You want your romantic getaway to be one of those trips you’ll always remember—the kind where you print out a photo, put it in your living room and smile every time you walk past it. So, to point you in the right direction, we’ve put together this list of recommendations:

Before you start booking, take a few minutes to think about what a romantic getaway means to you both. For some, it might mean immersing yourselves in everything a big city has to offer, while others may prefer somewhere smaller and more intimate. If the getaway is going to be a surprise, put yourself in your partner’s shoes and think about what they would genuinely enjoy. Once you have that figured out, you can start putting the trip together.

By definition, a getaway—romantic or otherwise—is rarely very long. A weekend. Three or four days at most. With that in mind, the next step is to decide how far you want to travel. In other words, do you want to venture far from home? Will you take your own car so you can get around once you arrive, or do you prefer travelling by train or plane? If the getaway is only going to last a few days, the most practical option is to choose somewhere close to home. This way, you’ll spend less time travelling and arrive feeling less tired.

We’re going to lean into a few clichés here and tell you—in case you’re not quite in a romantic mood yet—that some places are simply perfect for creating an atmosphere made for two. We’re talking about charming, compact cities with historic centres, where stone buildings take centre stage, the streets are narrow and you can sometimes wander around without seeing another soul.

Think of Toledo after dark or Oviedo just after the rain. Whatever the weather, coastal destinations are always a safe bet: walking hand in hand beside the water in San Sebastián, Málaga or Valencia, with the gentle murmur of the waves as your soundtrack, may be all you need in life. Or perhaps what you really need is to clock up a few miles on the road while discovering small villages and wineries in Ribera del Duero, or to immerse yourselves in the natural beauty of Irati on a hiking adventure.

Yes, if there’s one thing that can make all the difference to a romantic getaway, it’s choosing accommodation with that extra touch of charm—somewhere that not only makes you feel at home, but also tempts you to linger. In other words, somewhere that makes it easy to never want to leave your room.

We’re talking about waking up to sea views, as you can when staying in one of the sea-view rooms at Sercotel Kalma Sitges; choosing a 16th-century mansion that combines the atmosphere of a bygone era with all the comforts of today, such as Sercotel Calle Mayor in Logroño; or checking in to a genuine palace. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa, which is also located right in the heart of the historic centre and just a short walk from the Hammam Al Ándalus Arab baths—always a tempting option on a getaway for two.

You don’t need to book everything in advance. Nor do you have to fill every moment of your getaway. In fact, we recommend that you leave room for spontaneity. However, it’s worth having at least two or three activity ideas in mind that you might both enjoy: from watching the sunrise on the beach or the sunset from a rooftop overlooking the city to a spa session and massage, dinner at a small, quiet restaurant, a wine tasting or a couples’ photoshoot to capture the memories.

One thing that never fails to make a getaway feel truly perfect is to add a few surprises along the way. We don’t mean anything excessive or extravagant. We’re talking about thoughtful details, such as putting together a playlist for the drive, bringing some battery-powered candles for your room so there’s no risk involved, slipping a little note among your partner’s clothes or, in this day and age, perhaps the greatest act of love of all: putting your phone on flight mode. Because yes, this getaway is just for the two of you.