{"id":17966,"date":"2017-04-14T15:51:25","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T15:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/?p=17966"},"modified":"2019-04-19T19:40:47","modified_gmt":"2019-04-19T19:40:47","slug":"planning-perfect-couples-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/planning-perfect-couples-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a Perfect Last-Minute Couple’s Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

We asked one of our resident romantics, Travelocity Gnational Gnomad Ava Roxanne Stritt of the blog <\/span><\/i>Spa Travel Gal<\/a>, <\/span><\/i>to help us design the perfect last-minute couple\u2019s weekend. We think she may know a little bit about romance. She just celebrated her 28th wedding anniversary with her husband. Try a few of her planning tips below for your own perfect couple’s weekend.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Couple’s Weekend by Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

So you have finally found a weekend to get away with your loved one. You want to make the most of your time together and plan something extra special, without a lot of stress. As you ponder what to do, consider these five tips on how to plan the perfect last-minute couple\u2019s getaway.<\/span><\/p>\n

Timing Counts<\/b><\/h2>\n
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LEED Hotel The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte – photo by Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

First, look for a three-day weekend and plan your trip around that. With only a regular, two-day weekend, you\u2019ll be spending one day getting there and one day returning, so you never really get a full day of relaxation. With a three-day weekend, you get one complete day to unwind at the pool or just about anywhere and somehow it makes the vacation feel so much longer. <\/span><\/p>\n

So pick a great city like Charlotte<\/a> and head out with your loved one as soon as you have a Monday or Friday off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Not Over-Schedule<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte Pool Level – Photo by Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

One of the biggest mistakes people make for a weekend getaway is planning too much. Especially if you\u2019re trying to make the vacation extra special and meaningful, it can be easy to overthink your weekend getaway and over-schedule your time. Although it may sound exciting on the planning end, it can make the getaway feel exhausting and you will head home feeling like you need a post-vacation vacation. That\u2019s not what you want for your couple\u2019s weekend. <\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, keep your days flexible and open. Sleep in. Go for a long walk. Relax by the water. Unless it is a relaxing spa treatment at a great spa like The Spa and Wellness Center<\/a> or dinner reservations, leave the day to serendipity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plan a Good Meal<\/b><\/h2>\n
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BLT Steak – photo by Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Sitting together to enjoy an evening meal is an ancient tradition, and it\u2019s still one of the most romantic and meaningful experiences a couple can share. Look for a special restaurant that not only serves great food, but also provides a romantic and elegant atmosphere. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in Charlotte, try the BLT Steak<\/a> restaurant, with over-the-top service and food that\u2019s fit for a king. This acronym is much finer than a \u201cbacon lettuce tomato\u201d sandwich. It stands for <\/span>Bistro Laurent Tourondel, which pays homage to the classic French cooking techniques used in the kitchen. <\/span><\/p>\n

BLT is located inside The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte<\/a>, which already sets the standard for luxury and customer service. You don\u2019t have to walk through the hotel to get there, though. You can also find a separate entrance off the street.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, you and your loved one will enjoy prime cuts of beef, seafood and mouthwatering desserts. Imagine a romantic French bistro, complete with a wine room, but with American favorites and more. <\/span><\/p>\n

Can\u2019t get enough of this bistro? It also serves an exquisite Sunday brunch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dedicate Relaxation Time<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The Relaxation Lounge – photo by The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the most important parts of a couple\u2019s weekend is plenty of downtime to bond and unwind. A spa provides the ideal atmosphere for this. But you don\u2019t necessarily have to make an appointment to indulge. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte<\/a>, you can stretch out in the co-ed relaxation lounge<\/a> any time you want. Pick a private corner and hold hands by candlelight or meditate together. Sometimes you don\u2019t need words to speak to each other. <\/span><\/p>\n

This lounge is located near the Ritz\u2019s wonderful spa and amazing pool area. Unschedule a day while you are in town, grab a great book, like \u201cThe Woman in Cabin 10\u201d by Ruth Ware, and create your own zen. Detaching from media is the new luxury. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to go even deeper, book a couple\u2019s treatment at their remarkable spa. Or work up a sweat together in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Access to the gym and the Aqua Lounge are also included in your stay to make it a spa travel<\/a> experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

Try Something New Together<\/b><\/h2>\n
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The Punch Room – photo by Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Be it a cocktail or a tandem bike, get spontaneous and head into the day or night with a new outlook on life. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, gives its guests a ton of ideas for a <\/span>72-hour layover<\/span>. Create your own perfect three-day couples weekend with these tips and be creative. <\/span><\/p>\n

The perfect cocktail lounge is the new speakeasy-inspired Punch Room<\/a>. Behind what feels like a secret door lies a intimate area known for punch recipes that were not in the last punch bowl you saw, for sure. Imagine a scientist creating something that will amaze and awe your palate. The renowned mixologist Bob Peters is behind the handcrafted creations here. <\/span><\/p>\n

The atmosphere itself is glamorous (with wingback chairs and rich leather) and intimate, with a mere 37 seats. It feels like you\u2019ve stepped back in time to an upscale, 19th-century lounge. Time-travel with your loved one, share a unique drink and toast to your perfect couple\u2019s weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We asked one of our resident romantics, Travelocity Gnational Gnomad Ava Roxanne Stritt of the blog Spa Travel Gal, to help us design the perfect last-minute couple\u2019s weekend. We think she may know a little bit about romance. She just celebrated her 28th wedding anniversary with her husband. Try a few of her planning tips below […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":17974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[565,348,406,408,690,499,78,637,90,97,623,123,635,419,643,292],"class_list":["post-17966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-romantic","tag-charlotte","tag-couples","tag-foodie","tag-inspiration","tag-inspire","tag-long-weekend","tag-luxury","tag-luxury-hotels","tag-pool","tag-romantic","tag-romantic-weekends","tag-spa","tag-spa-resorts","tag-spa-travel","tag-spa-treatments","tag-travel-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlanning a Perfect Last-Minute Couple's Weekend - Inspire | Travelocity.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We asked one of our resident romantics, Gnational Gnomad Ava Roxanne Stritt of the blog Spa Travel Gal, to help us design the perfect couple\u2019s weekend.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/planning-perfect-couples-weekend\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Planning a Perfect Last-Minute Couple's Weekend - 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