The world’s greatest accommodations and resorts for love set the stage for intimate moments between vacationers whereas permitting them to have interaction with their vacation spot in memorable methods. For this installment of Afar’s Lodges We Love collection, we’ve chosen the highest 16 retreats that provide the final word backdrop for a romantic getaway, whether or not it’s a tree home keep within the woods of Montana or a thatch-roofed bungalow hovering over turquoise waters in French Polynesia.
Aman Kyoto
- Location: Kyoto
- Why we find it irresistible: A sanctuary in the course of a tranquil forest
- From $2,800
- Ebook now
The situation itself is a serious promoting level: 80 acres of serene forest within the foothills of Mount Daimonji, half-hour from Kyoto Station and 5 minutes by automotive from Kyoto’s well-known Kinkaku-ji temple. Right here, Aman Kyoto’s 26 trendy suites stretch throughout an previous river mattress blanketed in emerald. The forest is punctuated with native maples, cedars, and blue oaks, an excellent setting for forest bathing excursions. A lot of the property was constructed with supplies from the encircling woods—cypress soaking tubs, heated stone lavatory flooring, and bamboo dividers whose clear minimalist strains and various textures supply a restorative setting. See Afar’s full record of greatest accommodations in Japan.
Cap Juluca, a Belmond Resort
- Location: Anguilla
- Why we find it irresistible: A slice of Santorini within the Caribbean
- From $1,300
- Ebook now
Set alongside the southern coast of Anguilla on Maundays Bay, lined with picturesque white seashore umbrellas, Cap Juluca is full of domed roofs and archways that body the ocean. The 128 lodging are equally elegant, with white couches, blue throws, and slatted shutters. But the Santorini-inspired lodge maintains an easygoing, barefoot luxurious vibe. Which may imply a beachside lunch on the Capshack with rum punches, watermelon gazpacho, and a tuna poke bowl from a meals truck. Rather less rustic however equally inviting, Pimms serves jerk rooster and Caribbean purple fish curry subsequent to breezy curtains and hovering arches.
Spend sun-filled days snorkeling, crusing, or absorbing rays on the white-sand seashore. For avid anglers, the lodge provides expeditions with a neighborhood fisherman who is aware of all the key spots across the island. The brand new Spa by Guerlain is a haven of wellness and therapeutic that pulls inspiration from the Indigenous Arawak tribe. It was designed by Rottet Studio, which oversaw Cap Juluca’s transformation in 2018. See Afar’s full record of greatest Caribbean luxurious resorts and accommodations.
Fogo Island Inn
- Location: Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
- Why we find it irresistible: A high-design retreat centered on group influence in a spectacular distant location
- From $1,750, all inclusive (apart from alcohol and taxes)
- Ebook now
Fogo Island Inn sits on the very fringe of the North Atlantic Ocean on remoted Fogo Island in Newfoundland. Designed by internationally famend architect Todd Saunders, the inn’s arresting trendy look suggests an iceberg from a distance, with its raised part representing the island’s conventional stilted fishing platforms. However when guests get shut, they see the wood boards layered collectively, and it’s clear that all the things is handmade. The by-hand ethos covers all of the furnishings and furnishings, created by native artisans guided by worldwide designers to create up to date variations of conventional objects.
The inn is actually a dwelling artwork piece that goals to honor the island’s previous whereas carrying it to the long run. All working surpluses are reinvested into the inn’s guardian Shorefast charity, which helps the cultural and financial resilience of the local people. It seems like a grand house with attentive employees: A non-public 42-seat cinema, partnered with the Nationwide Movie Board, carries a film library for friends to take pleasure in at any time; there’s additionally an artwork gallery, a well-stocked library, and a provide of Gore-Tex mountain climbing boots and different out of doors gear to borrow. The inn reveals off the dazzling panorama, and it’s simple to spend all day on the home windows watching the ocean whereas whales breech, icebergs float previous, or storms sprint on the rocks. See Afar’s full record of Canada’s greatest accommodations.
4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora
- Location: Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- Why we find it irresistible: Overwater bungalows with superlative service
- From $2,500
- Ebook now
Let’s face it: Relating to romantic getaways, overwater bungalows ship with their extremely non-public lodging and stylish settings. Mixing this method with a few of the greatest service in French Polynesia, 4 Seasons Resort Bora Bora provides all the weather of a magical castaway expertise. There are a complete of 108 overwater bungalows—27 with non-public swimming pools—however essentially the most over-the-top possibility is the Otemanu Overwater Bungalow Suite with 1,576 sq. ft of area, a non-public plunge pool, and views of each the lagoon and Mount Otemanu. The general design was impressed by a conventional Polynesian village, so it feels completely at house within the South Pacific waters. See Afar’s full record of the greatest overwater bungalows all over the world.
The Inexperienced O
- Location: Greenough, Montana
- Why we find it irresistible: Personal, adults-only retreats with fireplaces and forest views
- From $2,268
- Ebook now
The adults-only Inexperienced O contains 12 fashionable stand-alone lodging, or “hauses,” with 4 smooth, Scandinavian-inspired designs on the forested grounds of the Resort at Paws Up in northwest Montana. They embrace a “mild haus,” with two fireplaces and skylights superb for stargazing, and a “spherical haus,” with curved home windows that showcase forest views. The “inexperienced haus” options an atrium that maximizes indoor-outdoor dwelling.
For optimum cozy winter vibes, the very best decisions are the “tree haus” lodging, that are elevated 23 ft into the cover. These suites are three-story, glass-encased, Tetris-stacked buildings with a cylindrical spiral staircase on the heart. Along with a number of viewing platforms and a fire, there’s additionally a sizzling tub at floor stage. All include floor-to-ceiling home windows, Wild West–stylish furnishings in leather-based and wrought iron, and greater than 1,000 sq. ft of indoor dwelling area. There are additionally on-site mountain climbing trails, which start steps out of your door, horseback rides alongside the Blackfoot River, and hot-air balloon rides over the majestic Swan Mountains. See Afar’s full record of cozy U.S. accommodations to go to in winter.
Halekulani
- Location: Honolulu, O‘ahu
- Why we find it irresistible: A real sanctuary in the course of busy Waikīkī
- Loyalty Program: Leaders Membership (Main Lodges of the World)
- From $670
- Ebook now
Step into the serene, marble-clad halls of the Halekulani, and also you’d by no means guess that bustling Waikīkī sits proper outdoors the doorway. The lodge has been standing on the identical 5 beachfront acres for greater than a century. Right this moment, the 453 visitor rooms and suites, embellished in soothing blues and lotions, supply all the fashionable creature comforts for a tranquil getaway, from non-public lanais to deep soaking tubs.
Whereas the bustling seashore would possibly beckon extra social vacationers, these in search of quiet corners for tête-à-têtes can discover them everywhere in the lodge—whether or not subsequent to the swimming pool, lined with 1.2 million South African glass mosaic tiles, or over an intimate dinner at La Mer. The just lately transformed SpaHalekulani has a collection with the one Japanese furo tub in Waikīkī, the place you may guide a candelit soak or Lomilomi therapeutic massage for 2.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
- Location: Florida Keys
- Why we find it irresistible: Expertise non-public island life with no need a passport
- From $2,532, all-inclusive
- Ebook now
Positioned 28 miles east of Key West, the four-acre Little Palm Island is likely one of the few non-public island resorts within the USA. Adults solely and all-inclusive, the Relais & Châteaux resort is right for {couples} (there’s even a Romance Concierge). The 30 thatched-roof bungalow suites, every with non-public out of doors showers and verandas and no televisions, are hidden in tropical foliage. Apart from stress-free on the secluded seashore, many friends spend time in SpaTerre, which provides Balinese and Thai therapies, or on the supplied kayaks and paddleboards. Diving, fishing, and crusing excursions are additionally obtainable.—Devorah Lev-Tov
Longitude 131°
- The place: Yulara, Northern Territory
- Why we find it irresistible: Every luxurious tent has its personal view of Uluṟu
- From $2,480, all inclusive
- Ebook now
Australian Indigenous teams are among the many world’s first astronomers, with 1000’s of years of starlore and an early understanding of the night time sky. With virtually no city growth, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Nationwide Park incorporates a few of the most expansive skies on the planet, with unobstructed views from horizon to horizon. Sitting adjoining to the park is Longitude 131°, a luxurious tented camp that overlooks the Outback’s huge, dusty Crimson Centre and the famed monolithic Uluṟu (Ayers Rock) and the Kata Tjuṯa domed rock formations.
