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Top 10 Romantic Places of America

julia julia - 2 years ago
1. Kauai, Hawaii

Hawaii抯 lush Garden Island can keep active couples blissfully busy. Adventurous choices include snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking (where waterfalls compete for attention with ocean vistas), windsurfing, fishing, horseback riding, and golf, all of it top-notch. But every visitor should also simply lie on the beach and enjoy scenery so pretty that it has shown up in a long list of TV shows and movies, from 揊antasy Island?to South Pacific. The luxurious Princeville Resort, overlooking Hanalei Bay, supplies exceptional views as well as soothing post-exercise spa treatments; 800/826-4400 or princeville.com.


2. Big Sur, California

No place in the world offers a more sublime landscape. It almost takes two to fully drink it in. Thoughtful couples, in fact, trade off stints at the wheel while traveling this awesomely rugged stretch of Central California coast. Drivers negotiating the twists and turns of Highway 1 as it clings to the cliffs can spare precious little attention to admire the view. Fortunately, the Western-accented Ventana Inn & Spa provides compensatory pampering; 800/628-6500 or ventanainn.com.



3. Sanibel and Captiva islands, Florida

Stunning sunsets, strictly limited development, and musical beaches create a truly enchanting hideaway. Gulf of Mexico currents toss up millions of seashells, which sound like wind chimes as they tumble in the waves. No wonder Anne Morrow Lindbergh抯 visits inspired her to write Gift from the Sea, her lyrical meditation about life and love. The recently renovated resort Song of the Sea, where each of the 30 rooms features a kitchenette and a screened porch, exemplifies the islands?low-key charms; 800/965-7772 or songofthesea.com.



4. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Fantasies of fleeing to an unspoiled tropical paradise really do come true here. A national park covers two-thirds of the 20-square-mile island. Vast stretches of white-sand beaches draw only handfuls of visitors. St. John抯 best lodgings keep the focus on the surroundings. Maho Bay, which pioneered deluxe tent camping, now offers four different resorts梥ome with more-conventional structures, all with fabulous views; 800/392-9004 or maho.org. Exclusive Caneel Bay, with its seven beaches and gloriously landscaped grounds, has finally installed air-conditioning but still resists in-room TVs, phones, radios, and clocks; 340/776-6111 or caneelbay.com.



5. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

New Englanders escape here in summer for beaches, natural beauty, history, great seafood, and quirky shopping. All those attractions also beckon in winter, albeit in a quieter way. Deserted shores invite hand-in-hand strolling accompanied only by the placid splashing of the waves. Enough restaurants and shops stay open year-round to keep the credit-card companies happy. In Chatham, sweethearts can snuggle at the superb Captain抯 House Inn, where every one of the 16 rooms and suites includes a fireplace; 800/315-0728 or captainshouseinn.com.



6. Savannah, Georgia

This historic and eccentric city richly lives up to its reputation as a dreamy destination. Grand homes overlook landscaped squares decorated with moss-draped trees and splashing fountains. Genteel retirees mix amiably with creatively costumed Savannah College of Art and Design students. For sumptuous lodging, we like The Ballastone (800/822-4553 or ballastone.com) and Foley House Inn (800/647-3708 or foleyinn.com). Elizabeth on 37th delivers gracious dining, with updated versions of traditional cooking and a wonderful wine list; 912/236-5547 or elizabethon37th.com.



7. Santa Barbara, California

Beautiful beaches, charming Mediterranean architecture, excellent restaurants both casual and chic, acclaimed wineries, and a general air of laid-back sophistication add up to an enticing place for couples to explore. Parks and gardens sprout everywhere, probably because the glorious weather encourages everyone to stay outdoors. At Simpson House Inn, guests can play English lawn croquet among an acre of English gardens, all secluded behind tall hedges. Fifteen rooms, suites, and cottages feature luxurious but comfortable decor; 800/676-1280 or simpsonhouseinn.com.



8. New Orleans, Louisiana

揥e抮e coming back, and we抮e going to be bigger and better.?Cynthia Reeves is speaking of The House on Bayou Road, her quiet hideaway of an inn just off Esplanade Avenue near the French Quarter. She could also be referring to New Orleans itself, sadder and wiser after its assaults by hurricanes, but still saucy as it prepares to welcome visitors once again in 2006. Cynthia hopes to reopen The House on Bayou Road (800/882-2968 or houseonbayouroad.com) in February 2006. The Hotel Maison de Ville and the Audubon Cottages, an oasis of tranquility amid the swirl of the Quarter, also aims to reopen around the beginning of the year; 800/634-1600 or hotelmaisondeville.com.



