Cherish Cupid’s Kiss on Koh Samui

A tranquil lovers’ paradise overlooking a sapphire sea, Banyan Tree Samui has long been a favorite of couples traveling to Thailand for its intimate villas, each with a private infinity pool, award-winning spa, and sumptuous dining. This year, a veritable feast will be laid on at two of the resort’s three dining venues. At Sands, on the beachfront, a “Be My Valentine” dinner menu will be presented. Those who would like to mark the occasion – or perhaps have a proposal in mind – can opt for a private al-fresco Destination Dining experience, set up on the beach in a candlelit gazebo. The option comes with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco. Alternatively, a “Valentine Romance in the Siam Way” menu has been kindly concocted by the chef at Saffron Restaurant, perched high above the resort, and recently listed in the Michelin Guide for Thailand. For more information or reservations, call +66 077 915 333 or email: samui@banyantree.com

Experience Love in Da Nang

An oceanfront resort is tapping its idyllic location, unique wellness services, and creative cuisine for a romantic stay package that will leave couples feeling just as rejuvenated as they feel in love. The limited offer at TIA Wellness Resort includes breakfast on the sandy shores in front of the resort, one-night stay in a villa with a private plunge pool, a five course Valentine’s menu (with a plant-based option), romantic turn-down service with a milk bath, the “Stamp of Love” couples creative workshop where guests will express their connection through symbolism, and two wellness treatments of their choice with a romantic setup. The special menu for Valentine’s Day includes dishes like grilled abalone and caviar, along with baby lobster and saffron risotto. The meal will be served poolside with live music adding to the atmosphere. An organic wine pairing is also available. The package can be booked from now until February 13th for a stay on February 14th. Prices start at VND 12,000,000 NET per couple. For more information visit: https://tiawellnessresort.com/en/experience-love-at-tia-wellness-resort/

Beachfront Bliss in Beautiful Krabi

On the evening of February 14th, couples are invited to gather on the beachfront lawn at Banyan Tree Krabi, a luxury resort on secluded Tubkaek Beach, where a romantic candlelit dinner awaits inside a private bamboo gazebo. Amorous delicacies such as Crispy Beer Battered Oyster in Rose Jam, Smoked Salmon Gravlax, and Black Caviar, are to be followed by a choice of Roasted Wagyu Beef Tenderloin or Pan-Roasted Black Kingfish with Grilled Krabi Lobster, rounded off with some sumptuous chocolate-inspired desserts. The set menu costs THB 9,900 per couple, including a glass of sparkling wine, and the evening will be accompanied by live music. Note that booking should be made early as availability is limited to just eight lucky couples. The Valentine’s Dinner starts at 6:30pm. For more information and reservations, contact +66 075 811 888 or email krabi@banyantree.com

Celebrate Valentine’s Day from Saigon to Hue

Up and down Vietnam, wellness-inspired hotel brand Fusion is the place to celebrate love this Valentine’s Day. Fusion Suites Saigon is offering a special menu for couples in addition to a romantic in-room package with red wine, balloons and a floral bouquet. At Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion, couples can enjoy meals with fresh seafood, decadent desserts and rose wine. Up the coast at Maia Resort Quy Nhon, the “Valentine’s Chef’s Table” is the spot to toast your relationship on Feb. 14. Fusion Resort Cam Ranh’s “4-Course Romance Menu” features fresh scallop tortellini, grilled Angus beef and more, with an optional candlelit setting on Bai Dai Beach. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is offering special floral room decor with a turndown set including chocolate cake and a choice of herbal tea or wine for two. And Fusion Suites Vung Tau is serving an exclusive “Sky High Love” menu accompanied by a live violin performance.

