The love month is approaching fast and those couples who are crazy in love are definitely looking for a place to getaway from the crowd. And since Valentines Day is still three weeks away, here are some of my travel suggestions to get that unique romantic getaway experience.
Victoria Harbour
Just a short plane ride away, Hong Kong is an easy pick for a romantic getaway. The territory’s shopping and dining choices are exemplary and is relatively affordable. For that special Valentine moment, I would suggest a night ride across Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour which holds a light show every night at eight in the evening.
Another option to enjoy the Harbour lights would be a short walk along the Avenue of the Stars or to go to the top level carpark of the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel. Both areas give a spectacular view of the harbour lights and are free. If you do have the budget, then why not choose to stay at one of the Harbour View rooms of the Marco Polo Hong Kong instead so you can enjoy the spectacular waterfront from morning to evening.
Two Lovers’ Point
If you have a US visa, then maybe you should consider a romantic getaway at where the sun shines first in the US, that is the island territory of Guam. A tropical paradise with white sand beaches, aqua sports, and spectacular dive spots, Guam is also known for its duty-free shopping. There are also many wedding chapels on the island so couples better not get too carried away.
My choice for a romantic getaway is a visit to Two Lovers’ Point. According to the legend, the daughter of a wealthy high-ranking family falls deeply in love with a lowly Chamorro warrior. To avoid her arranged marriage and a pursuing army, the maiden and her lover throw themselves over the cliffs of Tumon Bay.
Today, Two Lovers’ Point is visited for its spectacular view over Tumon Bay, Guam’s busiest district. There are also spots where couples can literally lock their promise to love one another at the park’s fence.
Meiji Shrine
The Japanese capital of Tokyo may be a huge mass of buildings and busy people but it is not without its romantic spots. One of the most iconic romantic spots is Tokyo Tower which was inspired by Paris’ Eiffel Tower. There are also a multitude of public parks where you can take a stroll and spend some quality time enjoying the views. Culture fanatics will also love the many art museums and galleries dotted around the metropolis.
My choice of a romantic getaway though would be a visit to the Meiji Shrine on a Saturday. Why Saturday you ask? It is because the shrine hosts many Japanese weddings on that day of the week. Japanese shinto weddings are a sight to behold with the wedding party solemnly marching behind the bride and groom as they made their way to get blessed by the shinto priest.
Another thing one should at the Meiji Shrine is to make a wish for love, prosperity, and happiness. There are also enma or wooden wishing boards one can purchase. Dedications and wishes can then be written on the boards and hung on the spirit trees flanking the shrine.
Pre Rup Sunset Temple
If you are a couple looking for an adventure, then Siem Reap, Cambodia is definitely a place to go. With hundreds of temples to explore and many more cultural experiences to enjoy, Siem Reap scores high in unique experiences from tuktuk rides across the city to exploring the city’s many markets on a bike.
Although some may rank sunrise over Angkor Wat as the most romantic experience, I would rather recommend enjoying sunset at Pre Rup Temple. Far from the maddening crowds, the thousand-year old Pre Rup rises over a hundred feet above the plains of Siem Reap and give a spectacular sunset view of the area.
I remember the moment when the sun finally touched the horizon and when the entire area was bathed in a golden-reddish glow, the crowd cheering and clapping just when the sun twinkled and disappeared over the horizon.
Gardens by the Bay
Just a short three-hour direct flight from Durianburg, Singapore is one of the easiest destinations to visit from Davao thanks to daily direct air connections. With its outstanding shopping, excellent food choices, easy navigation, outstanding museums and exciting theme parks, Singapore is an ideal for couples to escape to.
And as the romantic saying “Say it with flowers” goes, a visit to the Gardens by the Bay on February is definitely a spectacle as the park’s temperate zone dome hosts its annual rose exhibit featuring hundreds of varieties of roses for park guests to enjoy. Aside from the roses, there are also many other zones within the temperate and mountain domes to walk around, explore and enjoy comfortably thanks to the cool climate within the biomes.