9. San Juan Islands, Washington

Peaceful and rustic, this cluster of islands north of Seattle also packs a lot of surprises. For one thing, the sun shines much more often than the Pacific Northwest norm. Visitors know about such nature-based attractions as whale-watching, bicycling, and kayaking. But the uninitiated might not expect the quality and variety of the artwork, especially on Orcas Island梠r the llama and alpaca farms. Of the four islands accessible by ferry, Orcas has the most diverse landscape and biggest variety of recreation; San Juan offers a more historic feel; Lopez, the flattest, makes for the easiest biking; and Shaw appeals to lovers of peace and quiet. The Trumpeter Inn Bed & Breakfast (800/826-7926 or trumpeterinn.com) on San Juan Island appeals to everyone. Amenities include an on-site massage studio.



10. Mackinac Island, Michigan

Couples visiting during winter can have this frozen-in-time Victorian vacation village almost to themselves. When snow works its magic on the landscape, a cross-country ski excursion or a horse-drawn carriage ride can seem like a Currier & Ives print come to life. This time of year, the island relaxes its no-motor-vehicles rules to allow snowmobiles. But horse-drawn drays still provide hauling services. Bogan Lane Inn, with its living room fireplace and straightforward, cozy rooms, stays open year-round; 906/847-3439 or boganlaneinn.com. As spring blossoms begin to open, so do the big resorts梚ncluding, on April 21, 2006, the majestic, 1887-vintage Grand Hotel; 800/334-7263 or grandhotel.com.



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50 Romantic Places of the world

julia julia - 2 years ago

COUNTRY LIVING


 



Inn at Palmetto Bluff

BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

On a tidal stretch of the May River, just west of Hilton Head, the new Inn at Palmetto Bluff puts the charm back into Southern hospitality. Spend mornings paddling kayaks along marsh-lined coastal waterways inhabited by snowy egrets and playful dolphins, or pedaling bikes with a naturalist on woodland trails fragrant with loblolly pine. In the 50 white clapboard cottages, landscapes by low-country artists evoke a languorous, bygone era. T+L TIP Paint each other with therapeutic mud, then soak in a Spanish moss-and-citrus bath during the Boggin' massage treatment at the spa.

DOUBLES FROM $450; 476 MOUNT PELIA RD.; 866/706-6565; www.palmettobluffresort.com



Hacienda Puerta Campeche

CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Crafted from a row of colonial-era houses, the Yucatán Peninsula's latest hacienda brings a dose of urbane style to this historic town. Most of the 15 guest rooms have a bathroom the size of a big-city apartmentand a sun-drenched daybed. Pools built between the red and yellow façades of the old manor houses flow through porticos from room to room and are capped with floating hammocks. T+L TIP Ask a driver to take you to the nearby ruins of Edzna. After midnight, the pyramid complex makes a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable proposal.

DOUBLES FROM $159; CALLE 59; 52-981/816-7535 www.luxurycollection.com



House of Jasmines

SALTA, ARGENTINA

The hottest attraction in Argentina's northwest corner is the seven-suite House of Jasmines, actor Robert Duvall's 120-year-old, 300-acre ranch in the shadow of the Andes. On foot or horseback, guests are free to roam the Edenic grounds, which are overrun with aromatic roses, orchids, and jasmine. Inside your white-on-white adobe casita, the best treat you can give yourselves is a long siesta in the wrought-iron four-poster bed. T+L TIP Try a granita made with the region's signature wine, Torrontes.

DOUBLES FROM $250; 54-387/497-2002; www.houseofjasmines.com



Red Capital Ranch

BEIJING

There's not much at the arcadian Red Capital Ranch to disturb a weekend tryst—except, of course, its gaspingly close proximity to the Great Wall. There are just 10 villas; request one with a rooftop terrace. Feast on Manchurian mountain dishes (lamb roasted over an open fire with willow leaves), or simply cocoon in a corner of the Tiger Bar and soak up the serenity. T+L TIP Ascend the wall at sunset to watch the surrounding hills, rustic villages, and crumbling watchtowers melt into the purple haze of northern China's twilight.

DOUBLES FROM $188; HUAIROU DISTRICT; 86-10/8401-8886; www.redcapitalclub.com



BEYOND THE SEA


 



Anantara Resort & Spa

KHAO LAK, THAILAND

Retreat from the crowds of Phuket into your own thatched-roof manor. The 51 villas all have four-poster beds and glorious views (of silvery beaches along the Andaman Sea or of a 22-acre palm grove surrounding a sapphire lagoon), and each expansive marble bathroomopens onto a secret garden. T+L TIP Commune with nature by visiting rescued leatherback turtles at Hat Thai Muang National Park, then take an afternoon jungle trek to secluded waterfalls and hidden beaches.