Red Carpets for Cupid in Cambodia

Two of Cambodia’s most celebrated hotels are rolling out the red carpet for Valentine’s Day. At Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap, couples can choose from a distinctive 5-course menu at 1932 restaurant crafted by Executive Sous Chef Dorn Doeurt and complemented by hand-picked wine pairings (priced at $140++ per couple including wine) or a premium seafood platter at Cafe d’Angkor featuring fresh oysters, lobsters, scallops, tiger prawns and much more ($80++ inclusive of two glasses of Champagne). Raffles Hotel Le Royal in the capital, Phnom Penh, has two exceptional dining options planned. The first, at Restaurant Le Royal, features a grand 4-course set dinner including a welcome cocktail (priced at $68++ per person), with additional wine pairing options. The second at Le Phnom 1929 includes a romantic dinner buffet with fresh seafood and Parisian brasserie classics, and complimentary rose and chocolate for all ladies, accompanied by live music (priced at $48++ for the buffet).

Sky-high Valentine’s Day Dinners in Bangkok

Cupid is aiming his bow at INNSiDE By Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, spoiling loved-up couples with seafood platters accompanied by sparkling wine and a Spanish set dinner with optional wine pairing on February 14 from 6-10pm. With soaring windows giving way to Bangkok’s skyline, 31^st floor The Kites Eatery offers a choice of a hot or cold seafood platter, priced at THB 2599 net per couple inclusive of a bottle of sparkling wine. The platters feature prawns, blue crab, New Zealand mussels, blue mussels, rock lobster, squid, oysters, and scallops served with Thai spicy seafood sauce, red wine vinegar, lemon, and other condiments. Perched on the hotel’s uppermost floors, the 33^rd and 34^th floors, LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar, which affords panoramic views of the city, will craft a five-course Spanish dinner priced at THB 4900++ per couple with additional wine pairing at THB 1600++ per person. Octopus and Iberico jowl with potato and caramelized onion, and beef ribeye with couscous mint and dates are among the dinner’s highlights. For more information and reservations, please contact +66 (0) 2 340 5498 or email at luz@innsidebangkok.com

Love is in the Air in Chiang Mai

Meliá Chiang Mai’s fine dining restaurant, MAI Restaurant and Bar, will serve an exquisite four-course set dinner from 6-10pm on February 14. Affording stunning views of Chiang Mai and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop, the 21st floor restaurant’s set dinner is THB3500 net per couple with a glass of sparkling rosé wine. ‘Love’s Samplers’, tasting-sized portions of three different delicacies, are followed by consommé seasoned with dried squid, pork ravioli, and plums. The main course is a choice of a secret recipe of Angus beef steak on braised beef cheek curry with butterfly pea flower rice, or baked banana leaf-wrapped king salmon with spicy tomato relish, fish sauce-brined mushrooms and a sticky spring roll. Red velvet tres leches cake completes the menu. The 22^nd floor MAI The Sky Bar, Chiang Mai’s highest bar, will host live music by band The Est and resident DJ FuFu will spin the decks. Open from 6pm-midnight, tickets are THB 500 net per person or THB 888 net per couple and include a special cocktail or glass of house wine. For reservations, contact MAI Restaurant and Bar +66 (0) 52 090 601 or fb@meliachiangmai.com and MAI The Sky Bar on +66 (0) 52 090 600 or maiskybar@meliachiangmai.com.

