Everyone has heard of “tough love,” or a relationship in which one partner has to make difficult decisions for the good of the other partner.  Tough love is more often associated with platonic love or parenting, but romantic relationships can also occasionally benefit from practicing a little tough love.

Tough love in a romantic relationship doesn’t necessarily mean being forceful with your significant other, although it could include that if your lover is practicing self-destructive acts that are a threat to themselves or your relationship.  Instead, tough love usually involves being strong enough to make your romantic relationship the number one priority in your life and defend it against outside threats that could harm it.

Make no mistake about it: having the strength to face threats to your romance is an important aspect of building a romantic relationship, and tough love is sometimes a necessity.  While things between you and your lover may be just peachy, outside threats, such as your career, family members or other stresses, could combine to sabotage an otherwise successful relationship.  In these situations, tough love is in order to defend your relationship.

But don’t confuse tough love with being rude, unreasonable or pushy in your relationship!  Tough love can be practiced in a measured fashion, and just because you perceive a threat to your relationship doesn’t mean that you should get overly protective or issue threats in return.  Simply remaining strong, supporting your sweetheart, and letting others know in no uncertain terms that your relationship is your number one priority is usually all the tough love that is required.

And as for practicing tough love when it comes to protecting your romantic partner from threats to themselves and your relationship, remember to approach the situation with plenty of objectivity and understanding.  Rather than being judgmental and condescending, use a more gentle form of tough love by starting a conversation with your lover about the mistakes you think they are making.  Calmly tell them why you think these things are threatening, how you want to help them, and ask for their thoughts and ideas as well.  You don’t have to be controlling or pushy to practice tough love with your partner.

Remember, just because you’ve decided to start using tough love to improve your relationship doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get tough.  Simply be strong, practice understanding, and make your romance your number one priority, and you’ll be using all the tough love you need to!

Finding the perfect romantic restaurant to visit with your significant other is a well-known and popular way to add more romance to your relationship, and your options for romantic restaurant choices are diverse regardless of the size of your pocketbook. One of the underlying themes here on Romance Tracker is that your budget has little to do with how romantic your dating life and relationships can be, and that applies to romantic restaurants just as much as anything else.

Last week we talked about the most romantic hotels in the world, and how it’s fun to imaging having the budget to afford to stay at one with your sweetheart. But I also stressed that any hotel can be the most romantic in the world, if you have a truly romantic relationship. Well the same can be said for romantic restaurants: even if it’s a quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant that hardly anyone knows about, if you are involved in a truly romantic relationship, then that hole-in-the-wall can easily become the most romantic restaurant in the world!

When searching for a romantic restaurant to go to with your significant other, why start with the most expensive, famous options? Although an expensive romantic restaurant may be perfect for a special occasion such as an anniversary or first date, there are plenty of more quaint, more affordable romantic restaurant options to be found in every city . . . if you’re willing to do a little bit of detective work.

Word-of-mouth is probably one of the best ways to find romantic restaurants that are mostly under-the-radar, and you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your friends and family if they know of an out-of-the-way, affordable romantic restaurant that would be good for a quiet date. You’ll probably be surprised to find that many of your acquaintances know of a romantic restaurant or two in the area that you’ve never heard of.

Remember, many quaint, inexpensive romantic restaurants don’t have the kind of budget that will allow them to pay big bucks for advertising, so don’t expect to find the best “secret” romantic restaurants showcased in the regular places. You’ll have to take some extra time asking around or driving a bit to find the real “gems” when it comes to small, quaint romantic restaurants, but the work will be more than worth it!

And when you do finally find that perfect little romantic restaurant to visit on your special date, your foremost goal should be to make it the most romantic restaurant in the world. Yes, it’s more than possible! In fact, if you and your lover really do share an old-fashioned romance with each other, that quaint little romantic restaurant—regardless of how well-known or successful it is—will be the most romantic spot in the world while you’re there!

When it comes to romantic hotels or romantic getaways in general, I’m always stressing here on Romance Tracker that the size of your pocketbook has little to do with whether or not you can put together an unforgettable honeymoon vacation or romantic escape. And truthfully, there are so many romantic hotels in the United States and throughout the world, that you shouldn’t have to be rich to find one that’s within your budget.

