Whether you want to stroll along a beach or cuddle up by a campfire, these getaways prove that romantic accommodations come in many forms, from a new luxury resort in Mexico, an estate in the English countryside, to just opening cabins for birdwatching. stars in the Catskills. a California wine country farmhouse and hotels with February sales on the coast of Maine. Wherever you go, you’ll find Valentine’s Day dinner menus and activities for two, like couples’ massages and private yoga sessions — though many rooms at these properties are so luxurious, you might decide to ditch your plans and stay inside
Hunter, New York
This month, you and your partner can escape to the Catskills and hole up in one of 11 new private cabins called Rounds. Nestled in the woods and close to Hunter’s ski slopes, they all have vaulted ceilings and an eye for stargazing without sacrificing warmth or comfort. Their almost circular shape and uncluttered, modern decor is a departure from what you might think of when you hear the word “cabin.”
Choose either a standard 12-sided round or one of the more spacious round suites, which feature wet bars, sunken circular lounges and daybeds. There is also an accessible suite that the property says is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. All Rounds have fireplaces and outdoor cedar tubs to take a dip in, even in the winter.
Mingle with your friends at the Apex Lodge, a common area for Rounds with a bar and fireplaces. You can also use amenities like the barrel sauna, Glice Rink (polymer panels designed to look like ice) and Prospect Restaurant at the 38-room and suite Scribner’s Catskill Lodge. envisioned 1960s motor lodge at same address. Rates from $450 a night.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
If your idea of romance includes a white-sand beach, this new resort with 182 rooms and suites may be the sun-drenched respite you’re looking for. Within a 620-acre nature reserve, the resort’s tropical plants and birds, mangroves and two miles of beach create a romantic backdrop to a luxury resort community called Kanai. (Kanai is also home to the St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya, which opened last year, and both hotels are part of Marriott International.)
You can hit the beach or relax at the spa, which features indoor-outdoor treatment rooms (including a couples’ suite), hydrotherapy pools, an outdoor pool, and a Turkish bath. A stroll around the lush resort will take you past reflecting pools, a bamboo yoga area and a sandy path leading to the So’ol Beach Club where you can swim in the pool and then relax with seafood at chef Tomás Bermúdez’s laid-back restaurant So’ol, which the hotel says takes its name from the Mayan word for “oyster.” Try more local flavors at Ki’is (a Mayan word the hotel translates to “warm”), a restaurant from chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano.
There’s also Kitchen at Edition, where you can enjoy classic Mexican dishes and ceviches. For tequila, mezcal, local wines and cocktails, try the Lobby Bar. And for healthy bites like salads, hummus and fish, including bluefin tuna rolls, head to the Pool Bar located next to the main lobby building.
Like the hotel’s surroundings, the rooms are airy and bright. All have terraces, and if you and your partner want to cool off without the crowds, you can figure out a room with a private pool. Rates from $637 a night, part of a special opening preview rate that also includes a $100 resort credit that you can use toward food like dining at the hotel, available through February 22.
Southern Maine
Better known as summer playgrounds, some of Maine’s southern coastal towns are hosting a Paint the Town Red celebration, hoping to entice lovebirds to brave the cold for deals at stores, restaurants and hotels. Among this year’s participants is the Kennebunkport Resort Collection — several properties including the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel, the Kennebunkport Inn, the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort and the Grand Hotel — where, through Feb. 29, you can get 10 percent off the standard night rate when you book the LoveKPT package. Upon arrival, you’ll receive amenities meant to get the sparks flying, including champagne, macarons, and body scrubs from Maine’s Tree Spa at Hidden Pond.
No matter which lodging you choose, you’ll be close to restaurants and boutiques, as well as scenic winter hiking spots like the Smith Preserve.
Having trouble deciding? Consider locations and views. Built in the 19th century, the 36-room and suite Kennebunkport Inn puts you in the middle of the village hum. The Cape Arundel Inn & Resort with 29 rooms and suites will offer you panoramic ocean views. the 25-room and suite The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel features a lively restaurant and is located on the banks of the Kennebunk River. while the Grand Hotel has just 17 comfortable rooms and is located in the laid-back Lower Village neighborhood of Kennebunk. Rates from $139 a night at the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel, from $189 a night at the Kennebunkport Inn, from $129 a night at the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort and from $119 a night at the Grand Hotel.
If you and your sweetheart love history almost as much as each other, you might want to stay a while at this country estate with 41 rooms and suites. Located near the Hauser & Wirth Somerset gallery and about 45 minutes from the city of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the first century by Romans who used its thermal springs as spas. You can tour the city’s Roman ruins and beautiful Georgian buildings, then take in more of the area’s history at Villa Ventorum, a reconstruction of a Romano-British villa dating back to 351 AD. found in Newt on the Somerset estate. You’ll also be able to explore the estate’s gardens, woodlands and orchards, as well as exhibitions delving into the history of horticulture.
The Valentine’s Day dinner (£85, or about $107, per person) at the inn’s Garden Café will include baked Bruton Brie with garden vegetables and pickles. butcher steak from British White cows raised on the estate or a plate of lion’s mane mushrooms grown on the property; and your choice of poached rhubarb or dark chocolate and hazelnut tart. and, to end the evening, rosemary and caramel truffles.
Different treats will tempt visitors throughout February, including a ‘dawn walk’ through the estate’s gardens and woodlands (£45) and a fruit tree pruning class (£150). Or kick back at the spa with full body scrub for couples (£190 for 60 minutes);
When you finally retire to your room, you’ll find modern decor in calm colors and earth tones, whether you’ve chosen to stay in Hadspen House — the main house, built in the 17th century and reimagined courtyard buildings — or the Farmyard, a former of rustic buildings and elegant furniture. (There’s also a private two-bedroom cottage called the Gate Lodge.) Prices from £625 a night, including breakfast.
Close to the hustle and bustle of Sonoma County’s wineries, this 25-room inn offers an intimate retreat. Head to the Wellness Barn with your partner for guided forest swim sessions ($200 for two), private yoga instruction ($200 for two) and side-by-side massages (starting at $215 per person for 60 minutes). If you’re feeling playful, wander into the yard for a game of croquet. You can hike together behind the inn, bike around the area, or try kayaking or canoeing on the nearby Russian River. Later, grab some roasting forks and homemade vanilla marshmallows and indulge in free fireside chat and conversation.
You’re in wine country, of course, and the concierge can arrange wine tasting tours with the inn’s partners. Or stay put and join the free educational wine tastings held in the evenings. In the inn’s Farmhouse Restaurant, fireplaces and candlelight set the mood for menu tastings and wine pairings with seasonal, local ingredients. And if you want to pull out all the stops, a six-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu is $300 per person (wine pairings are an additional $150 per person).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available at Farmstand, the inn’s all-day dining restaurant, which also serves comforting farm-to-table fare — including wood-fired pizzas, salads and desserts — poolside or, if you prefer, in your suite . All rooms are serene, with down duvets, organic beauty products made in Sonoma, complimentary snacks and refrigerators (in the evening expect milk in your fridge and homemade gluten-free triple chocolate chip cookies by your bed). For privacy and space, try a barn suite with double-sided fireplaces or the newly renovated cottages with gas fireplaces, soaking tubs and heated floors. Rates from $528 a night.
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