Delectable Valentine’s Day Menus in Cam Ranh and Mui Ne

The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne, both of which have romantic designs inspired by Vietnam’s bygone Indochine era, will serve indulgent Valentine’s Day set menus on February 14 with live entertainment. With tables set up on its immaculate lawn adjacent to its Beach Club overlooking Long Beach, The Anam Cam Ranh’s four-course set dinner features ‘Beetroot inspiration’, a starter of beetroot in tartar, gelform, powder, and sponge with a goat cheese mousse, and main course Australian grain fed beef tenderloin, grilled local lobster, duchess potato, capsicum puree and truffle infused sauce. The Anam Mui Ne’s four-course dinner, to be staged at the resort’s compelling lawn area includes a French mushroom soup with truffle shavings and truffle oil, and a choice of either sous vide 24-hour Black Angus beef ribs with garlic confit, saffron mashed potatoes, asparagus and gravy sauce, or grilled half lobster with garlic butter, chef salad and balsamic dressing for the main course. Inclusive of two welcome drinks, The Anam Cam Ranh ’s dinner is priced at VND 2.6 million ++ per couple and The Anam Mui Ne’s dinner is 2.4 million ++ per couple. To make a booking, visit theanam.com or contact The Anam Cam Ranh on +(84) 258 398 9499 or info.cr@theanam.com and The Anam Mui Ne on +(84) 252 628 4868 or info.mn@theanam.com

A Handcrafted Eiffel Tower Made of Dark Chocolate and More for Couples in Tokyo

Palace Hotel Tokyo, a Forbes Five-Star property, pays homage to Paris, the city of love, with a handcrafted, 36-centimeter-tall edible Eiffel Tower made of dark (59%) chocolate. It is available at the hotel’s Sweets & Deli outlet for Valentine’s Day (priced at JPY 26,000, approximately $175) and will be sold exclusively from Feb. 1-14. The grand Eiffel Tower, which is also an ode to the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, has the aroma of roasted nuts and mirrors even the most intricate details of the original structure. Sweets & Deli is also offering petite versions of the Eiffel Tower, in addition to assorted Valentine’s cookies, chocolate bonbons and more. Meanwhile, Lounge Bar Privé’s strawberry-themed menu, available throughout February, includes refreshing cocktail concoctions, including a Strawberry & Champagne Bellini, Strawberry & Hibiscus Martini, and Strawberry Cheesecake Martini. The chic intimate venue offers captivating views of the Imperial Palace gardens by day and the city skyline by dark, along with a cozy outdoor terrace.

Romance Among the Rice Paddies in Bali

‘The Art of Romance’ is a two-night stay with all the romantic trimmings at a secluded resort in the uplands of Bali. Upon arrival at Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, each couple will find a floral aromatherapy bath already drawn in their room and a welcome cake. After that it’s time for afternoon tea, served picnic style while overlooking the scenic rice paddies the property is known for. A photo session, shot throughout the grounds, uses mythical stone sculptures, ponds graced with swans, rice paddies, temples, and the verdant landscape as a backdrop. At the resort’s Tempayan restaurant, housed in a traditional bale-inspired building, the duo will enjoy a three-course candlelit meal. A 120-minute couples spa ritual in a deluxe double spa suite, with an oversized semi-outdoor terrazzo bath, and private steam shower, rounds out the romantic stay and is accompanied by a bottle of sparkling wine to be enjoyed in or out of the tub. The package is on offer for bookings until December 23, 2024.

Romantic Beach Dinners, Picnics, Afternoon Tea and More on Cam Ranh Peninsula

Alma Resort on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula is pulling out all the stops for loved-up couples this Valentine’s Day, offering a romantic afternoon tea, an intimate beach dinner, picnics, special desserts and cocktails. Alma Lounge’s Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea includes the likes of Bailey caramel chocolate mousse, strawberry tart and pistachio macaron. Picnics with wine, snacks and decors will be offered in the morning and afternoon on Alma Hill or Long Beach and are priced at VND 1.8 million per couple. Beachfront restaurant Atlantis will stage a romantic dinner with candles and roses, for a maximum of five couples, priced at VND 4.95 million per couple including a bottle of red wine. Italian restaurant La Casa’s “Raspberry Rose” dessert comprises honey cream, raspberry confit, red velvet sponge cake with raspberry sauce. The American Bar will serve special Valentine’s Day cocktails. For further information or to make a reservation, visit alma-resort.com or contact +84 258 399 1666 or email info@alma-resort.com

