Isn't it time you and your partner got breathless?

You've planned for months to get away without the kids for some good old-fashioned, sweaty jungle sex. But you're stressed about the sitter, you have a report due on Monday morning and your partner's idea of sexy lately has been less than, err, creative.

All right, the truth. Your relationship tastes more like a discount can of beer than it does the sexy 1985 Bordeaux you really want.

Dr. Jennifer Berman, Co-host of the Emmy-Award winning daytime talk show, The Doctors, says sex is more than just intercourse and stepping out of your normal routine may be all you need to find each other again.

"There are a lot of ways to be intimate without having sex," Berman says. "Doing quiet things together - reading, massage, just being together can be a form of foreplay. And orgasm can be part of foreplay or after-play or not even part of the equation."

How do you spell sex?

Barbara and Dennis Rainey, co-authors of Rekindling the Romance, know something about the challenges children bring to a relationship. They have 6 children, and spent almost 15 years either pregnant, breastfeeding or changing diapers. Whew! Here's what they had to say:

• Barbara: "I felt it was easier for him to be interested in romance because he left work every day. But I didn't leave the laundry or the kids waiting in the background."
• Barbara: "We went on a weekly date faithfully for years. Husbands and wives need to talk, but if you're doing all that talking at home, you're going to be distracted and not really hear what your partner is saying."
• Dennis: "Getting away gave us an oasis to talk about our needs. A marriage that is void of passion will become just a friendship."

Been awhile since you've curled your toes? Try these tricks to jumpstart your getaway and kick up the heat...

• Love letters: Tuck a love note into his pocket or email him from work and let him know what he's in for this weekend. Go ahead, get naughty.
• The five-minute kiss: Grab your partner the minute you close the door to your hotel room. Be specific about your intentions.
• Take a tally: Write down all the things you first loved (or lusted) about your partner. Get him to do the same and then share.
• Ditch the cotton: Get out that thong and show him you still know how to shake your booty.
• Get in the driver's seat: You're in charge, so tell him to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
• Ditch the TV: Book yourself into a hotel that doesn't have distractions. Share your dreams, cuddle, or just watch the fire.

Ok, the passion has been rekindled and you've learned a few things about yourself and your lover. Fun, right? Now it's time to return home to that daily grind and distraction that so separated your passions. It'll take some focus and a little dedicated effort, but wasn't that couples retreat weekend of sexual freedom freakin awesome? It might also require a sitter for a few hours a few times a month, but you'll both enjoy the journey. 

There's a great book series by Laura Corn - you can start with 101 Nights of Grrreat Romance or jump right into 101 Nights of Great Sex - that offer activities "for her eyes only" and "for his eyes only" designed to treat, tempt and tease that romance and passion alive ... slowly ... that slow exciting burn kept alive ... that was ... oh, oh, ahh ... so sweet! What a great after vacation-sex continuation, right?

Got any tips for making the most of a romantic getaway? Drop a comment below and connect with GoGirlfriend on Twitter and Facebook.