#n just between lovers but weve been over this

[virtuangel]

dramas that have been mom approved . sky castle, age of youth (1&2), mother (2018), navillera, save me

[yeoldontknow]

Kilig

Author’s Note: happy birthday @imdifferentshadesofpurple <33 i love you so much. i know weve been talking about this fic since christmas and ive not been able to work on it. but its the mark of your dreams and i love you! mork <3 ↳ Kilig (n. Tagalog): the unstoppable sensation of joy or elation experienced when intensely, madly falling in love; the sudden feeling of inexplicable joy when something romantic occurs Pairing: Mark Tuan x Reader (oc; female) Summary: You’ve weathered so much in your relationship with Mark, and still he makes you twitterpatted. But when you’re moving in together, and choosing the right home to start your life, you start wondering if things will ever feel the same again. Genre: fluff; romance; domestic au Rating: PG-13 Warning: implied sex Word Count: 2,554

For as long as you’ve known him, Mark has told you he loves you with all of him.

The ways have been endless and numerous, sometimes imperceptible to the untrained eye, but for you, they have always been obvious.

It started with this eyes, the way they would find you in a crowded room, seeking you and your shape as a comfort. Without looking, you could feel them on you, a sensuous sort of touch that called you to him and made your skin hurt wherever he was not felt. And when you did dare to meet his gaze, let yourself fall with him, it was the way they were open wide and swimming. Too many colours seemed to pool and gather in his irises, bewildered by you as he was and taking on all the light in the world just to see you in perfect focus.

Then, it was his lips. This is when the ways became both simple and complex, a paradox of sentiment that took you weeks to untangle. His tongue seemed to handle the word differently, gave shape to love as though he were sculpting a monument meant to outlast humankind. To him, the word was delicate, though it was only a fragile thing when it was given to you, asking you to hold it with him, and to cherish it. He spoke the word like it were feathers, but he kissed it on you like wildfire, reckless and with abandon, and demanding that you burn with him.

On you, there was not a single place his lips did touch or taste, greedy in the way he consumed you and unforgiving in the way he weathered you down.

Lastly, came his hands. The holiness of his hands washed over with delay, slowly and overtime, and without the dedication of your thought. Only when you realized he touched you as though you were something sacred, gentle but with the whole of his hand, did you think back on all the ways he had handled the totality of you. In the early days, he clutched your hand as a cross, fingers to your knuckles and unwilling to be parted from you. The flat of his palms rested against your cheeks as he kissed you, holding your head and holding you to him, fending off the oncoming separation with prayers against your skin.

But these were nothing to the way his fingers traversed your spine, your thighs, your breasts, tracing scripture into your pores and hoping they etched into the bone. Nightly, he carved commandments into you, let his love spread until his name and his essence was a mark upon your ribs. It was the same for him, you knew, the way your hands gripped his shoulders and slithered down his back as he moved in you - your touch had been sweared into his spine, a permanent reminder at the base of his cerebellum that dictated his choices, his thoughts, his speech.

You called this unity. He called you his soulmate. Together, you knew it was love.

For as long as you’ve known him, Mark as told you he loves you with all of him.

But now, searching for a home in which you will start your life, the love he gives seems only to be directed towards you and not your future, and you don’t know whether to be offended or exhausted.

Choice was never his strong suit, backing away from options with raised hands and a cock of his eyebrow. It is not that he didn’t have opinions, it’s just that his were never as loud as others, and so he never learned to argue. In choosing you, he is vocal, adamant and determined, and his perpetual choice of you, he felt, absolved him of all the rest.

You thought, perhaps, this would change after four failed house showings and one apartment, each more special than the last. But with each, he seemed only to withdraw further, shrugging at things you felt were important and being vocal about insignificant things, unremarkable things that could be changed.

Today, on your fifth house showing, he stands in the living room admiring the design on the ceiling with a scowl. Arms crossed, he furrows his brow and pouts his lips, aloof and somewhat bored.

‘Mark.’ You say his name in the hopes of bringing him back to you and receiving his focus, but instead his gaze remains fixed. ‘What do you think of the mantle?’

Unmoved, he sighs before speaking. ‘Do you think the circles were what they wanted?’

Thrown by his question, you blink at him before raising your gaze. ‘Probably? It’s in the final design, so I’m sure it was approved.’

‘It just looks so unfinished,’ he muses, turning to assess the design behind him. ‘Like wouldn’t they have wanted squiggles...for a ribbon.’

