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3 Great Places to Cool Down as a Couple

Summer is here!  Its time to hit the beach!  We are always on the lookout for the perfect summer travel ideas for couples.  Are you trying to come up with a great place to cool down as a couple?   We have some sizzling ideas for you.  In coming up with our three recommendations we established three key factors: 1) It must have amazing water.  2) It must offer something for couples. 3)It must be fun!

Lets start!

Nice, France

Eze, FranceWater:  Poetry has been written for centuries about the lovely waters of Nice!  The Nice area, also called the Cote d’Azur is believed to be one of the oldest regions inhabited in Europe by humans!  Not hard to believe once you take in its beauty and warmth.  Nice offers miles and miles of sandy sunshine laced beaches.  Pick your spot and soak in the sun and enjoy the warm water.  A word of warning to those of us prudes visiting the region from the states.  The economic downturn in Europe has forced a number of women in the area to only afford to buy the bottoms for their bikinis.

Couple angle:  The city’s formal name is Nissa La Bella or Nice the Beautiful.  Take evening strolls together along the seafront.  Pop into one of the many street side cafes for a late dinner.  Love in always in the air in Nissa La Bella.

monte CarloFun Factor:  Two of our favorite places in Europe are right up the road from Nice.  The first is Eze.  Eze is a castle fortress on a rock outcropping.  It is truly a magical place.  There are little shops and cafes as you wander around the quant city.  Our second favorite is Monte Carlo.  If you are a regular follower of the fighting couple, you know of Mike’s crush on Napoleon and that he is a petrol head.  Monte Carlo suits both of these addictions.  The “country” is home to one of the finest Napoleon Museums in the world.  Of course if you time your visit, you can take in the Grand Prix, one of the best motoring events in the universe!

 

Las Vegas

Pool scene in vegasWater:  Granted Vegas is not perched on the Mediterranean, nor does it have the sandy beaches of the Caribbean but it truly is an oasis in the dry desert.  Vegas literally offers over 100 plus pool resorts!    Vegas offers indoor and outdoor pool options.  Some may require you to be guest of the hotel, other charge a cover fee and others still offer cabana rentals with just about any amenity you can imagine!  The king of the Vegas pool scene is hands down the Wynn Hotel.  Evian Water spritzers?   Yes.  VIP pool?  Yes.  Poolside black jack?  Of course.

Do keep in mind, a number of the pools cater to couples and prohibit anyone younger than 21.

Couple angle:  Las Vegas has a so much to offer couple travelers.   Lets start out what the city offers the active couple.  For those couples that want to hit the links together, there are over 100 different golf courses in the Las Vegas area.  You don’t have to go far to find excellent mountain biking and hiking trails.  Couples can take in one of the excellent shows or concerts offered.    Vegas also offers some of the best outlet mall shopping in the west.

Putting together a romantic evening in Vegas is a sure bet.  Get your evening started at one of the many excellent dining choices in the city.  Check out one of our fave Mexican Cantinas.  After dinner why not take her on a gondola ride in the Venetian?  For those the like something more on the wild side, why not a roller-coaster ride or even a helicopter tour over the city of lights?  Whatever you choose,  Vegas has it!

Fun Factor:  Ok…this is Vegas, need we really need to discuss the fun factor?

 

Durbin, South Africa

South Africa BeachWater:  The tip of South Africa hosts one of the most beautiful coast lines on the Planet.  Lazy shadows from lush vegetation and the cool Indian Ocean breezes make the Dolphin coast of South Africa our last pick.   Located a short drive west of the thriving metropolis of Durban, the beaches of South Africa are second to none.

Couple angle:  The Dolphin Coast is a couple’s paradise.  Choose one of the many full service resorts, and get ready to be pampered.  Send him out to go deep sea fishing and take in a full day massage at a world renowned spa!  Team up and play on one of the championship golf courses where all kinds of wildlife will cross your path!

Fun Factor:  Visiting South Africa without going on a safari is kind of like going to Paris and not kissing!  There are so many different options for going on safari, it is guaranteed to fit any budget.  Ever wanted to ride an elephant?  Now’s your chance!

Shhhh….Our Secrets to Discount VIP Travel

John and Yoko suite ams hilton

Image by 1000fights via Flickr

We thought we would let you in on a few of our VIP travel secrets…

Ask for the Moon

Have you ever asked for the Honeymoon Suite? It never hurts to ask.  Most hotel managers will tell you the premium suites are vacant most of the time. During shoulder seasons especially– just asking often opens the door to some really nice rooms. High inventory cities are also prone to willingness to upgrade you if it is an “off” weekend, or better yet a weekday.  “Large inventory” areas like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, Paris, ect are an easy target.

Getting an upgrade at a discounted rate can be cheaper than a standard room due to the amenities that come with. Upgraded rooms often have access to free: wifi, bottled water, hospitality rooms, ect.  Don’t ever expect to get upgraded…Grandma’s rules apply: a little bit a honey goes a long way.

Another place to ask for the upgrade is at the rental car desk. We have friends that always book economy and play the upgrade game at the desk. This approach can be risky if the desk is swamped, they are out of cars, or if you find “Mr. NO!” behind the counter. Always ask about your options.  Negotiate a price.  Most rental car companies put a ton of miles on the economy and mid-size cars. They need to put some miles on those Cadillacs and Audis.  For those that are a little fearful to ask: just say…”what else do you have?”

Trust me, those counter agents get asked all the time.

Book Early or Late

If you are catching the train to the airport then you might be able to afford to go first class if you book yourself a ticket early enough. Train and air lines often have early bird deals on their website, it might take a little bit more planning as they often require you to book your ticket some time in advance but it can be worth it if you get a first class ticket for negligible extra cost.

An old Chinese Proverb goes: Empty seats make no money.  Again, during certain times of the year the best seats on trains and planes go empty.  There is a load of websites out there that offer great bargains on last minute travel.  This is certainly not for the faint at heart.  For crazy planners like Luci and I, this option would never work.  The fact remains there are deals to be had on last minute travel.  Give it a try.

Airline Perks

The three words that strike fear and loathing to avid travelers: LONG LAY OVER.   They are the bane of our exsisitence.  How can you travel VIP if you have to sit in an airport lounge for hours on end?  Enter the airline club rooms.  Worth every penny for long layovers.  Food?  Yep.  Newspaper and popular mags?  Yep.  Comfy chairs?  Yep.  A little privacy?  Yep.

Back to rule one, why not just ask the desk, tell them that you have a long layover and do they ever offer discounted entry?  If you happen to be female, entry barriers seem to be lessened if you find a bored gate attendant.  They are often eager to help (wink).

Valet Airport Parking

We have found the way you start and end your trip make all the difference.  If you are driving to the airport then you have a think about  Airport Parking the options that are open to you.  If you don’t want the bog standard park and ride service then you might be able to find a good deal on valet parking or even treat yourself to the most VIP option which is a chauffeur service.  Valet parking can really add a touch of class to your journey as your own driver will meet you at the airport when you arrive, all you need to do is hand over your vehicle and your keys and they will take your car to a secure place for the duration of your stay.

On your return they will meet you when your flight arrives and have your car waiting for you right outside departures.  It truly is how the other half travels.  Prices are surprisingly affordable.

We hope these tips and tricks are helpful.  Do you have any secrets to getting the VIP experience?  Leave a comment below.