Greetings to Loving Couples Everywhere.

What a wild ride we have been on the past few months, eh?

• The NEW Couples Tower Isle has opened with a roar and guests are raving about our Grand Lady once again!
• We’ve introduced our Couplicious Wednesday Escapes where a different 24-hour special offer is announced every Wednesday.
• We have launched a new message board platform. And...
• Drum Roll, please… All Four Couples Resorts were voted into the Top 10 Caribbean Resorts in the 2009 World’s Best Awards, Travel+Leisure magazine’s annual reader’s poll! I do not recall any time in the poll’s history that such recognition has been bestowed on any other all-inclusive resort company. It is testimony to our unwavering dedication of all employees to provide the most romantic and best value vacation experience in the Caribbean.And, if this news is not exciting enough, both Couples Negril and Couples Swept Away were named in the Top 100 hotels in the world overall. What can we say but, “WOW!” and thank you to our loyal guests for such a vote of confidence.

I don’t know about you all, but does it seem like the world is spinning faster these days? Is your Stress-O-Meter dialed up to the “CRAZED” level? And, when it seems as though you are running through an obstacle course this summer, with everyone demanding of your time and energy, how do you keep the Romance Flame lit?

1. I suspect that those of you with school age children are wound even tighter this summer, so I decided to offer a few ideas to create a romantic dinner without sending the kids packing:
2. Make it a surprise pajama party – everyone gets dressed in PJs early, make breakfast food for dinner, (like pancakes or omelets) play a game and put the kids to bed. Then just the 2 go to bed early for some pillow talk time of your own.
3. Indoor picnic – family time can be romantic too – set up a picnic blanket on the floor, prepare a basket of sandwiches and treats. Turn on sounds of nature. Take a few pictures and start planning your next camping trip.
4. It’s never too early to learn - have the children write small love notes and post around the house, dim the lights, put on soothing love songs. After dinner and putting the kids to bed, have a special dessert or after dinner drink for just the 2 of you.
5. Red is the color of love – have the kids identify red ingredients and make a LOVE feast. Spaghetti with meatballs, roasted red peppers, mixed green salad with red wine vinaigrette dressing mixed with Red Delicious apples and dried cranberries. For dessert, Strawberry and Raspberry Sorbet. Table talk can include people you love and why.
6. Why wait for a special occasion? Have a family DATE night. Everyone gets dressed up. Order in your favorite dishes and get a special family romance movie (Sleepless in Seattle?). End the evening with special poems in place of traditional bedtime stories.

I hope one of these ideas helps you keep the flame alive and well – until you come home again to Couples Resorts.

Luv n Life,

Randy L. Russell
Chief Romance Officer ^®
Couples Resorts