Winter Weekend Getaways for Couples

Life can get pretty hectic, especially in the months leading up to the holiday season. Between friends, family, and work, it can be tricky to foster a new romantic relationship. That’s where a winter weekend getaway comes in. Escape from the day-to-day with your Bumble date, and carve out time to focus on one another and your blossoming romance. Even just a couple of days away from the demands of reality can make a lasting, positive impact on your relationship. Read on for our top winter getaway tips. 

With everything that life throws at us, it’s difficult to be present, regardless of the time of year. But, of course, that’s exactly what a relationship requires. It’s important to nurture a new connection when you find one, and taking a trip with someone you’re falling for can be a great way to do just that. You can get to know each other on a much deeper level—by traveling and experiencing new things together, as well as simply having time and space away from your everyday lives.

Just to be clear, we wouldn’t recommend a trip out of town as a first date idea. Traveling away from home with someone you just met may not be practicing safe dating. We do have plenty of other recommendations for winter first dates, however! 

First things first—budget. It’s good to talk to your partner and figure out how much both of you want to spend on the trip. There’s no need for this to be awkward—if you end up in a long-term relationship, you need to be comfortable talking about money together.

On the other hand, perhaps you want to surprise your date and treat them to a weekend away. Again, look at your own finances and see how much you feel comfortable spending. A perfect getaway doesn’t have to involve spending a ton of cash. You can travel somewhere local instead of overseas, stay in a vacation rental instead of a fancy hotel, or even go camping if you’re both outdoorsy types. The most important thing is spending quality time together, doing things you both enjoy. 

The benefit of a weekend away is that neither of you has to take time off work if you have a M-F job. You can leave after work on Friday and be back at your desk on Monday morning. It’s also a great way to test the waters with your date before you plan week-long vacations together. Calendars can get pretty busy throughout the holiday period, so make sure you know your date’s schedule if you’re planning to surprise them.  

Once you have the finances in check, the next thing to figure out is the destination. For a weekend trip, you don’t want to spend too much of your precious time traveling. Think quick and easy, which, just to be clear, doesn’t mean dull or boring. You want to optimize your time together, and nobody wants to be stuck on public transport or driving for hours. A good rule of thumb is to keep travel time under four hours.

Don’t get bogged down by planning—plenty of websites offer last-minute deals on weekend getaways. Package deals also make short trips super easy to arrange. If you can’t book something before the holidays, you can always look ahead to January, where it’s likely there will be even more discounts on offer. It’s a bleak time of year, so having an exciting trip to look forward to can be something really special for you and your date. 

Obviously, this largely depends on where you end up heading for your trip. As we’ve said, the important thing about a holiday isn’t adding all the bells and whistles—it’s about getting to know a new person. 

Taking walks, exploring nature or a new city, cooking or eating delicious meals, playing games, going to art exhibitions, attending concerts, and partaking in sports activities are all fun things to do on a trip away together. But it’s about what you and your date actually enjoy doing. If you’re not outdoorsy types, then don’t plan a day of hiking. Also, if there’s something you’ve always wanted to do—say, go wine tasting or visit a particular museum— a quick trip is your chance to cross that off your list. 

It’s also important to not put too much pressure on a weekend away. It’s a short trip, so don’t overplan. A jam-packed schedule is what most of us experience in our day-to-day lives, and that’s probably what you’re trying to get away from by booking a trip in the first place. Strike the balance between arranging a few activities and leaving free time to be spontaneous and discover opportunities once you’re there. Especially if you’re going somewhere neither of you have been before, it’s good to leave your schedule open for some serendipity.

You can also involve other people in your weekend. Maybe one of you has a friend who lives in the Caribbean or a (hopefully fun) family member in a different state? Use visiting one of them as the catalyst for the trip. Having another person around can take some of the pressure off spending all of your time together—plus, you’ll have a local tour guide. Another bonus? If your friends or family allow you to stay with them, it’s another way to keep costs down.  

Hopefully you’re now brimming with ideas on how to plan a sneaky vacation with your Bumble date, but here are some final tips to make sure it all goes to plan.