How to Have a Romantic Vacation -- Even When Traveling With Your Kids
My husband and I try to go on at least one trip a year without our children, but unfortunately it's not always possible. While we have a lot of fun traveling with our kids, we still look to sneak in a little adult time when vacationing as a family.
You're probably wondering: "How this is possible?"
Here are six relatively easy ways we've found to have a romantic vacation with kids in tow:
Choose Accommodations That Allow for Alone Time
It's hard to sneak in some romance with your kids in the bed next to you. That's why we use the best travel rewards credit cards for families so we're able to afford more spacious accommodations. Consider booking adjoining hotel rooms, a suite or a vacation rental with multiple bedrooms. This allows you to keep an eye on your kids while also having your own separate space when it's time for bed. Cozy up and watch a movie with a bottle of wine when they're finally out for the night. If these options aren't in the budget, try to at least find a hotel room with a balcony so you'll still have some outdoor space for just the two of you.
Book a Hotel With a Kids' Club
Booking family-friendly hotels with a kids' club will definitely give you and your significant other some time for romance. While most kids' clubs are only open during the day, you'll still have plenty of time to hang out alone. Enjoy a kid-free lunch, go wine tasting, relax on the beach or cuddle up in bed. Just make sure you pick the kids up on time!
Go on a Cruise
Booking a cruise is another way to have a romantic vacation, even when the kids are sailing with you. With major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity and Disney offering kids' clubs, it's very easy to have time for romance. Some will even keep your kids entertained when the ship is in port so you can participate in an excursion without them. The best part about dropping your kids off is it's free -- and most clubs stay open until 10pm so you can have a romantic dinner! If you're looking for some extra time alone after dinner, some cruise lines also offer babysitters from 10pm–2am.
Hire a Babysitter
Depending on your comfort level, hiring a babysitter while on vacation is a great way to engineer some alone time during the trip. There are many ways to find a babysitter when traveling. You can ask your hotel for recommendations, ask friends if they know people in the city you're visiting who could recommend someone, or use national babysitting directories like Care.com. This will most likely be your most expensive option, but it will allow you a few hours without your kids.
Travel With Family
If you're not ready to leave your kids with unfamiliar faces, travel with family. We travel with my parents once a year and it's the perfect way to squeeze some romance in. While they aren't there to watch our kids 24/7, they always give us one night to ourselves. We get the evening off (sometimes even overnight if we're lucky), and my parents get their own time with their grandkids to spoil them. This is usually a win/win for both parties, especially if you don't live near your kids' grandparents.
Traveling with family doesn't necessarily mean spending your entire vacation with them. Some trips we all stay together and do the same things. On others, my parents stay somewhere else and we just meet up a few times during the trip. Of course, grandparents aren't the only family members you can travel with... the options are endless.
Travel With Other Couples With Kids
Traveling with other couples who have kids is the perfect way to sneak some romance in. Most likely your kids and friends' kids already know each other -- and if so, that makes this option even better. Each couple can take a night out while the other couple watches all of the kids. The kids also get to have a great night hanging out with their friends.
Bottom Line
It's very possible to enjoy some alone time with your significant other even if you can't get take a trip on your own.
What's your secret to finding some time with your spouse on family vacations?
Monet Hambrick is the mom and writer behind The Traveling Child blog, where she shares tips on traveling with kids and how to afford travel as a family. Her motto is: "If kids live there, kids can visit," and she and her husband have taken their 2- and 4-year-olds to 21 countries on 6 continents. You can follow their family adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.