Where and when you should be planning your romantic getaways for all ages

Where and when you you should be planning your romantic getaways for all ages?

This is a topic we get all the time, especially for people who have no idea of where they want to go, or they think it is way to early to start planning for.  

Nelson and I, are always saying, if you are thinking about it, it is the time to start planning for it. We always mention, that we can book with air almost a year in advance. Some destinations, we can plan without the airfare up to 2 years in advance. 

But, as you are thinking, suppose I change my mind or something happens between now and then. Yes, we go through this ourselves, especially when planning group trips a year in advance. The easy answer is, as long as you are not past the time for cancellations, which for a cruise is 90 days prior to sailing and/or 45 days prior to a land destination you are good. There is also travel insurance after these dates, but you cannot use travel insurance just because you change your minds. Stuff happens!

Okay, we have covered when to book, also don't wait for the latest and greatest offer to come a long, if you book with us, and the price drops or a better offer comes a long; 9 out of 10 times, we can adjust your vacation. We want to make you happy. But when those things come along we have to compare the offer, you might get a better price, but you might lose a benefit like resort or on board credit, or that catamaran cruise or free spa option.

For those people who are not sure where they want to go here are a few things to consider

1. Time of the Year - If you want to go to the Caribbean but you hate the high heat, why not consider going during November/December before the holidays and also out of Hurricane Season; or January - Early May. Stay away from June, February, Spring Break, Christmas Week, anything that would consider a holiday. You will pay way more than you care to. These locations are booked almost a year in advance. Honeymooners and getaway clients, already know these times of the year are packed with others thinking the same thing. Weddings, Engagements, Valentine's Day, etc. etc.
2. Think of places you have always read about or dreamed about:
• If you have been a fan of things like myself; Hemingway, Mythology; Foodie; History; Ancestry; why not share these things with your partner. Ask them, what they love to do, it might surprise you. Not everyone wants an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean
3. Think you are too old to be traveling for a romantic getaway. What!!! We Say! No way. Romance gets better with age. We keep it clean here, get your minds out of the gutter. LOL.  
• Nelson is going to be 66 on July 10th (Happy Birthday, Honey); and I am going to be 50 in April 2017. (Yes, Nelson, robbed the cradle). There goes my bad humor again.  We love getting away to our favorite places for romantic getaways. We go to Jamaica, Grenada, Puerto Rico (Nelson was born there) from November - February. We love cruises any time of the year, just depends on the destination. We are now moving on to Spain, Italy and the France over the next few years. Or we just go to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL; and yes, Disney is not just for the kids, they have places there for adults and many romantic places as well.
4. We cannot afford to get away, we are planning to buy a house, need someone to watch the kids, many excuses why you cannot make time for yourselves.
• Unfortunately, here in the USA we have some of the highest divorce rates on the planet. People wonder how to keep the romance alive or ask us, how we do it.
• We have both been married before. We don't do the same things that we did when we were married the first time. We say, we love each other every day and mean it, we try to go to bed without being mad at each other, and we getaway just the 2 of us at least once a year.  It is important. Today, when Nelson holds my hand I still blush and gush about it. 

We are married almost 25 years, and these things are the most important over anything. Your house will always be there, the kids can come with you (Just let them hang in the clubs for their age group, or there used to be something called camp when I was a kid. Maybe go away when the kids are in camp, or ask grandma and grandpa to watch the kids.  We practice what we preach.  

Cheryl & Nelson Echevarria, 631-456-5394 or reservations@echevarriatravel.com