massage rather than a deep-tissue. “You don’t want to be too sore afterward,” he says. And for further romance, he suggests inquiring about aromatherapy. “The different scents add that something extra in the atmosphere.” 

2. Say “I do” again

The cliff sits 200 feet above the Pacific Ocean: This is where vow renewals and weddings happen at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas in Kauai, Hawaii. Because of this dramatic setting, June Cappiello, director of public relations for the resort, is never surprised when guests arrive and decide to renew their vows. “It’s a wonderful way to get a 180-degree ocean view and keep it private — in other words, no beachgoers in bikinis in your big-day photos,” she says. While the resort likes to have at least one week’s notice to arrange the details, Cappiello’s team will also accommodate spur-of-the-moment ceremonies.

"Anything surprising that adds an unexpected touch is a good thing when it comes to romance."

-Carrie Moszer, director of marketing for The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

3. Plan a Special delivery

With at least 24 hours’ notice, your concierge can send a surprise flower arrangement to your room or restaurant table, or lay out rose petals on the bed. “Anything surprising that adds an unexpected touch is a good thing when it comes to romance,” says Carrie Moszer, director of marketing for The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

4. Al Fresco Dinner For Two

Another option offered by several villa resorts, including The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas in Kauai, is private dining. Arrange for this service and the two of you will enjoy a dedicated server catering to your every wish as you dine. As for the menu, the chef customizes dishes based on your preferences — you can choose from what’s on the menu or deviate entirely. “It completely elevates the dining experience,” says Cappiello. 

5. Catered in-room dining

Travelers wanting an upscale in-room dinner experience should ask the concierge about local catering. Heidi Johnson, concierge team leader at The Westin Riverfront Resort at Beaver Creek Mountain in Colorado, works with outside catering companies, including FOODsmith Vail and Foods of Vail, that can prepare and deliver a romantic, elegant dining affair for two. This way, you can raise a glass of wine while indulging in dishes like roasted tenderloin or braised beef short ribs with wild mushrooms, followed by flourless chocolate cake or salted caramel gelato — all without ever touching a stove or leaving the room.