Sun fun & sizzling vacation romance!

Ebony, June, 2004 by Nikitta A. Foston

CLOSE your eyes. Now, imagine the sun on your back, the sand at your feet and crystal blue waters dancing against the Bahamian shorelines. There are no phones, no televisions and no distractions.

Just you. Your love. And all the time you need to enjoy the heat (on the beach and off).

Sound like a dream?

It doesn't have to be anymore. More and more couples, in search of the elusive concept of quality time, are opting for the weeklong getaway, the weekend retreat, or the great one-day escape. Married couples are using vacation time to rekindle the flames while passion-seeking singles are flocking to summertime retreats in search of the perfect connection. Whatever your fancy, there is a package to tickle it this season.

Free your body and your mind, let your hair down, and let the new you take control. Soothe your body with a sensuous fragrance, slip into that slinky "low-cut" evening gown and embrace the ambiance of new beginnings. A getaway is not just about a change of place, but a change of mind.

MAKEOVER YOUR MARRIAGE

For married couples bored with the same routine, a vacation can inject a much-needed jolt of energy. "It was like being on our honeymoon all over again," says Tara McElroy, referring to her last trip with her husband of five years. "We ate exotic dishes in gourmet restaurants and received massages side-by-side. In the evening, we took a candlelit cruise, danced, talked and enjoyed the views. It was spectacular," she says. "Next year, we plan to get a log cabin in the mountains with a fireplace and a hot tub."

SINGLES SEEKING SINGLES

Experts and satisfied couples say that summertime vacation spots are the best places for singles to make a heart-to-heart connection. Sidney Sims, recently engaged to Leslie Johnson after his first cruise, says the experience was nothing like a club or bar. "The trip was so romantic and so well-put-together. Everything was built around bringing people together without any of the normal pressures," he says. "Everything we needed--music, dancing, entertainment, excitement--was all under one roof." Hotels, cruise lines and luxury resorts are creating entire weekend packages, in some cases, specifically designed to bring couples together.

GETTING CLOSER

Taking advantage of the vacation season means getting the most out of your trip. "Before you make your reservation, let your resort know that you are interested in a couples theme," says Ken Panton, founder and president of eCityofTravel.com, an online travel magazine that researches the best airlines, hotels, resorts and spas. "Ask for a corner room away from the elevators, or a club-level floor for additional room and privacy. As an alternative, consider a non-sophisticated resort where there are no phones or televisions, where a chef comes to your room to cook for you, and where you can enjoy spa service in your own private suite. This premier treatment makes the vacation all about the two of you."

Brian Gullbrants, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, recommends a resort setting with horse-drawn carriage rides and other romantic touches that allow couples to maximize the vacation experience.

Although some experts recommend all-inclusive packages (which include airfare, hotel, meals, etc.) for couples, they caution travelers to beware of trips that provide scheduled activities around the clock. "Vacation is all about escapism," Panton says. "You don't want to go on vacation and receive an itinerary. It ruins the freedom that a true vacation is designed to bring."

PICKING THE PERFECT SPOT

Cruises are a crowd favorite for couples and a growing number of singles. Anthony Woodson, founder and president of BlackLoveForever.com, a travel and matchmaking service, recommends cruises for singles. "There is no better way to meet someone than through a wonderful getaway cruise," he says. "We've united thousands of couples through our service, and 209 are now married couples."

William Tedford, M.D., president and co-founder (with Madeleine Moore) of the National Professionals Network (NPN), says that finding love at sea was first glamorized by the TV series The Love Boat and that on almost every cruise Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" is played on the first day. "NPN has had at least one couple engaged aboard ship every year," Dr. Tedford says. "We have had several couples discover that the female partner became pregnant while at sea, after being unable to conceive on land. Medically speaking, it must be due in part to the completely relaxed environment--no cell phones, no pagers, etc."

Other couples on the prowl for passion are flocking to attractions synonymous with love, including San Antonio's Riverwalk, San Francisco's Marina, the infectious ambiance of New Orleans, the lasting beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and the magnificence of the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Outside the United States, couples can enjoy the beautiful villas on the island of Bali, the exotic splendor of the Caribbean islands, the sun-kissed coasts of Mexico, or the classic romance of Paris and Italy.