Valentine’s isn’t just one day for romance anymore—in fact, in stores, it’s a season that seems to start the day after New Year’s. Some would argue it’s an entire month dedicated to love, while others say romance should be celebrated daily. Whatever you or your client’s take is on this most romantic time of the year, the truth is there is plenty to choose from when it comes to romancing a partner in crime—and the fun definitely doesn’t have to stop in February.
Palladium Inspires Romance
With properties in Costa Mujeres, Riviera Maya, and Riviera Nayarit, Palladium Group has your clients’ choice of beautiful all-inclusive resort properties to indulge in getaways that celebrate romance all year long. “From couples massages at Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness to date night at Chic Cabaret & Restaurant, our Mexico properties offer the perfect playground for those seeking a romantic retreat,” said Pilar Arizmendi-Stewart, V.P. of Sales and Marketing for the Americas, in a press statement.
Couples staying in Riviera Maya, just 30 minutes from Playa del Carmen, can choose from Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa, Grand Palladium Colonial Resort & Spa, Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa or the adults-only TRS Yucatan Hotel. Lovebirds—whether newly married, renewing vows, celebrating anniversaries or simply celebrating romance—will want to know about the Dinner and Mayan Love Ritual at Ixmucané Grand Cenote, a natural freshwater sinkhole on the property that’s perfectly private and ideal for an intimate dinner under the stars. Or, they can choose The Romantic Dinner at Sunset in Front of the Sea, where they can chill in the Royal Domo before or after dinner, served by their private waiter.
In Costa Mujeres, just 30 minutes from Cancun, book your couples in the adults-only TRS Coral Hotel, the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa, and, should they bring their kids, in the Family Selection Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. In addition to romantic experiences custom-tailored by Weddings by Palladium (think weddings, receptions and honeymoons), couples can also take advantage of numerous beach activities or even professional tennis lessons at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center, the only one of its kind in North America.
On Mexico’s Pacific Coast in the Riviera Nayarit, Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa is right on the picturesque Bay of Banderas, about 15 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, known for its romantic, art-filled boardwalk, numerous gourmet restaurants and great shopping. Couples will love visiting Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness for treatments that will help them shake off any lingering wedding or planning jitters.
For more information, visit pro.palladiumhotelgroup.com.
Romance, Wellness and Wine
Argentina’s SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites has a Romantic Getaway Package that combines romance with wellness and wine—what could be better than that? This is a boutique getaway that includes the area’s finest bottles, wine-infused spa treatments, gifts and even a photographic safari aboard a private seaplane. They’ll also be able to take home a bottle of owner Susana Balboa’s signature scent so they can recreate their memories. Of note: Being in the southern hemisphere, Argentina is nice and warm in February.
For more information, visit susanabalboahotels.com.
Grand Velas Los Cabos’ Starry-Eyed Proposals
“Beach” and “romance” go together like “luxury” and Grand Velas Los Cabos (see what we did there?), and this all-inclusive has put together a spectacular proposal package that will quite literally sweep the proposed off their feet. This $70K helicopter engagement experience starts with the couple being picked up from the hotel rooftop and flown over the Cabo San Lucas Arches with cocktails and canapes during the 75-minute golden-hour tour. The actual proposal? A giant “Will You Marry Me?” in flowers on the beach. And that’s just one of the many personalization options the hotel can create with the help of you and your client—it’s Velas, after all. All you have to do is ask.
The package includes an open-air beach dinner by 2-Michelin-star chef Sidney Schutte, with cocktails and premium wines under the incredible Baja Sur sky, which will be the “star” of the next activity, an immersing stargazing session.
The new Grand Velas Boutique Los Cabos also has its own take for lovers: the exclusive 5-day/4-night Land & Sea Romance Getaway that includes accommodations in one of the resort’s 1,900 sq ft Grand Class Suites with plunge pool and fire pit, a dining experience showcasing recipes inspired by the dishes Frida Kahlo made for her lover Diego Rivera and updated by two-Michelin-star chef Schutte, a visit to the famous Arches on a private yacht, destination-inspired spa treatments for two, a private tequila tasting and the stellar service Velas resorts are known for.
For more information, visit grandvelas.com.
Dubrovnik for Two
Croatia is still trending hard, and the Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is the place to book for a romance for the ages. Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and absolutely gorgeous, so prepare your clients for an Instagram-heavy escape. This hotel is also historic, originally a 1913 villa built for royalty, to which they added a sleek modern wing, so expect luxury suites with a stunning view. Three restaurants, a spa, and, well, Dubrovnik guarantee a stellar stay for two.
For more information, visit adriaticluxuryhotels.com.
“R” is for Romance in Rome
The luxurious Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese is the place to be in February when the crowds are not crowding, and your clients can actually get close to landmarks like the Villa Medici, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain, which are a short walk from the property. This hotel has a mere 78 rooms and suites, so it’s intimate, but there’s nothing in town more romantic than its rooftop lounge and restaurant, Settimo, with its view of the Villa Borghese gardens and St. Peter’s Basilica. Ask about the Colosseum Running or Walking Tour by ArcheoRunning so your clients can get an exclusive tour of the fourth story of the Roman Colosseum, among other up close and personal treats.