‘We can ask the development manager…’ Your statement fades as you search the pamphlet handed to you at the door, seeking a name. On each page, housing designs and templates greet you, all modern and extravagant, and with customizable kitchens. It says nothing about the ceiling.

‘I’m not saying we have to change it,’ he says, turning to look at you with a small, half smile. ‘Just would be hard to change if we wanted to.’

Briefly, you glance between Mark and the ceiling as you chew the inside of your cheek. Handling Mark when he’s like this is delicate, not because he is tempestuous nor volatile, simply because matching his aloofness will lead him to believe you are not serious - about this home, or any. One, poorly timed comment will send you back on another search and, while it is not that you are serious about this home, it’s merely that any home with him would suffice. And thus, this search has been overwhelmingly tiring.

Every home you have seen has been beautiful, modern, and delightfully within budget. This is a rarity, a magical experience in which choices are abundant and all are wonderful, and so you would be happy with any if he were happy at all. Instead, he’s placid, unmoved by any one house, liking things in one and hating the same in the other, difficult only because he maneuvers around choice.

But this is the first time he’s used the word “we,” implying an us in the space and a future existence. And so you are careful, clutching this word to your chest and hoping it does not sprout wings of hope.

‘Is this,’ you begin slowly, taking a step towards him, ‘something you would want to change?’

Shaking his head, Mark keeps his expression even and placid. ‘No,’ he says, simply. ‘Just saying, it’s hard to change.’

With a sigh, you close your eyes and count to ten.

Staring at the door to the master bedroom, rather than viewing the room’s size and scope, Mark hums. ‘These doorknobs are brass.’

From your position in the entry to the en-suite, you turn your head and regard him. Hands shoved in his pockets, he looks a little lost, and you hate that it makes you smile. ‘Yes,’ you offer, keeping your voice neutral, ‘but that’s much easier to change than a ceiling pattern.’

Mark glances up at you, somewhat aghast.. ‘Why would I want to change these?’

Once again, you find yourself dumbfounded. ‘Brass tarnishes easily.’ Pressing your finger into the knob, you pull it back after a moment to reveal the very clear impression of your print. Satisfied, you regard him patiently, as though this should be enough - the clear display of finger oils eating away at the smooth texture.

‘It gives the house character,’ he says, finally, still studying your fingerprint.

And this is what does it, what sends frustration and irritation to the center of your throat like bile. ‘These give it character?’ There’s a sharpness in your voice you know you will soon come to regret, but the way it feels on your tongue is a release you did not know you wanted to caress. ‘Not the mantle and the enormous fireplace?’

His head snaps up to meet your gaze, eyes searching your expression. ‘When have you ever seen brass knobs in a modern house?’ he tries, tone playful in the efforts of keeping you calm.

But still, you do not give in. He’s had so much of you, you think, and it is unfair he keeps this stage of your life at an arm’s length. ‘These give it character?’ you snap, fully rooted in your anger. ‘Not the mirror over the kitchen sink that faces the picture window to the yard.’

Taking a step back to fully appraise you, he regards you with a soft, worried expression. ‘What’s this about?’

‘Not the crown molding or the built in bookcases?’ you continue, unable to stop now that the flood has been unpinned from your lips. ‘But these, the ugly brass doorknobs, give it character.’

Several seconds pass in which you savor the silence, so unlike the quiet that usually falls between you. This is not the calm silence of knowing your lover enough to know their thoughts, the comfortable silence of partners in which words fail and somehow seem insufficient. This is the silence of realization and understanding, the silence of awareness that this may be your first real fight, and while it would never be enough to break you, it is enough to remind you that love takes commitment, even when commitment is hard.

‘Hey, what’s -’

Mark’s words are cut off as you spin on your heels and walk briskly out of the house.

Immediately, you know it will not be this one, and as you push through the front door a spiteful laugh rises from your throat. At least one choice has been removed, though it is not because there was any particular flaw. Sadness constricts your chest, and you are unsure if it is because you did really like this home or if it is because you have liked all the others, too, and you are unsure you will ever find a home with Mark or if he is just coming with you for the ride.

‘Baby.’

The deep intonation of his voice makes you release a heavy sigh, eyes wide as you cock your head back to stare at the sky.

‘Tell me what’s wrong.’

At once, you feel him behind you. His eyes, and now the heat from his existence, attuned to it as you are, as though he were magnetic.

‘No,’ you shake your head, keeping your back to him. ‘I’m mad at you.’

At this, he laughs, the sound rich and full, the chocolate you always find yourself craving, and it takes work not to turn to face him, and to see his skin in the sun of high noon.

