tempat yang romantis

Cast Away in the Tropics

The fantasy: A get-away-from-it-all vacation in the Maldives, hiding out in a remote bungalow suspended on stilts over azure waters. You shift lazily from your plunge pool to your deck, out to the ocean for some snorkeling, and back again. No attractions, no nightclubs, nothing to distract you from each other.

The reality: When the Maldives are good, they're really good—but then there is the weather. Monsoons can keep you inside from May to October, and even during the dry season, a long stretch of rain turns the nothing-to-do aspects of the Maldives from a welcome plus to a claustrophobic minus. There are only so many spa treatments that can break up the monotony of waterlogged days.

Perfect match: The French Polynesian island of Moorea (pictured) channels the desert-island vibe of the Maldives. Its secluded palm-covered islets, known as motu, offer the same lost-in-paradise atmosphere with less erratic weather and a dry season that coincides with prime honeymoon time and summer vacations (April–October). And if you do encounter rain, diversions are infinitely more accessible, from the bustling market of Papeete on Tahiti (just a 30-minute ferry ride away) to the endearingly quirky Tiki Village Theatre, where, in addition to watching traditional dances, you can renew your vows. Book one of the thatched-roof cottages at Dream Island, a boutique resort set under a canopy of ironwood trees and palms on a motu in the Moorea lagoon.

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Baring All in Bali

The fantasy: Barefoot bungalows on Bali's white-sand beaches of Kuta and Sanur. Rugged coastlines backed by emerald rice terraces. The arc and curl of graceful Legong dancers in ornate stone temples and other sensuous art forms add a layer of heady exoticism to this tropical island destination.

The reality: The broad stretches of sand fronting the Indian Ocean in Kuta and the calm waters rolling into Sanur helped put Bali on the tourism map. But now these beaches are overrun with relentless hawkers and rowdy Australian package tourists pounding swift successions of fruity cocktails.

Perfect match: The far-flung exoticism of Bali still simmers on the east coast, often referred to as Old Bali, where coconut groves fringe pristine beaches and couples wander amid the crumbling grandeur of ancient water palaces. You can get active by kayaking or sailing a traditional jukung on Lombok Strait (or limit your extracurricular activities to the bedroom of your beachfront hideaway). Splurge on one of the cliffside villas at Amankila (pictured), in Karangasem, which feature inlaid marble-and-wood floors, soaring cane ceilings, and your own veranda or infinity pool overlooking the sea.

tempat yang romantis

La Dolce Vita in Italy

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The fantasy: The cinematic romance of Venice: wandering hand in hand through the old-world elegance of La Serenissima's alleyways, cuddling on a gondola ride along the canals, dining by candlelight in ancient piazzas.

The reality: Your overpriced gondola will be stuck in a traffic jam of canned romance, likely because the gondoliers are too busy texting to watch where they're rowing. That candlelit dinner of scallops and tagliolini on a piazza will probably set you back twice the price of a meal elsewhere in Italy for food that's half as good. And what's that vaguely putrid smell wafting up from the canals come summer?

Perfect match: Although the magic of Venice often manages to outweigh its hassles, couples looking for la dolce vita should cross the boot and head down south to the Cilento Coast (pictured). Its sleepy coastal towns are the perfect setting for picnic lunches under the shade of Aleppo pines and nights spent noshing on freshly caught seafood on the waterfront to the lilting music of Italian lovers conversing at tables nearby. Reserve a room at the Palazzo Belmonte in Salerno, a former 17th-century hunting lodge perched among lemon trees on a bluff by the sea.

The island: Santorini, Greece

The island: Santorini, Greece


The goods: Sure, everybody who's been claims they've gone to some other, more authentic Greek island. And Fira, the cliff-hugging main town, has a lot of tourist shops. But for absolute physical beauty, especially in the late-afternoon light when the cubical houses are a dazzling shade of white against the cliffs, few islands anywhere can compare.

Be sure to: Plant yourself for an afternoon (which will undoubtedly extend into an evening) at one of the tavernas, preferably Katina, at the water's edge, just below Oia village (pictured). By the time the grilled octopus is eaten and the last bottle of Boutari wine is rolling empty on the table, there won't be much about Greece, or the Greeks, that you feel you don't know.

Best beach: Red Beach (which is indeed) is near the ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city. Wonderfully off the beaten path, it has surrounding cliffs that form a pleasing setting, and the clear water is perfect for snorkeling.

Perfect season: Mid-September, when the weather still requires only short sleeves and the other Europeans have gone home.

Call it home: Astra Apartments & Suites, in the town of Imerovigli. Best cliff-top hotel views in Santorini, and close enough to Fira to walk, but not so close that noise from the discos will blow you off the side of the caldera.