Mr & Mrs Romance share: 10 reasons Thailand is tops for romance

Mr _ Mrs Romance - Romantic Thailand - 0 dinner on the beach
Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

Exquisite food, fascinating culture, magnificent landscapes, exciting cities – Thailand’s repertoire for travel inspiration is enticing indeed. But when these elements combine, that’s when the romance happens. Mr & Mrs Romance, Jim and Christina Butcher, share their Top 10 reasons to pick Thailand for a romantic escape.

Every time we visit Thailand it feels more like coming home than the last. Yet, each time we arrive, it’s like we’ve unlocked a hidden room, revealing another dimension to the Land of Smiles. So, when people ask us what we love about Thailand the most, we usually start with one answer… and it very quickly becomes a list. It’s almost impossible to separate any one part of this amazing country from its sum.

Even better, joining each element with any of its counterparts means you can create potentially boundless recipes for romance, adventure and moments that will stay with you forever. While we all dream of travel, here are 10 things we love about Thailand; the things that have romanced us when we’re there and that break our hearts when we’re not.

10 Thailand travel elements that create a perfect recipe for romance

Each of these elements inspire travel, but combine one of them with at least one other, and you’ll find a sweet spot on the Venn Diagram for romance. This is what keeps us returning to Thailand time and time again.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

1. The mountains

From the monolithic islands around Phuket and Krabi to the northern highlands, Thailand has plenty of dramatic rock formations. But the likes of Doi Inthanon – Thailand’s highest mountain – have real impact. Part of the foothills of the Himalayas, these northern mountains are a remarkable feature of Thailand’s landscape.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

2. The temples

Thailand is home to over 40,000 temples of all shapes, sizes, colours and designs. And they’re everywhere – on mountaintops and city streets, in lush green jungles and on reflective riverbanks. Remember to walk around the main pagoda clockwise three times for good fortune and follow Buddhist etiquette when inside.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

3. The history

Little of Thailand’s history before the 1300s is known, but the last 700 years have provided more than enough to enlighten, educate and entertain. One of the best places to soak up some of Thailand’s earliest history is Ayutthaya – once the ancient capital of the kingdom. Only an hour north of Bangkok, this city of ruins is truly beautiful.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

4. The shopping

Whether it’s squeezing through the press and noise of Chiang Mai’s night markets that stretch through the middle of the old town or strolling through the luxurious expanses of high-end Bangkok malls like Icon Siam, shopping in Thailand is fun. Remember, shopping here isn’t just about buying things; it’s the entire experience.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

5. The bars and restaurants

Eating and drinking are cornerstones to Thai culture, so it’s not surprising that there are so many incredible gastronomic experiences to have here. Sipping cocktails at rooftop bars overlooking the capital, feasting on whole spicy barbecued seabass from shacks on southern beaches or exploring the bustling food markets in every little town between, this is food paradise.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

6. The beaches

With almost 3,000km of coastline, Thailand has beaches in spades. Whether it’s the calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand or the sunset-facing, white sandy beaches on the coast of the Andaman Sea, beach time beckons.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

7. The spas

Nothing puts you in the mood to relax more than a spa treatment, and most spas in Thailand offer couples’ packages so you can enjoy being pampered with your partner beside you. The resorts and hotels throughout the country offer wonderful services that will leave you feeling lighter than air.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

8. The sunsets

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the setting sun in Thailand. You’re usually up for a treat. On the west coast, the sun sinks into the ocean, but you can also catch it dipping behind palaces and pagodas in Bangkok and mountain temples in the north.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

9. The culture

From food, fashion and festivals to arts and crafts, architecture, religion, and lifestyle, from the moment you arrive in Thailand, you’re immersed in its rich culture. But while Thai culture is immediately apparent, it’s also so nuanced that there’s always something new to learn, something to keep you coming back.

Credit: Christina Butcher, Mr & Mrs Romance

10. The sea

Warm and welcoming, the Gulf and the Andaman Sea are perfect for sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming and surfing. And from the deck of a boat, a whole new aspect of Thailand emerges. Little islands and atolls appear on the horizon, lagoons that would otherwise be unreachable become part of your itinerary, and seclusion from everything but the romance of Thailand is yours.

For more romantic travel ideas, head to Mr & Mrs Romance.

7 Romantic Things to do in Thailand

Guest bloggers Jim and Christina Butcher of Mr & Mrs Romance share their top 7 romantic things to do in Thailand

Mysterious, exotic, beautiful and enticing. These are words of travel and words of romance. And it’s no coincidence that these same words describe Thailand so perfectly too.

Seated deep in the throne of Southeast Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand is full of the romance of travel. From its blissful tropical beaches and vibrant cities to its gold-adorned temples and majestic, misty mountains… Thailand spoils you for choice.

