Top 10 Romantic Getaways

by  ShermansTravel Editorial Staff | Feb 1, 2012
Aerial photo of Bora Bora
Aerial photo of Bora Bora / Juan Carlos Hernández Hernández/iStock

While we tend to think most of romance around Valentine's Day, our favorite romantic getaways are guaranteed to rekindle a long-standing romance, or kick a new one up a notch, all year long. Whether you choose to cuddle up on a gondola ride in Venice; snuggle under a blanket on a caleche ride in Quebec City; dance cheek-to-cheek in Buenos Aires; spend long days canoodling on spectacular islands like Bora Bora, Santorini, and Nevis; cruise magical Halong Bay; or discover breathtaking Dubrovnik together, you're bound to feel a renewed (or new) sense of intimacy with your partner. Of course, no list of this sort would be complete without a nod to Paris, the epitome of romantic getaways (and site of countless marriage proposals), but dear Santa Barbara, closer to home, is just as ripe for a tryst, with countless spas and vineyards in the vicinity that are sure to help you and yours relax – and lose your inhibitions.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals.

Flickr / Gustavo Brazzalle

Buenos Aires, Argentina

As the saying goes, it takes two to tango – and there’s no better place to practice your moves than on a romantic getaway to Buenos Aires, the birthplace of the incredibly sexy dance. Watching expert tango dancers spin around the dance floor at one of the local venues is already hot stuff – women dress the part in fishnet stockings, heels, and high-slit dresses, while men don tailored suits and cravats – but taking to the floor with your honey can make the temperature go higher still. Play the voyeur at neighborhood spots like Bar Sur, or, put on your dancing shoes and trot your stuff at Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso, which offers lessons for first-timers. When you need to rest your feet, this city has plenty to tempt visiting lovebirds, from elegant turn-of-the-century mansions and tree-lined boulevards reminiscent of European cities like Rome and Barcelona, to cozy bistros in trendy neighborhoods where diners linger over long meals. Plus, with the peso so low nowadays, this city – which once rivaled Manhattan in terms of price – is extremely affordable.

See our Buenos Aires guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Buenos Aires.

Flickr / SF Brit

Bora Bora

If there’s one destination to blow your savings on in the name of love, this tiny island is it. Novelist James A. Michener described Bora Bora as, “the most beautiful island in the world” and visitors to this South Pacific gem rarely disagree. A mere 19 miles long, the Polynesian idyll sits 143 miles northwest of Tahiti and boasts the best nature can offer: a high-mountain center cloaked in jungle, a cobalt lagoon, a colorful coral reef, and stretches of bone-white sand dotted with fallen coconut husks. When you’re not discovering the many treasures of this paradise, hang out at the local watering hole, Bloody Mary's,  or sail into the horizon with a sunset catamaran cruise. Come nightfall, few can resist spending the evening at a lavishly appointed over-the-water bungalow.

See our Bora Bora guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Bora Bora.

Flickr / Emma_L_M

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Enchanted by its beauty, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once proclaimed, "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik," and many visitors feel the same. Couples searching for romance flock to this city on the southernmost stretch of Croatia’s coast. This jewel of the Adriatic has been magnificently restored, and is emerging as one of Europe’s most fashionable vacation spots. The city's fortified old town overlooks the dazzling Adriatic from a shelter of limestone cliffs, and its marble-paved streets are lined with marvelously preserved churches, palaces, squares, and terracotta-roofed townhouses. Meanwhile, down below, along the seaside coast, fine beaches beckon – as do a slew of offshore islands – making Dubrovnik appealing to just about any taste. 

See our Dubrovnik guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Croatia.

Flickr / cristinaabe

Halong Bay, Vietnam

“Ha Long” means" where the dragon descends into the sea," so put your knight in shining armor’s skills to the test in this ancient lair near the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Once you're sailing the enchanting emerald-green waters of Halong Bay, you'll easily understand why legend says the bay was formed by the thrashing of a dragon's tail. It’s a sight that confirms this corner of Vietnam’s status as one of Asia’s most romantic hideaways; undoubtedly the country’s most mesmerizing natural setting, the UNESCO-protected area is dotted with grottoes, some 3,000 limestone islets (only one of which is inhabited), and is often shrouded in mist, adding to the mystique. While day trips are available, we strongly recommend booking an overnight cruise to experience the bay's phenomenal sunset and sunrise, as well as more of its splendid landscapes. Our favorite agencies for 2-day cruises are Emeraude Classic Cruise and Buffalo Tours.

See our Hanoi guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Vietnam.

