The holidays are prime time for getting engaged. If you're considering a traditional proposal, don't arrive empty-handed. For centuries, the gift of a precious diamond has sealed a vow. ABCs of Buying a Diamond.

Also See:
Classic Engagement Rings You Can Buy Online
What is a Promise Ring?
Before You Buy Wedding Bands

How much thought do you give to the view from your hotel room? If the answer is next to none, look again -- it can have a strong effect on your honeymoon or romantic vacation.

Find out the difference between a room with a great view and one where you draw the curtains, look out, shudder, conceal the blight, and refuse to give that view a second glance....

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_{Water view room, Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC.}

Don't let winter slip away without heading for the hills. Charming Mont Tremblant is a picture-perfect pedestrian village north of Montreal where you can ski, dine, and shop without getting back into a car after you arrive. It's a winter wonderland perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

• The Romance of Mont Tremblant

• Mont Tremblant Photo Gallery

• Honeymoon Havens in Mont Tremblant

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_{Photo of Mont Tremblant outdoor fireplace © Susan Breslow Sardone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Whether you've asked Santa for something sweet, something sexy, or something great to take along on your next romantic getaway, I've got plenty of ideas for Holiday Gifts for Lovers.

Something Sparkly
Romantic Heart Pendants

Bridal Lingerie for the Wedding Night
Pure White Honeymoon Lingerie

For Your Next Romantic Getaway
Sweet & Sexy Lingerie

_{Image courtesy of Bare Necessities.} 

Opened seven years ago, the luxurious Stanley Safari Lodge stands practically within spitting distance of the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, the world's most magnificent waterfall.

This African lodge boasts a romantic honeymoon villa, complete with a private plunge pool, outdoor shower for two, and stone fireplace, and it can arrange activities that range from Zambezi River cruises to elephant rides.

Even if you can't pack your trunk right now, indulge in a surfing safari and check out Stanley Safari Lodge in Zambia, the next hot place.

_{Photo © Stanley Safari Lodge.}

You may be thinking about Thanksgiving... or the December holidays. I'm already looking forward to my favorite holiday, Valentine's Day.

So when I found out that the Leading Hotels of the World was offering a special Save the Date promotion offering savings of 30% to 50% for stays between January 1 and March 31 if you book by December 31, 2009, my eyes lit up.

According to surveys, there's no better Valentine's Day gift than a trip. If you take advantage of this offer, you can stay for less at places like Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa in Sedona, Arizona; Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Terme di Saturnia in Italy; Royal Hideaway Playacar on Mexico's Riviera Maya and other great getaways around the world.

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_{Dinner on the beach for two image © Royal Hideaway Playacar.}

The latest hotel ratings are out, and there have been some major changes. The 2010 list of AAA Five Diamond Award hotel winners now recognizes a few of my favorite places perfect for honeymoons and romantic escapades:

• Acqualina, Sunny Isles, Florida
• Encore Las Vegas
• Palazzo Las Vegas
• Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas
• Encantado, New Mexico

More big news: The Mobil Five-Star Award has been renamed the Forbes Travel Guide. The standards for judging hotels remain high. View the complete list of Forbes 5-Star Hotels Award Winners 2010.

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_{© Susan Breslow Sardone, licensed to About.com, Inc. Image of Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas.}

Our first clue that we had checked into Hotel Hell for honeymoon couples was that the front desk clerk wanted nothing to do with us. The second was that our room smelled like a stable. The third was the absence of a necessity we'd been promised... and it went downhill from there.

Avoid the same (or worse) misery on your honeymoon or next romantic getaway. Read: 10 Signs You've Checked Into Hotel Hell.

Have you had the displeasure of staying in a Hotel Hell? Share your experience by adding a comment below.

When you travel, do you look for souvenirs to bring home? Some couples start the souvenir hunting habit on their honeymoon, picking up items to decorate their new home or simply to commemorate their trip.

Even inexpensive souvenirs that you gather on your journeys can be a gateway to a collection that you come to treasure.

Start a Collection

• Cheap/Free Souvenirs
• Better Souvenirs

Do you collect anything special when you're on the road? Tell us by clicking on "comments" below.

_{Photo © Susan Breslow Sardone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

The City by the Bay has long enchanted couples of all persuasions. Soaring views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, first-rate hotels, some of America's finest restaurants, attractions that range from the just-reopened California Academy of Sciences to the long-closed Alcatraz Island, San Francisco is a city with a lot of heart.

Find out what San Francisco in Northern California offers honeymoon couples and other romantics.

See San Francisco's Best

• Top 10 Attractions
• Top 10 Romantic San Francisco Hotels
• San Francisco at a Glance

_{Image of Golden Gate Bridge © San Francisco Convention and Tourism Bureau.}