11 Most Romantic Hotels Around the World

Exclusive luxury sculpted into a jungle-clad wilderness is waiting for you at One&Only Palmilla, positioned at the far tip of the Baja Peninsula. The difficulty in reaching the hotel is part of the allure – you get top-of-the-range luxury with raw nature where deserts, jungles, and oceans meet. For active types, there’s a private beach with snorkels and stand-up paddleboards, along with a fantastic 18-hole golf course next door. If that’s too active for you, head to the spa for a 4-hand massage before spending a few hours at the adults-only pool.

Of the 4 fantastic restaurants, our pick for a romantic evening would be the Michelin-starred steakhouse, Seared, which sources exquisite cuts of beef from across the continent. Evenings are spent listening to live acoustic tunes under starlight at Agua Bar.

Plan a couple’s escape with exquisite Japanese sensibilities at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). There are plenty of romantic destinations across Japan, but if you’re looking for hot springs and superb natural beauty with Lake Ashinoko and Mount Fuji views, Hakone should be high on your list. The gentle winds and seasonal panoramic scenes feel like a million miles from buzzing Tokyo, although, in reality, it's little more than 2 hours away.

Among the most luxurious (even though traditional) ryokans in Hakone is Gora Kadan. This former imperial family retreat immerses you in Japanese style and culture. Long and beautiful corridors with openings frame the beautiful gardens and mountains outside. Tatami mats cover the floors and shoji paper sliding doors divide the rooms. The best bit? You and your significant other can unwind at your own private onsen and zen garden at the end of each day.

As one of the world’s most romantic cities, NYC’s vibrancy owes to its fast pace with contrasting oases of greenery, the likes of Central Park. And for an elegant stay near the iconic park, The Plaza Hotel is a top choice. The castle-like 5-star hotel on Central Park South dates back to 1907 and is a New York landmark and cultural institution in its own right.

A go-to for romance, style, and history, The Plaza has attracted world leaders, diplomats, and Hollywood celebrities. One of the most dramatic scenes in Baz Lurhmann’s romance/drama flick The Great Gatsby (2013) was shot in one of its suites. To ultimately woo your loved one, consider booking the one-of-a-kind Fitzgerald Suite, designed by the film’s Oscar-winning production designer.

With its jaw-dropping location by the Andaman Sea, The Shore at Katathani easily melts hearts. This adults-only resort is fit for either a getaway or a honeymoon. The Shore features ultrachic villas neatly arranged over a lush green hill overlooking the long coastal stretch of Kata Noi Beach. The villas are roomy and feature private pools as well as sitting areas where you can take in the breathtaking view.

The Seaview Pool Villa is a top choice for intimacy, with romantic signature bath rituals and extra special lighting and décor often an added feature. The Shore’s verdant tropical grounds include 2 outdoor pools, a luxurious spa with open-air plunge pools, and a beachfront bar for sipping cocktails together as the skies turn crimson.

Ipanema is one of Rio’s most alluring beaches where natural beauty, modern elegance, and romance intertwine. The 5-star Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro is a fittingly elegant hotel gracing its waterfront. Designed by French industrial architect Philippe Starck, Fasano has plush rooms with balconies from where you can take in Ipanema’s breathtaking views.

Oceanfront suites feature a balcony overlooking Ipanema Becah and a loft-style living room with designer furniture. Fasano has a spa and a private beach, and you can rent bikes for a casual ride down the coast. Be back in time for sunset at Fasano’s prime spot: the rooftop infinity pool. Here, you can enjoy a soak or a quiet huddle on a parasol-shaded cabana while sipping tropical juices.

The French capital exudes a romantic atmosphere with its beautiful architecture and unique places, and Maison Souquet happens to be one fine example. This luxurious Parisienne hotel in the Pigalle district is set in a neoclassical building and features heavily decorated Napoleon III-style furnishings and polychromy throughout.

Even so, beyond the classical décor, you’ll find modern features such as Wi-Fi and smart TVs as well as designer toiletries in the rooms and suites. Check out the elegant courtyard or the lounge with its library, fireplace, and bar. Then there’s the ‘secret spa’ (available for private use) with an indoor pool, a hammam and a treatment room with celestial-themed ceilings.

Escape from it all with a secluded island stay in the Baa Atoll in the Maldives. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is an upscale island resort that occupies a whole tiny island in the atoll, with a collection of luxury water villas arranged over a shallow reef offshore.

The island is about 6 km from the inhabited Kendhoo Island and getting there is part of the experience. You’ll access the island by seaplane, which is a wonderful 35-minute scenic flight from Maldive’s capital, Malé. At your ‘over water’ villa, you can either soak in your infinity pool or your glass-bottomed bathtub. You can also simply step outside and into the calm waves against the big blue. And for any needs during your stay, there’s Anantara’s Villa Host butler service, around the clock and at your fingertips.

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul serves as a wonderful and central base for your romantic escapades in the South Korean capital. This urban sanctuary sits on the eastern foothills of lush Nam Mountain in the Jung-gu neighbourhood. From here, you have plenty of central Seoul’s main attractions within easy reach, such as the N Seoul Tower and the must-see Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The collection of suites and pool suites offer a quiet retreat amid the bustle of Seoul, each with views of the mountain, the city skyline, or a combination of both. Unwind and rejuvenate together with a romantic couple’s massage at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa. You can arrange for a dinner-for-2 in the privacy of your own suite, complete with flower arrangements, candles, and champagne.

For an amazing couples’ winterland escape with the Finnish Lapland outdoors and the spectacle of the northern lights as a bonus, consider staying at Wilderness Hotel Nellim & Igloos. As its name suggests, this laidback family-run hotel is set in the wilderness area of Nellim, just a short walk from the shores of Lake Inari.

You’ll stay in rustic hut-style suites or cabins with glass domes with some featuring saunas and/or fireplaces. Great year-round, it's a magical place to witness natural phenomena above the arctic circle. You’ll have lasting memories of the midnight sun in summer, the sun not rising above the horizon during polar nights or brilliant foliage colours in autumn. And between late August and early April, you’re in for sky-gazing with the brilliance of aurora borealis on display.

Award-winning Cap Rocat is a superb choice for a secluded and inspiring couples’ getaway or honeymoon in the Mediterranean. This private resort lies at the heart of a 30-hectare nature reserve on the southwest coast of Mallorca and is set in an ancient cliff-perched fortress. You’ll practically be staying in a luxuriously furnished and fortified citadel.

Most of the resort’s accommodations and facilities reflect its rustic clifftop setting, with its chic rooms and suites spacious and cave-like. Its courtyards, stone alleys, and battlements carved into the rock have been splendidly restored and transformed into elegant rooms. Head down to Sea Club for a table for 2 to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and Spanish wines with the wonderful views of the Bay of Palma, or book a soothing couples’ session at its rock-carved spa that’s 12 metres underground.

GoldenEye is not your ordinary Jamaican beachfront hotel. This compound of tropical villas, gardens and private beaches on Oracabessa Bay in northern Jamaica is perhaps best known as Ian Fleming’s estate where he began writing the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. Three decades later, Sting wrote Every Breath You Take at Fleming's desk during his stay.

Fascinating history aside, GoldenEye continues to inspire not only authors and songwriters but also couples and honeymooners with its charming tropical architecture and landscaping. Each standalone villa is a relaxed and private space with hardwood floors and high ceilings, surrounded by native greenery and directly facing either the beach or lagoon. They also feature a full kitchen, a large private porch, and an outdoor garden shower.