Love
is a many-splendored thing — so proclaim the poets,
songwriters, painters, artists and lovers across the centuries.
What greater emotion can humans experience? With a stay
at any of these seductive hotels, star-crossed lovers
will turn immediately starry-eyed. You may also want to
learn to say "I love you" in each of the native
languages spoken at the heart-pounding properties we've
listed below.
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BELIZE
San Pedro
Cayo Espanto
www.aprivateisland.com
For Caribbean romance, sneak off the beaten path to this private island
off the coast of Belize. With just five villas, you may
as well have the property to yourselves. Pursuits include
slipping out of your Yves De Lormes sheets and into your
Turkish robes for a midnight raid on the butler's pantry.
Of course, there are conventional activities, too, such
as picnics on deserted beaches and snorkeling in tandem
along the second longest barrier reef in the world.
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BRAZIL
Manaus
Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel
www.ariauamazontowers.com
At
the confluence of Ariau Creek and the roiling Rio Negro,
Ariau Amazon Towers Hotel is built entirely at the level of the rainforest
canopy. This singular property, featuring aerial towers
linked by miles of wooden catwalks, affords guests unique
communion with the rainforest's abundant flora and fauna
while it leaves the fragile eco-system completely undisturbed.
The two of you can get cozy inside Tarzan's suite, set
atop a castanheira tree approximately 80 feet above ground.
Your totally private aerie beckons with the sensation
of intimacy and adventure.
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CARIBBEAN
Anguilla
CuisinArt Resort & Spa
Inspired by the iconic architecture of the Greek island of Mykonos, the CuisinArt Resort & Spa exudes an ambiance...Read the full review.
Barbuda
The Beach House on Barbuda
www.caribbeanclubs.net
Celebrate
your coupledom with a chic stay surrounded by near endless
expanses of Caribbean Sea at The Beach House on Barbuda. This tranquil hideaway
has only 21 oceanfront suites, each with its own service
ambassador (think butler with bare feet) and a cell phone
provided for summoning him or her. High, wood-beam ceilings,
four-poster beds draped in gauzy panels, all-white furnishings
and a private deck add to the sense of contemporary, casual
elegance. Helicopter delivery to the property is recommended,
as commercial flights to the island aren't always
on time — you can, however, count on the inspiring
sunsets.
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FRANCE
Paris
Ritz Paris
In the tweeting, text-crazed 21st century, there is one thing that old-fashioned romantics can still count on...Read the full review.
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INDIA
Shimla
Wildflower Hall in the Himalayas
Wildflower
Hall characterizes itself as a fairytale luxury resort,
and indeed this former residence of a British Lord is
an...Read the full review.
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IRELAND
Galway
Glenlo Abbey
www.glenlo.com
A
stay in an Irish great house is one of the best ways to
experience the romance of Western Ireland.
At the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Galway, you'll enjoy
the best of yesterday and today in the grand Conservatory
Suite, overlooking a walled garden and brimming with antiques.
Dine in an intimate atmosphere at the hotel's Pullman
Restaurant, a converted historic railway carriage. Be
sure and visit the dramatic landscapes of nearby Connemara
and the islands, where you can hear the Irish language
in everyday use.
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ITALY
Venice
Bauer Il Palazzo
www.bauerpalazzo.hotelinvenice.com
This
Venetian-style palace facing Venice's
Grand Canal astonishes with its Gothic facade and elegant
interiors, while an enviable location behind St. Mark's
Square puts the hotel in the midst of the city's
smartest shops and best museums. Here, in your choice
of 35 individually-styled guest rooms or 40 suites (most
overlooking the canal), the intimacy is palpable. Bubble
away your cares in the Jacuzzi and then dine on fabulous
Mediterranean fare at De
Pisis. Whether cliché or archetype, a gondola
ride makes for an undeniably dreamy way to discover this
resplendent city.
Venice
Hotel Cipriani
Romance seekers flock to this luxurious hotel situated on 3.5 acres at the tip of the island of Giudecca. Here, you'll be waited...Read the full review.
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MEXICO
The
Yucatan
The Hacienda Temozon
www.haciendasmexico.com
Where
the great Mayan culture once flourished, Hacienda Temozon
is a superb residence in the heart of the Yucatan
Peninsula. Inside and out, this outstanding example
of belle époque architecture impresses — beautiful
gardens, vintage environs and modern amenities. Opt for
a suite and you'll be indulged with 18-foot ceilings,
a massive iron bed, and a private plunge pool. The neo-classic
pool area is gorgeous, and you can book a Maya couples
massage tendered in the privacy of your room. Celebrate
an evening of passion with a private outdoor dinner enhanced
with twinkling candles and the calls of night birds.
