As a 90s kid who grew up on rom-coms like “Just Married“, “Along Came Polly,” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” I spent much of my life believing that no romantic getaway could exist without a luxurious five-star hotel and a heart-shaped bed covered in rose petals. Oh, and a classic sprinting-through-the-airport scene.
Since then, a lot has changed. We’re in a post-pandemic world marked by economic struggle and uncertain political times — all of which have inspired (and, in some ways, forced) couples to get creative with their vacations. Now more than ever, people are prioritizing connection over catamarans, innovation over infinity pools, and budgets over Bora Bora.
In this comprehensive guide, we embark on a journey of understanding why and how romantic getaways have changed, for better or worse.
Defining a Romantic Getaway
Until recently, my vision of what a perfect romantic getaway entailed was heavily influenced by the Sandals commercials I saw growing up.
For those of you who don’t know, Sandals is a chain of all-inclusive (and child-free) luxury resorts spread throughout the Caribbean. They represent the epitome of what couples expect out of a lavish vacation: glistening white sand beaches, ocean water the color of bright turquoise, and endless umbrella-embellished piña coladas in real coconut receptacles.
On these special getaways, couples might enjoy romantic candlelit dinners, private sunset boat rides, or days spent tanning (and kissing) by the pool — all with the backdrop of an exotic and secluded destination.
The list of available activities to indulge in may have been short, but that was the point. Media marketers were leaning heavily into humanity’s need for “escapism” at this time, so relaxation and restoration became the end goal.
All of this sounds great and all — and, mostly, it is! — but when you put a global pandemic, financial struggles, and rapidly evolving communication technologies into the mix, things are bound to change.
Impact of COVID-19 on Romantic Travel
We may never have a complete inventory of all of the ways in which COVID-19 impacted life as we know it, but one thing we can be certain of is that travel is on that list. Let’s zoom in on three of the most significant consequences this chapter in human history had on romantic getaways.
Travel Restrictions
Unless you’re the Kardashians or Justin Bieber, you probably spent very few of your quarantine days traveling. International and even domestic trips were discouraged as governments prioritized the health and safety of the public, which meant that couples with plans to hit tropical destinations had to get creative.
It’s possible that I just wasn’t paying attention, but I would bet you $100 I didn’t come across a single ad for Sandals during this time.
Changing Priorities
Inconvenience aside, millions upon millions of lives were at risk during this tragic era of human history. The turmoil incited a cultural shift in what we viewed as most important. This didn’t mean that couples stopped seeking ways to escape from the monotony of quarantine, but they did have to reassess their methods. Couples went from prioritizing luxury to prioritizing safety, convenience, and proximity.
Psychological Effects on Relationships
I’m sure you don’t need the reminder, but being stuck inside for months on end — whether that’s alone or with a partner — really does something to a person. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for a 25% uptick in cases of anxiety and depression worldwide.
For some couples, the pandemic broke them. For others, it was the ultimate test of strength. Those who made it through the endless weeks of Netflix marathons and Chinese takeout likely found solace in the simpler ways to reconnect.
During this time of social distancing, the little moments mattered all the more. Grand gestures turned into meaningful moments. Date nights became making pasta from scratch with the help of a YouTube tutorial or transforming the living room into a makeshift movie theater.
Nothing like a global health crisis to bring back some childlike whimsy.
Economic Strain and Its Effect on Couples
The “peak” of COVID-19 cases may be in the past, but the economic implications of this collective tragedy are very much still here. With supply chain disruptions, energy price increases, and housing market costs wreaking havoc on inflation, economic strain has become even more of a concern for people everywhere, couples included.
Global Financial Impact
Not surprisingly, rising inflation and a post-pandemic public hungry for travel turned out to be a deadly combo for couples everywhere looking to get away for a romantic week or weekend. Plane ticket prices have jumped while disposable income has dropped, so, once again, couples are faced with a choice: break the bank, stay at home, or find a modest middle ground.
The Desire for Intimacy vs. Extravagance
In an age when the world seems to be burning to the ground around us (quite literally), many people have experienced a significant shift in their life perspective — one that prioritizes quality over quantity and intentionality over luxury.
