10 Romantic Things for Couples to Do in Thailand

Hey guys! It’s Michael and Alexandra from Couple’s Coordinates, and we are excited to be contributing to TBA again.

Since we last wrote for TBA, we have visited 15 new countries and have had some pretty romantic experiences. Last year we even got married in Bora Bora! For our first blog back with the team at TBA, we wanted to share some of our favorite romantic things for couples to do in Thailand.

We recently spent 2 weeks in Thailand and had the opportunity to island hop and see the gorgeous mainland of Thailand from the city streets of Bangkok to the countryside of Chiang Mai.

Hike to the Koh Phi Phi Viewpoint

Koh Phi Phi is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand and is world famous for a couple of reasons: The Leonardo DiCaprio movie The beach and the 2004 tsunami that struck the island.

Since 2004 a lot has changed; volunteers and aid workers helped bring the island back to life and then investment fueled the development of the island. It has, admittedly, become a bit touristy, but there are still loads of places on the island where you’ll feel completely alone with your significant other and the locals.

Couple the heat and humidity with a ton of stairs and you’re sure to be a bit sweaty when you reach the top. Don’t worry though; the view will completely overshadow your partner being a bit smelly.

Bathe Elephants in Chiang Mai

We have traveled to over 30 countries together as a couple and have had the opportunity to engage in some pretty incredible activities that have been romantic, exhilarating, and just plain fun. Of all of these activities, bathing elephants at a sanctuary in Chiang Mai might top the list.

We spent the day hiking around the Elephant Nature Park feeding and bathing elephants. We had the opportunity to learn about the damage humans do to elephants and educate ourselves on these incredible creatures. Elephants are just HUGE puppies.

They are smart, loyal, and love playing.

Take note of places in Thailand (as well as India, Africa, etc.) which allow you to ride elephants. These places invariably harm the elephants to train them to give rides to tourists. Elephant Nature Reserve and other similar parks are sanctuaries that rescue elephants.

Treat Yourselves to a Fancy and Romantic, Yet Cheap, Dinner

For those of us in the “Western” world, Thailand is an incredibly affordable destination to visit. You’ll love being able to have romantic and “fancy” dinners with your partner on the cheap.

Sure, meals can reach $100 or more at nice resorts, but you’ll find loads of incredible restaurants where you and your partner can dine in style for $20-30. Heck, we can’t even go to Chipotle for $20 here in the States.

Skinny Dip at Your Villa

When you have a private pool at your villa, there is absolutely no reason to wear a bathing suit. We enjoyed a villa with a private pool and sunbathing deck while we were staying on Koh Samui.

The island, itself, is gorgeous and romantic, but spending the afternoon swimming and lounging nude with your significant other can really elevate the romance.

Or come inside and take a nice bubble bath when it starts pouring rain outside!

Hire a Boat

Speaking of that incredible exchange rate….you can hire a private long-tail boat and explore the coastline as well as other islands for about $50 USD a day. Some of our favorite days in Thailand were spent on a boat exploring the Phi Phi Islands or the coastline of Krabi.

The boats are super cute and provide you the opportunity to reach remote areas of islands and secluded beaches that you might otherwise not be able to reach by foot.

You don’t need a yacht or a fancy boat to have an incredible time with your partner on the sea. These long-tail boats are quite romantic and charming in their own right.

The men who sail them happen to have a lifetime of experience and a wealth of knowledge of the area. They can be your personal tour guide for the day!

Snorkel Maya Beach

Maya Beach is the famous beach on Phi Phi Lee where Leo shot the movie The Beach, but the best parts of the island are actually on the back side of the island. Maya Beach has been closed to tourism over the last year or so because of litter and damage to the surrounding reefs.

Unfortunately, many tourists treat this gorgeous oasis as a garbage can. Head around the back of the island on a boat and snorkel with the locals (the many species of fish) and the gorgeous coral reef.

The water is warm, clear, and absolutely beautifully blue.

To explore all that Phi Phi Lee and Maya Beach have to offer, wake up early, hire a long-tail boat, and explore for the day. The crowds don’t usually show up until after 09:00, so if you’re an early riser like we are, you can have the beach to yourself.

There’s a reason so many of our photos have no humans in the background…we don’t edit them out…we explore before they’re awake.

Explore Railay Beach

Railay Beach is one of the most famous coves and stretches of beach in Krabi. To reach the beach, you’ll need to hire a long-tail boat and sail over.

