Skip the box of chocolates and get your valentine what he or she really wants — a romantic retreat out of town. Here are seven swoon-worthy getaways at luxury hotels your one and only will love.
Make your date’s ultimate Valentine’s Day dream a reality with a whirlwind trip to Paris. Up the ante by checking into this glamorous Five-Star stay — housed in a stately 1908 building, the property is the epitome of Parisian sophistication.
Opt for the From Paris With Love offer to obtain a $150 daily credit to be used at one of the hotel’s restaurants, the Four-Star spa or even on the final bill. That said, you and your significant other will want to head straight to rooftop terrace restaurant L’Oiseau Blanc for fine French fare and a helping of 360-degree city views.
Silicon Valley doesn’t usually conjure up visions of romance and relaxation, but that’s just what you’ll find at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort discreetly tucked away on 16 acres minutes from Stanford University. The stately property begs for a private getaway, a proposition that is only sweetened with the Discover More package — book a spacious (and secluded) villa and enjoy a $500 hotel credit. The very image of cozy-chic, these rooms come with secluded outdoor spaces, fireplaces and luxurious bathrooms.
While you could order room service — dishes from the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant Madera are the way to go — and sup in solitude, we suggest spending that credit on pampering at the Four-Star spa. It has a private suite for couples with an outdoor garden and whirlpool, as well as a host of sensual treatments.
Those craving warm weather and salty air will appreciate an escape to this Four-Star Sarasota Bay retreat. The Toes in the Sand package will help you and your mate forget about wintry forecasts and just enjoy each other — and the amazing sunsets.
The offer consists of accommodations, daily breakfast, a $125 resort credit and two drinks at the Tiki Bar. The tropical, open-air lounge is at The Ritz-Carlton Beach Club, about three miles from the resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Here, you can spend the day either lounging on the beach or in the large sea-view heated swimming pool — of course, both have attendants to help you max out your relaxation time together.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail
With large stone fireplaces around every corner, you won’t need an excuse to snuggle up with your sweetie on cool nights at this Four-Star alpine lodge in the Colorado Rockies. The elegant mountain resort will no doubt be buzzing with activity during ski season, but there are plenty of dark, cozy corners and intimate in-suite dinners to be had here.
There’s also the sumptuous Four-Star spa. Book the Spa Escape Package and you’ll receive a Swedish massage or an organic facial for each night you stay, plus up to 20 percent off all other services (warming cocoon wrap, anyone?). Tandem treatments can be had in the couples suite, which has a stone-covered fireplace and a soaking tub.
Sun-seeking active types make a beeline to this cheery Four-Star Palm Beach escape, where you can inject some sunshine into your relationship. The 140-acre resort is filled with things to do — golf, tennis, fitness classes, four pools, water sports and a half-mile beach.
Between adventures, couples will find plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, too. The iconic Flagler Steakhouse will have a three-course prix fixe dinner featuring prime cuts, fish and knockout sides on February 14. There’s also three specialty cocktails to sip at three different spots that day: Flagler’s will serve a Polynesian Kiss; buzzy HMF will have a drink called LaRosa; and, over at The Beach Club Restaurant, you can be enchanted by the Love Martini.
If you want your other half to feel like a royal, this Five-Star hotel on Hyde Park Corner will do the trick. Dripping with modern British glamour (rich hues, richer fabrics and subdued touches of gold), this stately London stay makes for a posh romantic retreat.
The property has two specials for lovebirds — the Gourmet Lovers package and the Spa Lovers package. The former includes an overnight stay, a unique Valentine’s cocktail to be had in the moody Library Bar, a four-course dinner at acclaimed Céleste that includes a glass of rosé champagne, plus breakfast (in bed, if you prefer). Or, couples can stay overnight and indulge in a decadent spa treatment that includes chocolate and champagne, a warming mud ritual and facials, along with time in The Lanesborough Club & Spa’s lavish facilities.
Hammock Beach is another quaint coastal getaway about an hour south of Jacksonville on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. This one boasts a seaside location, a marina, two excellent golf courses (designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, no less) and eight tennis courts.
Book the Month of Romance offer to sweeten your stay with a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a spa gift basket and a $100 credit to use toward a cozy couple’s massage. Reserve a room in the resort’s boutique hotel, The Lodge at Hammock Beach, for a close-up oceanfront setting and spectacular views.