Romantic escapes no longer need to be costly to be meaningful, and quaint, intimate getaways can mean just as much as those that cost an entire month’s salary — even if they’re less Instagrammable.
Budget-Friendly Alternatives
We’ve learned through the advent of electric cars and Instant Noodles that humans are capable of producing game-changing ideas in the face of necessity.
Staycations, for example, were born out of a need to help families, couples, and groups of friends enjoy an escape from the day-to-day without blowing too much cash. This could involve booking a nearby hotel or an Airbnb in your area to celebrate your and your boo’s anniversary or even swapping houses with a friend for an evening. (We’ll get more into this in the next section).
You could always, of course, shorten the length of your trip to reduce costs or go to your desired destination during its off-season so that hotel and flight prices aren’t at their peak. I followed the latter piece of advice and managed to go to Bali, Indonesia, during its rainy season, and I gotta say: I highly recommend it.
The Rise of Staycations
A trip with the word “stay” in it may sound a bit counterintuitive, but you’d be surprised how imaginative people can get with it. “Staycations” — which are trips within one’s own city or local area — can look like spending a weekend at a swanky hotel nearby, going camping, having a picnic at a nearby park, or even hiring a professional chef to cook you a Michelin star meal at home.
You may not be going far, but you’re getting a change of scenery nonetheless.
Staycations can take on many forms, but the idea is the same: do more with what you’ve got. Couples who are willing (and able) to get creative with the offerings available to them in their home city can save time, money, and mental sanity — resources that often become sparse when dealing with the logistics of a luxurious, far-away trip.
It can also be a pathway for couples to explore their city with fresh eyes, giving them an opportunity to either discover new nooks and crannies of their ol’ stomping grounds, or re-discover old ones.
Whether you and your lover are heading back to the Italian restaurant you went to for your first date, or are trying out that new hotel with the rooftop infinity pool, you’re likely to have fewer expenses and more opportunities to get up close and personal with the place you call home.
Virtual Getaways: Connecting from Afar
It’s pretty difficult to have a discussion about the impacts of COVID without also talking about the expeditious rise of virtual technology that followed — and we’re not about to start. Through the onset of the pandemic, it became necessary to invest in tech that allowed companies, families, and loved ones to communicate seamlessly across time zones.
As a result, a number of virtual communication mechanisms were thrust onto the scene, making it easier than ever for people to stay connected and, for romantic partners, nourish their relationships.
The Emergence of Virtual Travel
As we’ve touched on before, travel during the COVID era was either very difficult or impossible for the average person. Tech companies used this as the perfect opportunity to swoop in and offer an alternative: virtual travel.
With the help of VR products (such as Meta Quest or HTC Vive headsets), YouTube videos filmed in HD, and other unique pieces of tech, couples can see wonder across all seven continents without moving an inch from their living room couch. This could look like everything from a virtual tour of the Louvre to a Thai curry cooking class to a livestream performance of Dua Lipa at Glastonbury. When it comes to virtual vacays, the options are practically limitless.
Emotional Connection Through Technology
I wasn’t in a relationship during COVID-19, but virtual technology was key for staying emotionally connected to my friends. Even though a few of them lived less than 15 minutes away from me, a group of us would hop onto Zoom several times a month to do nothing more than sip wine and yap.
After about half a year, we started doing PowerPoint Presentations on various topics: books we were reading, our favorite niche hobbies, and even our dating lives (this last one was the most entertaining, as I’m sure you can imagine). It was so simple, but it kept all of us feeling so close to each other, especially amidst all the chaos that was ensuing around us.
Travel restrictions have lifted, and we’ve settled into our “new normal,” but communication methods like these have stayed fairly intact and even continued to evolve. Although talking through a phone or computer screen will never replace the magic of in-person interactions, it certainly serves a purpose. Any person in a long-distance relationship can attest to this.
Creative Virtual Date Ideas
A few years ago, I was in the “talking stage” with a guy who lived two hours away from me. We had tragically matched on Bumble before he had moved away but decided to keep things going anyway. I won’t lie: it sucked not being geographically close to each other, but we found ways to feel that emotional closeness.
