5 bespoke romantic destinations to celebrate your love this Valentine’s Day

WITH February being the month of love and Valentine’s Day being around the corner, celebrating love has never been more important.

Some relationships didn’t make it through the coronavirus pandemic, as we all saw scary reports of couples going through break-ups and divorces during the 2020 to 2022 period.

Celebrating your love and overcoming the challenges that come with relationships and marriage are pivotal to the longevity of your relationship. It’s important that you take the time out to appreciate your partner and rekindle your romance.

Choose to make Valentine’s Day 2023 memorable by taking advantage of the revenge travel trend and booking a romantic getaway. Whether you are new lovers or veterans in the love game, Cupid put you together for a reason.

Here are five bespoke romantic destinations to head off to to celebrate your love this year.

andbeyond Benguerra Island, Mozambique

If you’re looking for a romantic island getaway, consider the private beaches of andbeyond Benguerra Island. This resort off the coast of Mozambique is perfect for honeymoons and for lovers seeking “privacy”.

Benguerra Island is a luxury beach holiday destination and an exquisite paradise boasting warm waters on the Indian Ocean. It is within the protected marine reserve of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, so this island hideaway is blessed with marine life, idyllic beaches, inland freshwater lakes and towering sand dunes.

Lovers can disappear for a secluded afternoon romantic castaway picnic, a sunset dhow cruise where you can toast to your love or scuba dive at Two Mile Reef. Consider a stay at andbeyond’s Cabana from $920 (R15 700) per person per night, which is all-inclusive of accommodation and meals.

Lion Sands Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa

Imagine saying: “Love, pack your bags, we’re going to Kruger National Park”. For safari lovers , Lion Sands Game Reserve is set on the banks of the Sabi River, and this luxurious resort comprises four lodges and two villas.

The reserve has three unique treehouses, Chalkley, Kingstone and Tinyeleti, which are lit by lanterns, candles, the stars and the moon, providing the perfect bush experience for lovers.

After viewing elephants and lions on an open jeep drive, enjoy traditional Boma dining, then settle in for the night, surrounded by the distant sounds of hippos, hyenas, leopards and lions. You can also enjoy a bush breakfast, dinner or riverbed dinner.

If relaxation is your thing, enjoy bush walks, yoga and spa treatments at the lodges. A stay at the Ivory Lodge Villa starts at R39 000 per person sharing per night.

Aman Kyoto, Japan

Aman Kyoto is steeped in Japanese culture and history and a perfect getaway for the couple seeking a nature escape within a city setting.

According to Conde Nast Traveller, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in historic Kyoto, including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and the cherry blossoms gardens that burst to life each spring. The Aman, set in the city’s northern suburbs, is surrounded by hilly woodland and crisscrossed by coursing streams and moss-covered paths and feels worlds away from everyday stresses.

You can enjoy the resort’s sublimely

quiet, peaceful feel, exploring the forested slopes it shares with the nearby Kinkaku-ji Temple, or Temple of the Golden Pavilion, a protected Unesco site, and strolling the property’s lush garden, where camellias bloom in winter and azaleas arrive in summer.

Book meditation sessions with a zen Buddhist monk and the chance to dip into the mineral hot springs in the resort’s onsen bathing pools, and you’ll find a thoughtful, almost unexpectedly romantic trip that allows you both the chance to relax and regroup on your own terms. A stay at the resort starts at 320 000 JPY (R42 400) a night.

Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel, Selfoss, Iceland

Although it’s less than an hour east of Reykjavík, Ion's isolation makes it a popular first stop for international travellers doing bigger cross-country drives as well as for Reykjavíkers who want a peaceful, but action-filled weekend getaway.

It’s perfect for the adventure or thrill-seeking couple who likes activities such as fissure-diving and

snorkelling at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, where North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, or a glacier trek at Sólheimajökull.

Its seclusion also makes it a romantic destination where couples can enjoy a thermal pool and relax and warm up before heading to the bar. The 46-room hotel has floor-to-ceiling windows, making it easy to view the Northern Lights. A stay at the hotel starts at ISK 52700 (R6 450) a night.

La Residence, Franschhoek

La Residence is the perfect place for oenophiles looking to discover the flavours of South African wine. Set in the charming and picturesque town of Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, La Residence’s 30-acre wine estate is the perfect place to unwind with its swimming pools, spa restaurant, vineyards,

and many private corners.

The farm produces its own wines named affectionately after members of the Biden family. You can try out the Nicole Charlotte Cabernet Sauvignon, the Alexandra Frances Shiraz, and the Rosemary Jane Rosé.

Guests can also enjoy the many wine estates in and around Franschhoek with fabulous tasting rooms and restaurants or take the wine estate’s specially curated wine-tasting excursions and find themselves choosing between a wine tour by helicopter, by road, on horseback, by bike, or on foot.

A stay at a one-bedroom Vineyard suite starts from R16000 per suite. The list was compiled according to Conde Nast Traveler’s Most Romantic Places to stay in the World.