Cox's Bazar in 3 days, upgraded

Day one: arrival and resort indulgence

Book a sea-facing suite at Sayeman Beach Resort or Long Beach Hotel for $90-120/night. Both have pools, spa services, and restaurants that do not require leaving the property. Arrive by mid-morning, check in, and spend the afternoon by the pool with a book. Order the prawn malai curry at Sayeman restaurant—$12 and the best version in town. The beach is steps away if you want a sunset walk.

Evening is for the rooftop bar at Ocean Paradise Hotel, even if you are staying elsewhere. Gin and tonics run $5-6, and the view covers the entire bay. Dinner at Niribili Restaurant on Kalatoli Road: grilled lobster with garlic butter costs $18, and the candlelit tables on the terrace make it worth the splurge. Walk back along Marine Drive and stop for gelato at Mermaid Cafe—two scoops for $3.

Day two: private island cruise

Hire a private speedboat to Sonadia Island for the day—arrange through your hotel concierge for $120-150 including captain, fuel, and snorkeling gear. Leave at 9 AM and anchor off the sandbanks on the southern tip. The water is turquoise, the beach is empty, and you can swim without dodging fishing nets. Pack a cooler with drinks; the boat has no shade so bring an umbrella.

Return by 3 PM and head straight for the spa at your resort. A 60-minute Thai massage runs $25-30 and works out every knot from the boat ride. Dinner at Jhawban Restaurant: order the seafood platter for two ($35)—it includes crab, lobster, prawns, and grilled fish. Finish with falooda from a stall on Beach Road for $1.50 while watching the evening crowd.

Day three: helicopter tour and temple circuit

Book a helicopter tour through Unique Airways—$200 per person for a 20-minute flight over the coastline from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf. You see the entire beach, Saint Martin Island, and the hillside villages from 1,500 feet. Flights depart from Cox's Bazar Airport at 10 AM; book three days ahead. Post-flight, have brunch at your hotel and check out by noon.

Hire a private car and driver for the afternoon ($40 for four hours) and visit Ramu temples: Lamanchor, Boro Bazar Mosque, and U Ottama Monastery. The driver will wait at each stop and suggest photo angles. Return to town via Dulahazara Safari Park if you have not done it yet—private jeep safari costs $25. Final dinner at Sea Stone Restaurant: beef rezala with naan is $10, and they stay open late.

Upgrade-worthy splurges

The spa at Long Beach Hotel offers a couples package for $70 that includes massage, sauna, and a fruit platter. Book the sunset cruise from Kollol Tours for $80—it includes a small boat, captain, and drinks while you sail past Himchari cliffs. If you drink, import wine at Ocean Paradise costs $25/bottle, worth it compared to local beer. The seafood at Mermaid Beach Resort is pricier but you pay for the setting—tables in the sand, candles, and waves 10 feet away.