Your Great Sex Weekend

There is no doubt about it, vacation is a good time to catch up on sex. During the workweek, we are often so busy, and so grumpy, that if sex happens, it is usually not state of the art — and notice that "if."

Unless you are a new couple, weeks can go by (maybe months) without any intimate time together. So given the fact that by the time you get a weekend or more away with one another, sex may be only a fond memory, it is really important that you go somewhere that makes sex, love, and romance more likely to happen than not. The right environment really does make a difference, even if you're dying to get into a sweet embrace. Ever find yourself in a hotel or resort that is a mood killer? I promise not to let that happen to you!

To start, here are 10 foolproof tips:

1. Plan ahead of time so that expectations and reality have something in common. If you want a cute bed-and-breakfast, that is fine. But find out whether or not you have your own bathroom or if you are right next to another couple (too inhibiting). Look up the reviews to see if people liked the way it looked once they got there. Pictures can be deceiving.

2. To avoid rush hour, leave on Friday afternoon if you can, instead of Friday night. If you are hassled and frustrated while getting out of town, those feelings can spill over on the weekend. Who needs to start down in a hole trying to climb out?

3. Pick a place you both will love. If he hates chintz, do not make him stay in a room that looks like an English garden. If she resents golf, do not go to a place that is organized around your sport. You are supposed to be each other's obsession on this getaway.

4. Bring a bottle of champagne or port or something celebratory, to put the two of you in a great mood the next morning. Or tell each other to bring some sexier-than-usual lingerie to set the mood. Hey, do both!

5. Make a promise about cell phones, BlackBerrys, and the like. If you cannot bear to be away from them, at least make a deal only to use them one hour or so a day, and at a mutually selected time. Show that you can concentrate on each other.

Next: Sexy scents and foods. »