Once here you can explore the surrounding area, rock climb, or swim in the gorgeous water and lay on the beach and relax with a good book as we did!

The cliffs that encompass Railay Beach are the steep, ubiquitous, cliffs seen throughout the Krabi province. They’re lush and green while simultaneously steep and rocky. The scenery at Railay is absolutely breathtaking, and you can reach this beach quite easily from the nearby town of Ao Nang.

Couples Massage

The Thai are fantastic masseuses. One of the best benefits of traveling in Asia – especially Thailand and Bali – is the prevalence of massage parlors and the incredibly affordable prices of massages. While in Thailand we got a couples massage almost daily because they are often as cheap as $5/person.

When we “splurged,” our massages were about $20-30/person.

Too bad even mediocre massages in the US are usually $100! When we lived in Bali, we got massages on a regular basis, and we would absolutely do the same if we lived in Thailand. So take advantage of the affordable therapy and pamper yourselves.

Take a Muay Thai Class

We trained with a professional Muay Thai fighter and got our asses kicked! The workout was strenuous, but the experience was awesome. Neither of us had ever practiced Muay Thai before our trip to Thailand, but we had an absolute blast. We even wore the traditional Muay Thai boxing shorts for fun.

Many resorts offer Muay Thai classes as an added amenity, and there is a myriad of Muay Thai gyms around Thailand that would be happy to welcome you as a guest and provide an introductory training.

If you’re looking for an affordable and extremely romantic destination, Thailand would be a great place for you and your partner to visit in 2018. As we approach the fall, flights will inevitably get cheaper as well.

You should be able to fly round-trip from the west coast of the United States for around $700. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask us in the comments below. We will get to as many of you as possible!

Go White Water Rafting

We had the chance to go white water rafting on a river near Chiang Mai. Just as we were about to get into the boat, the heavens opened up, and we had a massive, torrential, downpour of rain. Subsequently, we were soaking wet before we even got in the boat.

The rafting experience was an excellent way to see some more remote areas of Chiang Mai, get a good workout, and enjoy an adrenaline rush.

For detailed travel tips on Thailand, check out our Thailand travel guide.

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20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Budapest

I was lucky enough to visit Budapest last Christmas after my Danube Christmas Market River Cruise through Eastern Europe.

I only had 2 days to explore, but I instantly fell in love with this picturesque city. After checking into the gorgeous Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, we headed out to see the view from Fisherman’s Bastion. We continued exploring throughout the day and ended the night with cocktails and a tour of the iconic ruin bars.

The next day we took the trolley around the city, walked through the public plazas and wound up at the beloved, Széchenyi thermal bath. We stopped for a quick hot chocolate at the New York Café which is renowned for being the most beautiful café in the world.

Finally, we made our way down to St. Stephen’s Basilica to watch the sunset from the tower. Once the sun was down, we walked through the bustling Christmas Market and enjoyed some delicious holiday treats!

Budapest has some of the most beautiful architecture and city-scapes in the world! I can’t wait to go back one day with more time to explore.

If you have a few days to explore, check out my post on 48 Hours in Budapest!

 

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Microlight Flight Over Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls had been one of my dream destinations for years. When I finally got there to see the falls in person, it absolutely took my breath away.

One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world and a truly magical place.

While the falls are beautiful from any angle, there is nothing that can compare to seeing it from above. For a view that you will never forget, a microlight flight is a must.

Here’s what you should know about taking a microlight flight over Victoria Falls!

My Experience Flying Over Victoria Falls

On my epic girls’ trip to Zambia, I took a microlight flight that definitely got my heart racing, but also gave me some incredible vistas.

I did a 15-minute flight, which was quick but ended up being plenty of time to see it all. We went back and forth over Victoria Falls and I even got a chance to see African wildlife in their natural habitat.

Preparing for a trip to Victoria Falls? You’re definitely going to want to check out my Guide to Visiting Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Options for Exploring the Falls

I took a flight with Livingstone’s Adventure and it was a once in a lifetime experience. The flight I took was $179 USD per person at the time.

Although that is pricey on a minute-by-minute basis, it is well worth it to have an experience like this. The view (and the heart-racing experience of being so high up over the falls) is something that is just unforgettable.

While I loved my short and sweet microlight, there are a few other options worth checking out. You can do the 15-minute microlight in the morning or afternoon.

If you would rather opt for a longer experience, you have the option of going for a 30-minute trip in either the morning or afternoon.

