By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
Love is in the air! Here are some of the best romantic getaways at hotels around the globe – from the nearby to the exotic, from the lakefront mountain town of Meredith, New Hampshire to sunny Marbella, Spain. Couples will fall in love with these special offerings in time for Valentine’s Day or whenever romance weaves its spell!
Alaia Belize Resort, San Pedro, Belize: Romance in the Sea package includes chocolate and Champagne on arrival, complimentary breakfasts, dinners for two at fine dining concept Sea Salt, a couple’s 45-minute massage treatment at the K’in Spa and 10% off all hotel services. The package, available at the resort’s studios, suites, and villas, starts at $508/night plus tax and service. Situated in the idyllic and historic town of San Pedro, Alaia Belize Resort operates as the first true four diamond resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize.The beachfront hotel sits just 600 yards from the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve offering stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. It features a piano bar, live art gallery, wine club, three restaurants, four bars, three pools including Belize’s first-ever suspended rooftop pool and lounge with 360-degree views. (alaiabelize.com)
Villa La Estancia, Riviera Nayarit – Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico: Couples can elevate their Valentine’s Day getaway in Villa La Estancia’s elegant Spanish Colonial and Hacienda-style guest rooms with the suites package. In addition to romantic suites with dramatic azure ocean views, guests receive a welcome charcuterie board of cheese and wine, nightly turndown service with Ferrero Rocher chocolates, a “make your own Michelada” kit, aromatherapy experience and access to the spa’s award-winning hydrotherapy circuit to spice up their tropical vacation. Situated in the exclusive resort community of Nuevo Vallarta on the white sands of Banderas Bay’s Flamingos Beach, Villa La Estancia is an AAA Four-Diamond Resort introducing guests to authentic first-class Mexican hospitality from a jaw-dropping setting. Bottle service at sunset, gourmet cooking classes and Mayan mud massages are just a few premium experiences available to guests. Romance-seekers will also find a variety of offerings to enjoy from relaxing couples treatments from a secluded spa suite at Tatewari Spa – the #1 Spa & Wellness experience in Nuevo Vallarta – to intimate dining at top-rated onsite steakhouse La Casona. (https://rivieranayarit.villalaestancia.com/).
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, Rio Grande: Set on 72 acres of tropical lush gardens just 15 minutes from the nation’s only tropical rainforest, El Yunque, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico is a dreamy destination that reopened last winter following a multi-million-dollar renovation (reminder: no passport needed). For couples looking for a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day, Hyatt Puerto Rico is offering a Romance Package which includes breakfast for two, a bottle of Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. The offer is valid for stays between February 19–June 30, 2022. The resort offers all-suite, bungalow-style accommodations; three pools including Puerto Rico’s largest lagoon-style pool; full-service spa; five on-site culinary eateries and two 18-hole world-class Tom Kite-designed golf courses. It is the first destination resort in Puerto Rico to offer a floating waterpark obstacle course over the ocean, exclusively for guests. The resort offers newly renovated private villas, the Regency Suites, which offer an outdoor plunge pool, outdoor shower, outdoor dining area, steps from the beach. (hyatt.com/puerto-rico)
W South Beach, Miami Beach, FL, recently reopened after a major dreamy design renovation of its guest suites, world-class Away Spa and bungalows. The urban beach retreat-designed guest suites offer spacious balconies with views of the Atlantic Ocean. The ultimate W South Beach romantic getaway includes a custom Bespoke Couples Experience at the new stunning minimalistic refuge, Away Spa where guests receive complimentary detox elixirs, charcoal cookies and cell phone sleeping bags. Post spa treatment, relax by the pool in one of WSB’s furnished cabanas and end the blissful day with dinner at the opulent MR CHOW. If you need anything during your stay, a W Insider, a personal concierge available 24/7 for anything from dinner reservations, grocery shopping to yacht charters. (wsouthbeach.com)
