Romantic travel…What to pack and plan for romantic winter getaways

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT'

When it comes to romantic getaways, what's more important: where you go or what you do? While it's difficult to argue the inherent romance offered by a tropical vacation or cruise or a ski lodge or remote cabin up in the mountains, sometimes what you pack or that spontaneous little side trip can enhance the intimacy of a romantic getaway.

As the creator of more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, Resort Maps believes travel is about the journey as much as the end destination, particularly when it comes to romantic getaways. Says Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc., 'If you reflect on the great trips in your life, some of the best times occur on spontaneous little side trips. In fact, for many people, those side trips end up being more memorable.'

So, what sort of things can you do make your journey more memorable? Hans suggests:

• Renting an automobile instead of using your everyday car. If the temperatures allow it, rent a convertible and ride with the top down.
• Follow the signs ' if you see a sign advertising something that sounds interesting, e.g. homemade ice cream store, stop in.
• Take plenty of breaks ' often times on a road trip, you'll pass bridges, bodies of waters, shops, etc. that look interesting but you keep going. For your romantic journey, stop and smell the figurative roses and explore those places. Even pulling over on a country road to literally smell the roses or share an intimate moment can be a trip maker.
• Plan a detour ' do a little research on the area where you'll be driving through and see if there's anything of interest that could make for a nice little surprise.

While these spontaneous trips or adventures can serve as very tasty appetizers, you still want to enjoy the main course, your destination, as well. To do that will require some forethought. Some romantic items you may want to include in your packing are:

• Tea lights or scented candles ' remembering the matches or lighter.
• Luxury bubble bath.
• Massage oil.
• Music: an MP3 player and speakers or a CD player and CDs with your favorite love songs.
• Rose petals to scatter in the bed.
• Romantic notes to leave on each other's pillow.

'The beauty of a romantic getaway is that it really can be anything you want it to be, anywhere you want it to be,' said Hans. 'By following just a few of these ideas, you can create a trip that you'll be talking about with your grandkids'perhaps once they are adults.'

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. With landmarks prominently displayed, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what's happening around your town.

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit