Planning romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day — or any time — can be surprisingly stressful because there are so many options. Ask yourself:
- Is this a splurge? Do you have the time and cash for a beach escape or will a cozy cabin do?
- Feeling confident? Will the vibe that turns you on delight your new lover?
- Are you a smart shopper? Make sure the amenities live up to the hype of social media.
Long-time partners often say that any time away from home rekindles their love. Yet I’m always excited to discover a truly romantic place that reconnects us and ignites passion.
Celebrate love your way with one of my six favorite romantic escapes. Read on to plan a romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day… or whenever you’re ready.
Vermont’s Top Couples Retreat
Within view of the East’s best skiing at Stowe, the sophisticated mountain lodge at Topnotch is renowned for its accommodations, dining and award-winning spa. Enjoy an intimate apres-ski at the adults-only Jacuzzi and heated pool overlooking Mount Mansfield. Book the couples lounge among the 30 treatment rooms in their extensive wellness facility.
Snuggle up with your date on horse-drawn carriage and sleigh rides from the resort’s Equestrian Center. Return in summer to up your game at the Topnotch Tennis Academy, or hike, fish, canoe, bike, paddle board and golf nearby. In any season, enjoy a glass of orange wine, slice of apple pie and cheddar or s’mores at their cozy outdoor fire pit.
The Stowe Spa and Stay package gets the blood flowing. Work on your love over two blissful 50-minute spa services before stowing away in a cozy king guestroom. (Or, upgrade from their luxury rooms to a suite or one of Topnotch’s 16 two and three-bedroom resort homes.)
While Stowe’s Norman Rockwell main street features chic restaurants, distilleries, cideries and nightlife, it can be chilly. We prefer to stay in our slippers and feed the romance with the organic comfort menu at Roost. After a night under quilts, stoke up with a hearty farmers breakfast.
For Valentine’s Day or any celebration, this 120- acre Green Mountains retreat guarantees space for love to flourish.
Book your Couples Retreat at Topnotch Vermont.
Romantic Getaway for Valentine’s Day in Mexico City
Impress any date with a long weekend in CDMX, one of this year’s hottest Millennial destinations. Mexico’s sophisticated capital is endlessly fascinating thanks to its brilliant museums, terrific shopping and los tacos.
Plan an affordable splurge at the luxurious, oh-so-French Sofitel Mexico City Reforma. The hotel’s contemporary tower is hidden among the financial offices of the La Reforma neighborhood, convenient to everywhere you want to be. Guests love the hotel’s five-star service, Roche Bobois styling, indoor pool and excellent restaurants.
This Valentine’s Day, fall hopelessly in love. Sofitel’s “Mon amour” romance package includes accommodations and a petit-déjeuner romantique room service. Enjoy a bedroom with floor to ceiling windows, a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine and a special welcome amenity to nourish you for a day out.
At sunset, head to the Sofitel terrace for views of the Plaza del Angel and its iconic Angel of Independence statue. Follow that with a quiet booth or up-close chef’s table for the Michelin-recommended tasting menu at Bajel, where each dish showcases the perfect blend of Mexican and French cuisine. Wind down the night at the 38th floor Cityzen. The super social rooftop bar, known for its tacos, tequilas and craft cocktails, boasts stunning panoramic views of the city.
There’s something very sexy about the collision of Mexican warmth and cool French sophistication that makes every day a lover’s holiday.
Book your romantic Mexico City Valentine’s Day getaway.
Anniversary Getaway at The J House Greenwich
The flirting begins over a glass of Prosecco at check-in, under a playful LED video wall of crowds who seem to swim upstream. This is, after all, Connecticut’s Gold Coast, where the J House crowd graces the social pages of Greenwich magazine.
Embrace in the lively lobby, on the lipstick red couch or under portraits of Mick Jagger, Chanel No. 5 and other contemporary artworks. Sip your cocktail in a candle-lit nook, by a fireplace or succumb to the warm buzz of Tony’s at the J House restaurant. Book a table with the ebullient Tony, who proudly touts his divine Chicken Martini and Tony Roll sushi to bachelorettes, tweedy guys and other celebrating couples.
Behind the sleek, low-slung façade, 84 private rooms and suites warm up to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Veuve Clicquot is chilling next to a large bouquet of roses. Dozens of blood-red petals dot the bed, surrounding two swan towel sculptures, chocolates and a gift of embroidered pillowcases. Room service is coming. Conventional? Yes. Romantic? Absolutely.
