1) Argos in Cappadocia – Uchisar, Turkey
If your idea of romance involves monastic-style underground caves, you'll be in for a treat at Argos, a hotel housed in stone mansions and subterranean tunnels that date back more than 700 years. The pricier rooms and split-level suites have their own cave pools hewn from the living rock, but even if you're not lucky enough to bag one of the those, you'll have access to the hotel's tucked-away terraces and gardens – the prime spot to share a bottle of wine from the hotel's impressive cellars with your significant other.
Getting there: From £230 argosincappadocia.com; Turkish Airlines offers return flights from London Gatwick to Nevsehir via Istanbul from £146. turkishairlines.com
2) Pangkor Laut Resort – Laut, Malaysia
When it comes to straight-up romance, a secluded retreat that involves soft white sand and turquoise water never goes amiss, and that's exactly what you'll find at Pangkor Laut, perched on a private island in the Straits of Malacca on Malaysia's west coast. Everything here is designed to up the romantic ante, with a couples' massage included in your stay, over-the-water villas, and, of course, private dining on the beach with your own personal chef.
Getting there: from £302. pangkorlautresort.com; British Airways offers return flights from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur from £616. ba.com
3) The Crane – Barbados
The Crane might not be the most romantic name in the world, but hear us out: a stay here will involve stunning sea views rivalled only by the spacious suites themselves. The resort has two pools – one of them adults-only, so no screaming nippers to dampen the vibe – as well as private pools attached to some of the suites. Even better, there are seven restaurants to choose from, whether you fancy beers on the beach or a full-blown fine-dining experience.
Getting there: Suites from £208 per night. thecrane.com; Virgin Atlantic flies from Gatwick to Barbados from £481 return. virginatlantic.com
4) Kudadoo by Hurawalhi – Maldives
When a resort claims to be luxurious even by the Maldives' standards, you know it's going to be a very luxurious resort indeed – and the perfect place for a romantic retreat à deux. New private island Kudadoo is an adults-only resort, with 15 over-water villas that have sliding doors facing onto that incredible turquoise water, as well as their own private infinity pool. There's also an undersea restaurant, an extensive wine cellar, a spa and a marine biology centre. Go hard or go home, right?
Getting there: Villas from £1,400 per night. kudadoo.com; Emirates flies from London Gatwick to Male from £710 return. emirates.com. It's then a 40-minute sea plane trip and a 10 minute boat ride to the island.
5) Hotel Grand Amour – Paris, France
Hotel Grand Amour is a chic and romantic hotel in the world's most chic and romantic city. Go figure. The theme extends to the décor, too, from bookshelves with risqué titles to vintage furnishings found in flea markets. The restaurant is also well worth a visit – if you can pull yourself away from the cosy confines of your Wes Anderson-like room, that is.
Getting there: From £110. hotelamourparis.fr; easyJet offers return flights from Gatwick to Paris from £58 return. easyjet.com