DOUBLES FROM $455; 66-76/592-100; www.anantara.com



Four Seasons

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

Malaysia's newest resort is also its most luxurious. Overlooking the turquoise Andaman Sea are 91 villas, teak-shingled in traditional Malay style, many with separate gated entrances, wooden patios, and private "spa rooms" with gold-hued Spanish-marble showers. The main spa is itself an invitation to hedonism: six dark wood pavilions floating in lotus ponds. But everything—in the end—centers on the sugar-sand beaches and the dramatic limestone formations that trail out to sea like a string of pearls. T+L TIP Hire a private boatman for a moonlit drift in a perahu (a traditional Malay boat) outfitted with silk cushions—beneath shadows cast by the granite cliffs that loom above the sea.

DOUBLES FROM $410; 800/819-5053 OR 60-4/959-2888; www.fourseasons.com/langkawi



Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel

MYKONOS, GREECE

Standing between windmills and sand, blue crystal waters and the narrow, cobblestoned streets of Mykonos, the restored Mykonos Theoxenia is everything you wouldn't expect from a classic Greek hotel. Its 52 rooms revisit the sixties, with Pop canvases and retro furniture playing off stark-white stone buildings that glow in the afternoon sun. T+L TIP Watch the moon rise over the sacred island of Delos from deserted Kapari Beach. The concierge will take care of all details, including a speedboat to bring you back to the hotel.

DOUBLES FROM $185; 30-22890/22230; www.mykonostheoxenia.com



The Palms

TURKS AND CAICOS

At the Palms resort, on Turks and Caicos' celebrated Grace Bay Beach, guests can wander through water gardens, relax beside the infinity pool, or choose a treatment administered in the 15,000-square-foot spa. All of the 72 suites—which have vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and Roman baths—overlook the ocean and come with terraces where couples can dine alfresco before slipping past the railing and testing the waters together. T+L TIP Book one of the three-bedroom penthouse suites. They're accessible only by private elevator and come with a butler.

DOUBLES FROM $750; 866/877-7256 www.thepalmstc.com



MEALS TO REMEMBER


 



Cristal Room Baccarat

PARIS

Most restaurants attached to brand names are worth avoiding for the homogeneity they inevitably deliver. The Cristal Room Baccarat is the sumptuously appointed exception to this rule: the Empire-chic interior is the work of Philippe Starck (the raw brick-and-gilt walls are not to be overlooked); chef Thierry Burlot changes his refined Gallic menu on a monthly basis; and at dinner the room is suffused with the exquisite glow cast by candelabra and, of course, Baccarat chandeliers. T+L TIP Step into the 10-seat, terraced private dining room to view the first black-crystal chandelier Baccarat ever created.

DINNER FOR TWO $268; HOTEL DE NOAILLES, 11 PLACE DES ÉTATS-UNIS; 33-1/40-22-11-10



Rio Grande Restaurante

SEVILLE

On a candlelit veranda planted with lemon trees, you can sample the creations of executive chef Nacho Martinez, who has brought a globe-trotting sensibility to Rio Grande's traditional Andalusian menu. This little bistro in the Triana district turns out fresh seafood in countless original ways (the black-rice paella with lobster and jumbo prawns is a local favorite). T+L TIP The six-course tasting dinner is worth the three hours it requires to eat.

DINNER FOR TWO $105; 41010 CALLE BETIS; 34-95/427-8371



COUNTRY LIVING


 



Inn at Palmetto Bluff

BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

On a tidal stretch of the May River, just west of Hilton Head, the new Inn at Palmetto Bluff puts the charm back into Southern hospitality. Spend mornings paddling kayaks along marsh-lined coastal waterways inhabited by snowy egrets and playful dolphins, or pedaling bikes with a naturalist on woodland trails fragrant with loblolly pine. In the 50 white clapboard cottages, landscapes by low-country artists evoke a languorous, bygone era. T+L TIP Paint each other with therapeutic mud, then soak in a Spanish moss-and-citrus bath during the Boggin' massage treatment at the spa.

DOUBLES FROM $450; 476 MOUNT PELIA RD.; 866/706-6565; www.palmettobluffresort.com



Hacienda Puerta Campeche

CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Crafted from a row of colonial-era houses, the Yucatán Peninsula's latest hacienda brings a dose of urbane style to this historic town. Most of the 15 guest rooms have a bathroom the size of a big-city apartmentand a sun-drenched daybed. Pools built between the red and yellow façades of the old manor houses flow through porticos from room to room and are capped with floating hammocks. T+L TIP Ask a driver to take you to the nearby ruins of Edzna. After midnight, the pyramid complex makes a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable proposal.