But these seven ideas will inspire your romantic travel plans and invoke Trimurti the Thai deity of love.

1. Luxuriating with private beach dining in Phuket

The candlelight and the white tablecloth flutter in the warm evening breeze, and the sounds of the rolling waves of the Andaman seem to touch your toes as they curl into the sand.

This is a dinner of complete romance, with dish after dish of superb Thai delicacies while you both relish in this luxurious moment.

Many Phuket hotels offer this incredible experience, but the private beach dining at Aleenta Phuket is sublime.

2. Sipping cocktails high above Bangkok

Towering above the twinkle and chaos of the capital, rooftop bars in Bangkok offer the height (pun intended) of romance. Somehow your martini tastes better as you peer down at the packed streets or gaze across the skyline, the balmy night sky deep and dark above you.

Bangkok has always led the way for extravagant rooftop bars, but King Power Mahanakhon beats them all. At 314 metres, the Mahanakhon Skywalk is not only the highest standing point in Bangkok, it’s also Thailand’s highest bar.

One floor down, SkyBar offers some of the best dining in the city with panoramic views from this icon of Thai architecture.

3. Island-hopping in a private speedboat around Krabi

Skimming across the shimmering waters of the southern Andaman, your private boat carves a white wake towards the looming domes of mysterious karst mountains that emerge for the sea.

As you pull up to the first beach, its crystal white sand beckons you into the clear green-blue water. Snorkelling, swimming or enjoying the shade of the broad-shouldered cliffs that hug the beach, it feels like the two of you, alone in the world, know this place.

Though the traditional long-tail motorboats may look more beautiful, modern speedboats are quieter and faster, so you can explore further and in more comfort.

4. Exploring Chiang Mai temples and being blessed by monks

Sitting merry in the valley of the northern mountains, Chiang Mai is a modern city of culture, silver and temples. There are more temples in Chiang Mai than anywhere else in Thailand.

From the ornate silver temple of Wat Suen Man to the mighty and most sacred Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and its gold-clad chedi high above the city, exploring Chiang Mai’s temples is as much of an architectural delight as it is a spiritual and cultural one.

The mesmeric Pra Ma Ha Tat Noppamethanedon and Pra Ma Ha Tat Nopphonphusiri two temples celebrating King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit are so high in the mountains and often shrouded in mist, adding to the romance of the place.

Being blessed by Thai monks somewhere like this is a profound experience, but be aware of important protocols and bring an offering too.

Bangkok Flower markets
Image: Holly O’Sullivan

5. Wandering the Flower Market and having a private Thai cooking lesson

A conflagration of colour, movement, food and flowers, Pak Khlong Talat is the biggest market of fresh produce in Thailand and among the biggest in the world.

But this icon of Bangkok is not only home to blooms for temple offerings or baskets of chillies and fruit. Perched above the bustle and noise is a kitchen classroom where you can learn to cook Thai dishes and forever recreate your romance in the Land of Smiles.

6. Relaxing in a couples Thai massage

Sharing the exquisite experience of a pampering in a Thai day spa with your love is simply magical. As you both relax in the warm serene confines of the treatment room, it’s hard to imagine the noise and turmoil of the city outside.

There are plenty of day spas across Thailand and many hotels have their own, but The Oasis Spa on Sukhumvit 31 is lavish and incredible.

7. Watching the sunset in Bangkok Old Town

As the sky turns filigree of burnished gold and Bangkok settles into her night-time ritual, the only place to be is by the Chao Phraya River and watching the light touch Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Royal Palace for the last time.

From your vantage point of Above Riva an elegantly low-key rooftop bar, your evening begins with a delicious cocktail and a light show like no other.

Getting Married in Thailand – Holidays for Couples Complete Guide

Getting Married in Thailand Fotolia_100202497

Thought about spending your first moments as newlyweds and your first days as honeymooners in Amazing Thailand? The experts at Holidays for Couples have put together a comprehensive guide to getting married and honeymooning in Thailand. Everything you need to know, when to go, where to stay, the legalities of saying “I do” and how to choose the venue that’s perfect for you. Continue reading “Getting Married in Thailand – Holidays for Couples Complete Guide”

Married in an Octopus’s Garden

Hug Thailand guest blogger and award-winning travel writer, Roderick Eime, follows the sometimes crazy wedding trail through Trang.

On the big wedding day, some people are happy to quickly run down to the registry office for a no-fuss event and maybe a few drinks afterwards. Others get married by Elvis in Las Vegas while some choose death-defying stunts like skydiving or perhaps a novel venue like a fast food outlet or a platform hoisted 50m into the air.

Here in Trang in Southern Thailand, couples come from all over the country and often from different countries to scuba dive to their ceremony beneath the waves. Continue reading “Married in an Octopus’s Garden”