There is nothing more romantic than traveling with your loved one. Relaxing, discovering new worlds, and getting to know each other even better at an intimate level. The world is beautiful, and you’ll want to share these places with that special one on your side.
We put together a list of the best holiday destinations and romantic retreats. Our suggestion? Just choose one and just… go! 🙂
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10 Holiday destinations for young couples
Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia
Imagine a desert beach with soft white sand and warm turquoise water, with nothing else to do but lay down in the sun, read, and swim… This beach exists, and it is on a small desert island in the south of Cambodia. Koh Ta Kiev is an island with no-Frills, no stress, no internet, and only electricity at night.
The island only has 3 or 4 hostels/bungalows and restaurants serving typical Khmer food. We stayed in a shack by the sea with one bed and a mosquito net, which was paradise. In the morning you will wake up to the sound of the waves, go for a swim in the hot sea, eat some fruit, relax and spend time with each other.
You can even go for a skinny dip at night in that warm water. Koh Ta Kiev is heaven on earth.
Find out more about how we got lucky in Koh Ta Kiev!
Kruger National Park, South Africa
What is more romantic than spending the night in a luxurious tent or tree house in the African bush and waking up with a magnificent African sunrise? Doing a Safari in the Kruger National Park is undeniably an unforgettable experience.
The Kruger National Park is magical; it’s a reserve park surrounded by wild animals and the African savanna. Here, you’ll discover the thrill of trying to spot the Big Five in their natural habitat.
Plus, the opportunity to do a sunrise bush walk with a guide that will explain all there is to know about the wildlife. At the end of the day, dining under a magnificent Marula tree and having a bush braai is the cherry on top.
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a fairytale town in the north of Belgium. The harmony of the medieval buildings and the canals make the city cozy and picturesque. It’s a good city for a romantic weekend getaway, a good place to celebrate love.
The ideal romantic time to go is winter; although it can be quite chilly, you will enjoy the scenery better in a cold atmosphere. Bruges demands that you indulge yourself in chocolate; it’s everywhere, in different shapes, colors, and sizes.
Besides all the chocolate, walking along medieval streets or even riding a horse is enjoyable. Also, don’t forget to cruise all the canals surrounding the city. At the end of the day, snuggle in a luxurious, warm hotel, and rest by the fireplace with a hot chocolate cup.
We suggest you stay in GuestHouse Bonifacius, which is cute, hospitable, comfortable, and has a fireplace! It also serves the best breakfast! Sounds heavenly.
The Big Perhentian Island Malaysia
The Big Perhentian Island in Malaysia has paradisiac beaches, fantastic spots for snorkeling and diving, delicious food and fruits, and luxurious jungle treks. In particular, the Perhentian Islands Resort beach has perfect clear turquoise water with a coral reef full of fish, rays, and turtles.
You will want to spend the day in the sea just watching colorful fish passing by and trying to chase rays and turtles. There is even a spot with sharks, but don’t worry, these are the friendly ones. If you get tired of the beach, you can always hike in the lavishing jungle of the island.
The Perhentian Island resort is the best spot on the island; besides its stunning beach, it has all the necessary commodities. A pool, a gym, a fantastic restaurant, and a diving school. Be aware that the Perhentian Islands are one of the best spots in the world to go diving. Besides all the marine life, it has some wrecked ships. All this makes it the ideal place to relax and enjoy life with each other.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Have you ever wanted to visit Cinderella’s Castle?… Well, it exists, and it’s in Germany. The Neuschwanstein castle in Baviera, Germany, is a fairy-tale castle adorned with balconies and turrets, surrounded by the lavishing forest of the Bavarian Alps.
The castle is like a dream come true; the decoration is luxurious and eccentric, with a medieval style but at the same time modern for its era. King Ludwig II of Baviera planned Neuschwanstein Castle – he also built the Linderhof Palace (aka Little Versailles) and the Herrenchimsee.
