Who needs a heart-shaped box of overpriced chocolate or a bunch of long-stemmed red roses? This Valentine’s Day, forgo the cliché gifts and surprise your sweetheart with a memorable weekend getaway to one of these ultra-romantic hideaways.
Poetic charm
Write an international chapter in your love story with a stay at The Dylan, a luxurious boutique hotel centrally located in Amsterdam’s trendy Nine Streets shopping area. After scouring the streets for vintage sweaters or artisan handmade soaps, settle in for hot seasonal drinks and traditional Dutch delights at the hotel’s Bar Brasserie OCCO. On Feb. 14, Justin Samgar, Amsterdam’s very own poetry pusher, will create personalized poems for couples on an old-fashioned typewriter, based on their unique interests. Details: dylanamsterdam.com
Mindful pampering
Located in the idyllic town of Washington, Conn., The Mayflower Grace is a picturesque country retreat nestled among 23 hectares of landscaped gardens and forest. The Relais & Chateaux property is also home to one of the most luxurious spas in New England, offering personalized wellness programs and unique treatments, such as sound healing, private duet yoga, guided couples meditation and blue heron insights — an in-depth consultation to optimize communication with your partner. Details: gracehotels.com/mayflower
Fancy farmhouse
Each of the 20 suites at Twin Farms in Barnard, Vt., has its own wood-burning fireplace and serene views of the property’s 121 hectares of meadowlands. The all-inclusive hotel’s culinary program features a cooking suite that offers private lessons with executive chef Nathan Rich and an in-kitchen dining experience for couples. If cooking isn’t your thing, there’s also a flower-arranging masterclass and furniture workshop. After all that learning, reward yourself with a soak in the hotel’s furo, a clothing-optional Japanese-style tub. Details: twinfarms.com
Island elegance
The Chanler in Newport, R.I., has been featured in both Vogue and Goop, actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog, for good reason. The stylish seaside mansion features 20 exquisitely designed rooms, each with its own fireplace and decorated to pay homage to different eras. Take a romantic stroll along Newport’s famous Cliff Walk, which is dotted with some of Newport’s grandest historic mansions. Afterwards, request a s’mores kit from the concierge and build your own treats by the outdoor fire pit while looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. Details: thechanler.com
Cabin fever
Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter, N.Y., reopened in November 2016 following an extensive renovation and is now one of the hottest hotels in the area. A short drive from Hunter Mountain, the 38-room bohemian-style property offers a romantic cabin holiday without the high price tag of a typical ski trip. The hotel features cosy, simple rooms and an on-site adventure concierge to curate day trips to the Catskills and Hudson Valley. Spend your days skiing and evenings sipping hot chocolate by one of the many fireplaces. Details: scribnerslodge.com
Denise Dias is a Toronto writer.
Denise Dias is a Toronto writer.
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