9 Romantic Weekend Getaways Perfect for Valentine’s Day
Ah, Valentine’s Day. Some may think it’s the cheesiest day of the year, but you can’t deny there’s something incredibly charming about a day that celebrates love. Couples, in particular, look forward to this day more than anyone else! This year, why not ditch the typical flowers-and-chocolates combo and book a romantic weekend getaway instead?
Flowers and chocolates won’t last, but the memories you make while travelling with your significant other will stay with you for a lifetime! And let’s face it, nothing says “I love you” like an overseas trip with just the two of you. Check out our picks for the most romantic locations not too far from home!
Kerala, India
Best for: Adventurous couples who love the outdoors
Travel time from Singapore: 4h 45m
Budget range: $
Credit: Expedia
Kerala is one of 2020’s up-and-coming travel destinations! Known for its palm-lined coast and backwaters, Kerala is an ideal getaway for couples who love the great outdoors. While you’re there, you can’t miss out on a backwater houseboat cruise! It’s the quintessential Kerala experience. Coast through networks of rivers, canals, and lagoons to see rural life on the banks and appreciate the natural landscapes.
Kerala is also known for its spice plantations. Add spice to your relationship by taking your lover on a spice plantation tour in Munnar, Wayanad, or Thekkady. Sample some exotic vanilla, cardamom, and cinnamon as you stroll through the spice farms. Speaking of spices, don’t forget to tuck into some delicious Kerala delicacies. Some must-try dishes include nadan kozhi varuthathu (spicy fried chicken), prawn curry, and fish molee.
For more things to do in Kerala, check out our guide!
Travel Budget
Kerala is an incredibly affordable place to visit, even if you’re on a tight budget. Overall, a budget of S$30/day is often sufficient, but this will increase depending on where you’ll stay.
Of course, for a romantic getaway, we recommend booking a breathtaking villa at Kumarakom Lake Resort.
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Dubai, UAE
Best for: Extravagant couples who love to splurge
Travel time from Singapore: 7h 40m
Budget range: $$$
Credit: Valeria Andersson / Unsplash
Dubai is a flashy, ultra modern city in the United Arab Emirates. Teeming with high-class malls and skyscrapers, Dubai is the perfect getaway for couples who love all things luxurious. Spoil your partner with a shopping spree at The Dubai Mall. Otherwise, you can head to the Dubai Gold Souk and buy them some 24K jewellery. If you want to see amazing 360-degree views of the city, then the top of the Burj Khalifa is where you’ll want to go!
If you’re looking to do some outdoor activities, you can rent a bike at Al Mamzar Beach Park and take in the views with your loved one. Want to do something a little more extreme? Go skydiving with Skydive Dubai! Get a thrill of a lifetime once you jump off the plane in a tandem skydive. Not for the faint of heart though!
For more ideas on what to do in Dubai, check out this 48-hour Dubai itinerary!
Travel Budget
If you want to visit Dubai, you’ve got to have the budget for it. While there are affordable places to stay and eat, Dubai is generally more expensive than other cities in the Middle East. Overall, you might want to budget around S$300-400 per day. That includes accommodations, food, transportation, and some attraction entrance fees.
Because your trip is already so expensive, we recommend staying at a mid-range hotel like ibis Styles Dubai Jumeira.
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Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Best for: Couples who want to relax and take things slow
Travel time from Singapore: 1h
Budget range: $
Credit: Expedia
Cameron Highlands is a mere 60-minute plane ride from Singapore. Most visitors to the highlands come for the cooler climate which supports the thriving tea and vegetable industry of the area. Reminiscent of an English countryside, the Cameron Highlands is a serene getaway for couples looking to escape city life. The entire place is surrounded by hills, dense forests, and is full of beautiful views of the countryside.
While you’re there, take your significant other to Mrs. Robertson’s Rose Garden! It’s where you’ll find the most beautiful roses in the country. What’s even more romantic is that its hilly location gives you breathtaking views of the valleys below. If you’re happy to just take a stroll outdoors, we recommend visiting the Agro Technology Park. The park is divided into different areas like an herb garden and some flower gardens.
Find out more about Malaysia’s highlands here!
Travel Budget
Like most of Malaysia, Cameron Highlands is quite an affordable place to visit. Of course, this will largely depend on where you stay. For the most part, a daily budget of about S$65/day should be enough. This covers food, accommodation, and local transportation. Of course, this amount will increase if you stay at a fancy resort like the Cameron Highlands Resort!
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Hoi An, Vietnam
Best for: Foodie couples on a budget
Travel time from Singapore: 2h 45m
Budget range: $
Credit: Patrick Pellegrini / Unsplash
It’s no secret that Vietnam is one of the most affordable countries in Southeast Asia. This makes it an easy choice, especially for Singaporean couples on a budget. Hoi An is a charming old town on Vietnam’s central coast. One of Hoi An’s major highlights is definitely its culinary scene, making it perfect for foodie couples!