The lodge’s 16 tented pavilions are designed to have minimal influence on the fragile, red-dune atmosphere. Tents characteristic floor-to-ceiling home windows with views of Uluṟu, and personal out of doors decks have eco-friendly, clean-burning fireplaces and safari beds for sleeping underneath the celebs. Need views of each Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa? Ebook the two-bedroom Dune Pavilion suite, with non-public out of doors stargazing beds and an outside plunge pool to absorb the sky. See Afar’s full record of Australian accommodations we love.
The Peninsula Istanbul
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey
- Why we find it irresistible: An on the spot basic from a cult lodge model in a historic location
- From $650
- Ebook now
Staunchly boutique in an period of world company mergers, Peninsula Istanbul opened on the buzzy Karaköy waterfront with a definite East-West sensibility that harmonizes with this historical metropolis that actually bridges Europe and Asia. The complicated restored three protected heritage buildings that had been closed to the general public for many years. The perfect native ustas (craftspeople) had been enlisted to work on its marble, stained glass, and the mother-of-pearl inlays referred to as sedef.
The black-and-white pictures of Istanbul within the hallways are by mid-Twentieth-century Turkish photographer Ara Guler, whereas the copper-hued panels above beds within the 177 visitor rooms are designer-du-jour Zeynep Fadillioglu’s homage to the stonework of Anatolian mosques. Her tour-de-force underground spa options an 82-foot swimming pool beneath mild fittings modeled on Islamic honeycomb niches (muqarnas) that replicate within the water. Learn Afar’s in-depth assessment of the Peninsula Istanbul.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
- Location: The Empty Quarter, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Why we find it irresistible: A transporting retreat amid dramatic dunes and palm timber
- From $500
- Ebook now
Anantara’s Qasr Al Sarab is the stuff of desires that emerges from the far reaches of the Rub’ Al Khali Empty Quarter like a mirage. The resort’s location is nothing in need of breathtaking: It sits amid purple dunes on the finish of a ribbon of tarmac that winds its manner by means of undulating desert panorama. By day it’s all sunshine, palm timber, and soothing water options, a nod to the traditional Arabian falaj irrigation techniques that run by means of the area’s oases. By night time, it’s a respite with cooling breezes, silence, and lamplight.
The 205 visitor rooms, with palm-thatch ceilings, take cues from the area’s centuries-old nomadic traditions, with cushions and carpets impressed by conventional textiles. For an actual sense of seclusion, go for one of many household pool villas that really feel like miniature forts. There are camels, horses, and fats bikes to experience by means of the seemingly limitless sands and spa therapies that use Arabian dates and low. However the loveliest option to expertise the setting is to climb one of many close by dunes to look at the solar set. See Afar’s full record of prime accommodations and resorts in Abu Dhabi.
