Getaways

How Do I Love Thee?

Spirit your significant other away this Valentine’s Day to a hotel that exudes exoticism, luxury, or romance.

Laluna, Grenada

Escape to the exotic “spice isle” of Grenada, where the aroma of the nutmeg that grows throughout the island scents the air. Chic and friendly Laluna, Grenada’s leading boutique hotel, is located on a quiet beach; its 16 multi-hued cottages (each with plunge pool and veranda) are set atop a flower-strewn hillside overlooking the gentle surf. Book a Balinese-style massage to get completely relaxed, then take in the sunset on the beach, watching the sky turn magenta and scarlet. As a calypso band plays seaside, the full Caribbean moon (“la luna”) rises, adding its benediction to your love. 866.452.5862, laluna.com

Schlosshotel Hugenpoet, Ruhr Valley, Germany

Picture this scene: You arrive at this moated 17th-century castle in Germany’s Ruhr Valley across a long bridge flanked by torches. The stone walls and twin turrets instantly transport you to a romantic world of the past. While it’s romantic every time of day, imagine an evening arrival, the brick facade lit up like a dream and the entranceway across the moat flanked by torches. Canapés and champagne arrive in your room just moments after you do. The next morning, the sun rises on a fairy-tale landscape of greenery, waiting for a couple in love to take a stroll through the flora-laden grounds, and chef Erika Bergheim waits to create culinary masterpieces for two in the top-notch restaurant. If you’re marrying or vow-renewing, you can even arrive at the castle in a horse-drawn carriage. 800.745.8883, hugenpoet.de

Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, Sweden

The guest list of Stockholm’s Grand Hôtel mirrors its name: Each year’s Nobel Prize winners stay here, as well as a long roster of kings, queens, and movie stars. With two Michelin-starred restaurants onsite, you know your dining experience will be nothing short of a culinary wonder, and what could be more romantic than the hotel’s waterfront setting, the centuries-old buildings of Stockholm’s old city, and the glorious Royal Palace rising across the water? If you’re getting married, you can’t do better than the Spegelsalen (“Hall of Mirrors”), with its fabulous chandeliers, mirrored panels, painted ceilings, and cream-colored walls adorned in gold flourishes. It’s been hosting extravagant events since the late 19th century, including the first Nobel Prize ceremony, in 1901. 800.745.8883, grandhotel.se