Admittedly, though, there are lots of romantic hotels in the world that are way outside the price range of myself and most of our readers! Even though we can’t afford to stay at the most romantic hotels in the world, though, doesn’t mean that we can’t still check them out and have fun imagining.

Of course, “most romantic hotel in the world” is a subjective categorization, and one person’s romantic hotel is another person’s nightmare vacation. Some of us might prefer a more low-key, inexpensive romantic hotel to the upscale, multi-million-dollar version . . . even if we did have the money to pay for it!

Below is a list of what many people in the world consider to be the top ten romantic hotels out there. I compiled the list through research on the Internet, and hope you enjoy it. Check out each romantic hotel website and have fun imagining yourself and your lover living in opulence . . . but remember: what truly makes a hotel romantic is the people who are staying there. If you have a truly romantic relationship, any hotel that you and your sweetheart stay in can be made into the most romantic hotel in the world!

Top Ten Most Romantic Hotels in the World

1. Twin Farms: Bernard, Vermont

2. Mala Mala Game Reserve: South Africa

3. The Inn at Irving Place, New York

4. La Villa Gallici, France

5. The Bauer, Venice

6. Dar Mimosas, Morocco

7. Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay, Bali

8. La Sirenuse, Italy

9. The Point, Saranac Lake, NY

10. Hotel Ritz, Paris

We’ve all heard about Love Hate Relationships, in which alternating emotions of love and hate play equal roles in a romance or marriage. As most people with any experience in the subject can attest to, though, most romantic relationships could fall into the category of a Love Hate Relationship . . . although every unique relationship has differing degrees of love and hate that make up its particular dynamic.

And when we talk about Love Hate Relationships here on Romance Tracker, we don’t necessarily mean relationships with euphoric highs and despicable, murderous lows. What we mean is that in every romantic relationship, and no matter how much you love your partner, there are inevitably going to be moments when you don’t much care for their company or are disappointed by their behavior. Not exactly a Love Hate Relationship, sure . . . maybe more like a “Love Dislike Relationship.”

The important thing is to not feel guilty or inadequate of you find yourself in a Love Hate Relationship. Like I said, every romantic relationship will find itself dealing with the dueling dynamics of love and hate at some point, but just because you’re facing some inevitable problems doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless.

It’s important to remember that every romantic relationship—and every human relationship, for that matter—is, to certain degrees, a Love Hate Relationship. Because we are individuals, we are never going to seamlessly agree with any person, no matter how much we love them. Disagreements and arguments, although distasteful, are a matter of course.

Heck, it could even be argued that Love Hate Relationships are necessary and normal for romantic couples. While it is never healthy to go from snuggling to hitting each other with frying pans on a regular schedule, it certainly is healthy to let your romantic partner know what you dislike about their behavior and try to work out your problems. And this kind of discourse will inevitably stir up some negative feelings while you work through it together.

So the next time you hear someone talk of Love Hate Relationships in a negative tone, keep in mind that a certain amount of love and hate—well, let’s call it dislike—may be necessary for a successful romantic relationship!

Happy Honeymoon Vacation Package Destination . . . how’s that for a catchy romantic phrase? The perfect honeymoon package destination can be hard to find, and there are plenty of honeymoon spots that might be perfect for some couples and honeymoon destination package nightmares for others. Each romantic relationship is unique, and your perfect honeymoon vacation will have a lot to do with who you are and the things you enjoy doing together.

Different newlyweds have different budgets, too, and a honeymoon package destination that is affordable to one couple may be an out-of-the-question honeymoon destination spot for another couple. Don’t think that just because you can’t afford a high-priced honeymoon package destination that you can’t have a wonderful, romantic honeymoon together at another package or destination. The possibilities are enless!

This honeymoon vacation package destination list, however, will not be endless. Below are 101 possible honeymoon destinations from around the world that you and your new spouse may want to consider. They range from expensive honeymoon location spots to affordable honeymoon destinations, but remember: the size of your honeymoon package budget won’t decide how much fun you have on your romantic honeymoon!

