It’s easy to be cynical about Valentine’s Day trips, but here’s a counterargument: for every price-hiked package deal you see hotels attempting to flog, there’s another genuinely great one to be taken advantage of. And, after the endless, dreary drudgery of January, it’s the perfect time for an escape – whether that’s in search of sun, great food, adventure or simply just the luxury of doing absolutely nothing with a loved one.
We’ve rounded up some of the best hotels in the world that exude romance, from a castle in Tuscany and a nature reserve in Namibia, to an exotic island retreat in St Lucia and a mountain escape in the Austrian Alps.
Hôtel du Couvent, Nice, France
Hôtel du Couvent, Nice, France
Nestled within the honey-toned alleys of Nice’s picturesque old town, this 17th-century former convent has been reimagined into one of the Côte d’Azur’s most serene hideaways. From walking hand-in-hand through the walled, flower-filled cloisters to lingering over a cocktail beneath orange trees in the courtyard garden, at Hôtel du Couvent there’s ample opportunity for quiet connection just a stone’s throw from the bustle of the city. Boasting the fresh Mediterranean sea breeze wafting off the French Riviera, the peaceful, pared-back interiors of this 88-room hotel and its restorative Roman-style bathhouse provide the perfect place to regroup when not exploring nearby restaurants, bars, and beaches.
Castello Di Vicarello, Tuscany, Italy
Castello Di Vicarello, Tuscany, Italy
If Tuscany’s rolling landscape wasn’t romantic enough, Castello Di Vicarello’s sumptuous rooms will make up the rest. Restored in the 1980s by the Baccheschi Bertis, the castle’s contemporary, characterful rooms are heaving with intriguing objects and artefacts the family has collected from all over the world. Enjoy wine tastings and farm-to-table cooking classes on-site, or venture out to join a truffle-hunting expedition or take an e-bike tour through the vines. Situated an hour and a half from Florence, two hours from both Rome and Pisa, fifty minutes from Montalcino and an hour’s drive from Castiglione della Pescaia on the beach, with a car, practically everything is within reach.
Hoshinoya Ubud, Indonesia
Hoshinoya Ubud, Indonesia
Forest bathing can’t help but do wonders for one’s mood – so it’s difficult not to find mutual bliss at Hoshinoya, near the Hindus river in the Pakerisan River Valley. Lovers can expect to be immersed in the power of nature with traditional Balinese villas and gazebos perched high in the lush canopy of Ubud’s greenery and open, communal buildings linked by a sweeping aquamarine pool. Calming, tactile interiors replete with organic colours and textures promise to first focus your attention outwards on the nearby Unesco rice terraces, then inwards toward one another, creating space for treasured moments of meaningful intimacy.
Islas Secas, Panama
Islas Secas, Panama
Promising pure, unspoiled seclusion enveloped by the turquoise sweep of the Pacific, Islas Secas is nothing short of mythical. This hyper-sustainable private island retreat sits on a 14-island archipelago off Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, where seven casitas and tented havens are scattered amidst blossoming jungle and endless ocean vistas. Each private space has its own plunge pool and panoramic terrace, ideal for glimpsing whales breaching in season. Begin the day with sunrise yoga on the sand, try sunset cruises around quiet coves, and enjoy long, winding dinners of tropical seafood beneath the thatched rafters – all before sleeping in the quiet, unpoiled bliss of the island’s embrace.
My Arbor, South Tyrol, Italy
My Arbor, South Tyrol, Italy
Posted high above the forest canopy on the southern slopes of Plose mountain, at My Arbor’s adults-only treehouse hotel, time is designed to be reclaimed. The South Tyrolean wellness retreat rises on stilts among the fragrant pines, offering cosy nest-like suites and spacious treetop perches with unbelievable views of the Dolomite peaks and the valley below. Culinary experiences focus on seasonal Alpine fare and local wines, while the spa invites couples to nurture body and soul with saunas, forest bathing, and treatments inspired by local tree species. Whether you’re hiking through wildflower meadows in summer or retreating to the heated pools in the winter chill, this Italian hotel is bound to bolster togetherness.
Our Habitas, Namibia
Our Habitas, Namibia
For a romance forged in the wildest of landscapes, Our Habitas Namibia offers a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience deep in a private nature reserve outside Windhoek. Raw yet refined canvas-and-wood tents showcase panoramic views of the Kalahari plains as well as shared moments under the African stars. Days are bookended by sunrise and sunset game drives with picnics beneath trees, local gin sundowners, Namibian-inspired cuisine and much more in between. For couples who relish discovering wildlife together, there simply is no better thrill.