DOUBLES FROM $159; CALLE 59; 52-981/816-7535 www.luxurycollection.com



House of Jasmines

SALTA, ARGENTINA

The hottest attraction in Argentina's northwest corner is the seven-suite House of Jasmines, actor Robert Duvall's 120-year-old, 300-acre ranch in the shadow of the Andes. On foot or horseback, guests are free to roam the Edenic grounds, which are overrun with aromatic roses, orchids, and jasmine. Inside your white-on-white adobe casita, the best treat you can give yourselves is a long siesta in the wrought-iron four-poster bed. T+L TIP Try a granita made with the region's signature wine, Torrontes.

DOUBLES FROM $250; 54-387/497-2002; www.houseofjasmines.com



Red Capital Ranch

BEIJING

There's not much at the arcadian Red Capital Ranch to disturb a weekend tryst—except, of course, its gaspingly close proximity to the Great Wall. There are just 10 villas; request one with a rooftop terrace. Feast on Manchurian mountain dishes (lamb roasted over an open fire with willow leaves), or simply cocoon in a corner of the Tiger Bar and soak up the serenity. T+L TIP Ascend the wall at sunset to watch the surrounding hills, rustic villages, and crumbling watchtowers melt into the purple haze of northern China's twilight.

DOUBLES FROM $188; HUAIROU DISTRICT; 86-10/8401-8886; www.redcapitalclub.com



BEYOND THE SEA


 



Anantara Resort & Spa

KHAO LAK, THAILAND

Retreat from the crowds of Phuket into your own thatched-roof manor. The 51 villas all have four-poster beds and glorious views (of silvery beaches along the Andaman Sea or of a 22-acre palm grove surrounding a sapphire lagoon), and each expansive marble bathroomopens onto a secret garden. T+L TIP Commune with nature by visiting rescued leatherback turtles at Hat Thai Muang National Park, then take an afternoon jungle trek to secluded waterfalls and hidden beaches.

DOUBLES FROM $455; 66-76/592-100; www.anantara.com



Four Seasons

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

Malaysia's newest resort is also its most luxurious. Overlooking the turquoise Andaman Sea are 91 villas, teak-shingled in traditional Malay style, many with separate gated entrances, wooden patios, and private "spa rooms" with gold-hued Spanish-marble showers. The main spa is itself an invitation to hedonism: six dark wood pavilions floating in lotus ponds. But everything—in the end—centers on the sugar-sand beaches and the dramatic limestone formations that trail out to sea like a string of pearls. T+L TIP Hire a private boatman for a moonlit drift in a perahu (a traditional Malay boat) outfitted with silk cushions—beneath shadows cast by the granite cliffs that loom above the sea.

DOUBLES FROM $410; 800/819-5053 OR 60-4/959-2888; www.fourseasons.com/langkawi



Mykonos Theoxenia Hotel

MYKONOS, GREECE

Standing between windmills and sand, blue crystal waters and the narrow, cobblestoned streets of Mykonos, the restored Mykonos Theoxenia is everything you wouldn't expect from a classic Greek hotel. Its 52 rooms revisit the sixties, with Pop canvases and retro furniture playing off stark-white stone buildings that glow in the afternoon sun. T+L TIP Watch the moon rise over the sacred island of Delos from deserted Kapari Beach. The concierge will take care of all details, including a speedboat to bring you back to the hotel.

DOUBLES FROM $185; 30-22890/22230; www.mykonostheoxenia.com



The Palms

TURKS AND CAICOS

At the Palms resort, on Turks and Caicos' celebrated Grace Bay Beach, guests can wander through water gardens, relax beside the infinity pool, or choose a treatment administered in the 15,000-square-foot spa. All of the 72 suites—which have vaulted ceilings, marble floors, and Roman baths—overlook the ocean and come with terraces where couples can dine alfresco before slipping past the railing and testing the waters together. T+L TIP Book one of the three-bedroom penthouse suites. They're accessible only by private elevator and come with a butler.

DOUBLES FROM $750; 866/877-7256 www.thepalmstc.com



MEALS TO REMEMBER


 



Cristal Room Baccarat

PARIS

Most restaurants attached to brand names are worth avoiding for the homogeneity they inevitably deliver. The Cristal Room Baccarat is the sumptuously appointed exception to this rule: the Empire-chic interior is the work of Philippe Starck (the raw brick-and-gilt walls are not to be overlooked); chef Thierry Burlot changes his refined Gallic menu on a monthly basis; and at dinner the room is suffused with the exquisite glow cast by candelabra and, of course, Baccarat chandeliers. T+L TIP Step into the 10-seat, terraced private dining room to view the first black-crystal chandelier Baccarat ever created.

