Romantic Getaways Far From Ordinary

Just 45 minutes outside of Phuket is quieter Phang Nga Bay, brimming with fascinating wildlife and every shade of green and blue. Six Senses Yao Noi’s stilted and thatched pool villas sit on a hilltop here, enveloping couples in complete privacy and dramatic views of the bay or rainforest. Whether you want to island hop, get dropped off to a castaway location or enjoy the resort’s dining and spa salas, your Guest Experience Manager (“GEM”) is here to take care of the details.

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With only eight private plunge pool suites perched on a sandstone ridge overlooking the expanse of the Malilangwe Dam, Singita Pamushana Lodge is as secluded as it gets. When not driving through the Malillangwe Wildlife Reserve, couples here enjoy al fresco dining and fireside chats. Don’t miss the cellars, home to some of the most sought-after private reserve and vintage wines on the continent — perfect accompaniments for nights stargazing the clear African skies together.

Between the lakes Como and Maggiore is Lake Lugano, smaller in scale yet glittering all the same. Villa Principe Leopoldo’s location on the Collina d’Oro (Golden Hill) and its views is the best kept secret in town. Once the private home of German Emperor Wilhem’s brother-in-law, this stately hotel is the perfect setting for a fairytale romance. Indulge in suites finished with marble and fine furnishings, dine on silver and crystal and swim in outdoor pools backdropped by mountains and lake. 

For couples looking to connect on a more spiritual level, Amanjiwo (“Peaceful Soul”) is a serene retreat set on a hillside overlooking Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest temple complex in the world. Its suites all open to private terraces, many with pools and temple views. On resort, there’s holistic wellness and dinners over rice paddies, and for more curious couples, the resident anthropologist is available for tours of the area’s many ancient temples and sacred sites. 

While everyone flocks to Croatia’s hot spots, let lesser known Rovinj on the north’s Istrian Peninsula, with its old town, cobblestoned streets and Adriatic views, work its charms. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj sits on the city’s eastern shore, offering a resort experience hugged by the sea on one side and forest on the other. Its rooms are intimate and luxurious, some with private plunge pools, some with sea views and some with glowing silhouettes of Rovinj at sunset. To really impress, book a table at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Agli Amici.

Carbon Beach, nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach”, may not be a private one but it may as well be. Malibu Beach Inn Hotel & Spa enjoys a privileged location here including it’s own private stairway down to the shore. Laid back yet luxurious, this boutique hotel has rooms directly above the sands with balconies for soaking it all in. Quiet, romantic escapes can include spa treatments and dinners over the Pacific Ocean.

Off the southwest coast of Vietnam, Phu Quoc is a tropical island as sublime as any other yet it’s managed to stay off the international radar. Here nestled between lagoons and tranquil gardens is the Regent Phu Quoc, a luxury resort of suites, villas and private pools. Pristine white sands, blazing pink and orange skies, and bespoke experiences ranging from dinners for two on the beach to waterfall visits help set the stage for romance.  

Once a paper mill, A Quinta da Agua has been restored as a romantic boutique hotel amidst the bucolic charm of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage city. An ideal escape for couples looking to slow down, enjoy a picnic in the gardens, read a book by the river Sar or relax with customized wellness programs. In the region of Galicia, renowned wine and gastronomy, quaint seafaring villages and surf beaches are also within reach.

Sublime Samana offers the opportunity to experience a vacation as if you owned your own private beachside home. Located on the Samana Peninsula lush with coconut palms, golden beaches and forested mountains, this resort of suites and casitas is an oasis for couples looking to relax and rejuvenate. Stargaze from a private dinner on the beach, feel the Caribbean breeze with an open-air spa and witness humpback whales off the coast.  

As if Mozambique isn’t already far flung, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa is set on a private island off the country’s coast. Exclusive and surrounded by a natural beauty of pristine sand and crystal waters, this alluring retreat is the place to melt away and let your senses guide you. Swim with dolphins, watch the sunset at the highest dunes on the archipelago or resolve to never leave your private villa which may have direct beach access, a pool, a sea view or all three.