HarbourView Inn, Charleston, South Carolina, a newly refreshed 52-room waterfront retreat in the heart of downtown Charleston, offers the Allie & Noah’s Timeless Romance Package for love birds looking to enjoy a romantic escape. Inspired by one of Charleston’s favorite love stories, couples can visit Allie’s family summer house at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, and tour the iconic Magnolia Plantation and Gardens where Noah rows Allie in a canoe. Upon checking in, one dozen roses are placed in the newly-appointed guest room, and evenings can be enjoyed with a private carriage ride leading to The American Theater, where a romantic saying can be displayed on the marquee, before returning to enjoy rose petal turndown service and a bottle of sparkling wine. Additional package details include a $100 dining gift card to High Cotton and $25 gift card to famed Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. HarbourView Inn is close to, yet tucked away from, high-traffic tourism destinations. This former 1930’s indigo cotton warehouse turned boutique hotel unveiled a $1 million interior refresh of communal spaces, guestrooms and private rooftop terrace, designed by notable South Carolina-based designer Jenny Keenan of Jenny Keenan Design. The property boasts luxurious touchpoints made by local artists, artisans and vendors, while the refurbished rooftop – the only remaining private rooftop in downtown Charleston – offers plush lounge seating and surrounding views of the steeple-lined skyline, historic harbor and Waterfront Park. (harbourviewcharleston.com)
French Quarter Inn, Charleston, SC, a luxury 50-room boutique hotel in the heart of the Historic District, offers couples a Romantic Escape package, which includes a $100 gift card to Hall’s Chophouse, a private horse-drawn carriage tour for two, a bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, rose petal turndown service with a curated romantic playlist, and a handmade gift basket filled with locally sourced goods. Showcasing the southern charm the city is known for, daily complimentary amenities include locally sourced artisanal breakfast, afternoon wine and cheese hour, and turndown service with hand-crafted chocolates and sound sleep pillow menu with seven different options. French Quarter Inn has been ranked a top 5 hotel in the U.S. for four years in a row in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. (fqicharleston.com)
The Spectator Hotel, Charleston’s high-design, distinct boutique hotel for the well-heeled traveler, offers a Charms of Charleston package, which includes a historic garden tour for two, a private walking tour of Historic Charleston, and a $100 gift card to local restaurants including Halls Chophouse, Rita’s Seaside Grille, High Cotton or Slightly North of Broad. Couples can also take advantage of personal butler service (this is the only hotel in Charleston with this offering) to coordinate anything from drawing a candlelit rose petal bath to more extravagant requests like creating an in-room movie night complete with food, cocktails, and a selection of romantic classics. This is the only Charleston hotel that offers personal butler service, who can coordinate anything from developing itineraries and packing services to drawing candlelit rose petal baths and making late night food deliveries. Additional complimentary amenities include artisanal in-room breakfast, specialty welcome cocktails, and The Bar, The Spectator’s renowned Roaring Twenties themed cocktail lounge serves seasonal hand-crafted specialty cocktails using local ingredients and flavors of the south. (spectatorhotel.com)
ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii: What’s more romantic that an entire 2,250-square-foot floor all to yourselves? How about two complimentary spa treatments and a bottle of Opus One, part of the Renew & Indulge package at Honolulu’s ultra-private boutique luxury hotel ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki. With purchase of a one-week getaway, couples are treated to two 50-minute treatments at the hotel’s penthouse-level spa – which as it happens, has just two treatment rooms. Top off the experience with a private Japanese-French dinner prepared by Chef Jason Yamaguchi at ESPACIO’s rooftop infinity pool overlooking Waikiki Beach. ESPACIO is an ultra-exclusive 9-floor, 9-suite boutique luxury hotel where each individual accommodation occupies a private 2,250 square-foot floor. Each expansive suite houses a balcony with jacuzzi offering panoramic ocean views, spa-like Italian marble bathrooms, in-suite dry sauna, personal elevator entry and designer kitchen. Onsite Japanese-French tasting concept Mugen features 7- and 11-course tasting menus with delicacies including Sasanian Osetra Caviar, Kona Kanpachi, Chateau Uenae A5 and a 500-bottle wine collection. (espaciowaikiki.com)
Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest, Illinois: For a romantic getaway straight out of a storybook, couples who book Deer Path Inn’s new Romantic Retreat experience will be treated like royalty. Package highlights include an in-suite romance-themed English Afternoon Tea service, a Valentine’s-inspired welcome cocktail, a complimentary bottle of wine to be enjoyed in-room, and daily in-room breakfast in bed (available through Feb. 28). Established in 1929, the 57-room Deer Path Inn is a respite for Chicago city dwellers, out of towners, and Anglophiles alike. The inn is known for its traditional Afternoon Tea service (developed in partnership with a Master of Tea from England), exceptional dining and cocktail offerings across three restaurants (from elevated European cuisine and white glove service in The English Room to traditional bangers and mash in The White Hart Pub and creative cocktails and Chicago’s best sushi in The Bar), and spacious accommodations (some suites even offer bathtubs that fill from the ceiling!). Take a ride on the inn’s complimentary bicycles out to Lake Michigan for a picnic to strolling through the charming local shops in nearby Market Square. (thedeerpathinn.com)
