The Best Cities for DINK Couples

There’s nothing like a romantic getaway with your partner; regardless of where you’re travelling to. And whilst some won’t mind destinations that are popular with families, others will want a location that’s relaxing and more couple-friendly, away from the hustle and bustle.

Over the past 6 months, statistics have shown that interest in these types of destinations have increased in popularity. These ‘DINK’ (Dual-Income-No-Kids) destinations vary from sun-kissed Mediterranean cities, to historic-quaint cities.

If this type of getaway seems appealing to you, then keep reading to find out the best holiday destinations for DINK couples in 2025. Comparing 20 international and UK holiday spots, we’ve ranked them based on their romantic potential, looking at a variety of factors, from the number of dining experiences to bars, attractions and hotels per 100,000 people.

Top Five International Cities for DINK Couples

Starting with our international destinations first, here are the top five cities to visit for the ideal DINK couple’s holiday:

1. Phuket – Thailand

Starting off strong with a bustling, exotic island destination, Phuket in Thailand provides a uniquely distinct holiday destination for those DINK couples looking to step outside of their comfort zones. Starting with accommodation, Phuket certainly delivers when it comes to 4-star+ romantic hotels, with 91 dotted around the city. And as for those couples interested in bars and clubs, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the 211 Phuket has on offer. Add to this the 71 romantic restaurants for you to try and over 588 couple’s activities that you can dip your toes in for a uniquely Thai experience and your itinerary will be fit to burst from day one!

2. Ibiza – Spain

A classic holiday destination for couples of all ages, Ibiza might not be the first location you think of when considering a DINK holiday. However, despite its party-island reputation, Ibiza has far more for you to explore when you step outside of its tourism hotspots – hence why it made the second spot on our list! For example, any couple after that quintessential fine dining experience in a romantic setting will be spoilt for choice, as Ibiza has over 83 restaurants for you to try, with many being paired to the 67 available 4-star+ hotels. Of course, for couples who want to hit the town after trying one of the 215 couple activities Ibiza has spread around the island, Ibiza’s 118 bars and clubs are sure to satisfy, no matter how niche your tastes are when it comes to decor or music.

3. Dubrovnik – Croatia

If sun, sea, and sand are what you’re after on your romantic getaway, then look no further than the coastal city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. Known for its stunning cliffside scenery, beautiful old town, and specialist fine dining experiences, Dubrovnik is jam-packed with all the DINK holiday essentials. For starters, Dubrovnik is home to 24 4-star+ hotels, giving you plenty of choices on where to stay in the city, as well as a respectable 26 romantic restaurants. And while Dubrovnik only has 26 bars and clubs, the island’s entertainment scene certainly favours quality over quantity for a better overall drinking experience. But where Dubrovnik really shines is in its couples attractions. From coastline cruises to beachside relaxation options, Dubrovnik has over 239 activities for you and your partner to discover, giving you plenty of choices for how you want to spend your time together!

4. Tulum – Mexico

Following on from our top 3, we have another sunny destination that’s ideally suited for those seeking a kid-free holiday. Located right on the tip of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, Tulum boasts some of the best access to tours around Mayan ruins alongside plenty of wildlife-watching opportunities! And even though Tulum might feel out of the way, you’ll still have your pick from 90 4-star+ romantic hotels, 25 separate bars and clubs, and 41 fine-dining restaurants that offer a plethora of local and international cuisine options to try. Top this off with 214 attractions tagged as ideal for couples, and Tulum pretty much has everything you need for an exciting, high-quality vacation experience in one of the world’s most idyllic countries.

5. Hoi An – Vietnam

To wrap up our top 5 international DINK couple destinations, we head back to Asia and just north of Thailand to one of Vietnam’s oldest cities – Hoi An. Nestled slap-bang in the middle of Vietnam’s east coast, this iconic destination has plenty to offer the cultured couple. To start with, Hoi An has an impressive 158 4-star+ hotels spread around the city, making it easy for you to stay in whatever area appeals to you the most. As well as 28 bars and clubs and 16 fine dining experiences that you can indulge in while you stay in the city.

Of course, no couple’s holiday would be complete without a wide selection of activities to fill your day with, and Hoi An can more than accommodate this with a staggering 492 options available to create a holiday experience that’s one of a kind.

