By Savi & Vid
The two of us have been travelling together for five years now and we’ve visited over 250 cities together, all the while holding full time jobs. It isn’t easy to juggle travelling and working, but the key lies in prioritising - We’ve made the conscious decision of opting for jobs that pay less than the average corporate job, but are flexible and make it easy for us to take time off work to explore the world.
With our voracious appetite for offbeat places, street art, street food, culture, and music, we find it impossible to rest in peace till we have explored every nook and cranny of the city, island, or country we’re visiting. A hidden piece of art, a sleepy tapas bar, a secluded beach, or ruins that cannot be found in any travel guide – that’s what we live for. Keeping this in mind, we've picked 5 of our favourite destinations for offbeat romantic getaways and categorised them into different interests and priorities.
Plitvice, Croatia | For Nature Lovers
Plitvice National Park in Croatia is frequently touted as one of Europe’s most beautiful nature reserves and boasts of some spectacular walks with fabulous views. A UNESCO Heritage Site, it consists of sixteen emerald lakes, connected by cascading waterfalls. Photographs are unable to do justice to the real thing; the flora and fauna surrounding it amplify the rare natural beauty of the lakes. It is easy to spend days observing the changing colours of the lakes. They change from emerald to turquoise to navy, depending on the intensity of sunlight. Walking trails are laid out depending on the level of difficulty, and it is easy to spend a day or two walking around the park.
Make sure you stay at a rustic B&B in one of the villages surrounding Plitvice and sample local Croatian food. A 10 day Road Trip Through Croatia traversing the Plitvice National Park, Central Dalmatia and Dubrovnik is the best way to sample all the offbeat gems Croatia has to offer. Expect to spend 100-125 Euros a day for the two of you – this includes accommodation, food, and fuel costs.
Wadi Rum, Jordan - for Offbeat Explorers |
Even the slightest mention of Jordan conjures up images of the mighty Petra. There is no doubt that Petra is spectacular and definitely worthy of a visit, but Jordan’s real beauty lies in the untamed outdoors. A desert safari to Wadi Rum makes for a unique, yet incredibly romantic holiday.
Spend your days camping with Bedouins in one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of desert at Wadi Rum. All around endless sand-dunes, dramatic canyons, impressive mountains, inscriptions, and drawings of humans and animals jostle for attention. It is hard to pick a favourite. Spend your nights lying under the stars and sampling the local food. Trust us when we say, it is the most amazing feeling to be away from civilisation for a few nights.
Stark, stunning and serene – Wadi Rum makes for an unforgettable holiday. We highly recommend staying in a Bedouin camp overnight. Better still, book a tour from Amman or Aqaba, and they will organise everything for you. A good camp will set you back by 100 Euros per couple, but it includes everything from transportation to food to entertainment. Combine this visit with an unforgettable 3 days in Petra, and you are looking at a week of exploring offbeat gems.
If you are a strict vegetarian, make sure you let the organisers know in advance.
Paris, France | For the Culture Vultures
There is never a shortage of museums and monuments in Paris - spend your days exploring the famous pyramid of the Louvre, walking by Picasso's studio in Montmartre, and re-living the French Revolution at Bastille. Go for a walk by the Seine, devour a crumbly baguette out of a brown paper bag as you run your fingertips along the walls of the Sacré-Cœur. And for that romantic sunset, head to the Montparnasse Tower {yes, you heard it right, NOT the Eiffel}, for that mesmerising view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower at dusk.
If you want to fall in love with the city, re-visit the same sights at night, when the crowds have dissipated. Take a romantic walk to the distant sounds of cellists and violists playing in the streets of Paris. Paris oozes poetry and is the perfect choice for jaded romantics. If you have had enough of the tourist spots and the crowds, go ahead and explore some offbeat gems in Paris that we absolutely adore.
And don’t forget to devour the scrumptious delights that Paris has to offer. It’s a culinary affair hard to let go off, but be sure to avoid tourist traps masquerading in the form of “Authentic French Restaurants”. Instead, head to the less touristy arrondissements (district) for some mouth-watering local food.
Paris is notorious for being overly expensive, but you could stick to your budget by staying in a rental apartment for 5 days in the artistic district called Montmartre. This, from our own experience, is the best way to live like a local, and still be in the centre of one of the coolest areas in Paris. 150 Euros per day for the two of you is a reasonable estimate for Paris.
Canary Islands, Spain | For Beach Bums
If you live outside Europe, chances are the Canary Islands don’t feature on your travel radar. But if you like the sound of lava rocks, sleepy tapas bars, unique vineyards, and the azure waters of the Atlantic, then this is the place for you.
There is no shortage of things to do on the Canary Islands. But their gorgeous beaches steal the show. Expect picture-perfect sandy beaches sheltered by cliffs and volcanic hills - you will not want to move once you're there.
Make sure you rent a car when you are in one of the Canary Islands. We suggest Lanzarote – it’s the easternmost island in the Spanish archipelago. A car will enable you to explore all the hidden beaches and secluded spots that are not frequented by tourists. Spend a week in Lanzarote and base yourself in the southern part of the island known as Playa Blanca. You could enjoy a week of all-inclusive holiday in a 4 star resort for 50-75 Euros a night.
Wine Route and Garden Route, South Africa | For Adventurers
The famed Wine Route in South Africa is the stuff dreams are made of. If you're an adrenalin junk or a wine connoisseur, this is the place for you.
Try tandem bungee jumping with your significant other at Bloukrans Bridge, the highest bungee jump in the world. Spend your days playing with lion cubs, spotting cheetahs, getting your palms tickled by giraffes’ tongues, devouring sea-food, and sampling local wine in idyllic surroundings.
Combine the wine route with the garden route of South Africa to have the best time of your life – this 2,300 KM stretch will take you through varying terrains, fauna and flora. Renting a car in South Africa is a must if you want to explore the untapped jewels this country has to offer. In the two weeks, base yourself in Johannesburg, HluHluwe-Imfolozi National Park, Addo Elephant National Park, Knysna and end the epic road trip with a 3 day stay in Cape Town. You’ll end up spending a fair amount of money on fuel and accommodation {expect to pay around 75 Euros per couple per day in total}, but you will come back with amazing stories to tell.
{Image courtesy: Bruised Passports}