‘You can be mad at me, but I’d like to know what you’re mad about.’ He takes a few steps towards you, his head radiating into your back. ‘I think that’s only fair.’

Keeping your gaze straight ahead, unwilling to turn or see him because it means you will cave, you sigh. Crossing your arms, you scowl, pretending he can see you. ‘It was your idea to move in together.’

‘I know.’

Digging your heels into the earth your purse your lips. ‘So why don’t you want to?’

‘What?’ he asks, sounding alarmed.

The worry in his voice is real, surprised, and you know you have been unfair. He doesn’t know he’s being difficult, almost never does - so self-aware in every instance except for this - and it’s cruel of you to let him panic.

Turning to face him, you see the way his hands clench at his sides, fighting the urge to reach for you. Still, you hold your ground. ‘You fight every house and find random things wrong with it, or pick the most bizarre things just because you don’t want to be involved in the choice.’

‘You think that’s what I’m doing?’ he asks, cocking his head to the side in concern.

‘Isn’t it?’ you laugh in disbelief. ‘You do that with dinner. You shrug every time I offer a choice and you tell me to pick. You let me pick what we watch on Netflix -’

‘But I like what you pick!’ he exclaims.

‘Okay,’ you shrug, shaking your head, ‘but I don’t want to choose anymore.’

‘That’s fine!’ Mark’s laugh is airy, unlike its usual texture. ‘I can pick the next show we watch.’

‘No, it’s not Netflix!’ You don’t mean to shout, but you’re tired. Tired of feeling like you don’t have a partner, and sick with the feeling that, somehow, you don’t have him. ‘It’s everything. I don’t want to be alone in choosing our home.’

At your words, he blanches, the colour fading from his skin even in the sun. ‘You think I don’t want to pick a house?’ he whispers, delicate in the way he handles his words.

‘Clearly, you don’t.’

‘I can see how it would come off that way, and I’m sorry.’ At once, he reaches for you, unable to hold back the need to touch you. He gathers you into his arms, burying his nose into your neck to take the smell of you in, deep into his lungs. ‘Really, I am. I thought you knew.’

‘What are you talking about,’ you murmur, immediately letting your guard down at the feel of his muscles beneath your hands.

Pulling back just enough to see you, he cradles your cheek with his palm. ‘Picking the house is so...not a concern of mine.’

In protest, you open your mouth to speak, but he cuts you off.  

‘Listen!’ he laughs, eyes wide and imploring you to be calm and to be patient. ‘Picking the house is not a concern because you are my home. As long as I’m with you, I am home. We could be in a hotel or a shed or a mansion, I don’t care. Okay, maybe I care about the mansion because that’s a crazy electric bill, but I don’t care where it is as long as I’m with you. I found home a long time ago, so when I bring up random things on house showings it’s because I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. Your heart is my home, and it’s the only place I want to be.’

Once more, silence falls between you, but this is the silence in which he tells you he loves you with all of him. The penetrative way he holds your stare moves you, makes you feel him once more taking root in your heart, holding it with his palm instead of your cheek. Silently, his lips shape the words “I love you” over and over, until he stops to smile, knowing that your soul has heard him where your ears could not. And last, he keeps you in his hold, hands burning with the knowledge that being separate from you is painful, terrible, and like this you know he is right.

Neither of you are truly at peace without the other, and so it should not matter what roof shelters you, for you will always shelter each other.

‘Goddammit, Mark,’ you laugh, pressing your face into his shoulder.

‘What now?’

‘You got me so emotional, I’m considering the brass knobs.’

[neo-shitty]

toffee!

ah yeah i suppose ur right. yeah i think quarentine has had that sort of effect on a lot of people :( sorry to hear abt ur strict parents, hopefully ur friend will be able to come back soon. small outings (even with family) are still good tho, make sure ur taking care of urself toff.

youre totally right! ah yes thats good advice (/gen) ill try and use that when im in a slump ty. any music suggestions?