Top 5 DINK Couple Destinations in the UK

As exciting as it can be to go abroad for your romantic getaway, you might be in the mood for something a little closer and lowkey. With that in mind, here are the top 5 DINK destinations in the UK:

1. Bushmills

Located in the quiet North corner of Northern Ireland, Bushmills offers that idyllic countryside vacation without the accompanying tourist traps common to other popular UK getaways. Keeping things calm with only 16 4-star+ hotels, 3 bars and clubs, and just 1 fine dining experience, Bushmills nevertheless offers a selection of insightful and interesting attractions for couples to enjoy during their stay, including tours around the famous Bushmills whisky distillery.

2. St Ives

Heading over the UK mainland for our next pick, we come to the stunning coastal town of St Ives. Positioned on the very tip of the Cornish coast, St Ives is a hotspot for couples interested in a traditional UK seaside trip. Indeed, St Ives has over 35 local attractions tailored for visiting couples, as well as 71 fantastic 4-star+ romantic hotels for you to choose from. St Ives also keeps things tasteful with a curated selection of 7 bars and 4 fine dining restaurants, which is just enough for you to try everything St Ives has to offer during your stay.

3. Isle of Skye

Hopping back briefly to the island resorts that defined our international DINK destination list, the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland proves that you don’t need to have glistening sunshine and sky-high temperatures to enjoy a picturesque island setting. Despite its size, the Isle of Skye is home to over 166 4-star+ hotels and 11 fine dining experiences. And while Skye only has 2 bars and clubs for you to try, it more than makes up this with 70 different couple-friendly attractions, including numerous wildlife-watching opportunities for those couples with an interest in nature.

4. Windermere

Hidden in the heart of the UK’s vaunted Lake District, Windermere offers visitors a gorgeous vista of some of the UK’s most exceptional countryside – not to mention a plethora of outdoor activities for the active couple. For starters, Windermere has no bars or clubs, meaning there’s little to no risk of you being disturbed while you sleep. Instead, once you’ve chosen from one of the 69 4-star+ hotels, you can rise bright and early to try whichever of Windermere’s 22 couple’s activities take your fancy before indulging in one of the 6 fine dining restaurants once evening rolls around.

5. Bakewell

Last, but not least, if you want a getaway that combines beautiful countryside vistas with the classic hustle and bustle of a traditional English market town, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than Bakewell in Derbyshire. With a reserved 30 hotels of 4-star+ quality, and only 3 bars and fine dining experiences, Bakewell nevertheless puts you in the perfect position to take advantage of the 10 couples attractions local to the area or to travel further afield to see some of the many other sights located in the Derbyshire dales.

Plan your next romantic getaway with Planet Cruise

And there you have it; those were our top picks for DINK couple destinations, both internationally and in the UK. Each of these destinations certainly have something special to offer and we’ve no doubt you’ll make lasting memories with your other half during your stay. Of course, if you’re looking for a unique couples experience that you can’t get anywhere else, then why not consider booking on one of our world cruises or UK cruises? With great deals on couple-friendly 2025 cruises, you’re sure to find something to your taste.

Methodology

This dataset contains 2 rankings, one ranks 28 UK locations, and the other ranks 50 international locations, based on how good they are for DINK holidays.

To do this, 4 different factors were used. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1. If data was not available, a score of 0 was given.

The normalised values were then summed and multiplied by 25, to give each location a total score out of 100. The locations were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.

The factors used were as follows:

• Romantic 4-star+ hotels – The number of hotels in each location that were rated 4 stars+ and have the 'romantic' tag, according to TripAdvisor.
• Bars and clubs – The number of 'pubs and clubs' in each location, according to TripAdvisor.
• Romantic and fine-dining restaurants – The number of restaurants in each location, with the 'fine-dining' and 'romantic' tag, according to TripAdvisor.
• Couple attractions – The number of attractions in each location with the 'good for couples' tag, according to TripAdvisor.

The factors were indexed as follows:

• All factors – High values gained a high score. Low values gained a low score.
• All data is correct as of 06/01/24. The ranking data shown is a compilation of multiple data sources and may not be representative of real life.
• All data is accurate with regard to the sources provided.