Enhance the J House Valentine’s Day package, available on request, with a terrific couples’ massage at the hotel’s small spa. Romantic getaways don’t have to be about Valentine’s Day or mating for life. Gal pals, second honeymooners, and new parents always enjoy time to celebrate each other.
Book your Love Celebration at the J House.
Unique Romantic Getaway in Palm Springs, California
The classic stucco Triada Palm Springs, Autograph Collection is the ideal set for a film noir thriller in which mystery fuels desire. Uncover the plot in one of the 67 tiny, pet-friendly attached bungalows that recall Palm Springs’ heyday.
Since 1939, the resort’s myriad owners have included Alan Ladd, whose namesake cocktail is one of many popular options. Picture Tyrone Power and Jimmy Durante smoking in the cool lobby, now filled with memorabilia. Imagine Lana Turner and Esther Williams around the two pools and hot tub.
This secret Valentine’s Day spot is tucked away among Palm Springs’ hottest luxury hotels. However, they can’t touch the charming vibe of Old Hollywood or the intimacy of this recently renovated vintage hideaway.
Today, you’re likely to find fellow lovers — gay and straight – who prize the Triada’s convenience and affordability. Encounter several bars and the beautiful garden at Farm, one of Palm Springs’ most romantic eateries, a quick walk away. Fan the flames as you hike past California Fan Palms or among the striking palm groves at Indian Gardens, a reserve run by the local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
Make your own sparks in a unique balconied suite with kitchen, where you’ll never have to be disturbed. Triada’s year-round Romance Package includes a bottle of champagne, a recovery breakfast at the on-site Illuminara Restaurant, and the discreet service that brings back repeat guests.
Book your Romantic Escape to Palm Springs’ Triada.
Baja California’s Most Romantic Beach Getaway: Las Ventanas al Paraiso
Experience love at first sight at las Ventanas al Paraiso. Whether you prefer ‘Windows on Paradise’ overlooking the brilliant blue Pacific or the golden desert around Cabo San Lucas, you’ll find them here. Las Ventanas is one of the world’s most elegant resorts, with attentive butlers (on call 24/7 through WhatsApp) to meet the needs of your Valentine’s Day romantic getaway.
The vibe is ultra romantic yet decidedly casual, attracting old money and celebs who enjoy small batch tequila, fabulous restaurants and infinity pools. Dance the night away at the sexy Botica nightclub, where the Cuban house band plays classics or chart-topping beats to put you in the mood.
While public displays of affection are welcome, the Romance Director curates exclusive scenarios for private pleasure. Las Ventanas’ “Suite Sojourn” offer features the heavenly Junior Suites whose fireplace, floors, walls and lavish bathrooms are ornamented with Spanish tiles. This six-star package includes a complimentary fourth night, daily breakfast for two, and airport transfers, making it ideal for an easy escape.
Or, shoot for the moon with their “Sleeping Under the Stars” package. It involves a candlelit path to your suite’s private roof terrace which is made over into a celestial bedroom, complete with cocktails and telescope. Magic + Paradise = Priceless.
Book your Romantic Getaway at Las Ventanas, a Rosewood Resort.
Lake Tahoe Mountain Retreat For Adventurous Lovers
If outdoor adventure is your jam, Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe exudes that vibe. Reconnect as a couple at their renovated, vintage wood ski chalet located near Northstar California, and 12 miles from Palisades Tahoe. Alpine chic meets cowboy core in the lobby, the heart of the community lifestyle that Gravity Haus embodies.
The Truckee location perches between the funky town and gorgeous Lake Tahoe for four seasons of outdoors fun. Cuddle up in rustic rooms until you’re ready to join the gang for active adventures or remote work. Heat up the night in their rustic wooden sauna space and communal hot tub. Dine at cozy Stella or, if you fancy, surprise your love with a night out at Everline Resort’s classy Six Peaks Grille overlooking Olympic Valley. Indulge in a four-course Valentine’s Day romance menu that includes oysters, steak, chocolate and lesser known aphrodisiacs.
Seven other eco-friendly GH hotels operate in Aspen, Breckenridge, Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park in Colorado; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and Moab, Utah. Overnight guests are welcome to celebrate love at any Gravity Haus. However, the draw is the brand’s unusual membership model. It guarantees savings on room rates, free special events with new friends, fitness classes, and complementary gear rental. (Membership perks also extend to a growing list of partner hotels.)
Will you say, “I do?”
Book your Tahoe Lovers and others Valentines Day Getaway.
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