lol sames. even some of the stuff abt seungmin, innie etc is a little uncomfortable, like theyre grown ass men for sure, but at the same time, theyre still young, still just over being a teenager in the grand scheme of things. (on that note, i do struggle with worrying that im infantalising them, obviously theyre adults but at the same time, theyre still young. i do treat all fictional characters as my children, but i guess its different when its real people. idk. what do you think?) yeah some stans rlly need to take a chill pill, some are rlly walking the wire between 'ah theyre attractive/that look rlly suits them' and making fucking smut fics abt minors, like... they do not see a problem with that?? yeah tbh i feel like unless theyre 18 they shouldnt be put into the spotlight, weve seen what it does to peoples mental health, but modern day kpop industry is a lot like old hollywood with a lot of popular child actors -_- hopefully the big companies will learn but i agree, its unlikely

suuuuure toff haha. ill go searching for them, but idk if ill be able to find the fluff needle in the angst haystack (jkjk) yeah, fair i groan and complain but you do write angst etc rlly well, so if its what ur comfortable with, then pls continue, it is one of your strong suits, well as you write fluff aside

ah okay good! ill continue to send you essays then

THE ALBUM YES. so ive been looking forward to it for literally months, this is actually my first skz album release as a stay (since the last on was 9 months ago) i was sitting there hitting refresh on my spotify the second 6pm kst came around. (speaking of which, how did you do the release? i couldnt decide whether to watch or listen first but i ended up on listening cos there would be more material) okay: so cheese was super cool, very skz ya know? tho i almost wish theyd made domino the title track, tho obv it was a more experimental track and would have been a bit controversial (much like whistle for bp) i looooved domino and thunderous was absolutely impeccable. all the songs were amazing but standouts were- secrets, secrets which lowkey made me tear up idk why, red lights which almost killed me (it did not have to go that hard, but it did) and OT8 WOLFGANG omgggg i wasnt sure if hyunjin was going to be included in it but i was hoping and, ya know people had said hed be in there, but the further i got in, the less i was sure and then BAM hyunjin started what had been jisung's part and i just sat there grinning for about 5 minutes. surfin was absolutely adorable and gone away almost made me cry AGAIN. star lost was so touching, almost a nod to hyunjins little star? silent cry was relatable beyond anything. SSICK was funny? for some reason I was laughing while it was playing, idk the combination of added cheering and minhos aggressiveness and the totall seriousness they sung it. but i rlly enjoyed it. sorry i love you showcased their vocals like nothing else. the view is THE BOP of 2021, absolutely going to be stuck in my head for the next decade, that hook is genius. what did you think?

also did you watch their grow up performance? with all the stays and ALL THE TEARS? ;n; i feel like this is the end of an era of skz and tbh im kinda happy but also sad. super excited for their promotions but super bummed they wont get to tour. ah well

<3 w.a. 🐺

answer under the cut bc i gave an equally long answer to this already long ask HAJSH

oh yeah, abt quarantine having an effect. my friend and i talked about this earlier actually. i didn't realize the world was moving so fast until the pandemic happened. being in quarantine gave me time to think and i got to know myself more. it's just the sole good thing i got out of the isolation lmao. and abt my strict parents, ironically i got to go out today so i got to hang out with a few of my bestfriends. i had fun but my legs are a bit sore from walking. but they're a different set of friends. i'll get to hang out with the others when my getaway driver comes home in december.

hmm music recommendations for writing? depends on the plot you're writing. care to share what story you're working on and i'll try to rake my brain for a song that might match the vibe. i listen to classical / lo-fi if i don't have song inspo for a fic because lyrics sometimes distract me.

i don't think that's infantilizing tho. for me, it has something to do with my environment and the way i was raised. maybe it's the same the other way around? like this certain age (for the ones above 18 but below 20) is thirst-able for them. idk really. it's just not for me ?n? what i do NOT condone is writing smut for minors??? like get checked : D // i agree with everything with the idols being 18+ before they debut simply because it's for the best for their well-being like. how can young idols decide that this shit is the thing they want to do for life? or at least until their contracts last. idk :// it's unfortunate that it's unlikely to happen.

WELL. i have a list so you won't have to go search for them! in class (minho), in the rain (seungmin), gladius maximus (chan) and you've read five star already. and i just realized that most, if not all, of my upcoming fics are fluffs and i'm fond of all of them :D i used to focus a lot on angst because fluff disgusted the living shit out of me. i think things changed when i wrote champagne problems and hurt myself so bad i wanted to drop angst entirely. i didn't, of course, but i allowed myself to be self-indulgent now.

for the release of the album, i was on twt and watched the vid at 12 views (if i remember correctly, i watched back door at 14 so HASJH) i’m gonna talk by track so it wont be too confusing? bc i wrote this in paragraph format and it just ???? beware im very picky with tracks even if they’re my ults. so no offense if we have opposing opinions and i’m not fond of reading lyrics so these are all music wise.

