The most romantic, out-of-the-box holidays to add to your bucket list
Rule one: forget Paris. Too clichéd. If you want to take your loved one on a romantic escape, it’s time to get creative. Let them be spellbound by nature at its wildest, relax on a road trip filled with fresh mountain air and azure lakes, or wander through an ancient city that is also exhilaratingly contemporary. Do romance a bit differently and you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime.
Drive into the sunset: Munich to Venice
Grand Canal and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy.
This road trip has it all: scenic cities, majestic scenery and plenty of time to linger. You could cover the distance in a day but take it slowly and you’ll enjoy it so much more.
Start with a couple of days in Munich, a city of royal architecture, lush parks and a trove of museums and galleries. From here it’s only two hours to Innsbruck, an Alpine gem with an enchanting old town that you will want to explore for a day or two.
Another hour or so down the road is Brixen, the oldest town in South Tyrol, Italy’s German-speaking province (love those bilingual street signs). Stop for a stroll and a lunch washed down with delicious local wines and perhaps a cable car ride up to the Plose mountain for stunning vistas.
From here it’s a couple of hours’ drive down to Lake Garda, Lake Como’s equally beautiful sister. The lake changes character along its 50-kilometre length; if you like it wild, stay at the northern end, a playground for rock climbers and wind surfers. The south is more tranquil, with lakeside promenades lined with palm trees.
When you tackle the final two-hour stretch to Venice, build in some time for a stop at Verona before spending a couple of days drinking in the beauty of Venice.
Time it right: In the warmer months, enjoy stunning hikes and Lake Garda’s lovely beaches; in winter, savour sensational skiing and the delights of Venice in the off-season.
Love in the wild: Botswana
If you are looking for a getaway that gets your heart racing, a safari offers plenty of pulse-pounding experiences and moments of pure awe. The sights are extraordinary – cheetahs striding through the long grass or giraffes silhouetted against the horizon – but it’s the sounds that will really surprise you, from the powerful flap of an elephant’s huge ears to the purring of a pride of lions as they greet each other after time apart.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta offers some of Africa’s best game viewing. The floodwaters that pour through here each rainy season ensure the area sustains a huge amount of life. Stay at one of the area’s intimate safari camps, like andBeyond Sandibe – where each villa has its own plunge pool – and inspiring encounters are guaranteed.
It might be wild jackal pups playing or hyena feasting on an impala corpse; the twitching tail of a leopard stretched out on a tree branch or the joyous surprise of finding a rhino grazing beneath some shady trees. And the rhythm of a safari trip, with its early-morning and late-afternoon game drives, gives you plenty of lazy hours to spend together.
Time it right: The dry months of May to October are peak season, but great game viewing is also available from January to April.
City escape: Istanbul
Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul, Turkey.
There is no such thing as a recipe for romance but if you were trying to create a formula for the ideal romantic city break, you would start with a healthy helping of beautiful streetscapes. Mix in some sensational feasts – not necessarily expensive – and perhaps a boat ride or two. Pop it in the oven and what comes out – well, it would look remarkably like Istanbul.
This glorious city blends plenty of bustle with pockets of peace. The streets are made for strolling, from the busy thoroughfare of Istiklal, lined with beautiful Belle Epoque buildings, to quieter neighbourhoods such as Çukurcuma and Cihangir, where cats sleep in the sun in front of antique stores and modern art galleries.
There are beautiful palaces and mosques to explore, as well as the heady aromas of the Spice Bazaar and the bustle of the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul’s street food is also fabulous: enjoy a fish sandwich at the Galata Bridge, or grab a sesame-crusted simit roll from one of the many simit carts. Looking for that swoon-worthy romantic moment? A sunset stroll on the banks of the Bosphorus, or a boat ride on the water as the city lights twinkle into life, are hard to beat.
Time it right: Istanbul is irresistible in the spring, when magnificent plantings of tulips and other blooms fill the streets with colour.
Island life: Pelorus Island
Everyone loves a tropical paradise but for true romance you want a getaway that is utterly, entirely private. That’s the lure of the newly opened Pelorus Island, a no-holds-barred, splash-the-cash hideaway located off the coast of Townsville, next to Orpheus Island.
The island has just one residence, a sensational villa that’s designed for four couples but also makes a wonderfully spacious retreat for two people. There are many eye-catching details to admire, from the cathedral ceilings and the French linen bedding to the hand-sanded feature columns, but the cabana overlooking the pool is a real winner.
Everything about a stay at the all-inclusive Pelorus is tailored to your tastes. That starts with your arrival, via helicopter or luxury yacht transfer. Naturally, you will want to spend plenty of time on the water: head out on the jet skis or the sea kayaks, or plunge in and snorkel the colourful reefs. Your charter boat lets you explore the surrounding islands including Hinchinbrook, where the national park offers terrific hiking.
Meals are also a highlight. Your personal chef will workshop the menus with you, or let him surprise you. And yes, free-flowing premium wines and beers are part of the package.
Time it right: Come from June to November for warm weather and stinger-free swimming.
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