Mill Falls at the Lake, a timeless resort beautifully situated on the western shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, New Hampshire – is perfect for winter romance, offering classic mountain appeal and a cozy rustic atmosphere. Couples can take advantage of the resort’s Romance Package and snuggle up in one of Mill Falls’ well-appointed guest rooms, some featuring crackling fireplaces and two-person jetted baths. The package includes chocolates, sparkling wine and a bath bomb to enjoy. (millfalls.com)
Perfectly situated on the beachfront of the Golden Mile Costa del Sol between Marbella and Puerto Banús, Spain, five star Puente Romano Beach Resort has partnered with the multi-award winning, organically grown CBD wellness brand KLORIS to launch an exclusive CBD treatment in its Six Senses Spa just in time for Valentine’s Day. Couples looking for the ultimate wellness getaway can book the resort’s ‘Couples Best De-Stress’ package that includes two nights’ luxury accommodation with breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Plus a couple’s CBD Therapy by KLORIS for 50 minutes, access to the indoor pool and hydrotherapy facilities including herbal steam room, dry sauna, cold water plunge pool, iced fountain and experience showers. In addition, couples will enjoy a romantic dinner for two at Sea Grill, the signature restaurant of Puente Romano Beach Resort. (www.puenteromano.com).
Recently debuted Nobu Hotel London Portman Square invites couples to enjoy a Valentine’s Day weekend 8-course Omakase dinner at its renowned Nobu Restaurant. The hand-crafted selection of dishes will include Seared Hamachi Jalapeño Yuzu Kosho, Sea Bass Sashimi Truffle Ponzu with Micro Cress, and other creative dishes paired with an English Rose Cocktail. Following dinner, couples can spend the night in one of the hotel’s luxurious guestrooms with the Love Nobu package, which includes a bottle of champagne upon arrival and daily breakfast for two. (London-portman.nobuhotels.com)
With stunning ocean views, lush tropical gardens, and luxurious accommodations, iconic Maui resort Grand Wailea, Hawaii, is ideal for a romantic island getaway. Bespoke private dining can be arranged for couples with champagne and wine pairings, a solo musician, photography session at sunset along with a custom six course dinner menu. Guests can also take a dip in the resort’s adults-only Hibiscus Pool, or enjoy a couples treatment at Mōhalu by Spa Grande. (grandwailea.com)
The Virginia Hotel in idyllic Cape May, NJ, is an adults-only boutique hotel serving up artisanal cocktails and farm-to-table cuisine located just a short walk from the beach and a 1-mile drive to the hotel’s very own 62-acre Beach Plum Farm. An impeccably restored 1879 landmark building, reopening just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Virginia is nestled on tree-lined street Jackson Street in the heart of the Historic District and just a half a block from the beach, The award winning Ebbitt Room, helmed by Executive Chef Jason Hanin, is rooted in a farm-to-table, farm-to-glass dining philosophy and features the freshest ingredients from the hotel’s Beach Plum Farm. Guests enjoy continental breakfast each morning and may also use the pool at the historic Congress Hall, its sister resort, which is located just steps away. (www.caperesorts.com/virginia-hotel)
For a very special St Valentine’s celebration, whisk your loved one away to Ireland’s most magical address, the five-star Dromoland Castle. The luxurious castle, on a spectacular 450-acre estate, turns up the romance with a bottle of house Champagne and handmade chocolates, an extra special estate activity and Mrs White’s Afternoon Tea for two, plus full Irish breakfast each morning. Relax together in the atmospheric spa, enjoy a memorable hawk walk with resident falcons, or a round on Dromoland Castle’s championship golf course. (www.dromoland.ie)
Luxury villa specialists The Thinking Traveller arrange exclusive access to some of the most romantic villas in the heart of the Mediterranean, the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a romantic escape that travelers can look forward to with their special someone. Travelers can book the charming new Ibid villa set in the unspoiled countryside of Greece’s Zakynthos boasting sea views and seclusion, a getaway to an oasis of peace in Puglia at Trullo Agathea complete with a panoramic pool, or a tranquil Sicilian retreat to romantic villas Nido d’Estia, DolceVita or Belich. (thethinkingtraveller.com)
Photo: Set on 72 acres of tropical lush gardens just 15 minutes from the nation’s only tropical rainforest, El Yunque, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico offers all-suite, bungalow-style accommodations (reminder: no passport needed). (photo: Hyatt)
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