Flickr / Robert S. Donovan

Nevis

If you crave a Caribbean trip that’s just as high on romance as it is on R & R, look no further than darling Nevis, the sister island of St. Kitts. A quiet, old-Caribbean charm reigns on this 36-square-mile patch of land that was the birthplace of founding father Alexander Hamilton. Nowadays, lovers can hole up in converted plantation houses – rather than sterile high-rise beach resorts – where atmospheric verandahs, louvered windows, and four-poster beds guarantee you’ll spend plenty of time canoodling. Should you decide to leave your room, the island’s scenery is equally entrancing.Disused stone sugar mills are now overgrown with vines, lush island paths invite hiking and horseback riding, and sugarcane fields lead to remarkable restaurants serving fine Creole fare. Add in the fact that Nevis is still relatively difficult to get to (you have to change planes in St. Maarten, Antigua, or Puerto Rico), and you’re looking at spending serious quality time with your sweetie – without having to share him or her with other vacationers.

See our Nevis guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Nevis.

Flickr / 4nitsirk

Paris, France

Parisian culture seems designed for romance, with countless settings tailor-made for those only-in-the-movies-type kisses. Manicured gardens with make-out benches lie around every corner, lamp-lit pedestrian quays along the Seine invite stolen smooches, and majestic plazas and squares like Place des Vosges offer storybook backdrops for marriage proposals. A perch atop any of the city’s famous ponts (bridges) are also sure to get your heart racing - linger on Paris's oldest bridge, Pont Neuf. Check out the animated arts-and-music scene of Pont des Arts; or take in the phenomenal views of the Eiffel Tower from the elaborate Pont Alexandre III. For many, the height of romance can be found at the top of the Eiffel Tower itself. Coordinate your viewing with one of Paris’s lovely sunsets, and the city will blush pink right along with you.

For more trip-planning information, see our Paris guide, then search for Paris travel deals.

Quebec Region

Quebec City, Canada

With French as the official language, colonial architecture, and horse-drawn carriages, Quebec City is inherently designed with romantic getaways in mind. Encircled by ancient stone ramparts, and speckled with lovely squares, quaint cafés, and striking historical buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also blessed with a phenomenal natural setting above the St. Lawrence River. Each season brings its own special charms: While summers encourage late-night lingering over wine at outdoor cafés, the chilly winters give lovers all the more reason to snuggle up under a blanket in a horse-drawn calèche (a two wheeled carriage) or get cozy with a delectable fondue for two at a first-rate French restaurant. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, stay in a quaint 17th-century auberge (inn), complete with wood-beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls to round out the otherwordly experience.

See our Quebec City guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Quebec City.

Flickr / MamaOT

Santa Barbara, California

Bona fide beach town, the Santa Ynez wine-producing region next door, and loads of spa retreats within driving distance…it’s no surprise Santa Barbara gets our nod in the romantic getaways department. Its ideal location, between palm-fringed Pacific beaches and the evergreen Santa Ynez Mountains, quaint Spanish- and Mediterranean-style architecture, gourmet fare, and posh hotels have attracted West Coast residents for quiet weekends for decades. Enjoy a wine-tasting in one of the country’s largest wine-producing region, later indulge on sublime organic foods. Enjoy massages for two and stroll barefoot on the beach at sunset. Tack on an outing in a hot air balloon – a favorite local activity – and you’re guaranteed to swoon over the scenery, as well as your significant other!

See our California guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Santa Barbara.

Flickr / Iriskh

Santorini, Greece

Some may think island romance is overrated, but then they’ve probably never been to Santorini. The most visually stunning of all the Greek Cyclades, this beguiling spot has all the trappings of a dream vacation: Postcard-perfect cliffside villages with picturesque white-washed and royal blue-roofed buildings, exotic black-sand volcanic beaches, transcendent sunsets, luxurious cave-rock hotels, dramatic striated red-and-gray cliffs stretching to the sky, and the Aegean’s finest wineries. Built atop volcanic ashes – on the ruins of what some theorize to be the lost city of Atlantis – the island’s impressive physical characteristics like the jagged cliffs, dark volcanic rock, and crescent shape carved out by the sea, are manifestations of its eruptive history. Roam the hilly streets in Oia, window shop at one of the many local artisan shops, and be sure you don’t miss the world-famous sunset.

See our Santorini guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Greece.

iStock

Venice, Italy

An extraordinary waterfront wonderland where ancient palazzi seemingly float above water, Venice manages to be both serene and seductive all at once. While its labyrinthine cobblestone streets certainly encourage lovers to stroll hand in hand, it’s the city’s iconic gondolas that really up the romantic ante. Picture yourself, a due (pair), tucked in an intricate, hand-carved boat, and punted along dreamlike canals by a young Italian gondolier who serenades you as you glide under delicately arched bridges – the aptly named Bridge of Sighs among them – and past flower-laden balconies. Other Venetian draws sure to set your heart aflutter include sipping Bellinis to the sounds of classical music in the majestic Piazza San Marco or catching a view of spires and rooftops from atop the Campanile di San Marco.

See our Venice guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find flight, hotel, cruise, and more travel deals to Venice.

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