Each of the castles has quirky features like a grotto with electricity and hot water or a hall of mirrors. All of his castles are simply beautiful and let your imagination run wild. The castles are close to each other, so you can easily visit them all. Stay in a cozy country house with a spa in the Bavarian Alps like Das Kranzbach, and visit Neuschwanstein and the romantic Bavarian Alps.
Douro Valley
The Douro Valley is one of Portugal’s most beautiful regions and is a world heritage site. Due to its unique soil, microclimate, and landscape created by the Douro River, the grapes produce a fantastic and world-renowned Port wine.
The best time to visit this region is in September, when the grape harvest begins, and the wine is produced. It’s extremely romantic and beautiful, with all the autumn colors red, yellow and orange. The best way to see the Douro Valley is by cruising up the river Douro and enjoying the breathtaking views while taking a glass of Port.
Stay in the typical “Quinta de la Rosa,” where you can relax, enjoy the views, and even participate in winemaking, like grape-stomping and wine tasting. You can also visit the vineyards and caves where the Port wine is aged.
Hawaii, USA
Hawaii is a favorite honeymoon destination for a good reason. It is stunning and an excellent place to relax and have fun. It’s an archipelago with dazzling beaches and tonnes of activities to do.
You will have a great time surfing, visiting volcanoes, snorkeling in the corals, and exploring epic waterfalls… It is simply an incredible place to go for a romantic getaway. Although very touristy, It’s well worth it; make sure you don’t go during the high season, from December to April.
Come, have fun in Hawaii, and stay in a fabulous resort like the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii.
San Sebastian, Spain
San Sebastian or Donostia is one of those cities you will love. It is an elegant city with stylish buildings, old churches, and a vibrant culture. Moreover, the city has fantastic nightlife, full of bars serving pintxos (small, gorgeous, and delicious snacks) and wine, giving it an incredible vibe.
And, best of all, it has one of Europe’s most beautiful urban city beaches. Besides the pintxos, San Sebastian is also famous for having an incredible amount of Michelin restaurants, making it a foodies’ dream destination!
This city is pleasant all year long, though summer can be really crowded. So, the low season could be the best option if you are thinking about a romantic retreat. Stay in the best hotel, the Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, and enjoy visiting the city in a luxurious hotel.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang is a remote city in the north of Laos. This World Heritage Site is undoubtedly one of SE Asia’s cutest and most romantic cities. The city is a mixture of Asia and France, as it was under the influence of France for 58 years. Besides, Luang Prabang is surrounded by mountains, which almost isolated it from the rest of the world but also helped preserve its unique cultural and architectural identity.
The streets are filled with beautiful houses, charming balconies, and adorable coffee shops. Plus, the food is excellent, and it is one of the only places in SE Asia where you can eat great bread and pastry.
Besides sitting in the coffee shops enjoying the views of the Mekong, the city has plenty of other activities to offer. We suggest you cruise the Mekong River, visit several temples, and attend the Buddhist alms-giving ritual.
Going shopping in the night market and having a relaxing massage are other things to do in Luang Prabang. Don’t forget to swim in Kuang Si Falls and visit the bear park very close to the city. And if you still have time and energy, there are plenty of bike trails and hikes in the beautiful surroundings.
We recommend staying at the Belmond La Residence Phou Vao, a 5-star boutique hotel with an outdoor pool and stunning views.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest itself is a monument worth visiting; the buildings, the streets, and the bridges on the Danube are simply beautiful.
However, our favorite thing about Budapest is the Thermal Baths. Budapest has the biggest thermal baths in Europe, with 15 indoor and three outdoor pools, saunas, and steam baths. It’s pure heaven to relax in one of the city’s thermal baths at the end of the day. It is even more pleasant in winter to be in a hot pool with 0 degrees outside.
The baths alone should convince you to go to Budapest; nevertheless, the city has many other things to offer, like a romantic night cruise in the Danube, a stroll around the castle district on Pest, or tasting the best paprika in the world.
Budapest has several good hotels, but we loved staying at the Buda Castle Fashion Hotel inside the castle district. It had a very romantic atmosphere.
