Romantic Getaways to Wow Your Valentine

Total seclusion and privacy is available just off the coast of Madagascar at Azura Quilalea Private Island. Just nine seafront villas dot the Quirimbas Archipelago, and each open to views of humpback whales, nesting turtles and African sunsets. Relax together in a hammock, take a dip in the outdoor pool, break in a new book on the beach, or toast your time together over a candlelit beach dinner.

Don’t let its reputation as a former monastery fool you—the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena is restful but inspired. A trifecta of early American architecture, Caribbean Ocean views and French decor provide fantastic ambiance for guests looking for a historic backdrop to complement hand-in-hand strolls. Outside the property walls, Cartagena’s colour woos; inside, stone walkways and 17th-century arches lead the way to steepled guest rooms. Indulge in LeSpa massage and hammam before delving into Old World cuisine at Restaurante 1621.

Service and seclusion rule with Paradisus Resorts’ Royal Service in Cuba. The Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa offers an adults-only escape where personal touches and a dedicated butler will please any paramour. Sister property Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & Spa also offers an adult-only stay complete with pillow menus, in-room spa service and private cabanas. And if a romantic escape means adjacent rooms to the kids, Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa extends the royal treatment via a family lounge and kids’ club, so parents can still slip off to the beach for some well-deserved R&R.

The feeling of being off the grid without ever actually leaving creature comforts unfolds on Zanzibar’s northwest coast. Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa combines ocean waves and unmatched sunsets with impressive interior design and landscape architecture to leave guests in awe—quite a treat when you are coupled with someone who is hard to surprise. What better than warm sun, intimate dinners and days on the beach to bring you closer together?

Do away with distractions so you can focus on quality time. The clean, minimalist designs and quiet, contemplative environment of The BARAI at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin in Thailand leave plenty of room for you to hit pause and return to the rush of life at your leisure. The Barai is the resort’s signature residential spa, where couples can bond over full-body treatments rooted in the elements of water, fire, earth or air and head home feeling united and refreshed.

Lose yourselves in Catalonian culture and indulge in the best of Barcelona before retiring to an exclusive stay right on Passeig de Gracia, at El Palauet Living Barcelona. Suites are light, airy and outfitted with beautiful modern designs contrasted by ornate stained glass windows. Verandas are equipped with lounging areas for two. When you’re (finally) ready to leave, get in touch with your personal assistant, who can recommend everything from fantastic restaurants to the best spots to hear Spanish guitar.

Setting the scene for romance gets a little easier when there is endless ambiance and lake views. Taj Lake Palace is set on, rather than aside, India’s Lake Pichola, giving a defiant us-against-the-world tone to a getaway for two. Historic stained-glass panels and opulent chandeliers add an antique touch to the modern amenities available throughout the palace. Take part in a heritage champagne walk or indulge in a Jiva Spa treatment before watching the sunset from a rooftop terrace.

The gilded details and punches of red decor at Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest set the scene for some finer-things fun in a destination made for adventurous romantics. Lovers of history will fall for its setting within the Klotild Palace, which was originally commissioned by an Archduchess over a century ago. Venture off for a day of indulgence, hitting the shops of Váci utca before returning to the hotel for some sushi and cocktails at Buddha-Bar Restaurant.

The rest of the world can wait. Incredible stilted beach homes in the Maldives are just the place to slow down and turn all attention to your partner. On this private island, natural lagoons, show-stopping coastline and turquoise blue water round out a stay at the Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa. Infinity pools and a tub big enough for two come standard, as do frequent sightings of local turtles, rays and sailfish, made even more accessible on a dive or snorkel outing together.

Indulge together on the shores of Miami Beach. Take chauffeured trips to the shops of Bal Harbour, unwind with some poolside reflexology treatments, bank a quick nine holes at a nearby course, or just give in to relaxation at the European ESPA spa—all a hop, skip or jump from your home away from home, Acqualina Resort & Spa. If you’re just looking to forget your daily grind, stick to the plush rooms and Mediterranean-style decor inside, or the soft sands of Sunny Isle Beach just outside your door.

New York City gets the heart racing in more ways than one. Here, The Carlyle is an Upper East Side institution and a hands-down impressive date. The 1930 building is now a Manhattan landmark, and has hosted a plethora of royalty, including the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Stir up some fun together over dinner at The Carlyle Restaurant or over cocktails at Bemelmans Bar.