Raffles Udaipur
- Location: Rajasthan, India
- Why we find it irresistible: A showcase of regional tradition in a palatial setting
- Loyalty program: Accor Reside Limitless
- From $1,270
- Ebook now
Udaipur has loads of palatial stays, however the Raffles Udaipur captures the opulence of this historic kingdom, whereas giving friends a chance to completely unwind. A go to begins with a zero-emission boat experience to the property, positioned on a non-public island in the course of Udai Sagar Lake. Grand structure and interiors welcome friends, with particulars together with 16-foot-tall hand-painted murals, manicured gardens which might be house to 30 hen species, and a lavish spa. The 101 spacious lake-view rooms characteristic marble-inlay cabinets and complex woodwork. Pay shut consideration to the menu at Sawai Kitchen, the place dishes together with masaledaar bharwan kachhe tamatar (inexperienced tomato in Rajasthani spices) and dhungaar murgh (nation rooster cooked with complete spices) are a lesson on regional heirloom recipes. Learn Afar’s in-depth assessment of Raffles Udaipur.
Ritz Paris
- Location: Paris
- Why we find it irresistible: A star-studded historical past on a prestigious Paris place
- From $2,160
- Ebook now
The Ritz Paris is an icon on the Place Vendôme, and it’s the stuff of romance and concrete legends. A line types each night time on the no-reservations Bar Hemingway, named for the larger-than-life writer who claimed to have “liberated” it from German occupation. (In 1944, the lodge doubled as a Nazi headquarters, and Hemingway was amongst those that helped to reclaim it.) A no-expenses-spared restoration unveiled in 2016 restored the grande dame’s luster: The 142 visitor rooms are decked out with empire furnishings, floral silk materials, and marble fireplaces.
On the Ritz Paris, the style crowd vie to mattress down in Coco Chanel’s former condominium, now a devoted suite nonetheless housing the designer’s artwork assortment, velvet banquettes, and Chinese language lacquered screens. Culinary lovers study recipes on the Ritz Escoffier College, an homage to the culinary maestro who pioneered a brand new type of lodge expertise with César Ritz, aka “King of Hoteliers, and Hotelier to Kings.” (He was such a legend, he bequeathed the phrase “ritzy” to the dictionary.) And pastry followers reserve the Salon Proust for afternoon tea that includes recent madeleines by pâtissier extraordinaire François Perret. The elegant Ritz Paris Membership & Spa is worthy of an indulgent afternoon and just lately launched a brand new nail bar. See Afar’s full record of greatest accommodations in Paris.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth
- The place: St. Bart’s
- Why we find it irresistible: A secluded steer clear of St. Bart’s buzz
- From $1,144
- Ebook now
After renovations following 2017’s Hurricane Irma, the long-lasting Le Guanahani returned with a brand new identify—Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth—and new ranges of luxurious. Some issues have stayed the identical (or have been rebuilt to look the identical), just like the 66 lodging, together with rooms, suites, and signature suites painted in pastels and alongside winding pathways. The redone interiors, courtesy of designer Luis Pons, have white-beam ceilings and billowing white curtains with pops of coloration within the headboards, art work, and rugs.
With its prime location on an 18-acre non-public peninsula on the quiet northeastern aspect of St. Bart’s, Le Guanahani is the uncommon property on this buzzing island that provides vacationers a serene escape from the typically relentless glitz, plus room to unfold out. The lodge is framed by a reasonably lagoon and two seashores: Maréchal Bay (a sandy stretch) and Grand Cul de Sac (recognized for snorkeling and recognizing sea turtles).
Certainly one of Rosewood’s most enjoyable additions is the Sense Spa, a Zen-inspired sanctuary with a variety of therapies and actions designed to boost your total well-being. Don’t miss the immersive “Le Morne” Sense Spa Journey, which begins with a stroll by means of a nature reserve, adopted by a physique wrap, a firming leg therapeutic massage, and a soothing head-and-scalp therapeutic massage.
