PackThePJs’ Worldwide Romantic Places Round Up: S – U

Veni, Vidi, Amavi: We Came, We Saw, We Loved

Where were you this Valentine’s Day? Where have you travelled to and then fallen in love, with the place or a person? In collaboration with travel bloggers, PackThePJs has compiled this A – Z of the most romantic destinations around the world. Today we are focusing on S – U: St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy; Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal Wetlands; The Place Koh Tao Hotel, Thailand; Taj Mahal in India; and Ubud, Bali. We hope you enjoy our journey of love!

S: St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy

Venice is well-known as a romantic Italian city and there are romantic and scenic spots throughout this city which is full of historical buildings and canals. But my chosen spot is Piazzo San Marco or St. Mark’s Square in Venice. St. Mark’s Square is the main square in the city and is surrounded by some of the city’s most prominent buildings, including the Dodge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. It is a particularly special place for my husband and I as we had a wedding ceremony in this area a couple of years ago!

You’ll also find museums, shops, and the city’s oldest coffee houses around this square. It is one of the city’s most popular meeting places in the city and is well known for its pigeons. The best time to visit the square for a more romantic vibe is early in the morning or late in the evening when there are fewer people around.

Thanks to Independent Travel Cats

S: Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal Wetlands

Senegal might not be the average holiday destination for most travellers that seek for a romantic escape. However, this West African country has many hidden gems that need to me explored. One of those is the Sine Saloum Delta, a national park of 76,000 hectares, located in the Southern part of the country. It’s in the middle of a huge biosphere reserve and offers great views of various birds and breathtaking sunsets.

Upon arrival, a traditional wooden pirogue will wait for you to get you to your accommodation, which is located on one of the remote and super small islands. At the Sine Saloum Delta, all accommodations offer full-board as there is no way to get food or drinks somewhere else. Hence, this basically calls for a chilled, relaxing and super romantic get-away.

At night, the little huts are lit up with solar-powered lights, arranging the perfect setting for an evening of wine and good talks. And then, when the next day arrives, everyone can enjoy a kayak ride upon the smooth water of this natural beauty. This is simply the perfect place to get off the hustle and the bustle of Senegal and to enjoy some moments of relaxation.

Thanks to Travellers Archive

T: The Place Koh Tao Hotel, Thailand

The Place Koh Tao was, in 2015, rated as the most romantic hotel in the world by TripAdvisor. So this is definitely one of the most romantic places in Thailand! This boutique hotel only consists of 9 wooden private villas perched in the lush green hills of Koh Tao. The villas offer complete privacy to its guests and from everywhere in the villa you can enjoy the lovely ocean view. There is a private plunge pool on the balcony and the staff will only come to your villa upon your request.

The honeymoon villa has a red-tiled swimming pool in the shape of a heart and is even popular with non-honeymooners. The semi open-air bathrooms are all decorated as if you would walk into a jungle. The villas have a small kitchen and guests can request a Thai chef to come cook for them in their villa. The Place Koh Tao created an environment where the guests decide whenever and whatever. If you want to get away from the rest of the world for a couple days this is the ultimate place to go in Thailand.

Thanks to Travel Tom Tom

T: Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Taj Mahal is one of the most important architectural remnants from the Mughal Empire. It is the highest rated romantic destination in India. It is also one of the top heritage sites. Situated in Agra and built by Shah Jahan, this monument has been revamped by the Government of India to preserve its lost glory and heritage.

The monument stands tall and proud and is visited by more than a million people every year. The monument looks glorious in the morning hours and in the evening and people come from all over the world to catch the beauty, especially on full moon nights.There is only one gate to enter this monument but the biggest challenge is that one
has to stand in long queues to get inside the Taj Mahal. One can take pictures from different dimensions to catch its enigmatic beauty and the fountains encircling it.

The architecture of the Taj Mahal and its interiors is regarded as some of the finest ever built. Romantic couples and lovers visit to symbolise their love and spend long hours inside the premises. One gets to witness wonderful architecture which is missing today.

Thanks to Travel Crusade

U: Ubud, Bali 

Bali, known as The Island of the Gods, does not disappoint in the romance department. The whole place oozes with love. This Indonesian island is a treasure trove for couples looking for a romantic holiday. Particularly, Ubud! From lush vegetation and vibrant flowers, to rice fields as far as the eye can see, and top it all off with breathtaking sunsets, what’s not to love?

Set in the centre of the island, Ubud is known as the cultural hot spot with many Hindu temples, artist shops and yoga retreats. It has a serene and calm energy about it, perfectly setting the tone for a lover’s getaway. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg either. You can get a villa with a pool overlooking rice fields in Ubud for under 100$ a night. In addition, Balinese massages known the world over are available at incredibly affordable prices, so you and your partner can indulge as often as you like.

Furthermore, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the enchanting Tegallalang terraces and the Monkey Forest with the love of your life. A beautiful and charming couples outing you’re not likely to forget. Finish your romantic day relaxing by the pool, gazing over the rice fields and listening to the cicadas with your lover. It doesn’t get better than that!

Thanks to Marquestra

We hope you have enjoyed reading this post of our A – Z Series. Please come back tomorrow for the next three letters of the alphabet!