Roses are red, the Caribbean’s blue, there’s nothing more romantic than a getaway for two.
While a home-cooked meal by candlelight or candy hearts by the handful are tried-and-true classics, if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day idea that really shines this year, think about booking a plane ticket instead of a restaurant reservation.
Traveling with your partner not only provides an opportunity to experience new places and cultures together, but also to discover new sides of yourself and your sweetheart.
When you’re thinking about how best to connect this February, consider one of these special experiences in beautiful locales across the world. From admiring a giant chocolate fountain in Switzerland to scouting the northern lights in Iceland, here are some of our favorite romantic Valentine’s Day travel experiences.
Build Your Spiritual Bond in Bali, Indonesia
Courtesy of Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
The jungles and beaches of Bali are rife with opportunities for you and your partner to deepen your spiritual connection. A resort like Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, can arrange tours of nearby temples, sessions with traditional healers, and couple’s spa sessions — all in addition to traditional romantic offerings like candlelit dinners and luxurious villas equipped with private pools.
Hit the Slopes in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada
Courtesy of Mont Saint-Sauveur
Saint-Sauveur has all the romance of a snow-dusted European town, without the long-haul flight time. Just an hour’s drive north of Montreal, this ski destination sits among the peaks of the Laurentian Mountains. The resort here, Sommet Saint-Sauveur, offers skiing, snowboarding, and even tubing, as well as a hearty dose of French-Canadian charm. Winter sports by day and French food by night is an ideal combination for adventurous travelers looking for an extra-special Valentine’s Day. Book one of the couples packages at Manoir Saint-Sauveur, which include perks like sparkling wine, a romantic dinner, and a 60-minute Swedish massage for two.
Go on Safari in the Serengeti, Tanzania
Richard Waite/Courtesy of Four Seasons
The Serengeti is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world, playing host to quintessential wildlife experiences like the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross through Tanzania, often followed by lions and leopards (their predators). Witnessing these animals in action can give you and your partner new perspective and draw you closer as a result. And if you think lodging and dining here will be more rustic than romantic, think again. At Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, the luxurious accommodations include plunge pool suites and freestanding villas. The lodge is in the middle of the Serengeti plains, so it’s not uncommon to see animals come right up to the property.
Scout the Northern Lights at Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Friðþjófur M./Getty Images
Valentine’s Day is a great time to see the northern lights in Iceland, since there’s so little sunlight in winter between each long, aurora-strewn night. The northern lights are caused by collisions between solar particles and Earth’s magnetic field, and those tend to happen most frequently around the vernal equinox each March — meaning Iceland is also a great spot for a belated Valentine’s trip. Spend a few days in Reykjavík, then head to Thingvellir National Park, a popular place to spot the lights not too far from the city.
Wine Taste Your Way Through St. Helena, California
Courtesy of Harvest Inn
Napa has long been a lovers’ destination, and for good reason. From the Michelin-starred restaurants to the mesmerizing vineyards, the region oozes with romantic charm. There are many great hotels in Napa Valley, but we recommend the Harvest Inn in St. Helena, where you can stroll through the on-site vineyards before sharing a local cabernet sauvignon by your in-room fireplace. Nearby highlights include the Coppolas’ wine estate, Inglenook, and Thomas Keller’s world-famous fine dining establishment The French Laundry. And don’t forget to take your valentine to Castello di Amorosa, the medieval-style “castle of love” built by vintner Dario Sattui in nearby Calistoga.
Experience Literary Romance in Verona, Italy
StrenghtOfFrame/Getty Images
A city for lovers, Verona is the fictional home of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. A five-day celebration called Verona in Love transforms the city each February, with symbols of romance everywhere you look. Heart-shaped lights illuminate the streets, hearts are projected onto buildings, and vendor stalls are arranged to form a giant heart-shaped market in Piazza dei Signori. The festival also features free concerts, poetry, a love song-writing contest, and a public reading of the most romantic letters to Juliet sent to Verona from around the world. Myriad local restaurants offer special deals for the holiday.
Relax in a Harborside Hot Tub in Copenhagen
Courtesy of CopenHot
For the lovebirds who are sick of cold weather and need a little warmth in their lives, there may be nothing better than trying some Scandinavian hydrotherapy. At CopenHot, you can cozy up together in an outdoor hot tub overlooking the Copenhagen Harbor — in the dead of winter. Once you’ve rinsed off, stop in at CopenHot’s panoramic sauna to seal in this wellness treatment.
Try the Private Island Life in French Polynesia
Cedric Angeles/Alamy
Private islands offer perfect seclusion and will seriously heighten the romance factor on your Valentine’s Day getaway. To get a taste of the private life for yourself, head to French Polynesia, which is bursting with whole-island resorts where you and your fellow hotel guests will be the only people for miles around. Book a stay at Motu Nao Nao or The Brando, an eco-resort that has hosted Barack Obama, Beyonce, and more.
Explore Machu Picchu, Peru
Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure
Swap roses for orchids and Champagne bubbles for mountain mists — Valentine’s Day looks different at this altitude. Share the once-in-a-lifetime experience of exploring the ancient Incan ruins with your partner for memories as precious as a Peruvian opal. Tambo del Inka in the Sacred Valley provides a five-star home base before you head off on PeruRail’s luxury Vistadome Observatory train to Machu Picchu.
Night Kayak in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Courtesy of Serafina Beach Hotel
Puerto Rico is just a short (and often inexpensive) flight from the East Coast, yet once you’re there, you’re in a different world. For an enviable Valentine’s Day experience sure to bring you and your loved one closer, stay at the Condado Ocean Club and let the concierge arrange a nighttime paddle around the Laguna del Condado for you. Between watching the lagoon’s marine life through the clear bottom of your LED-illuminated kayak and lounging by the resort’s infinity pool, the trip is bound to reignite your sense of adventure while giving you time to bond with your honey.