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MOROCCO
|
High Atlas Mountains
Kasbah Tamadot
www.virginlimitededition.co.uk
Virgin
Group magnate Sir Richard Branson is a master when it
comes to creating exclusive hotels. This lovely little
palace resides in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains,
overlooking a traditional Berber village. Arabic, Indian
and Far Eastern antiques mingle lavishly with intimate
inner courtyards, arcades, a rose garden and spa in this
former private residence. Less than an hour's drive from Marrakech,
this jewel-toned treasure is a perfect setting for seduction.
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SOUTH AFRICA
Hermanus
The Marine Hermanus
www.marine-hermanus.co.za
Atop
the cliffs of Hermanus, about an hour east of Cape
Town, The Marine Hermanus boasts one of the most spectacular
seascapes in the southern hemisphere. Treat yourselves
to one of its 43 sophisticated, traditionally styled guest
rooms or suites with eye-popping ocean views, and then
set the mood with a private candlelit dinner complemented
by a fine South
African wine. In the hotel's tidal pool, enjoy
a bracing swim that puts you up close to the gentle giants
of this renowned whale watching locale. Here, you'll
truly feel like the only two people on Earth.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Phinda Zuka Lodge
www.ccafrica.com
One
of six lodges on the 43,240-acre Phinda Private Game Reserve,
this property promises divine seclusion. It comprises
four individual, thatched Zululand bush cottages, set
apart to ensure privacy. Individual verandas overlook
an active watering hole, and contemporary décor
is an attractive departure from typical Out of Africa style. Fewer experiences will bring you closer than an
evening game drive in search of lions, elephants and more.
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SPAIN
Marbella
La Villa Marbella
www.chicretreats.com
For
love nests in romantic locales, you can count on the Chic
Retreats group. This Marbella member overlooking the Sierra Blanca mountain range is
proof that simplicity can serve as an aphrodisiac. There
are only four rooms in this cozy B&B-style villa,
whose Asian-influenced décor sets a serene tone.
You'll feel as if you've found a second home of your own,
wonderfully tranquil and yet convenient to tapas bars,
the scenic Old Town and inviting beaches.
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SWEDEN
Jukkasjärvi
Ice Hotel
www.icehotel.com
This
is one place where a cold shoulder doesn't mean the end
of a love affair. North of the Arctic Circle on the River
Torne, the Ice
Hotel elevates nuzzling to a fine art. Hit the Absolut
Icebar and toast your romance with specially designed
ice glasses, or be cool and tie the knot in the ice chapel.
Thermal sleeping bags on reindeer pelts help heat up your
nights and melt your sweetie's heart.
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TURKEY
Istanbul
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
This 19th-century Ottoman mansion that features hand-painted ceilings and marble inlays in its 166 plush rooms...Read the full review.
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UNITED STATES
ARIZONA
Sedona
Enchantment Resort
Sedona
is the kind of place where wedding proposals are made,
nuptials are held and anniversaries are celebrated on
a regular basis. The key, then, is finding lodgings
as romantic as the surroundings. With casitas tucked
into Boynton Canyon, Enchantment
Resort offers uninterrupted solitude, as well as
private decks for snuggling as the sun sets over the
area's famous red rocks.
Sedona
Mii Amo
www.miiamo.com
Dramatic
red rock canyons have long drawn romantics to Sedona,
considered one of the most sacred sites in the world.
Their russet glow provides the backdrop for this exclusive
spa resort.
Couples come here to meditate on their unions, experience
sage clearings to release negativity or share spiritual
ceremonies in the crystal grotto.
CALIFORNIA
Big Sur
Post Ranch Inn
The Post
Ranch Inn is a masterful example of architecture
in harmony with the environment. Not only does it provide
the opportunity to commune with nature, it inspires
couples to commune with one another. Try a massage for
two on the private deck of your Tree Room, a secluded,
free-standing structure built nine feet off the ground
amid towering redwood trees.
Los Angeles
Hotel Bel Air
Is
it truly possible to get away from it all in the middle
of the big city? Hotel
Bel Air ensures that the answer is yes. Just minutes
from metropolitan pleasures such as major museums and
fine dining, it sits on 12 acres of landscaped gardens.
After an intimate dinner at the hotel, stroll hand in
hand among fountain courtyards and along the shores
of Swan Lake.
La Jolla
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
When
it comes to architecture and design, there are few more
romantic epochs than the Arts & Crafts era, which
is known for its sensual lines, burnished lighting and
graceful furnishings. Capturing the mood of this period,
and set overlooking the Pacific, The
Lodge at Torrey Pines invites couples to travel
back to a time known for indulgence and leisure.
