Whether or not you are committed to Valentine’s Day and all the hype it ensues (think rose petals, chocolate-covered strawberries and sweeping romantic gestures), an intimate getaway during the depths of winter should certainly be enough to convert even the most anti-Valentine. An assemblage of boutique hotels are chilling the champagne and calling lovers’ names this Valentine’s Day — below are some of our favorites.
Eden Rock, St. Barths (St. Barths)
Part of the esteemed Oetker Collection, this iconic resort has attracted celebs and sunseekers to its rocky oceanfront for decades. Signature bright red accents and 37 ultraluxe accommodations ranging from beach huts to villas make romance a given. Get pampered at the spa, loll on white sand, and enjoy Jean-Georges’ cuisine.
Villa at Saugerties (Catskills, NY)
If you don’t want to see others, this adults only Catskills inn has just four cozy rooms, each with Spain-inspired design. For the ultimate amorous experience, book one with a fireplace and soaking tub. Come morning, dig in to a tasty homemade breakfast.
Pine Cay (Turks and Caicos)
Private island on your mind? This newly rebranded and renovated retreat in Turks & Caicos is home to a 12-room hotel and two miles of beach where guests can snorkel, paddleboard, or sail in the azure water.
Inn of the Five Graces (Santa Fe, NM, USA)
This enchanting Relais & Châteaux hotel in downtown Santa Fe uses imported textiles and furnishings from places like Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka alongside kiva fireplaces and inimitable tile mosaics to gorgeous effect. Be sure to book a couples treatment in the new spa.
Paradero Todos Santos (Todos Santos, Mexico)
This design-forward hotel in Mexico’s Baja California opened a year ago amid a stunning desert landscape. If you do leave your chic room, spark some romance by relaxing in a suspended “star net” offering sweeping views, joining a temazcal ceremony, and dining at the open-fire restaurant.
Le Jardin des Douars (Essaouria, Morocco)
One of Morocco’s best-kept secrets is Jardin des Douars, a 26-key hilltop hotel shrouded in bougainvillea and palm trees in the town of Essaouria. A North African-esque shade of pink lathers this palatial stay’s edifices, from the domed villas to communal spaces. Rooms’ original wooden doors, zelige tiles, tadelakt plasterwork and Berber rugs celebrate local decor. The spa is a capsule into Moroccan wellness pastimes: argan oil suffuses treatment products, argan tree bark heats the eucalyptus-noted hammam, scented black soap exfoliates the skin, and algae wraps wholesomely prepare guests’ skin for the North African sun. Between its isolated location in the Moroccan countryside to its tantalizing spa, and garden-heavy grounds, this spot is perfect for couples searching for an enchanting getaway.
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort (St. Lucia)
The Caribbean nation of St. Lucia boasts one of the world’s most dramatic coastlines — and on top of its picturesque sinuous shoreline and verdant peaks, the isle’s wintertime warmth makes it the perfect getaway for couples who live in cold places. When here, the luxe Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort — with its idyllic suites, standalone villas, and cottages — is the perfect place to soak up that West Indies beauty. To say the hotel is romantic would be an understatement — you and your significant other can enjoy each other’s company in your own private infinity pool, all the while peering out at the enveloping Piton Mountains and the serene Caribbean Sea. The private beach here is spellbinding — to make things extra romantic, opt to book an afternoon on the hotel’s yacht. The on-site Rainforest Spa tantalizes guests with its wooden treehouse-like spaces and Caribbean-tinged treatments, many geared towards couples — book the Sulfur Seduction, where you and your boo can look to take a mud bath ensemble in local sulfuric springs, rejuvenate under a natural waterfall, as well as receive massages.
Sailrock Resort (Turks & Caicos)
Turks & Caicos is a hop, skip, and a jump from many cities in the USA, by dint of an increase in direct flights from major American cities. Part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sailrock Resort is a luxe Caribbean haven in South Caicos, where it fronts a dreamy white-sand beachscape and crystal-clear seawater. Book the Beachfront Villa, a seaside outpost replete with natural hues and light, as well as an open contemporary feel. Couples can opt to receive spa treatments and enjoy each other’s company sans leaving the hotel, or if feeling adventurous, can ask Sailrock to take them for a snorkel session at the proximate barrier reef (if getting up close and personal with fish isn’t your idea of a good time, tandem kayaking is another winsome option).
Castle Hot Springs (Morristown, Arizona)
Those seeking a domestic Valentine’s Day (or any romantic trip, no matter the date) should opt to book a getaway at Castle Hot Springs in Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains. This historic hotel has 30 punctuated rooms and a mineral-rich geothermal hot springs assemblage. The wellness menu at the hotel features enhanced treatments, therapies, and body rituals that further absorb the health benefits of these healing springs, with a sizeable chunk centered around the production of Magnesium, Bicarbonates, and Lithium. If you and your significant other are big into healthy eating, you will love the salubrious dishes served at the hotel’s Harvest Restaurant — many of the ingredients are sourced locally, including from the on-site sustainable farm.
Mi Amor (Tulum, Mexico)
The name says it all. Translating to “my love” in Spanish, this adults-only retreat along the Mayan Riviera is a longtime best-seller for couples in the portfolio of Small Luxury Hotels (@smallluxuryhotels). The property embodies intimacy, with only 17 rooms, all of which are surrounded by lush jungle or the turquoise of the Caribbean Sea, private plunge pools and secluded cabanas that beckon couples to do nothing but get lost in one another. If you can’t book in for the weekend of love, why not reserve it for a belated getaway?
The Battery Hotel (San Francisco, California)
With only 14 suites, this luxury boutique welcomes couples into a private club without all the austerity. Its laidback retro-classic decor reflects the pulse of its surroundings in downtown San Francisco. The location is ideal for couples who want to explore the city’s culinary hotspots; make your restaurant reservations in advance for one continuous date night throughout your stay.
The Soniat House (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Occupying a 19th-century Creole townhouse in the midst of New Orleans, a junior suite at this 30-room boutique will have couples feel as if they’re checking into a historic bed and breakfast but with all the modern luxuries they deserve. The adults-only property is a dream for couples invested in design and architecture; the owners regularly rotate the collection of art and antiques to each room and are on-hand for a history lesson if so desired.
Other articles you may like:
- These U.S. Hotels Are Perfect for Honeymoons
- Greece’s Most Beautiful Boutique Hotels
- The Top 7 Most Romantic Destinations in Europe
Contributors: Devorah Lev-Tov, Jillian Dara, Brandon Berkson
