Avoid the cliches: 10 under-the-radar places to propose

Bikan, the gorgeous historical district of his port town on the Kurashiki River halfway between Osaka and Hiroshima, looks like a stage set specially for romance. The weeping willows and well-preserved, whitewashed houses that line its quaint canals are a favoured backdrop for Japanese wedding photos. Women in shimmering silk kimonos with flowers pinned in their hair, and men in samurai-era formal dress pose against willows and ivy-clad walls. For bonus points, visit during the cherry-blossom season and propose under confetti of pink blossoms. See kurashiki-tabi.jp

AITUTAKI, COOK ISLANDS

Bora Bora or Bali? Meh. You’ll have every other romantic couple and cruise-ship passenger looking on. Out on the lagoon in Aitutaki? You’ll easily find a spot all to yourself. Cast off your shoes, tune your ukulele, and get out the ring. It isn’t just tranquillity on offer but perhaps the Pacific Ocean’s most stunning lagoon: a dazzling show of blues into which is swirled white sand so fine it squeaks underfoot. There isn’t a building in sight – just coconut trees rattling their fronds like cheerleaders. See cookislands.travel

NEW YORK, USA

New Yorkers have a hard-nosed reputation, and big-city bustle isn’t everyone’s idea of romance, but what better place for a couple who enjoy metropolitan glamour? Besides, plenty of Hollywood rom coms have been set here. Popping the question atop the Empire State Building or on the Rockefeller Centre ice rink are cliches – try the main concourse at Grand Central Terminal under the constellation-decorated ceiling, where passing train passengers will stop to applaud. Broadway shows, world-class restaurants and great nightlife will be other causes for celebration. See nycgo.com

CORON, PHILIPPINES

Suggest a holiday in Tahiti or some other honeymoon mecca and it’s going to be obvious what you’re up to. The Philippines? Now there’s a surprise. Coron, crown jewel of the Palawan archipelago, competes with the most beautiful Pacific islands: think sheer humped islands rising from turquoise lagoons, and reefs filled with a wonder of tropical fish. Get out on the electric-blue water in a traditional wooden boat, find a sliver of sand backed by green jungle, and get down on one knee. See philippines.travel

IBIZA, SPAIN

If you're both still young enough to be party animals but also want a beautiful backdrop and dose of suave European culture, then this Mediterranean island sizzles. It's famed for its hedonism and summer club scene, so you'll enjoy plenty of beach clubs, nightlife and the sounds of the world's best DJs. Yet the morning (or maybe afternoon) after you can explore a World Heritage old town, fine museums, and a picturesque inland that combines whitewashed villages with olive groves on rugged hillsides. The Torre des Savinar tower above a beautiful blue cove might be the spot to you-know-what. See ibiza.travel

YANGSHUO, CHINA

Okay, these landscapes in southwest China aren’t under-the-radar if you’re Chinese, thanks to their squashed-up mountains, lush valleys, rice paddies, meandering rivers and dotted temples and pagodas. But get into the scenery at Yangshuo, where you’ll find striking boutique hotels nestled among the striking karst hills, and you’ll find few more romantic locations. Just avoid famous lookouts unless you want to propose in a crowd. Instead, have yourself poled along the Yulong River in a bamboo boat and find a tranquil country corner to yourselves. See visitguilin.org

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Care for culture rather than beaches? This is the place. Get romantic on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Indulge in cream cakes at famous coffeehouses decorated with gilt and mirrors. Have a glittering night at the opera. Check out first-class museums (be sure to see Gustav Klimt’s famous painting The Kiss) and enjoy romantic evening walks around the illuminated old town. Plenty of fine gardens offer great proposal spots. Somewhere among the formal flowerbeds and baroque fountains of Belvedere palace will surely melt the heart. See wien.info

ANTARCTICA

If you’d go to the ends of the Earth for your loved one – why don’t you prove it? It’s the ultimate destination for the adventurous couple, but with a luxury expedition cruise, you don’t have to sacrifice the element of romance either. On board you’ll find French and Italian fine-dining, spa treatments, a swimming pool and butler service, not to mention staggering frozen scenery and abundant wildlife ashore. Stay away from the penguins when proposing – their fishy stink isn’t exactly an aphrodisiac – but what is a better engagement photo background than the white continent? See silversea.com