When you live with someone or have been dating them for a long time it can often be hard to keep the ‘flame-a-burnin’. I have heard a lot of ladies talk about falling into a situation of feeling ‘too comfortable’ in their relationship and feeling a lack of passion. This February, instead of limiting yourself to one day of romance and celebrating Valentines Day the ‘old fashioned’ way – like with over priced roses, a box of chocolates, and a nice dinner – I encourage you to try rekindling your romance by doing things a little differently… try upgrading your V-Day with the best V of them all – VACATION!
Last month, if you watched my Sheblogs takeover, you would of seen that I, along with my boyfriend Adam, was in Costa Rica with Sunwing. After Christmas and New Years we were both pretty exhausted from all the parties and family stuff, and if you are anything like me, a little depleted in the mojo department. Thankfully enough, this trip could not come at a better time. We were both in desperate need of some romantic time alone and Costa Rica was the perfect destination for us to finally get some.
Costa Rica, if you have never been, is a small country sandwiched between Panama and El Salvador and divides the Pacific from the Atlantic. It is a place that is famous for surfing, having a diverse ecosystem, amazing beaches, and of course a ‘Pure Vida’ lifestyle. Having never been before but always wanting to go, Adam and I were ecstatic to be leaving cold and snowy Toronto behind for some warm Costa Rican sunshine.
When it comes to flying with Sunwing, everything was taken care of. From easy flight check-in to in-flight service to hotel transportation, they had everything under control. During our flight they were even giving out glasses of sparkling wine – complimentary! Let’s just say it didn’t take very long for Adam and I to feel like we were on vacation even before we landed.
Our hotel, the Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort, was a gorgeous a 3.5 star hotel (way underrated in my opinion) and was definitely the biggest hotel in Tamarindo. The hotel property featured beautiful grounds, multiple pools including an an ‘adult only’ pool and lounge, a casino, tennis courts and 5 bars and restaurants. You could tell immediately that the hotel was very clean and well kept and Adam and I were so in love with our room’s ocean front view that we would often spend the first part of the morning on our balcony. It was great to have those mornings to ourselves, taking time to drink our Costa Rican coffees, listen to the birds chirp, enjoy our amazing view, and chat about what we wanted to do that day.
Although our hotel was well equipped with restaurants/bars, Adam and I loved venturing off the hotel property and ended up finding two amazing restaurants within easy walking distance of our hotel. My favourite, the Green Papaya, is a great Mexican restaurant with an outdoor seating area with swings! Adam’s favourite, Falafel Bar, was a middle eastern restaurant that made their falafels and pitas fresh every morning. So good, my friend! No matter where we ended up eating, menus were always available in English, we always felt safe, and we would always meet such nice people who were great at offering advice on what events/spots we should check out in town.
The town of Tamarindo is famous for surfing making it a very popular destination for expats from all over the world. Even though it was a small town, it had a lot of energy! On Thursday nights there is a great night market where you can purchase artisan products and food made by locals and on Friday nights there is a great rooftop bar called the Crazy Monkey where Adam and I danced the night away to a live Salsa band.
When it comes to Costa Rica, romance and adventure was always just around the corner. Adam, even on day one, was able to find a great sunset sail excursion with Antaras Sailing Adventures. It was honestly the perfect way for us to start letting loose. Being out on the water and having the breeze in my hair, the sun on my face, live music echoing from the stern of the boat, and an open bar, was just what we needed to get our romance juices flowing.
We were never short of activities when in Costa Rica, from surfing to horseback riding on the beach at sunset. Adam and I found every opportunity to take full advantage of our time in Tamarindo. On the second day, Adam and I found this amazing surf shop called Surf Culture where we could rent boards for $10 a day. Both of us having surfed before, decided to skip the refresher lessons and see if we could catch the waves ourselves. The ocean water was so warm and spending a full day on the beach was amazing. There is also something to say about being physically active, and getting a little competitive with you partner that can really bring two people together.
Toward the end of our trip Adam and I also spent a full day off the resort in another town called Bueno Vista. Through Sunwing Experience, we managed to find a great, jam packed 11 hour tour that included ziplining, horseback riding, volcanic mudding, hot springs, and even a hike to a waterfall! Throughout the whole day neither one of us could stop smiling – we were having so much fun. It was an amazing way to spend one of our final days in Costa Rica and between volcanic mudding, the hot springs and the waterfall we were in romance heaven.
Adam and I definitely had a great time together in Costa Rica. After 5 days of adventure we felt closer than ever before! If you are looking to shake things up, rekindle your relationship or just have some time alone, Costa Rica is a perfect destination.
Whatever your love situation, getting out of the cold might just be the Valentines Day gift you need this February and baby girl, you deserve it! So grab your favourite travel friend or partner and pack your bags because you are one flight away from upgrading your Valentines Day plans!
Want to hear more about my trip to Costa Rica? You can check out my blog post and video about the trip at www.SoheilaOnline.com. Have any comments or questions? If you have any questions or comments about my trip or this article please feel free to reach out at soheila@SoheilaOnline.com.