Thais that Bind on Phuket’s Andaman Shoreline

Love is always in the air at Trisara, one of Thailand’s most alluring properties. And the resort—along with other assets owned by Montara Hospitality Group, the firm behind Trisara — is turning on the charm during February with a string of Valentine’s specials. Cielo —Trisara’s al fresco Mediterranean venue—hosts a magical evening on Valentine’s Day. Lovebirds can delight in a 4-course a la carte menu for THB 5,900++ per person, complete with a glass of champagne and the melodic tunes of a live band by the beach. At Jampa, a MICHELIN Green Star awarded “zero-waste” concept, located close to Trisara at its Pru Jampa farm, the Valentine’s Day experience involves a 7-course set menu for THB 4,600++, accompanied by a complimentary mocktail per person and a dainty flower bouquet for the couple. Things are equally seductive at Trisara’s award-winning spa, Jara Wellbeing. During February couples can experience a special “Couple’s Journey”. For THB 26,500++ per couple, they can enjoy a lavish 2-hour and 15-minute experience featuring an herbal steam, body scrub, and a 90-minute 4-hands massage. In Bangkok, Praya Palazzo, another Montara Hospitality property, isn applying some Thai-style romance courtesy of a sharing set menu of Thai royal dishes at THB 4,190++ for two.

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Seller at the Muslim quarter of Xi’an

Xi’an is indeed an amazing city where you can find a unique place: the muslim quarter. I consider the muslim quarter of Xi’an, or hui min jie (Muslim street) a must-do activity as it is one of the most interesting areas in town. And what makes it so exceptional? The food! And since I love trying different foods where I travel, the Muslim quarter of Xi’an was indeed a must go place in town.

Biscuits, doughnuts and more…

Xi’an large muslim community serves up street food in a labyrinth of narrow interconnected streets that develop away from the main road. I went on a Saturday early afternoon and it was acceptably crowded. As I entered the food area, I notices straight away its authenticity: lots of signs, amazing colours, strong smells, unique people, the Muslim quarter of Xi’an definitely has it all, and has probably not changed much since its inception over 1000 years ago, when Xi’an was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. In those times, a number of merchants and overseas students from Persia and other Arabic countries, called Hui by the local population, traveled to Xi’an for business and stud, settling down on present Muslim street.

Rolling up puffy pastry

I did my walk going with the flow, getting lost in the maze of small, smelly streets bustling with lots of hungry locals doing their normal shopping, and no tourists at all, since winter is the low tourist season in Xi’an.

The Muslim quarter of Xi’an is a postcard every turn of your head, so I took lots of pictures while I tasted lots of delicious traditional food, snacking, juggling food and the camera with both hands, and walking my way from stall to stall. The chaotic ambiance was made even worse by the constant stream of bikes, scooters and carts trying to force their way through the crowd along block after block of some of the greatest street food. A massive cauldron of deliciousness, a whirlwind of cooking, baking, sizzling, where most of the cooking is done on small coal-fired stoves or griddles.

A massive cauldron of deliciousness

The list of dishes available is endless. I started in an area where stalls and shops offered dumpling soups with beef, bowls of noodles with meaty broth poured over, different types of breads, filled pancakes, spicy chilli peanuts, chickens roasting on rapidly turning spits. There was a guy pulling noodles, and ladies with tiny carts with a griddle on top making a tofu dish with chilli and scallion.

Butcher at work

I then stumbled upon the meat area, where locals women haggled with butchers for discounts. There were stalls offering meat-stuffed flat biscuits, cumin lamb skewers, lamb pastrami and more.

Next I found a street where dried fruits, candies, spices, homemade yogurt, date cakes and honey were sold. Lots of shops offered crispy Uyghur flatbread cooked on the inside of smoking cylindrical ovens. A real mix of Chinese and Arabic cuisine!

Playing Mahjong in the street

The streets are many and tend to repeat themselves after a while, but there are locals playing cards or traditional Mahjong game, and shops selling local crafts to distract you from all that food, as well as some ancient architectural buildings to put your eyes on.

