With endless beaches scattered throughout Southeast Asia, the region is full of island escapes that make for a dreamy vacation with your other half. Got stars in your eyes? Maybe butterflies in your stomach, too? Well, here are some of the most romantic resorts in the region — from cozy villas to pristine private islands — to keep those flames alight.
Cambodia: Song Saa Private Island
As Cambodia’s first private island resort, the five-star spot is as secluded as they come, located in the Koh Rong Archipelago. Rustic yet elegant, it lies amidst an untouched marine reserve where the blue waters are endless and the white sands are unbelievably fluffy beneath your feet. Each of the 24 villas, built from local materials, look out on the ocean with private decks leading out to plunge pools and a decor that blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment.
Opulence comes at a high price, so make the most out of your all-inclusive, sun-soaked stay by trying out everything the resort has to offer, including the overwater restaurant, driftwood bar, infinity pool, hilltop spa, and water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking. Or book a table for two with a view under the night sky for some alone time.
Indonesia: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Mere steps away from the powdery sand of the beach, Villa Hanani sits in the popular Jimbaran Bay, just a couple minutes’ drive from the airport. A boutique experience, the resort is home to just four villas that feature Balinese architectural elements, two by the beach and two nestled in the garden. For more privacy, each accommodation space is walled in with tropical flora and contains its own private pool.
To indulge a little, book a slot at the spa for two and choose from Balinese massages, hot stone massages, body scrubs, or mani-pedis — all to the tune of the ocean’s waves. Then sip on a drink at sunset and have dinner by the beach cooked up by the hotel’s private chef.
Ipoh, Malaysia: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
Touted as Malaysia’s first luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat, this serene sanctum aims to help guests unwind and relax in peace with its 45 garden, water, and lake villas. Built in a valley bordered by ancient limestone hills and emerald rainforests, the resort sits 15 minutes away from Ipoh city by car.
Adding to its peaceful ambience, The Banjaran only allows adults and children aged 12 and above to stay so you can get cozy with your partner in undisturbed quiet. To be at one with nature, take a dip in the geothermal hot springs or check out the area’s thermal steam cave, amethyst and quartz crystal cave, Garra Rufa fish pool, and jungle trail to trek through foliage and waterfalls.
Philippines: Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa
Lounging on a private beach, the boutique hotel on Panglao Island offers an idyllic experience for couples who want that sun-baked vibe. Casual but classy, Eskaya hosts 24 thatched-roof, bamboo-fenced, teak wood villas on its sprawling green grounds, including ones with their own infinity pool, garden, and whirlpool tub.
Couples who prefer to settle their itinerary before arrival can opt for romantic packages that include everything from daily cocktails and sunset cruises to countryside tours and pampering body massages at the spa. For a little more adventure, try exploring the Chocolate Hills or going island-hopping, from scuba dives in Balicasag Island to whale watching sessions in Pamilacan Island.
Singapore: Capella Singapore
A hushed hideaway on Sentosa Island, concealed from tourist crowds by dense pockets of foliage, Capella Singapore is a sanctuary of calm in the lively city. Its restored colonial bungalows, which date back to the 1880s, accommodates 112 rooms, suites, and villas, opening up to the surrounding lush garden grounds and clear ocean waters so you feel right at home on a nature retreat. If you’re eager to put on your explorer shoes, you’ll find magnificent peacocks roaming the premises, too.
Apart from elegant dining concepts like Cassia and The Knolls, Bob’s Bar offers panoramic sunset views so you and your significant other can chill with a cocktail in hand after a day spent at the award-winning Auriga Spa.
Oh, and fun fact: the hotel counts celebs like Madonna and Lady Gaga as its guests, and hosted the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year.
Thailand: Amanpuri
This Thai destination is the luxe hotel chain’s first, opening in 1988 on the west coast of Phuket. With architecture inspired by Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, the hotel features ocean pool pavilions, garden pavilions, and waterfront villas that look out on the turquoise-hued waters of the Andaman Sea. Spacious yet intimate, the rooms are plush with warm woods and all the luxuries you could want on vacation.
If you can bear to leave your king-sized bed, try your hand at scuba diving trips, swing by one of the five golf courses, have a bout of afternoon tea by the infinity pool, or embark on a wellness journey at the spa, which offers treatments for detox, rejuvenation, mindfulness and stress management, and more.
Vietnam: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
With vistas of the East Vietnam Sea, this resort is a bit of a hidden find, fringed by rock formations, vast mountains, and sandy beach. To get there, you’ll have to journey an hour by car from Cam Ranh International Airport to the lounge, before setting off on a 20-minute boat ride to the bay. But hey, once you’re there, it’s time to cuddle up and take it easy at beachfront, hilltop, or rock pool villas.
For the ultimate treat, you can splurge on The Rock Retreat right by the water on the rock formations of a private bay. Sunsets are best viewed from here, and you can take a dip in your private plunge pool or get a couples’ massage in the spa treatment room whenever you want.
When you’re feeling peckish, you can choose to dine with views of the bay, by the rocks, next to the pool, on the beachfront, or in your villa, with meals crafted from fresh seafood and organic produce grown three-hours away in Dalat. For an unusual treat, clink glasses in the cavernous wine cave to crank up the romance.
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