Royal Mansour Marrakech
- Location: Marrakech, Morocco
- Why we find it irresistible: Moroccan craftsmanship and ultra-private riads
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Lodges of the World)
- From $1,800
- Ebook now
Throughout the 53 pink-walled non-public riads of the Royal Mansour Marrakech, the craftsmanship—from the carved marble fountains within the atriums to the intricate tilework—really feel match for the proprietor, who occurs to be the King of Morocco. Simply as palatial is the gleaming white 27,000-square-foot spa. Wellness seekers can select individualized applications targeted on rebalancing, weight management, rejuvenation, or boosting immunity; they vary from 3 to 14 days with the help of consultants and cooks who help on vitamin plans. Artwork remedy workshops harness the facility of portray, pottery, or calligraphy to scale back nervousness and promote introspection in a glass-walled greenhouse. There are 10 spacious therapy rooms and three spa suites and, this being Morocco, an on-site hammam that makes use of clay from the Atlas Mountains and roses sourced from the Kalaat Begouna Valley close by. From $1,800. See Afar’s full record of prime wellness-focused resorts and accommodations.
Singita Sabora Tented Camp
- Location: Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania
- Why we find it irresistible: The final word under-canvas Serengeti expertise with out the crowds
- From $2,045
- Ebook now
Earlier than philanthropist Paul Tudor Jones took over the lease on the 350,000-acre Grumeti Reserve, the place Singita Sabora Tented Camp is positioned, it was a poached-out looking block. Over the previous twenty years, the constructive influence of Singita’s light-footprint, nature-based tourism right here, between group land and the unfenced western border of the Serengeti Nationwide Park, has contributed to the restoration of a historic animal migration route. Success tales embrace the reintroduction of jap black rhino and the return of enormous elephant and buffalo herds. All of this ensures that sport viewing occurs year-round, not simply when migrating wildebeest arrive in the hunt for recent grazing.
Of the reserve’s 5 retreats—every individually tailor-made to its location on the reserve—Sabora provides hospitality underneath canvas that feels luxurious but linked to the panorama. In 2020, Singita rebuilt this longtime favourite, swapping romantic Nineteen Twenties-era vintage furnishings with an elegant minimalism that blends into the grassy plains. On nearer inspection, interiors reveal layers of handcrafted element and native provenance. Trendy must-haves within the explorer-style camp embrace a library and media room, winetasting room, health heart, and spa, all underneath canvas, and 9 self-contained tented suites with absolutely stocked pantries, non-public decks large enough for yoga mats, open-plan loos, and canopied beds with localized AC to preserve power.
The meals is usually ready by graduates of Grumeti’s personal group culinary faculty and makes essentially the most of domestically sourced produce and East African flavors. Take your choose from full-on Swahili feasts to meal-in-one salads for days out within the bush. Apart from lengthy, immersive sport drives with out one other automotive in sight, the erudite, passionate guides take friends on nature walks or to go to RISE, an modern analysis heart on website the place scientists are utilizing information to tell conservation options. See Afar’s full record of prime safari camps in Africa.
St. Regis Venice
- Location: Venice, Italy
- Why we find it irresistible: A central location with robust artwork connections and Monet-worthy Grand Canal views
- Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy
- From $840
- Ebook now
Overlooking the Grand Canal, the St. Regis Venice debuted in 2019 following a two-year renovation to the Grand Resort Britannia, which initially opened in 1895—the yr of the inaugural Venice Biennale. The lodge has hosted such artists as J.M.W. Turner and Claude Monet; each painted Grand Canal views on show on this lodge of 163 visitor rooms and suites; all are designed with vivid colours and filled with pure mild (and lots of have non-public balconies).
Artwork stays a central focus of the lodge. Works by Ai Weiwei adorn the halls within the type of eccentric chandeliers and cheeky “Center Finger” sculptures. Lately, the St. Regis opened Arts Bar, which serves cocktails named after well-known work and served in custom-designed glasses by Berengo Studio, positioned on the close by island of Murano. (The lodge can prepare unique excursions of the studio for friends.)
Due to its prime location lower than 5 minutes by foot from Piazza San Marco, St. Regis Venice is stuffed with cinematic moments, whether or not you’re disembarking out of your non-public boat switch on the lodge’s waterfront entrance or having fun with breakfast on the terrace at Gio’s Restaurant as gondolas and seagulls sail by.
This text initially revealed in February 2024. It was up to date with new reporting in February 2025.