A visit of 3 hours will do, though you can surely spend much more time there. I left at 5pm, but I am told that after 6pm the market really gets crowded, getting crazier as the night wears on.

The Muslim quarter of Xi’an is an amazing place and a wonderful way to experience a culture within a culture. Not to be missed!

For more choice of tours in Xi’an, consult http://asianitinerary.com/lily-xian-private-tours/ 

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Lily Xian Private Tours

Room 1606, Building 9B, Chang Feng Yuan Resident Community, YanTa District, Xi’an 710061, China

http://www.lilyxianprivatetours.com

lilychinatours@hotmail.com 

office: +86 29 85428005 (09:00-18:00)

mobile: +86-18629295068 (24 hours)

WHO THEY ARE

Lily Xian Private Tours

Lily Xi’an Private Tours operates a variety of China tours for different needs. Each itinerary they offer can be tailor-made, you can send us inquiries about one or some of them first, and our travel consultant will customize them based on your specific interests and needs. Director Lily Sun graduated from Xian International Studies University and has been a trustworthy English tour guide for almost 10 years.

Lily is also a travel enthusiast who has been to several places in the world, thus she knows exactly how tourists make plans and what they want and need in their trip. Lily is considered by her guests to be well-educated, knowledgeable, kind and easy-going.

Terracotta warriors

Lily guides visitors in a journey of discovery, where you will learn about the profound Chinese history and culture, making you fall in love with the places you will visit. Follow Lily and her team for an exceptional experience of Xi’an and China.

Lily Xi’an Private Tours will endeavour to tailor a special tour to suit your personal requirements, whether you are a lover of history or nature, a traveler with time or budget constraints, or a family with kids or seniors. Their working principle is “You Require, We Satisfy”.

WHAT THEY DO

So why chose Lily Xi’an Private Tours?

Dried seafood at market

Well, for a start, unlike many other travel agencies, they are Xi’an local tour experts and they specialize in organizing private tours in the region, so you will get the facts about your chosen destinations from real local people who know best the places where they are living.

Savvy travellers know quality tours do not have to be expensive, and Lily Xi’an Private Tours offer professional support and service at for reasonable prices. Services they provide include:

Transfer: enjoy private transfer throughout your trip, all vans arranged by Lily Xi’an Private Tours and are expected to be clean, safe and air-conditioned. They arrange domestic China flights as well as international flights upon request.

Lily Xian Private Tours

Tour Guide & Driver: well dressed and non-smoking, tour guides will receive you at airports, train stations, piers or hotels holding a greeting board with your name on it. All the guides are promised to have excellent language and communication skills. Drivers are prohibited from chatting, smoking or phoning when driving.

Land Tours: your private tour will depart on any date at your convenience. It is exclusively for you and no strangers are allowed to join. There’s no limit on the number of people in your group, though the tours will be more expensive if taken alone. Your tour will follow your heart, you are free to travel at your own pace and flexible to choose any additional stops. Your tour guide will double check the itinerary with you, so if there is any difference they can make a quick adjustment.

Playing mahjong

Hotels: they make arrangement with a wide selection of hotels, from budget to luxurious, boutique to chain brands, to meet every client’s needs. All hotels are promised to be clean, secure and comfortable.

Meals: lunch during tours is a la carte at local restaurants whenever possible, usually local Chinese food is served with sanitation guaranteed. Please note in some remote countryside regions it’s simply hard to arrange a decent a la carte meal, so lunch may be at a local family or tourist restaurant as you decide. Your tour guide will help you make the order as waiters’ English at local restaurants do varies.

Tandem tour

Shopping: they usually provide “no shopping” tours. If you do have interest in some local products, please tell your guide, who may suggest some local stores with best quality at reasonable prices.

Follow Lily Xi’an Private Tours for your customized and personalized tour through the treasures of the vast and magical land of China.

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