For example, we FaceTimed for hours several nights a week, and during the day, between work meetings, we would play partner games on our phones, such as virtual pool, tennis, and even beer pong. These were fleeting moments of interaction throughout the day, but, in a way that’s difficult to explain, it created a sense of fun and intimacy between us.
When we finally got a chance to FT later in the evening, we would start the call by talking smack to the other, and the sexually charged roasting would begin. It became one of our favorite rituals.
This is the power of virtual flirting; now, imagine what an official virtual date can do. Instead of hitting a digital tennis ball back and forth in spurts throughout the day, you and your partner can join a live virtual game and enjoy the sexually charged roasting in real time. Or you can set up a movie night through Amazon Prime or Twitch to watch the latest box office hit.
If TV and movies aren’t really your thing, you and your partner can expand your palette with an online cooking class, tap into your creative flow with a clay craft seminar, or hop onto an app like Smule for a cute karaoke duet. Personally, I think the cringier, the better. Just have fun with it!
Predictions for the Future of Romantic Getaways
As technology and society continue to evolve, so will the relationship between romance and travel. How exactly these changes will unfold can only be revealed in time, but for now, we have a few predictions.
The ongoing evolution of love and travel
COVID-19 left us accustomed to many ideas that once seemed foreign — remote working being one of the most impactful. Although many companies have returned to the office full-time, many have stayed remote or settled for a hybrid schedule consisting of some days in the office and some at home.
This shift in operations has made it possible for workers to bring the word “hybrid” into another facet of their lives: their vacations. In other words, couples without the ability to take the desired amount of time off for a trip can take their work on the road with them for some, if not all, of their vacation.
For example, last year, my friend and her boyfriend were desperate for a tropical getaway in the midst of a stressful work quarter. They couldn’t swing getting the time off, so they brought their laptops and worked from the balcony of their Airbnb in Puerto Rico. Sure, the trip wasn’t all fun and relaxation, but at least they got to spend their client meetings with an ocean view.
My prediction is these types of hybrid getaways will continue to grow in popularity, especially with more companies seeing how this type of flexibility boosts employee morale and productivity.
Also on the horizon, we expect to see a spike in using VR for immersive vacation experiences, as well as AI-powered travel recommendations.
The Return of Traditional Travel
As many cinephiles will tell you, nothing beats the classics. We predict that the same thing goes for travel. Putting on a VR headset and walking through the virtual streets of Paris is an undeniably impressive — and, not to mention, money-saving — alternative to in-person travel, but, at the end of the day, it’ll never be the same as experiencing the real thing. Tangible over digital, always.
That said, you can anticipate that air traffic will continue to stay plenty busy over the years with flights to Cancun, the Amalfi Coast, and other romantic hotspots. At least, that is, until teleportation becomes a real thing. Fingers crossed.
A Shift Toward Meaningful Experiences
It’s clear that the pandemic hasn’t changed humanity’s love for the traditional romantic getaway. I do believe, however, that COVID has made a lasting mark on what we value out of a travel experience.
Most of us will still appreciate a fancy five-star hotel and a heart-shaped King bed, but it’s predicted that experiences focused on intentionality and creativity will be ranked higher on the list of priorities moving forward. Ultimately, our culture has gotten a taste of intimate, meaningful experiences that last, and if we’re smart, we won’t be going back.
What’s Next? Or Should We Say “Where Next?”
For decades, the ideal romantic getaway involved palm trees, piña coladas, and mornings spent wearing white robes on private balconies. Now, thanks to the wave of social and technological changes that have emerged in COVID-19’s aftermath, we’ve left room for some interesting alternatives.
Instead of focusing exclusively on multi-thousand-dollar plane tickets to exotic locations with all-inclusive resorts, couples have begun prioritizing simpler, more stress-free options designed to nourish closeness without breaking the bank. Whether that’s through a visit to a local bed and breakfast or a VR tour of a winery in Florence, couples are pursuing ideas that will help them carve out time to truly connect.
Because — and don’t tell Sandals I said this — the best trips aren’t always those you spent years saving for. Sometimes, it’s the candlelit dinner in your backyard on a random Tuesday that takes the cake.
