Ask anyone what their ideal romantic getaway looks like, and you’re likely to get a surprisingly varied array of scenarios. A cabin in the woods, a coastal cottage, a wood-clad desert retreat, or maybe even a tropical resort where a relaxed attitude travels on the breeze. No matter the parameters, the one thing the most romantic hotels in the world all have in common is that ineffable sense of escape.
With Valentine’s Day coming up, skip the gift giving and opt for a moody getaway. For two? Sure. But if you’re traveling solo, let it be known that the hotels below are excellent destinations for romanticizing your life. Whether it’s unwinding in front of a fireplace at an old Rockefeller estate or spotting roaming elephants from your glamping tent in the mountains of Thailand, if it’s romance you seek, the hotels below are ready to go above and beyond.
Saint James Paris, France
Paris is, without a shadow of a doubt, the city of romance. With its sidewalk cafes, Haussmann architecture, and cast-iron lamp posts, it’s easy to spark a love affair with France’s capital. Double down on the romance with a stay at Saint James, an exquisite château hotel in the 16th Arrondissement. Unlike the city’s grand dame hotels (which are also divine!), Saint James offers a supremely intimate experience in a quiet neighborhood. The property—a neoclassical trophy—is tucked behind wrought-iron gates and made up of rooms, suites, and pied-à-terre style pavilions designed by Laura Gonzalez. As one Vogue writer puts it, Saint James is where you go when you want to elevate Paris.
The Point, Saranac Lake, New York
A romantic hotel should balance that fine line between making you feel at home while providing the kind of anticipatory service only found in the very best accommodations. The Point in Saranac Lake is one such place. This Relais Châteaux hotel was built as a private residence by William Rockefeller II during the Gilded Age, when great camps were prominent throughout New York’s Adirondacks region. Now, it serves as an all-inclusive, adults-only, 11-key resort where guests are free to spend their days as they wish, whether that’s hopping on a canoe and paddling out to an island for an intimate picnic, or whipping up their own cocktail at a fully stocked lean-to bar amongst the trees.
Poetry Inn, Napa Valley, California
With the fine wine, culinary excellence, and famed landscapes, it’s fairly obvious why Napa Valley is universally considered a romantic travel destination. The region’s hotels range from big-name resorts to family-owned bed and breakfasts, each with its own charm. At Poetry Inn, you get a bit of both: the property has just five suites (each named after a famous poet), and is known to locals and repeat guests for its outstanding customer service that will shape your entire Napa Valley experience.
Gundari, Folegandros, Greece
The ancient landscapes of Greece are perfect for romantic types, particularly when you’re staying at a place like Gundari. This recently opened hotel on the sleepy island of Folegandros is set high on the cliffside, surrounded by 80 acres of rugged nature and with the Aegean Sea directly in front. There are 27 suites and villas, each envisioned to mirror the island’s natural materials (the handiwork of Athens design studio, Block722). When you’re not enjoying an oceanfront meal or an open-air massage, let the team plan a memorable experience like a snorkeling trip or private boat tour.
The Vines Resort Spa, Mendoza, Argentina
There’s something about the Andes that have a way of slowing down time. At The Vines—a Mendoza wine resort that sits at the foothills of this incredible mountain range—guests are enriched in Argentine culture through wine, cuisine, and natural beauty. There are 33 villas that are designed with indoor-outdoor spaces, meaning a glass of sunset Malbec from your private deck is a daily occurrence—just be sure to follow it up with a meal at the property’s restaurant led by acclaimed chef Francis Mallmann.
The Merrion Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
It’s easy to create romance when you’re in a countryside landscape. The real test is if you can do it smack dab in a bustling city like Dublin, as The Merrion so gracefully does. For travelers who want a romantic reprieve from Ireland’s capital, this luxuriously discreet network of Georgian townhouses is it. Savor the lavish interiors made up of matching toile de jouy headboards and sofas, and end your days with a prized dram of whiskey beside the fireplace.
Four Seasons Golden Triangle, Thailand
This all-inclusive luxury camp in the mountains of northern Thailand is almost too idyllic to believe. The glamping tents are designed with private decks, outdoor showers, wooden hot tubs, and offer views of the Ruak River and jungles of Myanmar. If you’re feeling especially romantic, take a helicopter ride from the property to the nearby tea plantations.
Aman Venice, Italy
Many cities claim to be the ‘most’ romantic, but Venice is a destination that exhaustively embodies the designation. And at Aman Venice (one of the destination’s most spectacular stays), all of the city’s best traits are on full display. The sumptuous property is set in Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal and is said to have a “fortress-like air of privacy,” making it all the more an intimate getaway for two. Most guests arrive by water taxi, entering a marble-floored lobby enveloped by original frescoes and architectural motifs that reflect the building’s 18th-century royal heritage.
Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco
A legendary city that, as one Vogue writer describes, “offers a bombardment of the senses like no other,” Marrakech is one of a kind. And because an air of glamour permeates throughout the ancient city, a stay in your own private riad feels in order. Where to experience? The Royal Mansour, hidden within a massive garden oasis. Each guest’s riad dials up the romance with fireplaces covered in mosaics, a private roof deck, and plush beds that will make it difficult to depart from each morning.