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There aren’t many romantic getaways that are more important to your new marriage than a honeymoon vacation location, and most couples only get one chance to make their honeymoon spot destination the event of a lifetime.  But what’s romantic to one pair of newlyweds isn’t necessarily romantic to another, and you shouldn’t let your plans be decided by cliche honeymoon vacation ideas.   There are plenty of options—cheap honeymoons and expensive honeymoons—that might be perfect for your unique relationship.

Remember: the only expert on your relationship is you, and no one knows the kind of honeymoon vacation that will best suit you better than you and your new husband or wife.  Just because some people think that a Hawaii honeymoon is the only way to go doesn’t mean that you and your new spouse need to do the same.  And you’re honeymoon doesn’t need to be weeks long, either.  Who cares if you can only afford a day or two as long as you have a memorable experience?

Do you enjoy the quiet countryside more than a sunny beach?  Or perhaps you and your sweetheart are fans of architecture and have always wanted to spend time together exploring historic neighborhoods?  Regardless of what your interests are, you and your new spouse can turn them into a romantic honeymoon vacation.  The possibilities are endless, and the only requirement for a successful honeymoon vacation is that you spend it doing something you enjoy!

So have a look at the following list of 101 romantic honeymoon vacation ideas, but keep in mind that you don’t have to limit yourself to this list or anyone else’s.  If anyone else thinks your honeymoon idea is silly, that’s their problem.  While they are complaining, you and your new husband or wife will be off having the time of your lives!

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It’s no secret that learning how to be friends with your wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend is a key ingredient in a successful romantic relationship or marriage.  Unfortunately, however, many couples concentrate too much on romance and not enough on friendship; which, ironically, can be a great way to stifle a romantic atmosphere and speed along a breakup or divorce.

Is Romance Tracker really telling you that you should decrease the amount of old-fashioned romance in your relationship and concentrate on other things?  Well, sort of.  In instances where romance is abundant but friendship is lacking, sometimes it can be healthy to take a step back from the roses and love letters to bolster another area that’s just as important to your overall happiness: friendship.

The definition of a friend is something that every human being innately understands, but sometimes it’s good to remind yourself of what friendship is when building a relationship with your sweetheart.  A friend is someone who you can laugh with and tell secrets to without fearing repercussions; a friend is someone who supports you almost unconditionally and allows you to be yourself; and a friend is someone with whom you can share your favorite hobbies, pastimes and interests.

If these are qualities that are absent in your relationship, it might do you some good to concentrate on becoming better friends with your significant other.  You may never be best friends with your sweetheart, but a relationship that focuses only on textbook romance or physical love, while ignoring simple friendship, will be less successful and more vulnerable to problems in the long run.

So, how do you become better friends with your sweetheart?  Well, learning to have a sense of humor helps, as does making sure that you don’t take anything too seriously.  And learning about your significant other’s interests and hobbies is another great way to build friendship, as well.

Becoming better friends with your sweetheart may take a lot of time and effort, but it’s a surefire way to make your relationship stronger.  So what are you waiting for?  Set aside the romance for a while and concentrate on being buddies.  Your sweetheart will thank you for it! 

The importance of apologizing in a romantic relationship or marriage is well known, but it’s amazing how many boyfriends, girlfriends, wives and husbands have a hard time saying “I’m sorry” . . . even if they know it could stave off a breakup or divorce. 

It’s a fact that saying you’re sorry (when it’s necessary) is one of the best romantic ideas you could use to improve your relationship, but even in the face of this fact too many couples find it difficult to say those three important little words.

Do you know when to say “I’m sorry?”

It’s a simple question, but an important one: when exactly should we offer an apology to our sweetheart?  Not knowing when an apology is necessary or appropriate is a major underlying problem for many people who don’t say they’re sorry.  Oftentimes a lover fails to apologize not because they are trying to be rude or mean, but because they just aren’t used to saying it.

