This is a guest post by Melissa from Thrifty Family Travels.

With so many stunning tropical islands, South East Asia is the ideal place for a romantic getaway. With it’s gorgeous white sandy beaches, crystal clear warm waters and delicious food it is the perfect setting to spend precious time with your soul mate.

Couples can spend their days being pampered having massages on the beach or at a luxury day spa, private dinners on the beach by candlelight, enjoying stunning sunsets with cocktails in hand and escape to your own private beach and swim in warm clear waters.

The destinations in south east Asia are endless, but here are five beautiful tropical islands to get you started.

Langkawi

A cluster of Malaysian islands, located just 30 km off mainland Malaysia, Langkawi consists of 100 islands in total, however, only three are inhabited, so there are many deserted beaches to provide the perfect romantic setting for your holiday.

With its stunningly beautiful pristine beaches, clear turquoise calm waters and lush tropical rainforest backdrop Langkawi is the perfect paradise to relax and have a romantic holiday with your loved one.

Many of the hotels in Langkawi are first class with great service and have fantastic views – offering the perfect excuse to relax and stay in bed all day. Beautiful resort pools provide a great setting to relax and be waited on, providing the perfect alone time to appreciate each other. For the most romantic accommodation stay in one of gorgeous luxury 5-star resorts in either Datai Bay or Pantai Kok.

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc– one of Vietnams gorgeous islands, is a wonderfully romantic destination for couples. With the natural beauty of its beaches and the exclusion of hustle and bustle you will experience pure bliss.

To date progress hasn’t spoiled the landscape or the simple fishing villages. However, don’t be mistaken, holidays on Phu Quoc are not to be associated with undeveloped island living. Luxury awaits, where the simple life is combined with extravagant resorts offering wonderful food, and beautiful relaxing environments, that are hidden away amongst the tropical forest.

There are a variety of beaches to chose from for your romantic holiday, depending upon your ideal setting.

The most popular Phu Quoc beach is Long Beach where you will find numerous first-class resorts or more simple beach bungalows where you will hear the waves of the ocean from your bed. Long Beach also has spectacular sunsets and a variety of colourful beach bars to witness them from. For a quieter setting check out Ong Lang Beach where there are a few resorts dotted along the beach. If you prefer upmarket first-class resorts, then consider staying in the area of Ganh Dau which even has a casino and golf course.

Couples can spend their days in Phu Quoc lingering by their resorts pool or soaking in the warm turquoise waters. Other activities include hiring your own private boat to explore nearby stunning tropical islands and snorkelling or hire a motor bike and have your own island adventure tour.

Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are 3 small islands just off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, which are easily accessible by boat from both Lombok or popular Bali. Each island offers a perfect fit for a romantic getaway and with each island no more than a 5 minutes boat ride away from each other you can easily visit them all.

Each of the Gili islands offer a different vibe and experience. Trawangan (Gili T) is the more touristy and popular of all 3 whilst Gili Meno and Gili Air each offer a romantic, relaxed, honeymoon vibe.

Each island offers tons of natural beauty, white sand beaches meet crystal clear water that is about as warm as a bath. The centre of the islands are covered densely by beautiful trees and greenery which extends to the beach providing a very private feel. The exclusivity of these islands means It’s not hard to find a private beach and really feel like you and your significant other have escaped to paradise!

All these islands are budget friendly, where you can stay in luxury 4 & 5 star resorts at great rates. Food, drinks and spa treatments are very affordable as well.

For the ultimate in tranquillity, stay a few nights on Gili Meno. This island is so quiet that you may be mistaken that you have the entire island to yourself!

Coron

Coron Island is a limestone island in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It has several stunning lakes, most famous of which is the cleanest lake in the Philippines, the Kayangan Lake. The gorgeous and pristine beaches of Coron Islands, make it a favourite romantic getaway.

There are many beautiful bleach white sand beaches, providing remarkable scenery to appreciate together, from the enticing colour of the water, the spectacular limestone formations and wildlife, you will no doubt be in awe.

