Holiday Romance in a Sea of Consumerism

When my friend Kate told me she and her husband were going to spend the holidays alone in their Brooklyn apartment, I was intrigued. My hubster and I have always tried splitting up the Christmas and New Year's holiday between two families and two states. Finding that exhausting, this year we decided to spend a week in Cleveland for Thanksgiving and are planning a week at Christmas in Atlanta. Between travel, Christmas shopping, parties, cookies, and sending out cards, passion can fall by the wayside. So it had never occurred to me that the travel industry might market romance travel during December, but it all makes perfect sense. Cold weather, fireplaces, snow, stress-free family dinners, stunning views? Or better yet, a romantic week by the sea in an exotic village? Who knew the holidays could be so romantic?

Holiday-Rentals.co.uk currently boasts romantic getaway destinations around the world with cozy "cottages" designed to reconnect with your loved one. The accommodations range from self-catering apartments with mountain and beach views, comfortable beds sleeping as many as 8 (and sometimes more) guests, bathrooms, air conditioning, swimming pools, and plenty of other amenities.

Their properties in Bali caught my eye. The word Bali alone just makes you want to rev up the romance and get frisky on a secluded beach. Some of Holiday-Rentals Bali properties have extra perks like tropical gardens, 5-minute walks to the beach, bed and breakfast options, waterfront views, and bungalow designs. Prices are reasonable, but get innovative -- you could even entice another couple to split expenses with you in an apartment sleeping 4 or more. Don't worry, you'll still have plenty of privacy.

Think you're well-traveled? You won't when you see some of these locations. It really makes your last trip to the Hamptons or Colorado look simply pedestrian. How about a romantic getaway to the Croatian Dalmatian Coast? You can choose from more rural areas near the sea or a close proximity to town for culture and sight-seeing. Try properties near Trogir, Rogoznica, Milna, Brac-Supetar, and more. There's 377 listings in this Croatian section alone.

Best of all, when booking through Holiday-Rentals you skip all those annoying broker and agent fees, saving you up to 40% off the rental fee. There's over 45,000 properties to choose from with destinations ranging from Sardinia, Mauritius, St. Lucia, and more.

Bali or Bust!