CLOSE your eyes. Now, imagine the sun on your back, the sand at your feet and crystal blue waters dancing against the Bahamian shorelines. There are no phones, no televisions and no distractions.

Just you. Your love. And all the time you need to enjoy the heat (on the beach and off).

Sound like a dream?

It doesn't have to be anymore. More and more couples, in search of the elusive concept of quality time, are opting for the weeklong getaway, the weekend retreat, or the great one-day escape. Married couples are using vacation time to rekindle the flames while passion-seeking singles are flocking to summertime retreats in search of the perfect connection. Whatever your fancy, there is a package to tickle it this season.

Free your body and your mind, let your hair down, and let the new you take control. Soothe your body with a sensuous fragrance, slip into that slinky "low-cut" evening gown and embrace the ambiance of new beginnings. A getaway is not just about a change of place, but a change of mind.

MAKEOVER YOUR MARRIAGE

For married couples bored with the same routine, a vacation can inject a much-needed jolt of energy. "It was like being on our honeymoon all over again," says Tara McElroy, referring to her last trip with her husband of five years. "We ate exotic dishes in gourmet restaurants and received massages side-by-side. In the evening, we took a candlelit cruise, danced, talked and enjoyed the views. It was spectacular," she says. "Next year, we plan to get a log cabin in the mountains with a fireplace and a hot tub."

SINGLES SEEKING SINGLES

Experts and satisfied couples say that summertime vacation spots are the best places for singles to make a heart-to-heart connection. Sidney Sims, recently engaged to Leslie Johnson after his first cruise, says the experience was nothing like a club or bar. "The trip was so romantic and so well-put-together. Everything was built around bringing people together without any of the normal pressures," he says. "Everything we needed--music, dancing, entertainment, excitement--was all under one roof." Hotels, cruise lines and luxury resorts are creating entire weekend packages, in some cases, specifically designed to bring couples together.

GETTING CLOSER