DINNER FOR TWO $268; HOTEL DE NOAILLES, 11 PLACE DES ÉTATS-UNIS; 33-1/40-22-11-10



Rio Grande Restaurante

SEVILLE

On a candlelit veranda planted with lemon trees, you can sample the creations of executive chef Nacho Martinez, who has brought a globe-trotting sensibility to Rio Grande's traditional Andalusian menu. This little bistro in the Triana district turns out fresh seafood in countless original ways (the black-rice paella with lobster and jumbo prawns is a local favorite). T+L TIP The six-course tasting dinner is worth the three hours it requires to eat.

DINNER FOR TWO $105; 41010 CALLE BETIS; 34-95/427-8371




Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara

NINH VAN BAY, VIETNAM

On verdant hills that seem to tumble down to the sea, 54 thatched-roof villas face Ninh Van Bay's natural rock formations, which stand like sentries in the distance. Competing with the serenity of the view is the Six Senses Spa, where holistic remedies and tai chi classes are performed beside the rhythmic sea. T+L TIP Escape to Dam Tre Island's secluded beach, 30 minutes away by speedboat, for an amorous day trip.

DOUBLES FROM $400; 84-58/829-829; www.sixsenses.com



Wildflower Hall

SIMLA, INDIA

Built at the base of the Himalayas, Wildflower Hall was the former residence of Lord Kitchener, commander of the British Army. His adventurer's spirit can still be felt: after spending a day horseback riding through apple orchards and nearby villages, guests head to the Spa Pavilion to loosen up with the Spirit of Ayurveda (more than three hours of Indian pampering with herbal oils) on side-by-side massage tables. T+L TIP Sign up for the Romancing the Himalayas package and its three-hour spa session.

DOUBLES FROM $275; 800/562-3764; www.oberoihotels.com



Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa

FRENCH POLYNESIA

Go local while getting a royal rubdown—all treatments at the Moorea Pearl Resort's new 17,373-square-foot holistic spa use natural oils rich in Tahitian botanicals. When you're not being slathered with umuheioil (a Tahitian love potion) from the Marquesas, you can spend time reconnecting in your over-water bungalow or tracing the shoreline as the sun sinks. T+L TIP The Manea Manea treatment for two combines the best of the spa's therapies: a steam bath, body scrub, moisturizing wrap, full-body massage, and facial.

DOUBLES FROM $270; 68-9/55-17-50; www.pearlresorts.com



ON THE WATER


 



Evolution

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

International Expeditions transports nature-loving lovers not only to the Galápagos Islands—where they can snorkel in a submerged volcanic cone filled with sea lions—but also to another decade. Itsnewly christened Evolution is modeled after European steamers of the twenties, but with a few amenities (such as a sundeck-surrounded pool) thrown in for 21st-century comfort. Although its cabins are spacious, this love boat is designed for just 32 guests. T+L TIP With a naturalist guide in tow, take out a glass-bottomed kayak to watch turtles and manta rays.

10-DAY CRUISE FROM $3,848 PER PERSON, DOUBLE; 800/633-4734; www.ietravel.com



Frederic Chopin

POLAND & THE BALTIC COAST

After touring the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of Poland's inland, the two of you can indulge in six meals a day or settle into a chair on the teakwood sundeck. Wrapped up in a blanket, you can silently watch the ancient forests of the Oder River Valley as you float by on your way to the Baltic. T+L TIP Take a horse-drawn carriage through the rolling hills and fishing villages of the Isle of Hiddensee, off the German Baltic coast.

13-DAY CRUISE TOUR FROM $4,280 PER PERSON, DOUBLE; 800/348-8287; www.deilmann-cruises.com



Tu Moana and Ti'a Moana

FRENCH POLYNESIA

Why sleep in a thatched-roof hut when you can float from island to island in Bora Bora Cruises' design-driven super-yachts? These 226-foot-long sailboats house just 30 cabins each, with interiors decked out in richly grained hardwood and decidedly un-cruiselike touches (Philippe Starck bathroom fixtures, Sharp Aquos flat-screen plasma TV's). T+L TIP Dine on executive chef Jean-Michel Braesch's island-influenced French dishes at either boat's Ra'a restaurant.

SEVEN-DAY CRUISES FROM $10,123, DOUBLE; 800/780 4014; www.boraboracruises.com



SEXY CITIES


 



Toronto

The 19-room Drake Hotel combines urban elegance with a dose of the avant-garde. Check out the cityscape from the wooden rooftop, Sky Yard, which becomes an ice bar and starlit movie theater in winter; the hotel provides overstuffed parkas and hot toddies so you can keep warm while you watch. T+L TIP The Drake's Pleasure Menu takes room service to the next level; frisky guests can discreetly order massage oils, how-to videos, and other intimacy kits.

