Romantic Holidays in Exotic Travel Destinations

We were ferried across 100 yards of water, to an outcrop of coconut trees on a white sand of beach at the foot of a mountain In Marigot Bay, St. Lucia.

Cosmos, greeted us with "respect", his fist against his heart, inviting us to sail out of the bay.

We were on our first trip as a family, a couple and two pre-teen girls. David Shimeld, Manger and owner of Marigot Beach Club Hotel, upgraded us to the best honeymoon suite on the edge of the bay, with wrap around balcony and an incredible view.

We kayaked, snorkeled the reefs, went sightseeing and stooped at some of the most romantic places on earth.

The nights were moonlight affairs with fine dinning by the water, gleaming in the moons reflection, tree frogs singing in the light summer air. It does not get much better that that. It was an exotic interlude in a most exotic place, made more so by its raw and natural feel and tropical embrace.

Saint. Lucia is romantic to me because of memories like sitting on the Poinsettia Apartments sunset terrace, above the lagoon marina: The sun setting in orange, dappled behind the black silhouette of the golden apple tree. Everything about it at that time was romantic. The scenery and good company, sharing and discovering a place, a culture, an experience and ultimately to discover and understand ourselves. Romance is discovery, I thought.

Romance is a place. The Tangiers' Kasbah is romantic. It even sounds romantic. It smells romantic: Ripe dates hang on the roadside palms, olives overflow their baskets in the market stalls, palm trees line the Hotel El Minzah courtyard, rich dark roast Arabian coffee lingers with mint tea and the sea breeze fresh off the ocean. It is steeped in history and mystery, a romantic mystery conjuring up images of the past, the exotic and the unknown.

Paris with its cafe's, quaint streets, exotic names, the river running through the town, museums and art in every building, lovers holding hands, brims with romance on every corner.

You do not need a partner to experience the romance of a place. Partners are entirely optional.

There are no boundaries to romance, no pretense and no conditions. Romance is open to all. Holidays to romantic holiday destinations are as appealing to families, singles, groups, and business as they are to couples and honeymooners. Love is universal. It can be felt in art and landscape and in a memory.

The awe of feeling connect to the world around you is a feeling of romance with the universe. You sense this when Sailing a small boat across the wilderness of a vast ocean. We are just a dot in the universe, smaller that the specks of phosphorous gleaming in the ocean night. We are connected as if by some magnet that holds us apart and together, in a cosmic dance of romance. Step back in time on board an old time wooden Caribbean schooner and feel the romance of nostalgic proportions.

Nostalgia and Romance: Now that is a marriage. Our love of antiques, old rusty tools, old homes is a romance with the past. Stepping back in time on a trip to Dominica you are seduced by simplicity of the old ways and captured by the ambiance of architect, colour and nature: Rivers, mountains, oceans and wilderness whisper romance. Partners are optional when you connect with the romance of a place and experience the intimacy of being.

Don't wait for romance it is waiting for you. Have a date with yourself. take yourself to a moonlight terrace like the Crane Beach in Barbados on a moon light night. Marvell at the sky, the wind and the waves, the cool sea breeze embracing you. You don't even need an attitude to feel the romance of travel.