Spend some time with the one you love this weekend at one of these romantic retreats
So you forgot Valentine’s Day or, worse, your wedding anniversary. Now you want to make it up to your significant other but are not sure where to go. You have ruled out that chic villa in the Maldives, and you do not even want to think about a seven-course chocolate dinner in Singapore. That leaves Paris, Venice or Prague - all of them fine, if money can buy you love.
In fact, for real romance, you don’t need to leave the country at all. All you need is love and a charming, special place where you can hide away for the weekend just the two of you. No talk about “red” or “yellow” shirts, your parents, your jobs or the cat. If idle words are necessary, chat about the beauty of Mother Nature. Thailand, with its beaches, mountains and valleys, has more than enough to share with a pair of lovers.
Recently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) came out with a Thai-language guidebook titled “100 Places to Propose”. That may leave some of you tongue-tied but remember, it is only a suggestion.
In fact these 100 places, which vary from a small coffee stand in the middle of nowhere to a chic Moorish resort, are perfect for a romantic weekend, whether you are going with a brand new lover, your life companion or gay partner. Do not wait until a leap year. Escape just the two of you. Even if it means locking your cat in a cupboard with a box of Friskies.
Here are five best places from the guidebook. You can find the rest in “100 Places to Propose” and by visiting www.RomanticProposalInthailand.com .
Young ones
Your place: Pai valley, Mae Hong Son
Young lovers have small money to spare, but they have all the time in the world. That makes Pai the perfect place for the young and unattached. Tucked away in the isolated valley of Mae Hong Son, you get there by slow passenger bus, braving the high and winding road from Chiang Mai.
The peaceful valley is dominated by small, chic-looking guesthouse, art galleries and rice paddies. Bring your lover here in the winter, cuddle up and chat about the stars. Avoid coming over long weekends though, as the valley tends to be crowded with holidaymakers.
Alternative: Chiang Khan, Loei. This small, peaceful district along the mekong River draws many young travellers for its rustic charms.
Country folks
Your place: Sala Khao Yai Resort & Spa (www.SalaResorts.com), Nakhon Ratchasima
To enjoy rural romance and while retaining city convenience, book a room at the Sala Khao Yai Resort & Spa in Pak Chong district. Consisting of only seven private pool villas, Sala Khao Yai is dramatically perched on a scenic hilltop above the lush, green countryside. Imagine the two of you, with a bottle of local red wine, marvelling at spiritually uplifting sunsets over the scenic valley of the not-so-romantically-named Wang Katha (valley of the wok). You will sweep your lover off her feet.
Alternative: PB Valley, Nakhon Ratchsima. Wine buffs definitely want to stay here. The rolling green vineyards are easy on the eye and where better to enjoy a lazy lunch with a view of Pak Chong valley. Wash down that memorable meal with some PB Reserve Shiraz and Tempranillo, and stay overnight in a charming rustic cottage.
Adrenaline junkies
Your place: Hot air balloon, Chiang Mai
If you really want to impress your date, take her for an exhilarating balloon flight over Doi Saket in Chiang Mai. The 4hour flight lifts off at an early hour, as the sun is about to rise. Hang in there and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the distant mountains, terraced rice paddies, the lush green Ping River valley and rural villages. The air adventure finishes with a break in the midst of Doi Saket Valley. With an activity like that, no wonder your love is in the air.
The Explorers
Your place: Pla Luang, Siamese junk, Krabi
These days, explorers are probably the hardest to please as there are so few places left to discover. But down in Krabi, along the Andaman coastline, luxury resort Rayavadee (www.Rayavadee.com) has introduced a century-old Siamese junk for a romantic sunset cruise. As the junk sails around Poda and Chicken Islands, imagine yourselves as Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann on a luxury holiday. And when both sea and sky glitter pink and gold in twilight, and the sun dips below the horizon, you might even feel the time has come to pop the question.
Alternative: Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai. You’ll feel like an explorer of bygone days as you check into this hillside camp that’s accessible only by riverboat and overlooks the river and mountain ranges on the Thai-Laotian border.
A Moorish Affair
Your place: Villa Maroc Resort (www.VillaMarocResort.com), Pran Buri, Prachuab Khiri Khan
Coffee, cake, coffee, and more cake - there are plenty of opportunities to spend time gazing into each other’s eyes at Villa Maroc - a Moroccan-inspired resort that’s tucked away at the far end of Naresuan beach in Pran Buri district. Just like in Marrakech, Villa Maroc has roof terraces where you can laze together, wine in hand, watching the sun set over the rooftops.
Alternative: Al Medina Beach House (www.AlMedinaBeach.com), Khungwiman Beach, Chanthaburi. With nine stylish rooms with a Moroccan design, Al Medina Beach House is a perfect place to play out your Arabian nights.
From : The Nation
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