Dates are overrated. Why not take the journey of a lifetime with your loved one and share an unforgettable experience?
“The journey, not the arrival matters” ~ T.S Eliot.
We live in a world where the focus is on getting to your destination quickly, efficiently, and as seamlessly as possible. Arriving at a location is often considered more important than choosing the most enjoyable way of getting there. Why not take a breath, loosen those shoulders, and read through these magnificent romantic journeys, where the experience starts with the first step (or acceleration, oar stroke, train horn, or takeoff).
Get your motor running on the Pacific Coast Highway
Remember when Sunday drives were a thing? You would all pile into the family car, roll down the window, feel the wind on your face as you drive off to some unfamiliar place, only to stop for a while before winding your way back home again.
You can still enjoy that free feeling of not having a care in the world and watching the world go by, only now the family car has been swapped for a sleeker, stylish vehicle that is driven by a professional Blacklane chauffeur, ready to take you and your loved one along the dramatic Pacific Coast Highway in California, U.S.
While the entire highway from San Francisco to San Diego is a little long — 951 kilometers — for a day trip, there are certainly sections worthy of a few hours. Make an hourly booking with our reliable Blacklane limousine service to take however long you like along this coastal route, starting off in Cambria, home to an elephant seal rookery, where you can watch massive mammals lounge around on rocks. Hop back into your Blacklane and mak your way through the seaside village, before the road opens out to picturesque ocean views on your left and rocky outcrops on your right. Lastly, arrive at Big Sur and take in the rugged mountain scenery before stopping in at Nepenthe for a tasty morsel on their glorious patio.
Let the journey take your breath away
Iceland is a country of sharp contours, running waterfalls, and extreme seasons. With a population of a little more than 338,000 people, the landscape remains untouched, fierce, and waiting for you to absorb its natural beauty. Direct flights are available from New York and London, which means the experiences this country offers are closer than you might think. One of the best ways to take in the 103,000-square-kilometer country is by helicopter, where you can get a close-up view of the ice-capped peaks and sheer cliffs, unique to Iceland.
Norðurflug Helicopter Tours, the self-proclaimed largest helicopter service in the country, offer a number of tours across the country, where you can land on a glacier, fly over volcanoes and waterfalls, or soar through the geothermal explosions of Geysir.
If you’re looking for something a little less wild, the company also provides a “Heli Romance” tour, tailored to couples wanting to add a touch of romance to their trip. The tour starts at Reykjavik Domestic Airport, where you board the helicopter and fly out over the capital city, before landing on a nearby mountain range to soak up the beautiful landscape and celebrate with a bottle of sparkling wine, included in the flight package. After the aerial adventure, book yourself a spa treatment at Sóley Natura SPA, (also included in the tour package), where wild Icelandic herbs will help soothe your troubles away.
Glide along the waterways of Venice
The floating city of Venice has long been a favorite for couples and singles alike, looking to get away from the daily humdrum of life and get lost among the narrow, rust-colored alleyways and crowded bars soaked in flamingo-pink sunsets. There’s a reason this Italian city draws millions of visitors a year to its boardwalks. Built in a lagoon consisting of more than 100 islands, Venice is linked by numerous canals and small bridges, connecting you to astounding structures like Saint Mark’s Basilica, Palazzo Ducale di Venezia, and the Rialto Bridge.
Taking a gondola ride on a crisp, sunny morning or at dusk is the perfect way to experience the one-of-a-kind setting the city has to offer. Start your journey by booking a stylish Blacklane airport transfer from Venice airport to guide you through the city before you embark on your gondola ride.
Avoid the crowds and travel outside the summer months to have the canals all to yourself.
Refresh your senses in New Zealand
The New Zealand landscape is as diverse as its travel options — you can walk, hike, climb, bike, or go horseback across its varied lands and see active volcanoes, alpine lakes, or breathtaking fjords, just to name a few.
One of the most well-known hikes in New Zealand, and there are many, is the Queen Charlotte Track at the top of the South Island. The entire track spans about 70 kilometers along most of Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui, starting at Ship Cove and finishing at Anakiwa. You can catch glimpses of the sunken river valleys of the Marlborough Sounds as you walk along the ridgeline, marvel at the native bush surroundings, and take in the staggering forested hills as you listen to the native bird-calls around you.
The entire hike takes roughly a week, with a range of accommodation along the way, from huts to boutique lodges.
For those who want to take the stress out of planning the hike, The Marlborough Lodge is a luxury five-star accommodation offering its guests guided tours along the entire track, or half and full-day guided or unguided options so you can spend more time enjoying the Marlborough wines and seafood the area is well-known for.
Wind your way through Peru
Railway stations have long been the backdrop for films looking to draw out those emotionally-wrought scenes of love and romance. “Brief Encounter” anyone? Trains are often featured in romance films and it’s no wonder why — traveling on a long train journey often means time can slow down, giving you the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your loved one as you watch the world go by.
Luxury travel and hotel company Belmond succeeded in revitalizing the magnificence of train travel when it launched its Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train in the 1980s. The train is made up of restored carriages from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘50s and runs from London or Paris to Venice.
While this train is widely known in Europe, Belmond’s other train journeys are perhaps a little more intriguing, especially its Belmond Andean Explorer in Peru, the first luxury train in South America.
There are four possible routes you can take through the Peruvian Andes on the Andean Explorer, two of which start from Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, one from the baroque city of Arequipa and another from the lakeside city of Puno. Each journey showcases the magnificent beauty of South America from the convenience of luxurious cabins, fitted with individual bathrooms, Peruvian hand-woven fabrics, and Alpaca wool.
Feast on locally-sourced produce in the dining cart or sit back with a glass of wine, taking in the sights.
Amy Mitchell-Whittington
Amy is an Australian journalist living in Berlin. She covers a range of topics, with a special interest in tech and science.