For more information, visit all.accor.com.
Warming Up in Norway
If a secluded retreat in the wilds of Norway reads romance for your clients, Up Norway has just the thing: a collection of intimate, absolutely cool cabins—hytter—that will take them off-grid for an adventure where they can focus completely on each other. Romance can blossom in retreats that can be personalized to a “t” and include the uber-modern treehouses of the Pan Treetop Cabins—steel constructions in the Finnskogen fir forest or the Ramnereiret, a treetop cabin with extraordinary views of the Sognefjord and modern facilities. An extra treat that’s not guaranteed but definitely possible? A view of the Northern Lights.
For more information, visit upnorway.com.
Valentine’s Day Romance at NIZUC
Cancun’s NIZUC Resort & Spa has some high-end romantic ideas in mind for couples headed south of the border. A stay over Valentine’s Day means a romantic candlelight dinner on the 14th at Ramona with a curated menu from start to dessert from Chef Irving Cupul and pairings with a selection of Santo Tomas wines or hand-crafted cocktails and a takeaway gift of chocolate truffles for sweet nothings after dinner. The resort is also offering their signature Wine Therapy Massage Treatment with grape essential oils at a private Spa Villa, plus a 30-minute Oxygen Therapy session and a glass of Santo Tomas paired with hand-crafted chocolates. The Wine Therapy Couples Ritual is on tap through Feb. 16.
For more information, visit nizuc.com.
Acapulco is for Lovers
There’s no doubt the glamour of Old Acapulco still remains, and Las Brisas Acapulco is still the queen of cliffside luxury. Lovers looking for a warm-weather escape can look to its unique suites with their plunge pools with a view of Acapulco Bay, order up an in-suite couple’s massage experience and end the day with dinner and a glass of champagne at the Bellavista Restaurant. This is, quite simply, a must for romance on Mexico’s gorgeous Pacific Coast.
For more information, visit lasbrisashotel.com.mx.
Las Catalinas for Two
Love and wellness can blossom beautifully at Las Catalinas with their 4-day Live Well Couples’ Retreat, which focuses on well-being in a holistic way to help your clients reconnect with themselves and with their partners—and with nature. This experience will include treatments, journeys, and various outdoor activities, including forest bathing, hiking, paddle boarding, yoga, meditations, sound healing, breathwork and more, as well as healthy and mindful meals. All the activities are private for the couple, and the retreat is available year-round (blackout dates apply) for reconnection whenever needed.
For more information, visit lascatalinascr.com.
Romance Adventure in the Himalayas
Adventurous couples can head to the Himalayas with The Ananda Active multi-day experience from Ananda in the Himalayas. This program can extend for anywhere from three days to 14 and gives the couple a chance to indulge in guided treks in the Himalayan foothills, white-water rafting across the Ganges, ziplining, jungle safaris, outdoor boot camps led by experts, aquatic sessions, physiotherapy and all manner of therapies and massages for tired bodies and souls. Couples will enjoy their sessions in the Kama Suite with its therapy room and twin shower areas. Romance will come to life with private candlelight dinners with custom healthy menus to keep those bodies healthy and strong. The Ananda Active program is available throughout the year except for the monsoon season (mid-June to mid-September).
For more information, visit anandaspa.com.
Love in Saint Lucia
Calabash Cove Resort and Spa is all-inclusive, adults-only and located on one of the Caribbean’s most romantic islands: Saint Lucia. This boutique beauty has only 26 villas, a restaurant, a bar, and the lovely Ti Spa, which is offering special Valentine’s spa packages. The treatments—outside of the all-inclusive price—include the Chocolate Decadence Body Polish and the Couples Massage Lessons, where the couple can learn special techniques to lower tension and stress they can replicate at home. Valentine’s Day dinner is, however, included in the all-inclusive price and includes such delicacies as grilled half-spiny lobster, five-spiced foie gras with papaya chutney, and escovitched shark with sweet potato chips and edible morning flowers.
For more information, visit calabashcove.com.
Two Romantic Options in the Eternal City
As the official resting place of Saint Valentine, Rome is a natural for romance. Bettoja Hotels has two options for your clients this February: Hotel Mediterraneo and Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio—both just steps from such top-notch attractions as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Forum, the Opera House and the Colosseum. To celebrate romance, all stays between Feb. 14-19, 2024, will have 15 percent off both hotels’ best rates. This applies to a Premium or Deluxe guestroom at Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio or a Premium, Deluxe, Junior Suite or Suite guestroom at Hotel Mediterraneo. The chefs have prepared a special Valentine’s Day Menu at Ristorante Massimo D’Azeglio, which is a member of the Historical Places of Italy Association and Historical Shops of Excellence.
For more information, visit bettojahotels.it.