Coron island is perfect for the adventurous couple, who not only want romance but want to explore and experience adventure together. Couples will love diving into the calm waters amid the Japanese shipwrecks of the 1940s. The area around the wrecks has fantastic rock formations with underwater visibility extending up to 24 m. For the nature and wildlife lovers take a guided mangrove kayak tour, or island tour or try one of many horseback tours into the sunset, finishing off with dinner on the beach.

There are many resorts on Coron island for couples seeking the utmost privacy, intimacy and relaxation. Many of which let you revel in the stunning sea and hillside views, laze on a daybed and enjoy an intimate candlelit dinner for two under the stars. Most resorts offer island hopping tours to nearby islands where an enjoyable private picnic can be prepared at your request.

Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is the most Southern island in Thailand, located just 60 km from mainland Thailand. Said to be the Maldives of South East Asia, this may well be the most stunning tropical island in the region.

With its combination of remoteness, incomparable scenic beauty and charming appeal Koh Lipe is the perfect romantic holiday destination.  There are three different beaches to explore including Pattaya, Sunrise and Sunset beach, all with a distinct personality.

For the ultimate seclusion spend a few days at a luxurious resort on Sunset Beach and enjoy spectacular sunsets each night.

If you prefer to be in the heart of the action stay at the luxurious Akira Resort on Pattaya Beach and spend your evenings bar hopping down the beach and being entertained by fire dancers. Other activities include snorkelling right from the beach or take a kayak out for the day and visit nearby deserted islands and swim at your own private beach.

There are many romantic hotels in Koh Lipe with great facilities, from authentic Thai beach bungalows to luxury 5 star resorts. Whatever your definition of a romantic setting is, you will no doubt find it on Koh Lipe.

(Have more time in Thailand? Take a look at this two-week itinerary!)

Author Bio: Melissa is the creator and writer for the Thrifty Family Travels website; which details her family’s travels both within Australia and across the globe. Together they look for new adventures, experience new cultures and indulge in local delicacies whilst exploring every corner of our beautiful world. Thrifty Family Travels hope to inspire other families to travel, by showing their followers fantastic new destinations as well as providing detailed itineraries, tips on where to stay and recommendations for the best travel gear. 

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Looking for romantic things to do in Barcelona, Spain?

This is a guest post by Tendelle of Travel a la Tendelle.

Barcelona has got to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe, if not the whole world.  It’s also one of the most beautiful places in Spain. Where to begin? I could talk about its dim, winding streets in the old quarters. Or I could gush about the gorgeous panoramic views to the ocean from the many vantage points in the city.

And let’s not forget the amazing gastronomy that never fails to disappoint, even for the most die-hard foodies. You can’t go wrong with Barcelona as a romantic getaway – your time in Barcelona with a special someone will be one to remember. These 7 romantic things to do in Barcelona will jump-start your planning.

Day Trip to a Catalan Winery

Catalunya is home to many wine regions that produce amazing red and white wine, as well as the Catalan sparkling wine, cava. Many of these wineries are on the hills adjacent to the ocean, along the coast of Catalunya. From the vineyards, you can often get a great view of the ocean. What’s more romantic than learning about wine production, tasting some quality wine, then having a picnic among the vineyards with views to the ocean?

Check out more Barcelona day trips here. Or, planning on a multiday trip? This 5-day Barcelona itinerary will help, or this Spain by train itinerary will help you create an incredible adventure throughout the country.

When you’re back in Barcelona, try out this spot serving Catalan cuisine. 

For a perfect half day or full day trip, Alella is a wine region that is an easy day trip from Barcelona, only 25 minutes by car or 1 hour by train and bus. At the esteemed winery Alta Alella, you can take a winery tour with wine tasting. At the neighboring winery Bouquet d’Alella, you can even have a picnic among the vines!

[Another great day trip is to Montserrat. This guide to a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona offers tips for going by train.]

Font Mágica de Montjuic

Although the Magical Fountain of Montjuic can seem like a bit of a cliché and brimming with tourists, (much like the famous sites of the exciting Gracia neighborhood) it is undeniably one of the most romantic places in Barcelona. Dare I even say, “magical”?

