Love is in the air, and couples everywhere are thinking about what the perfect Valentine’s Day is going to look like for them- or, at least, the women are.
You two may be the couple that likes a quiet, stress-free getaway where you are catered to; you may be the couple that wants to fly south for the winter, soaking in some rays while you feel the waves crash over you; or you may be the couple that needs an adrenaline rush to forget the mundane schedule at home.
Whichever escape has your name on it, there is a place that can make your special day unforgettable.
1. Santorini, Greece
Want to feel like you have traveled to the edge of the earth, to a haven just as beautiful as it is original?
Santorini is located on the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera. The beaches were left with black, red, and white pebbles lining the beaches from the lava, leaving the town looking like something from a fantasy novel.
THE hotel to stay at would be the Perivolas. Each room is brushed concrete with arched doorways and barreled ceilings. Bright pink and purple accents against the black volcanic walls and soft white interior are a visual delight.
Sure, you can eat a divine meal prepared by a renowned chef next to a pool that blends in with the Aegean Sea on the horizon, but this is not why many people come back to Perivolas year after year.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, guests are drawn to the “blissfully unhurried, unflashy, and yes, unspoiled” environment where “time stands still.”
2. Megève, France
Now is your chance to get that competitive streak going with your spouse.
Megève is a beautiful mountain town in the Alps that offers chalet-style hotels with designer shops scattered down cobbled medieval streets, where you can shop after a exhilarating morning skiing.
In the superbly unique Les Fermes de Marie, every timber was salvaged from Savoyard farmhouses, turning it into an enchanting getaway for the perfect ski weekend.
The house restaurant boasts about its fondue and homemade blueberry pie, that you can enjoy in a peaceful environment, because riffraff is highly discouraged.
And what could be more romantic than Valentine’s Day in France?
3. Selfoss, Iceland
Iceland is the perfect getaway for the couple who wants to try new, adventurous excursions together.
Among the breathtaking landscape sits the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel (see, it’s right there in the name) built into the side of a mountain and held up by elaborate stilts.
The hotel is off the beaten path, but less than an hour’s drive from the more populated town of Reykjavík.
International travelers seek out ION for an experience they can’t get anywhere else in the world.
Condé Nast Traveler reports on all the amazing activities you and your spouse can partake in while at the one-of-a-kind ION Luxury Adventure Hotel, such as “fissure-diving and snorkeling at Silfra in Thingvellir National Park, where North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, or a glacier trek at Sólheimajökull.”
And if you want to take a dip there is no need to go to the Blue Lagoon with thousands of other tourists, because ION has a thermal pool right underneath the hotel.
We haven’t even reached the best part. Because of ION’s thoughtful position, you can catch the northern lights while sipping on a glass of wine at the bar.
The northern lights are one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, as Proud American Traveler has previously reported, and spotting them would be worth the whole trip in itself.
4. Quintana Roo, Mexico
A list of romantic getaways wouldn’t be complete without a Caribbean destination.
On the white sands of Xpu-ha beach you can stay at Hotel Esencia, one of the best kept secrets by the locals.
Located in the town of Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico you find a paradise where hammocks between towering palm trees invite you to rest above crashing blue waves.
Snorkeling a short distance from the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, you will see fish of every shape, color, and size.
An outdoor wooden beach bar will make you the “best margarita in Mexico” before retiring to the huge converted house that once served as a hideaway for an Italian duchess.
Each of these romantic Valentine escapes offer something unique and memorable. It is nearly impossible to make the wrong choice if you go with one of these tried and true destinations.
Get your tickets now, or plan ahead to knock the socks off your spouse next year, and you will not regret it.
(h/t Proud American Traveler)