DOUBLES FROM $159; 1150 QUEEN ST. W.; 416/531-5042; www.thedrakehotel.ca



New York City

In winter, the city sparkles beneath crystal-blue skies, and the cold air draws only the toughest outdoors. High above Fifth Avenue, Boudoir Suites in the landmark Pierre hotel have panoramic vantages of snow-dusted Central Park. T+L TIP If you hold your wedding at the Pierre—with up to 200 of your closest friends—the hotel will present you with a seven-night honeymoon at any Four Seasons resort.

DOUBLES FROM $595; 2 E. 61ST ST.; 800/743-7734; www.fourseasons.com/pierre



South Beach, Miami

Just when you thought this city couldn't get any steamier, another style-driven hotel opens its doors. Right next to Gianni Versace's former mansion, the L. Murray Dixon-built Hotel Victor has been restored in high sybaritic fashion by celebrated French designer Jacques Garcia. T+L TIP Those dramatic guest rooms are lovely places to linger, with ebony-lacquered furniture and large soaking tubs tucked behind diaphanous draperies.

DOUBLES FROM $475; 1144 OCEAN DR.; 800/720-0051 OR 305/428-1234; www.hotelvictorsouthbeach.com



London

Australian chef Christine Manfield's Asian-fusion restaurant, East@West, is the talk of the town, but only those in the know are aware of the three-room West Street Hotel that takes up the two floors above. Each suite is individually designed: the White Room is all Carrara marble, the top-floor Loft Room is decked out with oak floors, slate-and-glass walls, and chocolate-brown leather furnishings. You're in the heart of Covent Garden, but it feels as private as a monastery.

DOUBLES FROM $200; 13-15 WEST ST.; 44-207/010-8700 www.egami.co.uk



Paris

Make a wish on the five-minute twinkle of the Eiffel Tower (on the hour), and wander through the side streets off the Boulevard St.-Germain, where the haute, hot, and highbrow intersect. T+L TIP Splurge on a night in the über-luxurious Suite Duc de Crillon at the Hôtel de Crillon, just off the Champs Élysées.

DOUBLES FROM $650; PLACE DE LA CONCORDE; 33-1/44-71-15-00; www.crillon.com




Rome

Inspired by Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn (both of whom honeymooned here), the Hassler Hotel has introduced a Marriage Proposal package. Couples are picked up from the airport in a vintage Rolls-Royce, greeted in their suite with a bottle of champagne, then whisked around the city on a twilight carriage ride. T+L TIP Upon arrival, the would-be question popper can meet with the Marriage Manager, who's devoted to coordinating the perfect proposal—and knows how to keep a secret.

DOUBLES FROM $1,675; 6 PIAZZA TRINITA DEI MONTI 39-6/699 340; www.hotelhassler.com



Zürich

The 142-room glass-and-steel Park Hyatt Zürich is just steps from steepled churches, centuries-old guildhalls, and glistening Lake Zürich. When the two of you tire of exploring the quiet cobbled alleys and leafy squares in the winding Old Town, retire to the hotel's sexy, backlit bar, Onyx. T+L TIP Visit Zuri-West, the city's onetime industrial quarter, fresh from a Berlin-like makeover.

DOUBLES FROM $394; 21 BEETHOVEN-STRASSE; 41-43/883-1234; www.zurich.park.hyatt.com



Marrakesh

With the opening of British hotelier Jonathan Wix's Riad Farnatchi, Marrakesh is paying homage to the glamour of its ancient past. Guests enter the three 450-year-old riads to find five suites with Egyptian-cotton sheets and personal djellabas. T+L TIP If you want to return at midnight to a room covered in fresh roses, or a belly dancer writhing to your favorite song, manager Lynn Perez can arrange it.

DOUBLES FROM $320; RUE SOUK EL FASSIS QUA'AT BEN AHID; 212-44/384-910; www.riadfarnatchi.com



EXOTIC CASTAWAYS


 



Capella Lodge

LORD HOWE ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

The maximum number of visitors to this World Heritage-listed island, two hours from Sydney, is 400, and there are few places besides Capella to stay. Around the recently rebuilt nine-suite lodge, walking paths meander through a virgin rain forest, where the songs of rare native birds fill the air. Brilliantly colored fish practically swim past your front door, and a treatment at the Aboriginal-inspired spa is the only way to end the day. T+L TIP Stretch out on the open-air deck of Gower's Terrace and sip a mango-lime-coconut daiquiri while planning your next adventure.