If we had to recommend three dishes to try while you’re there, it would definitely be banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), com ga (chicken rice), and cao lau (rice noodle dish)! Aside from food, Hoi An is also an excellent place to go bargain shopping. Make sure you drop by the Hoi An Market and Night Market for some choice finds.
Need more ideas? Check out our 48-Hour Hoi An Itinerary!
Travel Budget
As previously mentioned, Hoi An is very affordable. Generally, you can have a romantic getaway at only S$30/day. This should be sufficient to cover hotel accommodations, food, some light shopping, and even the entrance fee to the Ancient Town. For a dreamy villa stay, we recommend staying at Zen Boutique Villa Hoi An.
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Malé, Maldives
Best for: Beach bum couples who love luxury
Travel time from Singapore: 4h 50m
Budget range: $$-$$$
Credit: Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels
Malé is the dreamy beach getaway you’ve always been dreaming of. Located southwest of India and Sri Lanka, Maldives is a tropical country that’s known for two things: luxury and beaches. In fact, Maldives is home to numerous world-class resorts. Of course, if you’re looking to spoil your lover, this shouldn’t be a problem!
Aside from locking up in your hotel room, you should explore all that Malé has to offer! Lounge by the beaches or brush up on some Maldives history at the National Museum. If you’re looking to take some Insta-worthy shots, visit the beautiful Islamic Centre and the Mulee-aage Palace. To get a taste of the freshest seafood, visit the local fish market for the catch of the day!
Travel Budget
On average, you can expect to spend around S$80-90/day. This should cover expenses for food, budget accommodation, transportation, and some paid activities. If you want to truly experience the luxury of Malé, you might want to stay at a private island resort. A perfect example of this would be Kurumba Maldives located north of Malé. Of course, that would easily triple your daily budget!
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Luang Prabang, Laos
Best for: A slow-paced, affordable and adventurous couple getaway
Travel time from Singapore: 5h 5m
Budget range: $$
The idyllic old town centre in Laos has a quaint charm to it, largely thanks to its friendly denizens as well as the beautifully preserved palaces and wats (temples) that have earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Enjoy a slower pace of life by exploring the town on bicycles, stopping frequently at a cool café to refuel or to visit any sights that catch your fancy.
When night falls, get a taste of colonial French cuisine with an atmospheric dinner at the highly-rated L’Elephant Restaurant.
Travel Budget
If you’re looking to be on your foot or bicycle most of the time, budget between S$50 – S$80 a day. This will be enough for basic accommodation, transport around Luang Prabang, local food and an adventure here and there.
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Ubud, Indonesia
Best for: Relaxing stay away from Bali
Travel time from Singapore: 2h 50m
Budget range: $$ – $$$
Regarded as the cultural centre of Bali, Ubud is a far cry from the manic party scene that characterises some of the more popular seaside areas of Bali such as Kuta and Seminyak. Culture-vulture couples will love exploring Ubud’s myriad workshops, galleries and museums and maybe discover one or two up-and-coming artists. Fun couple-bonding activities include cooking classes, art courses and indulgent spas.
The exceptional Uma by COMO Ubud is located just a stone’s throw from the town centre.
Travel Budget
For a luxury stay at Ubud, expect to spend between S$400 – S$600 a day. Most of this budget would go into your accommodation. However, if you’re looking for a budget stay instead, you can drop your budget down to S$50 – S$80 a day.
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Bagan, Myanmar
Best for: Adventurous couples looking to explore regional treasures.
Travel time from Singapore: 1h 55m
Budget range: $$ – $$$
If you’ve already been there and done that at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar should be on your travel bucket list. With about 2200 ancient stupas dotting the landscape, this is an ethereal, other-worldly sight that feels like a movie set. While you can hire a guide to drive you around to the more prominent (and well-kept) stupas, there is a certain rugged glamour to exploring the area with a map and a rented horse-cart or bicycle.
If you’re in the mood to splurge, the sunrise balloon ride over the ancient ruins that stretch out as far as your eye can see is an experience that you won’t forget.
Travel Budget
Expect to spend anywhere between S$300 – $400 a day travelling Bagan for accommodation, food, transport and some basic activities. If you’re looking to go on a sunrise balloon ride, however, do expect to increase the budget slightly.
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Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Best for: Couples looking for a nearby resort experience.
Travel time from Singapore: 1h 10mins
Budget range: $$$
For an utterly indulgent experience just a stone’s throw from home, you can’t beat Pangkor Laut, a privately owned island with just one resort. With a private bay, this eco-resort is an ideal location to get away from it all. Depending on your preference, you can book a villa on stilts over the ocean or one with a spectacular view of the hills.
Best of all, with private butlers to cater for your every whim – from restaurant and spa reservations to jungle trekking or diving excursions – you can focus on each other instead of trying to make travel plans.
Travel Budget
For a luxury stay at Pangkor Laut, you can expect to spend around S$400 – S$600/day. This includes staying at the Pangkor Laut resort, romantic meals and some jungle activities!
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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, couples are already busy planning for the special day. Regardless of what you choose to do and where you go, remember to cherish each moment you spend with your loved one. If you do plan on going on a romantic escapade, remember to book with Expedia!