Okay, so I decided to plan a “couples retreat” for me and my partner in Los Angeles. We both needed a break, and LA seemed like it had a bit of everything.
Step 1: Figuring Out the Vibe
First, I sat down and really thought about what we wanted. Total relaxation? Non-stop adventure? A mix of both? We’re kinda “chill but active” people, so I knew I needed to balance downtime with some fun stuff.
Step 2: The Dreaded Budget…
Ugh, money. I had to set a realistic budget. I’m not made of money, so I knew I couldn’t go all-out on a five-star resort. I figured out a rough estimate for accommodation, activities, food, and, you know, those little extras that always pop up.
Step 3: Hunting for Accommodation
This took a while! I started by browsing those usual travel sites. I looked at hotels, Airbnbs, everything. I wanted something with a nice, relaxing atmosphere – maybe a pool, a nice view, or at least a comfy bed! I ended up finding a cute boutique hotel in Santa Monica that seemed perfect.
- Checked the reviews – super important!
- Looked at the location on a map – needed to be near some stuff we wanted to do.
- Compared prices on a few different sites.
Step 4: Activity Planning!
This was the fun part! I made a list of all the things we might want to do:
- Beach time, obviously! Santa Monica and Venice Beach were at the top of the list.
- Hiking: I found some trails in the Santa Monica Mountains that looked amazing.
- Exploring: Maybe a walk around Hollywood, checking out some museums…
- Foodie adventures: Gotta try some of those famous LA restaurants!
I didn’t want to over-schedule things, so I picked a few “must-dos” and left plenty of room for just wandering around and seeing what happened.
Step 5: Booking and Confirming
Once I had a basic plan, I started booking. The hotel was first, then I reserved a couple of activities that needed advance booking (like a guided hike). I made sure to double-check all the dates and times, and I kept all the confirmation emails in one place.
Step 6: The Little Things
I also thought about some smaller details:
- Figuring out transportation from the airport.
- Making a list of restaurants we might want to try.
- Packing – don’t forget the sunscreen!
Step 7: Enjoy!
When we got there, it all paid off. Even when the planned hike did not happen, we have changed to watch a beautiful sunset. I made some wrong reservation dates at the restaurant, but the staff was very friendly and fixed it.
We had an amazing time. It wasn’t perfect, there were a few hiccups, but we relaxed, reconnected, and made some great memories. Totally worth it!