Pulitzer Amsterdam
Pulitzer Amsterdam
A tapestry of 17th-century canal houses in Amsterdam’s Unesco-listed canal ring, Pulitzer Amsterdam is an ode to Dutch elegance. A mosaic of rooms and hidden corners set across 25 buildings, each space is as grand and unique as the antiques and old masters that populate its halls. Begin your morning gazing out over shimmering waterways, spend the afternoon wandering the city’s cobblestone streets, and return for cocktails in the garden bar while lanterns flicker to life. In short? Expect the quintessential Amsterdam experience designed for lovers seeking culture and connection in equal measure.
Hotel Rabot, Saint Lucia
Hotel Rabot, St Lucia
If your love language is sharing the last square of chocolate, look no further. Perched in the lush cacao landscapes of Saint Lucia, Hotel Chocolat’s Hotel Rabot offers an extra dose of indulgence to the classic Caribbean escape. Surrounded by the scent of tropical gardens and private cacao groves, this adults-oriented hideaway is designed to help guests press pause on the pressures of the outside world. Cosy, dark wooden villas are woven into the hillside with wide terraces designed for drinking in views of the pitons rising above the Caribbean Sea. Spend days wandering shaded plantation trails, stretching out by the infinity pool, or drifting between cacao-infused spa treatments designed especially for lovers.
Argos in Cappadocia, Turkey
Argos in Cappadocia
For pairs craving escapism with added (external) drama, there’s no doubt that Argos in Cappadocia offers a truly cinematic experience. Set within the carved remains of a 2,000-year-old monastery in the village of Uçhisar, the hotel’s cave rooms and suites are hewn directly from volcanic stone, creating cocooning spaces softened with rugs, arched ceilings and fireplaces cut into the rock. Start the day by drifting across the valley in a hot air balloon at first light, or enjoy the colourful sight from a private terrace, coffee in hand. Then, while away your days wandering through gardens and tunnels, dipping into the underground wine cellar, and lingering over long dinners as Cupid turns the landscape a deep, blush pink.
Amyth of Nicosia, Cyprus
Amyth of Nicosia
Romance comes in all shapes and sizes, but there’s something universally captivating about Venetian architecture, which you’ll find woven throughout the Cypriot capital of Nicosia on the Adriatic coast. Check into one of Amyth of Nicosia’s ten elegant rooms and suites within the city’s old town to bathe in the soothing tranquillity of the island’s warm light, refracted in countless ways throughout the airy building. With modern frescoes, live music under the arches of the high-walled, white-washed terrace, and a spa only an eight-minute stroll away, here connection is aided by the joy of pure, uninhibited relaxation.
Awasi Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina
Awasi Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo
Strategically positioned to make the most of Argentina’s deep-rooted wine culture, Awasi Mendoza is a lodge set among 55 acres of vineyards at the foothills of the Andes in Argentina’s Mendoza province. A Spanish-style casa with homely, private villas situated amongst the Luján de Cuyo region’s lush foliage, here, wine enthusiasts can either connect by exploring vineyards on horseback and hiking through Aconcagua Park, or with less strenuous pastimes such as cooking classes, wine tastings and guided tours of nearby producers Bodega Vistalba, Bodega Norton, Clos de Chacras, Catena Zapata, and Tempus Alb.
Eriro, Austria
Eriro, Austria
If your idea of romance involves being holed up in the middle of nowhere with nothing but cows for witnesses, Eriro more than ticks the box. Perched in the dramatic Zugspitze mountains of Austria, this dinky nine-bedroom mountain inn is reachable only by cable car, which neatly removes you from civilisation and leaves you alone with your hot date. The biggest draw of Eriro is what it doesn’t have. Expect a phone-free stay devoted to walking, eating, sleeping and soaking in onsen. Strip away the distracting, chaotic plaque of everyday life and what’s left is pure, unfiltered relaxation with your amore. When you’re not stargazing under pollution-free skies, hike up to the turquoise glacial lake Sebensee or chow down at the restaurant, where everything is sourced within 100 miles. Nothing says true love like a steaming bowl of knödel and a glass of grüner veltliner.