FLORIDA
Miami
The Setai
www.setai.com
Urban
trysts are just plain sexy, and in Miami — one
of the most passionate cities in the world — there
are few better places for an intimate assignation than The
Setai. Everything about this place sets the mood,
from the in-room spa tubs to the Champagne bar. As for
the sleek Zen style, can you think of a better backdrop
for a weekend of yin and yang?
HAWAII
Lana'i City
The Lodge at Koele
The
beaches of the Hawaiian Islands are packed with couples
looking for a quiet corner to call their own. Inland,
at Lana'i's The
Lodge at Koele, you won't have to go far. In fact,
every corner of this highland sanctuary is tranquil
and secluded, from trails winding through pine cathedrals
to your suite, complete with a king four-poster bed.
MASSACHUSETTS
Lenox
Wheatleigh
www.wheatleigh.com
Built
in 1893 in the grand European tradition, Wheatleigh is an especially refined country house hotel. Here, on
22 acres of parklands originally designed by Frederick
Law Olmsted, this award-winning property occupies a bucolic
knoll overlooking the Massachusetts Berkshires and a lovely lake. Its nineteen rooms and suites
feature antiques and architectural furnishings with original,
museum quality contemporary art. For an ultimate sense
of romance, tuck yourselves away in the Aviary tree house
suite whose glass enclosed circular staircase nestles
in the branches of a century-old Norway spruce.
NEW YORK
Lake Placid
Lake Placid Lodge
In-room,
wood-burning stone fireplaces are just one of the ways
the Lake
Placid Lodge fans the flames of love. The secluded
guest rooms and cabins also feature spacious soaking
tubs and private porches for undisturbed trysts. A Valentine's
Day Special is offered year-round and includes an aphrodisiac dinner.
Saranac Lake
The Point
thepointresort.com
Log
cabins and towering pines meet high tea and beds draped
in gauze at this luxe yet unpretentious Adirondack retreat.
From the in-room chiseled stone fireplaces to the excellent
restaurant under the guidance of acclaimed chef Albert
Roux, everything about this secluded resort points to
romance.
TENNESSEE
Nashville
Blackberry Farm
Ask
Cupid to show you one of the most romantic locations
in the United States and he'll no doubt shoot his arrow
straight into the heart of the 2,500-acre Blackberry
Farm. Set in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains,
this remote, rendezvous destination caters to couples
with horse-drawn carriage rides and inviting feather
beds.
VERMONT
Barnard
Twin Farms
Those
who have dreamed of giving up life in the fast lane
for days spent savoring bucolic pleasures most likely
envisioned a farmhouse setting such as Twin
Farms. Wide porches, fields of wildflowers,
apple orchards and winding back roads provide a backdrop
of quiet beauty for romantic escapes.
WASHINGTON
Snoqualmie
Salish Lodge & Spa
www.salishlodge.com
Wood-burning
fireplaces, two-person whirlpool tubs and feather beds...you may never leave your room. But if you do,
you'll find another kind of exhilaration in this
dramatic setting in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Snuggle up
on the gazebo overlooking the sacred Snoqualmie Falls
and marvel at the grand majesty of life...and
love.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Inn at Little Washington
Just
an hour from D.C. in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, the historic Inn
at Little Washington offers a private, intimate
atmosphere — perfect for a cozy retreat with your
sweetheart. You can spend your days hot air ballooning
or visiting vineyards, and then linger over a quiet
dinner for two in the inn's acclaimed dining room.
WYOMING
Jackson
Amangani
If
Eros was looking for a place to take his beloved away
for the weekend, he would certainly choose Amangani.
This magical blend of Eastern Zen and Western rustic
overlooks the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range from
the top of the East Gros Ventre Butte in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming. Staying in is encouraged, with king platform
beds embraced by fireplaces and amazing mountain views.
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VIETNAM
Nha Trang
Evason Hideaway & Spa at Ana Mandara
www.sixsenses.com
Indulgence
without over-the-top opulence is the standard at this
remote hideaway. Each freestanding accommodation blends
impressive but unpretentious architecture into quiet natural
surroundings, embraced on one side by towering cliffs
and on the other by secluded Ninh Van Bay. Laze in your
daybed on the open-air second level of your villa, dine
al fresco on the catch of the day in the kitchen garden,
and unwind with massages for two at the onsite Six Senses
Spa.
For this once-in-a-lifetime experience, we've selected romantic destinations that offer the perfect start for your new life together as a married couple.
Each of these unique escapes is sure to fan the flames of passion with its enticing setting, pampering amenities and enchanting experiences for two.