Pamper Your Sweetheart in Singapore
Shangri-la Hotels.
Take a trip to Shangri-La — the one in Singapore, that is. This paradise in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city is one of the most luxurious hotels around. Make Valentine’s Day extra sweet with pastries from the on-site bakery, Shophouse, or book a private six-course dinner in the hotel’s orchid gardens, surrounded by purple blooms.
Take a Champagne Bath in the Poconos, Pennsylvania
Courtesy of Cove Haven Entertainment Resorts
If you want a more retro Valentine’s Day experience within driving distance of New York City, look no further than Cove Haven Resort in the Poconos. The Champagne Tower Suite features a whirlpool bath inside a seven-foot-tall bubbly glass, where you can live out your most lavish hot tub dreams. There’s also an in-room fireplace, perfect for cozying up while snow falls across the mountains outside, and a heart-shaped heated pool — because everyone needs to lean into Valentine’s Day kitsch sometimes.
Get Cozy in a Five-star Cottage in Barnard, Vermont
Courtesy of Twin Farms
There are quaint country bed-and-breakfasts, and then there’s Twin Farms. This resort’s private cottages, tucked into the bucolic wilds of central Vermont, have been artfully designed with sumptuous details like stone hot tubs and mosaic tile fireplaces. This place was made for quality time. Watch the snow fall outside your windows with a tall pour of a rare Madeira, carve into that fresh powder on the private slopes, and, if you’re feeling social, rub elbows at the nightly cocktails-and-canapés reception. The staff can even prepare an intimate picnic for two almost anywhere on the property’s 300 acres — pick the Lift Shack for a cozy spot boasting ski-hill views and a fireplace.
Go on a Castle Crawl in Scotland
Sergio Lora/Getty Images
Channel the wild, windy romance of Outlander with a Highland (or lowland) fling. Scotland is known for its castles, both medieval and modern, and many are open for wandering and resting alike. For a daytime adventure, slip on your wellies and take a tour of an ancient estate like Edinburgh Castle, Culzean Castle, or Eilean Donan Castle. Overnight, stay in one of the plushly appointed rooms at Inverlochy Castle, where you and your partner will have 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and views of the property’s private loch.
See a 30-foot Chocolate Fountain in Zurich
Sure, you could pick up a heart-shaped box of chocolate for your lover — or you could take them to Zurich to explore a whole museum of the stuff. The Lindt Home of Chocolate proves once and for all that the Swiss are the world’s premier chocolatiers. Peruse custom candy in the world’s largest Lindt chocolate shop, make your own sweets in the chocolateria, and, of course, marvel at the 30-foot-tall fountain that flows with pure Swiss chocolate. When you’re done, sleep off your sugar high at a genuine Swiss chalet or Alpine castle. We recommend The Dolder Grand, perched above Lake Zurich.
Get the Celebrity Treatment in St. Barts
Studio Borlenghi/ALeA/Getty
Your partner is the most important person in your life, and with a jaunt to St. Barts, you can give them the true VIP treatment. This glamorous playground for the rich and famous nestled in Caribbean waters is resplendent with luxury hotels that boast crystalline private pools and powdery private beaches. Cheval Blanc St-Barth — or “the Maison,” as it’s sometimes known — sits on sun-kissed Flamands Beach and features beach suites with hot tubs and sea views, garden suites with swimming pools and alfresco dining areas, and private Caribbean barbecues with French wine.
Visit Lover’s Island in Croatia
4FR/Getty Images
In Croatia, you’ll find a heart-shaped experience that doesn’t have “Be Mine” stamped across it. Galešnjak is an island off the Dalmatian coast, and it gets its amorous nickname from its naturally occurring heart shape. The islet is all-natural, with absolutely no development, but it’s open to all tourists, beach-goers, and campers, so you and your sweetheart can still appreciate its unspoiled landscape. Stay in one of the numerous hotels or Airbnbs in nearby Turanj and charter a boat over to the paradisiacal retreat.
Stay in a Love Nest in San Luis Obispo, California
Buyenlarge / Getty Images
Get all lovey-dovey at California’s Cupidcore capital. The Madonna Inn, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, takes Valentine’s Day to a new level with kitschy maximalism and vintage charm. Tuck into the inn’s signature Pink Champagne cake in a rose-colored booth at the opulent Gold Rush Steak House before sneaking off to your Love Nest suite. Adorned in shades of pink, with a little lookout tower at the top of a spiral staircase, this room is sure to show you and your lover la vie en rose.
Live Like Royalty in Marrakesh, Morocco
Courtesy of Royal Mansour
It’s no mirage: The private riads at the Royal Mansour are as lavish as they appear. Enjoy Marrakesh’s mild winter weather on your rooftop terrace by the private plunge pool before indulging your sweet tooth at a patisserie workshop. As if the natural splendor of the Ochre City weren’t enough, the Royal Mansour has a romance package that includes an intimate dinner and a private suite in the spa, where you and your partner will receive a sensuous massage.
Escape the Crowds in Paris
Vincent Leroux/Courtesy of Ritz Paris
What this idea lacks in originality it makes up for in elegance. A Valentine’s Day à la Français has a certain ring to it (a five-carat, cushion-cut if you’re lucky), and you’re likely to snag a good deal as winter is the City of Light’s off-season. You and your partner won’t mind the windchill when you’re snuggled up in a lavish suite at the Ritz. Pamper yourself in the spa and hit teatime at Salon Proust before donning that vintage Dior you just bought and strolling arm-in-arm with your significant other along the Seine.
