Everybody knows that.
But
it doesn't have a trademark on the term, and it's certainly not the
only destination out there rousing amorous couples into expressing their
love.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we've put together a list of 10 little-known spots that are equally dreamy.
Be
it a combination of food, wine and a hot tub, a mix of sun, sand and
serenity or a pairing of cobblestone streets with colonial facades, each
of these destinations presents an alluring backdrop to set the mood for
couples.
Udaipur (India)
What's the first place that comes to mind when you hear the word "romance"?
Chances are it isn't India, but the Rajasthan oasis of Udaipur could shatter any preconceived notions about the subcontinent.
Love Stories: 'He was the love of my life' 01:17
Appearing
like a mirage on the edge of the Thar Desert, Udaipur is treasure of
flamboyant palaces, majestic forts and streets brimming with jewelers
and craftsmen.
There are plenty of characters, too.
Men
like their mustaches long enough to twirl, women like their saris
bright enough to blind and musicians sing their gypsy ballads with
enough raw passion to break hearts.
After
basking in the Rajput-era opulence along Lake Pichola, it's easy to see
why Udaipur is considered one of the most romantic spots in all of
Asia.
Waiheke Island (New Zealand)
Waiheke's Delamore Lodge offers stunning views over Owhaneke Bay.
Auckland
may be on the horizon, but laid back Waiheke feels miles away from New
Zealand's biggest city with its secluded bush walks, sheltered beaches
and emerald, boat-bobbing bays.
Add to
the mix two dozen boutique wineries where afternoons can be swirled,
sniffed and sipped away, and it's possible to see why an increasing
number of vacationers are bypassing Auckland altogether for the
30-minute ferry ride across the Hauraki Gulf to this island paradise.
Waiheke
is the kind of place where urban multimillionaires mingle with hippie
fishermen, where quirky art galleries elbow for prime real estate next
to trendy seafood haunts with city-to-sea views.
Cafayate (Argentina)
Cafayate is a scenic tour de force of dramatic pre-Andean peaks, romantic hilltop estancias and seductive street-side cafes.
It also doubles as Argentina's second wine center after Mendoza.
Whereas
Mendoza is the big bold land of Malbec, Cafayate is a region dominated
by the aromatic Torrontes, a white wine grape that grows exceptionally
well in the cold and windswept Calchaquies Valley.
At
this Andean anomaly you can sit with a glass of wine among the vines
and stare out at a multicolored mountain-scape of twisted sedimentary
strata that looks, at least to tipsy eyes, as if it was crafted by an
abstract expressionist.
Hoi An (Vietnam)
Widely
regarded as the culinary capital of the Vietnam, Hoi An's signature
dishes are seldom seen outside of the region, and owe their complexity
to centuries of trade in and out of what was one of Southeast Asia's
most important ports.
Take cao lau.
This culinary globetrotter is a textural puzzle of thick rice noodles
resting in a light broth, topped with pork, mint, basil, peanuts,
lettuce, sprouts and a pile of croutons.
For
a foodie couple on a tight budget, there are few places in the world
that can pack such a culinary punch at such a low price in such an
absorbing environment.
Quirimbas Islands (Mozambique)
Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort sits on a tiny island in the Quirimbas Archipelago.
Move over Seychelles and Mauritius, there's a newcomer to the world of high-end Indian Ocean resorts.
The
Quirimbas Islands off the northeastern coast of Mozambique aren't much
more than a collection of bone-white dollops of sand jutting out of a
turquoise sea, but now that they're dotted with lavish, beachside digs
they're fast becoming one of Africa's top getaways for diving, birding
or simply lounging.
Much of the
32-island archipelago is protected as part of the Quirimbas National
Park, keeping development at bay and the views unadulterated.
If couples are seeking an escape from the crowds -- not to mention the trappings of the 21st century - this is the place.
Middleburg, Virginia (United States)
Virginia
may be known for its historic battlefields, rolling hills and
politically minded Washington commuters, but in recent years the Old
Dominion State has grown a reputation for something altogether
different: fine wine.
Virginia has
blossomed from a place with just 64 wineries at the turn of the 21st
century to one with 250 and growing, making it the fifth-largest wine
producing state in the United States.
The
18th-century village of Middleburg, one hour west of the nation's
capital, lies in the nucleus of this thriving industry and makes an
ideal base from which to soak up the area's old world elegance and
down-home country charm.
It's the kind
of place where fox hunters rub shoulders with equestrians and couples
meander from heritage B&Bs along shop-lined streets into a bucolic
countryside of white picket fences, undulating vines and barn-chic
wineries.
Middleburg is refined without
being stuffy, historic without being antiquated and an impossibly
romantic getaway little known outside of the Beltway.
Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There was nothing romantic about Mostar two decades ago when it was a bombed-out battleground of the Bosnian War.
However,
this medieval city has bounced back to its prewar glory thanks to $15
million in UNESCO and World Bank funding and more than a decade of
meticulous restoration.
Mostar's
revived Old Bridge Area (Stari Most) epitomizes the city's kaleidoscope
of cultures and ideas with its pre-Ottoman, Eastern Ottoman,
Mediterranean and Western European architectural features.
The
bridge itself is something of a symbol of reconciliation and ethnic
harmony in the Balkans -- not to mention the heart and soul of an
enchanting old town known for its cobblestone streets, colorful shops
and multi-ethnic restaurants clambering for space along the banks of the
turquoise Neretva River.
Mostar's
battle scars remain in plain sight, but if the constant stream of lovers
on Stari Most is any indication, its history-imbued streets remain
undeniably alluring.
Peter Island (British Virgin Islands)
Who doesn't dream about having their own private island with crystalline waters and sugary crescents of shady palm-lined sand?
That,
in essence, is what's on offer at Peter Island, a private resort and
spa within the paradisaical puzzle that is the British Virgin Islands.
With
one marina, two recreation areas, three room types, four dining
options, five beaches and innumerable opportunities for sailing,
snorkeling or scuba diving, you can easily do a little bit of everything
or a whole lot of nothing on this 1,800-acre tropical hideaway.
For indulgence, quietude and exclusivity, it's hard to find a more majestic Eden.
Vernazza (Italy)
Vernazza is one of the five fishing villages that make up the Cinque Terre.
Picture
a quintessential Mediterranean harbor town of cobblestone streets and
cliff-clinging casas, encase it in terraced olive groves and plop a
medieval castle on top of it all and you can begin to envision Vernazza,
a pint-sized gem of the Italian Riviera where the diet -- wine, pesto,
focaccia, antipasto -- is as agreeable as the seaside views.
Vernazza
is but one of five fishing villages collectively known as Cinque Terre,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 11th century.
The
Sentiero Azzurro (blue trail) links each of these car-free havens along
a rugged coastal path that includes a famous stretch known as Via dell'
Amore (Lovers Lane), located between the postcard-perfect villages of
Riomaggiore and Manarola.
This is the place to pack a picnic lunch, take a hike through the hill-hugging vineyards and let the landscape set the mood.
Galle (Sri Lanka)
Tropical white-sand beaches? Check.
Streets imbued with history? Check.
Fine art, inspiring cuisine and luxurious lodgings at bargain basement prices? Check, check and check.
In
Galle, crumbling Dutch-colonial buildings house fusion restaurants and
fragrant spice shops fight for tourist dollars alongside breezy
galleries of ethnic-inspired art.
Located
in the heart of a perfectly preserved hexagonal stone fort and within
eyeshot of a serene stretch of sand, Sri Lanka's whimsical southern
charmer ticks all the boxes on romantic travel checklists.
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