DOUBLES FROM $400; 61-2/9918-4355; www.lordhowe.com



Losari Coffee Plantation Resort & Spa

INDONESIA

In the temple-covered hills of central Java, surrounded by eight spectacular volcanoes, a 1920's Dutch Colonial coffee plantation has been lovingly converted into a boutique hotel by Italian-born Gabriella Teggia. Its 18 thatched-roof villas have teak four-poster beds, sunken marble tubs, and private verandas. Organic meals at the poolside restaurant complement the hammam, yoga classes, and spa treatments. T+L TIP Ask the concierge to book you a ride on the vintage 1902 cogwheel steam train that runs through coffee fields and Javanese villages.

DOUBLES FROM $250; 62-298/596-333; www.losaricoffeeplantation.com



Dugong Beach Lodge

MOZAMBIQUE

Set on a sheltered white-sand peninsula, the latest eco-resort to open on the Mozambique coast has just 10 chalets. But there's still plenty of action: manta rays, leatherback turtles, and the eponymous dugong (an endangered mammal that's something like an elephant seal) frequently share the open Indian Ocean with guests. Scuba dive, deep-sea fish, or kayak, or sit by the pool, staring out at the flocks of pink flamingos.T+L TIP Request a table under the gazebo at the end of one of the jetties and order the Portuguese-style peri-peri prawns.

DOUBLES FROM $500, INCLUDING MEALS; 258-82/306-488; www.dugonglodge.co.za



Al Moudira

LUXOR, EGYPT

Live like royalty just a few miles south of the Valley of the Queens. Every detail of the newly constructed Al Moudira is salvaged from the corners of Egypt, and the 54 guest rooms reflect their landscape: stained glass lines the ceilings, frescoes and latticework adorn the arched walls, and the enclosed garden is fragrant with henna and jasmine. T+L TIP Try to secure the Pharaonic Room, with furniture and paintings inspired by pharaonic art.

DOUBLES FROM $215; 20-12/325-1307; www.moudira.com



Casas Rapa-nui

EASTER ISLAND

Adventure-loving romantics can trek around the volcanoes, dive among the reefs, and examine the moai—those giant basalt statues—up close, all with Explora's multilingual guides, then spend the night in a nine-bedroom outpost equipped with an expansive terrace and (for better or worse) the latest technology to keep them plugged in. T+L TIP Ask the Explora team to pack you a basket of snacks and pisco sours for a sunset happy hour beside the five moai at Ahu Tahi.

THREE NIGHTS FROM $1,230, DOUBLE; 56-2/206-6060; www.explora.com



SECRET VILLAGES


 



Sare

FRANCE

The quintessential Basque village (with timbered houses and an open-air court for playing pelota) lies tucked in the foothills of the Pyrenees. There, you canhide away in the restored farmhouse at Olhabidea Chambre d'Hôte.

DOUBLES FROM $80; RTE. DE ST-PÉE-SUR-NIVELLE; 33-5/59-54-21-85



Sandhamn

SWEDEN

From central Stockholm it's a two-hour ferry ride to the island of Sandhamn, in the overlooked Swedish archipelago. There's an abundance of beaches, red-painted cottages, and paths that wind through pine forests. Book one of the 17 rooms in the Sands Hotell, where old-world details (cast-iron radiators, worn wooden floors) are juxtaposed with modern luxuries.

DOUBLES FROM $243; 46-8/5715-3020; www.sandshotell.se



Snaefell Peninsula

ICELAND

At this seaside spot, flanked by an extinct volcano, a glacier, and a boulder-strewn lava field, only two buildings stand beside the water: a 19th-century church and the Hotel Budir, a 28-room property with two bright, white wings joined by a gleaming wood-and-glass structure that surprisingly fits in with the scenery. The hotel's restaurant pioneered modern Icelandic cuisine; be brave and try the stingray in Cognac sauce or reindeer with pears.

DOUBLES FROM $220; 35-4/435-6700; www.budir.is



Salvina

ITALY

A new minimalist Mediterranean resort puts the Aeolian Island of Stromboli's long-overlooked neighbor, Salvina, on the map. The 13 rooms, five suites, and stellar restaurant at Capofaro Malvasia & Resort occupy seven whitewashed, flat-roofed cottages set amid vineyards. When the volcano on Stromboli throws sparks at night,the faro (lighthouse) and the archipelago are illuminated.

DOUBLES FROM $230; 39-090/984-4330; www.capofaro.it



Bebengan

BALI

Carved out of verdant jungle and centuries-old taap trees, this tiny (population 300) Hindu farming village on the Penet River isn't far from the beaches of Kuta. Check into one of six thatched-roof villas at the Sukhavati Retreat and indulge in yoga classes and lulur treatments.