cheese - oh god i hated cheese at first listen but it grew on me easily. i was singing the yeahyeahyeahyeah bit all day today :D

thunderous - i cant say that it’s my favorite title track. it felt really dry sometimes, both mv and music wise. but at the same time, it’s not that bad. the choreography carried the song tho o.O it’s so fucking cool. but like go live, another track has my heart and it’s

domino - AND YES I AGREE THAT THEY SHOULDVE MADE DOMINO TITLE TRACK UGHHHHH WHAT A WASTED FUCKING OPPORTUNITY. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW FOND I AM OF THIS SONG. it stands close to the level i love easy.

ssick - was a skip on first listen too because i found the chorus underwhelming but it grew on me? not that much but i can bear listening to it.

the view - it’s something the gen public like, hence its something i dislike. im not fond of songs that are structured like this? it’s not a bad song, just not the type of song i like. but i agree that the hook is very not catchy but it would get stuck in ur head.

sorry, i love you - it’s not as sad as i expected but i actually like it??? i can’t wait to write a fic out of it (1) HAJSHAJ it’s like a 3/5 for me. it’s angsty but chill?

silent cry - i’m pissed at this song bc it hits but sometimes it doesn’t?@?#!? but it’s starting to grow on me but definitely not my fave track.

secret secret - glad i found a secret secret enthusiast because my irls thought it was a skip?$?#@$? it gives me ikon vibes and i’m a huge fan of ikon’s discog so this was a win for me T_T +

STAR LOST - gives me bigbang song vibes and now im very sad :(( in case u didnt know, i’m a hUGE yg fan and 2ne1/bigbang introduced me to kpop so when i heard this track that gave me yg feels i just <3___<3 and it’s one of my favorite tracks anw moving on,

red lights - I WANT TO SKIP THE FIRST TEN SECONDS OF RED LIGHTS EVERY TIME IT PLAYS LIKE IT MAKES ME FEEL AWKWARD KDSJFSK but fine. i’m adding this to props and mayhem’s playlist LMAO it’s more aggressive than sexc tho. more enemies to lovers o. O

surfin’ - this coming right after red lights just wasn’t the best decision arrangement wise because how did we go from ooh sexc to aigh pARTAY. felix saying sheesh T___T it’s such a fun song i want to go to the beach ;n; do you like beaches?

gone away - i have yet to read the lyrics because i’m using this as inspo for a jeongin fic jskjash it’s not the type of ballad i like but it’s so fucking sad to listen to :’ ) the pitch change caught me off guard? still does. it’ll grow on me prolly.

wolfgang - I YELLED WHEN I HEARD HYUNJIN IN WOLFGANG. i didn’t like this song until recently. it gives me the confidence boost i need to pick myself off self-esteem crashes.

and no i haven't watched that performance and i prolly wont because i’ll cry. i’m excited for the promotions too. do you think they’ll still have a repackage?? i cant fucking believe that i just finished waiting for 12am kst for skz teasers and now i have to look forward to 12am for nct 127??@?#? NOT A SINGLE DAY OF REST FOR THIS STAYZEN

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/travel/25-of-the-worlds-most-romantic-hotels/

25 of the world's most romantic hotels

(CNN) — For some, a romantic getaway means five-star luxury and poolside pampering. For others, it’s all about glorious solitude and stunning scenery. And then there are the action-and-adventure lovebirds who prefer excitement and high-adrenaline sports over rest and relaxation.

Whatever your preference for where you stay, we’ve rounded up 25 hotels that should have you covered.

Whether you’re after a low-key Caribbean island escape or an African safari adventure — or something else entirely — these destinations will make your heart sing.

The Resort at Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)

Some of the suites at The Resort at Pedregal open right onto the water.

Robert Reck/The Resort at Pedregal

Set on a long sweep of beach at the base of towering mountains, this dreamy resort on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico is as romantic as it gets.

Each of its 118 rooms features a roomy terrace outfitted with private hot tub overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Select casitas open directly onto the ocean — you’ll feel like you’re practically floating in open waters. And they boast private plunge pools and fire pits. The cliffside restaurant El Farallón, with its divine sunset views, makes for an unforgettable date night.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru (Maldives)

Though the Four Seasons has several breathtaking properties in the Maldives — including the Voavah private island — the resort at Landaa Giraavaru has the edge when it comes to romance.

Each of its 103 thatched-roof, standalone bungalows features private water access, offering the ultimate seclusion and privacy for couples.

Amorous offerings include candlelight dinners on a private sandbank, tantric couples massages and sunset Champagne cruises around the surrounding UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo (Monaco)

Monaco’s legendary Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has just undergone a four-year, $280-million-dollar makeover, bringing the historic 19th-century property slap-bang into the 21st century.

