The Kids Are Grown. When Was the Last Time You Vacationed as a Couple?

For years, your vacations may have started with questions like these:

Does the resort have a kids’ club? Will everyone like the food? Are there enough activities? How big is the pool?

And, of course, the most important question according to the kids:

When can we go swimming?

Then something happens.

The kids grow up.

Suddenly, you don't need to plan around school calendars, children's menus, or keeping everyone entertained from breakfast until bedtime.

You can take a vacation that's actually about the two of you.

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

It is. But after years of planning vacations around everyone else, you may discover that answering one simple question is surprisingly difficult:

What do we want?

That's why I believe choosing an adults-only resort requires more thought than simply finding a beautiful property without children.

Adults-only is a resort category. Romance is personal.

And understanding that difference can completely change your vacation.

What Does a Romantic Vacation Look Like to You? 

Ask five couples to describe a romantic vacation, and you'll probably receive five different answers.

One couple wants a quiet beach, leisurely dinners, spa treatments, and nowhere they need to be.

Another wants snorkeling in the morning, exploring Puerto Vallarta in the afternoon, and live entertainment after dinner.

Someone else may be thinking:

Private plunge pool. Room service. Ocean view.

And honestly, I understand.

None of these couples is vacationing incorrectly.

They're simply different travelers.

That's why I don't believe there is one “best” adults-only resort in Puerto Vallarta. There is, however, a resort that's a better match for you.

Here are two possibilities that demonstrate what I mean.

Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort 

Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort can be an excellent choice for couples who want a luxurious adults-only escape with plenty available without needing to constantly leave the resort.

You'll find multiple dining choices, activities, entertainment, pools, and beach time.

The accommodations are part of the experience, too. Modern design, furnished balconies or terraces, and 24-hour room service make lingering in your suite very tempting.

An ocean-view Junior Suite can add another layer to the getaway. There is something wonderful about beginning your morning together with the Pacific in front of you and absolutely no one asking what you've planned for them that day.

Guests can also access amenities at neighboring Dreams Bahia Mita. Just remember that Dreams is family-friendly.

For some couples, that's perfectly fine.

For others, maintaining an adults-only atmosphere throughout the vacation is part of the reason they're traveling.

Neither preference is wrong—which is precisely why these details matter. 

Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta 

Secrets Vallarta Bay offers a different possibility, particularly for couples who want an adults-only resort while remaining closer to the energy and experiences of Puerto Vallarta.

The contemporary accommodations include options that can make a couples getaway feel particularly special. A Junior Suite Swim Out, for example, adds direct pool access and private outdoor space to your stay.

But here's where I encourage couples to think beyond the room category.

Do you want to spend most of your vacation enjoying the resort?

Or do you imagine yourselves getting out and experiencing Puerto Vallarta together?

Maybe it's an excursion you've always wanted to try. Maybe it's exploring somewhere new. Maybe it's simply having dinner together without needing to check whether everyone else likes the restaurant.

Those answers help determine whether location should play a major role in your resort decision.

Adults-Only Doesn't Automatically Mean Romantic 

This is one of the biggest misconceptions I see about couples travel.

A resort can be adults-only and still be completely wrong for the vacation you're imagining.

Some adults-only resorts are peaceful and intimate. Others are lively and social. Some emphasize wellness and relaxation. Others offer extensive entertainment and activities.

Even two people in the same relationship can define the perfect vacation differently.

Maybe you want to spend an afternoon reading beside the pool while your partner wants to be doing something.

That's okay.

You don't need to spend every minute together to reconnect.

Sometimes having room to pursue your individual interests makes the time you intentionally spend together even better.

Before I Recommend a Resort, I Want to Know About You 

When a couple asks me, “Tina, which adults-only resort should we book?” my first instinct isn't to pull up a list of resorts.

I ask questions.

Why are you taking this trip now?

What does relaxation mean to each of you?

Do you want activities or quiet?

How important is dining?

Would you rather explore your destination or settle into the resort and stay there?

And perhaps most importantly:

How do you want to feel when you come home? 

This is why I begin with the Shores And More Travel Discovery Conversation™.

I'm not trying to fit you into a vacation.

I'm trying to understand you well enough to help find the vacation that fits you.

Because the kids growing up isn't the end of family vacations. 

It may simply be the beginning of a completely different kind of travel.

A chance to reconnect. 
A chance to rediscover what you enjoy doing together.

And maybe even a chance to remember who you were before every vacation revolved around everyone else.

That's what Bucket List Living™ means to me. Travel isn't simply about checking another destination off a list. It's about recognizing the season of life you're in and making time for the experiences—and people—that matter.

Contact me today to start planning your next adventure! Schedule your complimentary Shores And More Travel Discovery Conversation™, and we'll talk about what the two of you want from your next getaway and find an experience that truly fits.

Not ready to plan just yet? Join my Live It List Club, where you'll receive travel tips, destination inspiration, and exclusive content—delivered straight to your inbox. Because life is too short for bucket lists—live it! 

- Updated August 2026 -