VILLAS FROM $190; 62-361/742-2928; www.sukhavatiretreat.com



ADRENALINE HIGHS


 



Four Seasons Whistler

BRITISH COLUMBIA

The newest addition to the Four Seasons family in North America hugs the base of Blackcomb Mountain, just 90 miles north of Vancouver. Après-ski here means having the concierge arrange a dogsled ride through the forest to an alfresco dinner for two, served under a heated canopy.

DOUBLES FROM $529; 800/819-5053; www.fourseasons.com/whistler



Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure

BELIZE

Chaperoned by a local guide, a daring couple can hike 90 minutes through the rugged rain forest of central Belize, then rappel down a dark, 300-foot limestone sinkhole in the forest floor to a series of underground caves ending in the ultimate secluded honeymoon "suite": a candlelit chamber decked out with champagne and a bed strewn with flowers.

ONE-NIGHT CAVE ADVENTURE $575; 501/822-2800; www.cavesbranch.com



La Pleta Hotel & Spa

ARAN VALLEY, SPAIN

A 3 1/2 hour drive from Barcelona, La Pleta Hotel & Spa adds another dash of style to ski-lodge living. Rise early to hit the 5,000-foot slopes or take a stroll through nearby hamlets with fifth-century Romanesque churches. End with a vin cau (hot wine) nightcap on the lodge's wraparound deck.

DOUBLES FROM $220; 34-973/645-550; www.rafaelhoteles.com



Ponta dos Ganchos Exclusive Resort

SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL

At Ponta dos Ganchos Resort, a 20-bungalow retreat spread over 20 acres of Brazilian beachfront, a rain forest looming just beyond the shore and a fishing village provide the only land action—but the turquoise waters of the Arvoredo Biological Marine Reserve, less than an hour away, sustain a rainbow of aquatic life, from 300-pound green sea turtles to tiny pocket-size sea horses.

DOUBLES FROM $255; 55-48/262-5000; www.pontadosganchos.com.br



Blixen's Africa

EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Now anyone can relive Robert Redford and Meryl Streep's adventure with Blixen's Africa, a travel company founded by a relative of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen), author of Out of Africa. The family custom- designs safaris to fit any fantasy—from exploring the Okavango Delta by elephant, to running with giraffes in Kenya, to relaxing on the powdery sands of Mnemba Island off Tanzania.

ONE-WEEK SAFARI FROM $15,000 FOR TWO; 888/220-4532; www.blixensafrica.com



—Anna Bakola, Robin Cherry, Victoria DiSilverio, Julie Earle-Levine, Mark Ellwood, Amy Farley, Eleni Gage, Jaime Gross, Michael Hannwacker, Farhad Heydari, Bill Hinchberger, Jen Howze, David Kaufman, Leanne Kitchen, Liz Krieger, Sarah Raper Larenaudie, Connie McCabe, Rob McKeown, Clark Mitchell, Heidi S. Mitchell, Shane Mitchell, Bridget Moriarity, Clara Ogden, Kevin Raub, Douglas Rogers, Maria Shollenbarger, Rachel Snyder, Stephen Whitlock, Elizabeth Woodson



LINK




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Top 5 Places for a Romantic Getaway in California

julia julia - 2 years ago

1) Catalina Island



I think Catalina is so romantic that I got married there. With a cute, little walkable town, beautiful ocean views, cozy bed and breakfasts and the amazing Inn on Mt. Ada (where we held our wedding), it's my top pick for a romantic California getaway, and only an hour's boat ride from Los Angeles.



2) Occidental



Next on our list is the tiny town of Occidental, California in western Sonoma County, just over an hours' drive from San Francisco. Occidental has it all: a sensational spa nearby, a cute little downtown tailor-made for strolling hand-in-hand and an exquisitely beautiful bed and breakfast hotel. Oddly, Occidental is not widely known, so go now before everyone else starts flocking there for a romantic getaway and you can say you found it first.



3) Coronado



It's called an island, but really it's a peninsula, a sand-fringed, oceanfront sliver of land just west of downtown San Diego. Lots of people flock to the Hotel del Coronado here, but we think the Glorietta Bay Inn across the street is more romantic, especially if you stay in one of the rooms in the original house.



4) Mendocino



The northernmost of our California romantic getaway spots offers some great places to settle down, walk on the beach, get a massage and relax.



5) La Jolla



One of the most beautiful coastal settings in Southern California, fine restaurants and a romantic cliffside walking path give all La Jolla the ingredients for a perfect getaway.


LINK



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