If you have been told you don’t apologize enough, you may need to ask yourself whether you need to make an extra effort to pay more attention to the feelings of those around you.  While you may not be purposely rude or uncaring, not showing any concern for your sweetheart’s feelings is a quick ticket to a relationship void of romance.

Start with litle “I’m sorry’s” and work up to big ones

If you need to work on your “I’m sorry” skills, start small and work your way up. If you’re a proud or stubborn person (and a lot of us are!), then practicing apologizing for little mistakes is a great way to build up your nerve to say your sorry after a serious argument.

And by starting to say “I’m sory” to your sweetheart even for little mistakes, you’ll show your lover that you really are committed to changing and paying better attention to their feelings!

Saying “I’m sorry” even if you don’t mean it

Does everyone who says “I’m sorry” really mean it every time?  Of course not! But one of the secrets to building a successful romance is putting the feelings of your sweetheart, and the health of your relationship, before your own pride and anger.

Saying “I’m sorry” is often all that’s necessary to defuse an argument and set the path to reconciliation.  And yes, sometimes it takes a strong person to make a relationship the number one priority and be the first to apologize . . . even when they don’t mean it. 

Are you prepared to be that strong person who swallows pride and puts the relationship first?  Saying you’re sorry can be a very difficult thing to do, but the rewards that could come your way make it worth the effort.

A few days ago on Romance Tracker we posted an article about visiting Hawaii, which is one of the most popular romantic vacations spots in the world.  And while a honeymoon or romantic getaway to someplace like the Hawaiian Islands would be great for your relationship or marriage, you shouldn’t ever lose sight of the fact that the amount of romance generated by a vacation has absolutely nothing to do with its price tag!   

Whether you have a million dollars to spend or an empty wallet, there are tons of ideas for romantic getaways that you and your sweetheart can take advantage of to spend a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days alone with each other.  Never let anyone else define what kind of romantic getaway should make you and your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband happy.  That’s up to you!

Remember: one couple’s nightmare destination could be another’s perfect romantic vacation idea.  Relationships are as varied and diverse as snowflakes, with dynamics, strengths and shared interests that are both unique and special.  Just because one couple’s idea of a great vacation is laying on a tropical beach doesn’t make your preference of camping or bowling or sitting together at home any less perfect.

In the end, the most important consideration in choosing your perfect romantic getaway . . . is you and your sweetheart’s own preferences! 

And if someone else doesn’t approve of how you and your significant other spend your time together, who cares?  Putting your relationship first—and not paying attention to what others think about your happiness—is part of adding some good old-fashioned romance to your life!     

Well I guess you could, but it would be tough!  We had a lot of blogs enter our Romantic Ideas Link Contest, and I was glad when the Hawaii vacation blog Go Visit Hawaii was randomly chosen as winner of the first prize.  It’s not hard to write a free review about a blog that posts on one of the most romantic vacation destinations in the word: beautiful Hawaii!

The gorgeous picture you see above may look like it was taken in Japan, but it’s actually the Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii, which was built to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to arrive on the island.  The reason I chose that picture was to illustrate the fact that Go Visit Hawaii does’t just focus on the cliche beachfront images and posts that you would expect.  I’ve looked through their posts, and am impressed to see that they’re a one-stop-shop for everything to do with the island, from food to beaches to anything else you’d want to know about Hawaii!

Go Visit Hawaii is run by editor Sheila Beal, a frequent visitor to the islands who knows just about everything there is to know about the place.  She prides herself on giving her readers completely independent and honest reviews of everything about Hawaii, so you can always be sure to get the real story about the best—and the not-so-good—things to do on a vacation to the islands.

And even if you aren’t planning on visiting Hawaii for a while, Go Visit Hawaii is still a great blog to bookmark to learn all you can about the islands for the day when you finally do take that romantic vacation you’ve been dreaming of. And before you go, be sure to email Sheila to ask her any last-minute questions about planning your trip . . . she’s great about returning messages!

A romantic vacation to a place like Hawaii can do wonders to bring you and your significant other closer, and Go Visit Hawaii is the perfect site for anyone who wants to learn all about the islands.  Go check it out . . . and add a little Hawaiian romance to your life!