With the stunning backdrop of the Palau Nacional, the gigantic fountain in front of the Montjuic mountain has a light and music show every Thursday-Saturday, and more frequently in the summer (schedule here). The synchronization of music (always the classics), light, and water will leave you in awe. Stand too close to the fountain you’ll even get wet – there’s nothing like sneaking a kiss in “the rain” to turn the romance up a notch.

Lose Yourself in El Born & Barrio Gotico

El Born and Barrio Gótico, in the medieval section of the city, are likely the most romantic quarters of Barcelona. They are home to narrow, winding streets full of tapas restaurants and bars, each with its own flair.

By night, many of the famous buildings are also illuminated by light at night, such as the Catedral de Barcelona and Palau de la Música Catalana, adding to the mystery and romance of the old town.

Explore these quarters, then sit down for some sangria or wine on an outdoor terrace. Snuggle up, feed each other some tapas, and whisper sweet nothings into each others’ ears.

Antic Teatre

Tucked away in El Born, the Antic Teatre is just as it sounds, an “old theater”. Unless you’re in the know, you wouldn’t look for what’s hidden behind the doors of the theater. Shaded by lush vegetation, it is one of the nicest indoor terraces in Barcelona.

The bar of Antic Teatre is romantic both for a nice morning coffee or an evening drink after walking around the city all day. True to its name, it’s also a cultural center so you can see theatrical performances here (although most programs will be in Catalan or Spanish).

PS: Heading to Madrid next? Here’s a great list of things to do there.

Ohla Hotel Rooftop Bar

The Rooftop Bar at Ohla Hotel is hands down the most romantic rooftop bar in Barcelona. Right in the heart of Barrio Gótico, lovebirds can sit facing the view of Gothic architecture rooftops while sipping cocktails. There’s even a rooftop pool for those that wish to take a dip.

Go at dusk and watch the sky turn colors as the sun goes down. This could be perfect for summertime in Barcelona…or any other time of year. 

Photo source: Gary Ullah, Flickr Creative Commons

Go to the Beach at 4am

When the weather is nice, the beaches of Barcelona are usually crowded with tourists during the day. But at night, the beach provides a rare respite from the hoardes of tourists in the city. If you’re the partying type, you can dance the night away at the beachside clubs like Opium Mar, CDLC, Pacha.

After a big night out, you can stumble out onto the beaches conveniently located right outside the clubs and cuddle with your honey on the beach. Perambulating vendors, aka the “cerveza beer” guys. Cerveza is Spanish for beer and these vendors are in business on the beach at all hours of the day. They will come offer you beer for a euro, but when they see canoodling couples the script slightly changes to “Cerveza beer, cerveza beer… Condom?”

Hike to Tibidabo

Those that have been to Barcelona might wonder what is the large white church up there on the tallest mountain. When illuminated up at night, it looks a bit like the Disney castle! That in fact, is not only the church, Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, but it also marks the location of the Tibidabo amusement park.

You can go directly up the mountain and amusement park by public transportation, or for the active couple, you can hike up there from Parc Guell (Vallcara Metro Station), climbing four kilometers. Once up the mountain, you can spend the afternoon enjoying the best views of the city and bond over the adrenaline rush from the rides!

Extra Cultural Tip: Sant Jordi

Sant Jordi is the Catalan version of Valentines Day. And in my opinion, it’s more romantic than Valentines Day!

Sant Jordi falls on April 23rd annually, and it has very romantic tradition: the men give a rose to the women, and the women gives the men a book. Love is in the air not only for the couples, but all over the city; on this day, Barcelona is filled with street stalls selling flowers and books wherever you go. What a beautiful, literary holiday!

About the Author: Tendelle is an American expat whose love affair with Barcelona began 10 years ago, and who is drawn to return to the city again and again. She was most recently in Barcelona doing a Master’s degree in Tourism Management and working for a gastronomic tourism startup. In her spare time, she works on her blog, Travel à la Tendelle, which documents her other passion, festival & nightlife tourism.

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