La Colombe d Or, France
The South of France is where the romantic hotel category hits its stride, so to choose just one is a troublesome feat. But if your prerequisites for a dreamy getaway entail an intimate enclave where famous artists once dined and stayed, all roads lead to La Colombe d’Or. The property opened in 1920, and in the early days, the owner Paul Roux agreed to accept art from the village’s residing artists (Picasso, Matisse, Chagall) in exchange for a room or a meal. These days, it still operates as an inn run by Roux’s grandson, and is made up of 24 rooms and apartments. Channel the energy of these creative giants with a romantic getaway at one of the most coveted stays in the Côte d Azur.
Hotel Esencia, Mexico
Once the home of an Italian duchess, the Hotel Esencia is nestled in the Yucatan Jungle 30 minutes outside buzzy Tulum. Yet it feels worlds away: the secluded 50-acre property boasts a yoga palapa, a spa that grows many of its own treatment ingredients on-site, a juice bar, and a private white sand beach.
Goldeneye, Jamaica
The former estate of James Bond author Ian Fleming, Goldeneye has long attracted an endless list of glamorous celebrity clientele (the driveway is lined by trees donated by the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Jude Law, Willie Nelson, and Martha Stewart). It’s easy to see why: sitting on 52 idyllic acres, which include a palm-tree-dotted lagoon, Goldeneye embodies the idyllic tropical fantasy. The insides of the artfully appointed cottages aren’t too shabby either: they feature custom Jamaican furniture, airy white linens, and artisan upholstery. Snorkel in the coral reef and then grab a piña colada at Bizot’s Bar while enjoying the sunset.
Le Toiny, St. Barths
There is no shortage of luxury lodging on the isle of St. Barths. But the tucked away Le Toiny is perfect for those seeking quiet, romantic glamour. Surrounded by wild and rugged terrain, guests must ride an open-air Defender to their beach club, where plenty of rosé and lobster salads await. Meanwhile, each room is awash in a crisp white color scheme and comes with a private plunge pool.
Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
For a cozy winter escape, look no further than Dunton Hot Springs, a remote resort outside of Telluride that was once a ghost town. Dotted with log cabins, the interiors of Dunton Hot Springs are warm and distinctly Western—old rusty trucks and wagons serve as decorative accents throughout the property. Plus, the property recently completed a major, multi-year renovation and design refresh.
Adare Manor, Ireland
Adare Manor is “unapologetically grand,” Vogue wrote of the Irish castle hotel when it reopened in 2018. Indeed, for those looking to indulge in European grandeur, Adare Manor more than fits the bill with its chandelier-lit rooms, double-height ceilings, and plush velvet everywhere you turn. Enjoy country pursuits like fishing, golfing, and hiking in the morning, then return just in time for afternoon tea.
San Ysidro Ranch, California
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San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito has played host to its fair share of high-profile romantic moments—the 1953 honeymoon of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy and the wedding of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, to name a few. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains, its 550-acre grounds are dotted with olive and orange trees as well as blooming roses and magnolias. You can order a bottle of wine from the hotel’s Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning cellar (stocked with 15,500 bottles) and enjoy it from your very own vine-covered cottage. If your visit happens to coincide with Valentine’s Day, don’t miss San Ysidro Ranch’s four-course dinner menu complete with live music and a floral station.
Fasano Punta del Este, Uruguay
Coastal meets countryside at the Fasano Punta del Este in Uruguay. Its 1,200-acre footprint includes a pool carved into natural rock formations, bungalows adorned with sleek modern wood furniture and views of the sea, a golf course, polo, and three separate restaurants. They also have a fashionable and discreet beach club on the buzzy Arroyo Maldonado.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos
Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Cabo San Lucas is a warm weather paradise—Cabo has over 350 days of sunset every year. Yet the real draw for those seeking a respite with a spark? The Rosewood property’s onsite Department of Romance, who will organize everything from sleeping under the stars, to a personalized message in a bottle, to a tequila masterclass for two.
Fouquet’s, New York
There’s something about the pastel, candy-colored rooms that Martin Brudnizki designed for Fouquet’s that evoke an air of sweet romance. (“We needed to marry the ideas of eclectic New York and upscale Paris,” the designer previously told Vogue.) Wander around the quaint cobblestone streets of historic Tribeca before heading back to cozy up on a red banquette in the brasserie with a bowl of French onion soup.
Amangiri, Utah
There’s a reason the Amangiri is the romantic getaway of choice for celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Dua Lipa: set upon 900 remote acres in a 180 million-year-old desert, its otherworldly landscape makes you feel like you’re on Mars. The hotel’s contemporary concrete architecture acts as a bracing-yet-beautiful contrast to the dusty rock plateaus, while many of its minimalist guest rooms come with private plunge pools that look out to the horizon. Their 25,000-foot spa, meanwhile, offers treatments inspired by Navajo healing traditions, as well as relaxing physical activities like yoga classes on top of rock formations.
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