Livingstone Adventure also has the option of ultralight flights, which will have you up in a slightly different aircraft. Ultimately, it is a very similar experience but in a slightly different aircraft (of course, the little details can make a difference in your comfort level if you’re afraid of heights, like yours truly).

It is $179 USD for 15 minutes or $360 USD if you opt for a 30-minute flight in an ultralight aircraft.

Other Activities Around Victoria Falls

The flights aren’t Livingstone Adventure’s only excursions. You can also go for a Zambezi River boat cruise or take a smaller boat out for a river safari.

If you want a bit of everything, they have the Ultimate River Cruise option, which is a speedboat ride followed up with drinks on a luxe cruise. If you’re looking for another fun pick, they also have canoe trips down the river so you can check out the game, birds, and incredible scenery on a DIY boat trip.

As far as on land options, you can ride quad bikes through the Livingstone and Batoka Gorge, or hop on the horse trail. There you can opt for a safari on horseback or in a romantic horse-drawn carriage through the Falls Resort Complex.

One cool thing that Livingstone’s Adventure has is their ‘mix and match’ packages. If you want to do a few things, you will definitely want to check out the Ticket to Livingstone’s Adventure. They have got six different options where you can explore by land, sea, or air. For those looking to maximize every second at Victoria Falls, this is an option well worth considering.

Helpful  Tip

If this is your first time exploring the wild, check out my tips on how to choose an African safari that’s right for you.

 

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British Airways Club World Business Class from London to San Diego

London is one of the most exciting cities in the world. There is just so much to do. You could spend a year exploring the British capital and barely scratch the surface.

While it’s definitely a must-see destination, it’s a long trip from the west coast of America. On my recent trip from London, I opted to upgrade to British Airways Club World Business class (always save your airline miles to make this more affordable!) to make the journey easier. The trip is just over 11 hours, and it is infinitely better when you have got some room to spread out.

Crossing the pond? Here is what to expect on a British Airways Club World business class trip from London to San Diego.

What to Expect

A British Airways Club World ticket gets you your own dedicated Club World check-in desk at most airports and Fast Track security at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and New York JFK. Once you are in your terminal, you can relax in the luxury lounges.

While British Airways’ expedited services are limited in the United States at the moment, you do get Fast Track arrivals at London Heathrow if you are a non-EU passport holder.

They’ve also got a swanky business class lounge in London where you can refresh on arrival. In London Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5, you can pop into the arrivals lounge for a quick bite, shower, and even clothes pressing.

They also do facials and massages from Elemis! Plus, when it comes time to board the plane, Club World Business class passengers get priority boarding.

Check out my tips for flying in and out of London Gatwick!

Amenities

Once you are boarded, you will be greeted by an amenity kit from the UK luxe lifestyle brand, The White Company. The kit features toiletries from Elemis so you can freshen up mid-flight.

In your seat, British Airways Club World Business class has all of the bells and whistles that you would expect from an upgraded flight. Each seat has a 10.4-inch screen with noise canceling headphones.

They offer hundreds of options for on-demand movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and games.

Seating

BA Club World Business class seating is what makes all of the difference! When you are looking at such an incredibly long day of travel, having a comfy place to get settled into is essential.

On the London to San Diego flight, you get a chair that lies fully flat into a 6-foot-long bed. There is an adjustable headrest and lumbar support so you can get comfortable in pretty much any position.


Every seat has ample storage and power supplies so you can bring all of your gear and be ready for the long haul.

Be aware that there are a lot of seats in the Club World Business Class section and they are pretty close together.

If you’re on an inside seat in any given row, you will have to climb over the person on the aisle seat to get out (be aware that the window seat can get a bit cramped so if you are claustrophobic, opt for the aisle). The aisle seats don’t have as much privacy and they are a little brighter.

Food + Drink

The food on British Airways is all about fresh and local ingredients. They have created a restaurant-style experience with newly upgraded table settings. They roll by a trolley with a good selection of starters, desserts, and cheeses. There is also an impressive range of soda, spirits, and wine.

To perk you up, they have their own signature award-winning Union Hand-Roasted Coffee from London.

Meals in British Airways Club World Business class are three courses and suit pretty much any dietary requirements. As always, if you have any specific dietary needs, you will want to get onto their website at least 24 hours in advance to include that info with your reservation.

Note: I also flew the San Diego to London leg and there wasn’t too much of a difference. The change was based on the time of day I was flying. If you fly in the afternoon, you will get lunch and dinner while if you fly at night, you will get dinner and a light breakfast.

 

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