Architects Richard Martinet and Gabriel Viora have preserved the property’s Belle Epoque chic, while giving it a lighter, more contemporary look.

The new rooms, all of which have balconies and close to half of which are suites, feature romantic details such as white marble floors, Louis XVI-style pieces and Murano glass chandeliers and lamps.

The light-filled, marble-fitted bathrooms feature an intoxicating mix of elegant curves and clean lines, and you can pamper yourself with Guerlain toiletries too.

Rosewood Baha Mar (Bahamas)

Rosewood Baha Mar has private beach access as well as luxurious lagoon-style pools.

Courtesy Rosewood Baha Mar

It might be just 15 minutes’ drive from Lynden Pindling International Airport, but the Bahamas’ newest resort feels like its own private island hideaway.

Set upon a serene stretch of Cable Beach, Rosewood Baha Mar’s lush, jungle-like grounds are peppered with lagoon-style pools, hot tubs and quiet relaxation nooks hidden behind leafy banana palms.

Guest rooms and villas boast a relaxed beach house vibe, while common areas dazzle with polished marble, coffered ceilings and hand-painted murals.

&Beyond Kichwa Tembo (Kenya)

If there was a safari lodge made especially for lovers, this would be it. With its sprawling, three-part swimming pool and chic, open-air restaurant, you could almost mistake it for a sexy Palm Springs resort — if it weren’t for the jaw-dropping views of the Masai Mara from every angle.

Its 40 revamped tents are minimalist but luxurious, decked out with plush oversized beds and roomy ensuite bathrooms. Romantic offerings include safari by hot-air balloon and sunset cocktails at Oloololo, which overlooks the expansive wilderness.

Gritti Palace (Venice)

Gritti Palace rooms are furnished with Venetian antiques, exquisite original art and rich brocade silks.

Courtesy Gritti Palace

Built in 1475, this stunning palazzo is one of the most luxurious and romantic hotels in La Serenissima. It occupies the loveliest spot on the Grand Canal, looking across to the magnificent Santa Maria della Salute church and the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, home to the Guggenheim Museum.

Rooms are downright decadent, furnished with Venetian antiques, exquisite original art and rich brocade silks. Its intimate, fresco-adorned restaurant, Club del Doge, is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Venice (if not all of Italy).

Wildflower Hall Shimla (Shimla, India)

This Oberoi property is worth visiting for the extraordinary views alone: It sits atop a mountain, 8,250 feet above sea level (around 2,500 meters), and is surrounded thickly by cedar forests and wildflower fields. Its rooms are just as stunning, furnished with exquisite colonial furniture, colorful hand-woven Indian carpets and original watercolor paintings.

Though the hotel’s main draw is its stillness and tranquility, there are still lots of low-key activities on offer for couples. Highlights include scenic guided nature hikes, mountaintop picnics and private dining inside a forest gazebo.

Royal Mansour (Marrakech)

The elegant Royal Mansour is layered with intricate patterns.

jean-bernard YAGUIYAN/Royal Mansour

Commissioned by King Mohammed VI, the Royal Mansour is an oasis of 53 elegant private residences, or riads, quiet courtyards and intimate restaurants just five minutes from the Jemaa el-Fnaa.

The riads are as extravagant as they come, strewn with suede and silk carpets, velvet brocade sofas and Baccarat crystal — guests will feel as if they’re living in their own private palace. Riads aside, honeymooners will love the hotel’s sumptuous private spa suites, each decked out with their own hammam, plunge pool and terrace.

Soneva Kiri (Koh Kood, Thailand)

Offering everything from tree pod dining to free chocolate, Soneva Kiri in Koh Kood is one of Thailand’s most incredible luxury resorts.

Wedged between the jungle and the ocean on the lush, under-the-radar island of Koh Kood, Soneva Kiri makes for the perfect romantic escape. It has just 36 thatched villas, each with its own private infinity pool, sundeck and a lavish indoor-outdoor bathroom.

The resort’s pièce de résistance is its jungle-enshrouded Cinema Paradiso, an open-air movie theater set above a lagoon (date night will never be the same again).

Soneva Kiri, 110 Moo 4, Koh Kood Sub-District, Koh Kood District

Shangri-La Hotel, Paris (Paris)

There are countless swoon-worthy hotels in the city of love, but the Shangri-La might be the most romantic of them all. Behind its picturesque wedding-cake facade, you’ll find impossibly lush landscaped gardens, two Michelin-starred restaurants and 101 opulent, antique-filled rooms. But what sets the Shangri-La apart from the others?

