Weekends away: the last resort?

Making it work
A weekend away isn't a magic pill to cure all relationship ills. But it can help. Last year, my partner and I were suffering 'lack of fun' syndrome, which two nights in Paris helped to fix. We did little more than lounge at pavement cafes, but we did dress nicely, kiss in public, and held hands for the first time in years.

On the downside, a mini-break can make you realise it's over - for good. Maria, 30, booked a New Year trip to Vienna as a last-ditch attempt to salvage her relationship: 'My partner showed no interest in the art or architecture, which brought home how very different we were. In fact he spent two days grumbling that a coffee and cake cost £6.50.'

With the right man, however, a weekend away can be a passport to a closer relationship.