Its unparalleled views of the Eiffel Tower directly across the river — it’s so close, it feels like you can reach out and touch it from your own balcony.

Helena Bay Lodge (New Zealand)

Helena Bay Lodge is located in the northeast corner of New Zealand’s North Island.

Chris McLennan/Helena Bay

With no more than 10 guests on the property at a time, this North Island hotel offers couples the utmost privacy.

Its five villas — set upon nearly two miles of windswept coastline — are cozy but luxurious, outfitted with real log-burning fireplaces and terraces overlooking Helena Bay. Property highlights include a fine-dining Italian restaurant with a 1,000-bottle wine cellar and a spa inspired by a traditional Russian banya (bath house).

Helena Bay, 1948 Russell Road, Helena Bay, New Zealand

Four Seasons Maui at Wailea (Hawaii)

Fresh off an extensive makeover leaving guest rooms and suites plusher than ever, the Four Seasons on Wailea Beach continues its reign as Maui’s most luxurious resort.

There are even more couples’ experiences on offer now, from the adventurous (helicopter rides to neighboring Big Island) to the relaxing (couples’ instructional massages by the beach). But the most romantic experience of all is the candlelit oceanfront dinner by the famous adults-only Serenity Pool — it comes with exclusive nighttime use of the pool.

Belmond La Samanna (St. Martin)

Built upon the unspoiled shores of Baie Longue, Belmond La Samanna makes for a low-key but luxurious destination. Following hurricane damage last year, the resort reopened in December and its $25 million makeover is due to be completed by March 2019.

The resort has something for every couple, whether it’s a Champagne sunset cruise, an art exhibition or a jet-skiing excursion on the Dutch side of the island.

Though every room and suite at La Samanna is a dream, its eight Mediterranean-style villas –perched atop a cliff overlooking the beach — offer the most privacy (and best views).

Ponta dos Ganchos (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

Ponta dos Ganchos has 25 ocean-facing bungalows.

Courtesy Ponta dos Ganchos

If it’s peace and relaxation you’re after, skip the glitzy resorts on Ipanema and head straight for Ponta dos Ganchos, a romantic hideaway on the picturesque Emerald Coast Brazil.

Its 25 ocean-facing bungalows are hidden blissfully inside a rainforest and are luxurious to boot — think infinity plunge pools, deep-soaking hot tubs and even private saunas. Added bonus: It’s adults-only, making it that much more tranquil.

Ponta dos Ganchos, Rua Eupídeo Alves do Nascimento, 104, Gov. Celso Ramos, Santa Catarina, Brazil

The Beverly Hilton (Los Angeles, California)

Though it’s best known for being home to the Golden Globes — historically held in its ballroom every year — this historic Beverly Hills hotel is as romantic as it is glamorous. Everything about the property feels understated but sexy, from the retro, dimly lit Circa 55 restaurant to the classic Hollywood-style pool, heated to 75 F (24 C) year-round and open 24/7 in case you fancy a midnight dip.

Cabana suites are breezy and tropically inspired and open directly onto the pool deck, but the most romantic rooms are in the Wilshire tower: They’re bright and airy, with wraparound terraces and heart-stopping views over Beverly Hills and the glittering Los Angeles skyline.

La Bastide de Gordes (Gordes, France)

Perched on a cliff next to a 12th-century castle in the picturesque Luberon village of Gordes, La Bastide is romantic by default. Its fresco-adorned rooms and suites, decorated thoughtfully with Louis XV antiques and plush Provencal fabrics, further add to its rustic charm.

And after a 20-million-euro revamp in 2015, it’s more luxurious than ever with a new Sisley spa, four swimming pools and a second restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui (Bora Bora)

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui’s bathrooms leave little to be desired.

Adam Bruzzone/Conrad Bora Bora Nui

Though you’d be hard-pressed to find a resort that’s not romance-worthy in Bora Bora, this resort is one of the most impressive the destination has to offer.

For starters, it has two-story overwater bungalows, offering extra space (over 3,000 square feet) and added privacy. There’s also a hilltop spa, a white-sand beach, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar and a sunset lounge with a glass floor that offers a glimpse into the coral reefs below.

Southern Ocean Lodge (Australia)

Built atop scrub-covered bluffs on the southwest tip of far-flung Kangaroo Island, this isn’t your typical lovers’ retreat. The landscape here is wild and rugged rather than breezy and tropical, but that just makes it all the more special.

Each of its 21 glass-fronted suites are cantilevered to ensure jaw-dropping panoramas over windswept Hanson Bay. And though the resort is eco-friendly and built entirely from sustainable materials, it’s also incredibly luxurious: Each suite has a private terrace, sunken lounge and a deep-soak tub with a view.

Four Seasons Resort Serengeti (Tanzania)

Reclining is an adventure in the Serengeti.

Courtesy Four Seasons Serengeti

When it comes to romance, the Four Seasons seems to get it right every time — even in the middle of the wilderness. Its magnificent Serengeti property offers a vast menu of couples’ offerings, from floating sunset dinners atop the desert-facing pool to burudika spa treatments using local plants and healing minerals.

Its 77 rooms are luxurious yet blend seamlessly into the environment with their thatched-grass roofs and neutral, earthy color palettes. All have open-air sundecks and several even offer private infinity-edge pools that face directly out onto the watering hole.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (Danang, Vietnam)

Just looking at this resort on Vietnam’s Son Tra peninsula is enough to inspire romance: Its whitewashed villas cascade dramatically down a green mountainside into the ocean.

Its 200 rooms and suites are just as heavenly, outfitted with sprawling terraces and spa-like bathrooms with ocean-facing tubs. Its signature restaurant, Citron, takes date nights to whole new heights, quite literally: Couples can dine in a cone suspended over the mountain. But perhaps most romantic of all is the resort’s adults-only infinity pool, which overlooks the pristine white sand beach below.

Marquis Los Cabos Resort & Spa (San José del Cabo, Mexico)

Infinity pools seem to flow right into the sea at the Marquis Los Cabos.

Courtesy Marquis Los Cabos

There’s something for every couple at this all-inclusive, adults-only resort, built along a picturesque stretch of coastline on the emerald-blue Sea of Cortez. Its never-ending menu of couples-friendly diversions includes dance lessons, tequila tastings and his-and-hers massages at the 13,000-square-foot Spa Marquis.

There are three oceanfront infinity pools and a pristine beach to enjoy, as well, with water activities to boot. Of course, that’s only if you can drag yourself from your ocean-facing casita — rooms here are so colorful, charming and luxurious that you might never want to leave.

The Caves (Negril, Jamaica)

With its breezy, bohemian vibe and dramatic cliffside setting, the adults-only Caves hotel is considered one of Jamaica’s most romantic escapes. Its 11 colorful cottages and suites are built along lush, foliage-lined paths and dramatic seaside cliffs carved with stairways leading down into the ocean.

Property highlights include a lovely Aveda mini-spa perched above the water, a romantic bar built inside of a grotto and dining in the al fresco gazebo. But what you’re here for is the famous cave dinner — a private, five-course dinner set inside a cave that’s lit up with dozens of flickering candles.

Halekulani (Honolulu, Hawaii)

There are certainly newer and flashier hotels in Honolulu but the legendary Halekulani, built in 1883, remains the top choice for a romantic getaway. It’s luxurious but low-key, elegant but understated, and remains miraculously Zen-like despite its prime beachfront location.

Its oceanfront freshwater pool — laid with 1.2 million pieces of blue glass in the shape of an orchid — is easily the most luxurious on Waikiki. And there’s no more romantic way to spend an evening than listening to live ukulele ballads under the stars at House Without a Key, Halekulani’s signature restaurant.

A Japanese outpost is set to open in Okinawa in July.

Secret Bay (Dominica)

With just eight bungalows hidden amid thick, jungle-like foliage on the face of a cliff looking over the ocean, Secret Bay feels as if it were built specifically for lovers.

Bungalows are equipped with so many luxurious features — hammocks, plunge pools, sundecks, personal libraries, chef’s kitchens — there’s not a single reason for you to leave. But you must, if only to watch the sun set over the Caribbean Ocean from the gorgeous Vetiver Sunset Deck.

Amangiri (Utah)

When it comes to desert escapes, it doesn’t get much more luxurious than Amangiri. Its 34 sleek suites are perfect for lovers, boasting private courtyards with show-stopping desert views, and in some cases, private pools.

Property highlights include a Navajo-inspired spa with a desert-facing water pavilion and a stunning main pool, wrapped dramatically around an enormous natural sandstone butte.

Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski chose the resort for her honeymoon, while in 2018 Kanye West tweeted that “we need to Amangiri the world,” following he and wife Kim Kardashian West’s stay here.

Amangiri, 1 Kayenta Road, Canyon Point, Utah

Krisanne Fordham has written for Conde Nast Traveler, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and Travel + Leisure. She grew up in Sydney and now splits time between Umbria, Italy and New York.