This Valentine's Day, I suggest you think outside the box of chocolates and surprise your loved one with a most romantic gesture: Plan a trip-for-two to a clandestine hideout. Spending time in a passionate place is a great way to reignite the spark and keep romance alive any time of year.

On that note, here are my suggestions for the top 10 most romantic hideaways around the world.

1. Glenmere Mansion (Chester, New York)—Escape to this cozy country estate (once owned by a real tycoon) and stroll hand-in-hand in the formal gardens, dance to "your song" played on the grand piano, and retreat to your elegant suite with classic decor and all the modern conveniences.

2. Little Palm Island (Florida Keys)—Reachable only by boat, this idyllic hideaway has just 28 stilted, thatched-roof bungalows (where no TVs or phones can interrupt the mood), tempting hammocks under swaying palms, a Zen Garden, and superb cuisine served right on the beach. Read my report on my most recent stay there, and why it could have been a tad more romantic.

3. Moonlight Camp - The Resort at Paws Up (Greenough, Montana)—This luxury riverside tent camp, for adults only, offers a romantic taste of the Old West and a near-nature experience, with no hint of roughing it. Dine on gourmet cuisine, and enjoy a sore-muscle-melting massage in the Spa Tent. A "camping butler" is near at hand to grant your every wish.

4. Jamaica Inn (Ocho Rios, Jamaica)—This one's all about enjoying traditional British civility and service in an intimate beach setting with a 6-acre gardened estate, a 700-foot private beach, and a collection of enticing suites and elegant cottages. Hideaways' favorite: Cottage #3 on a rocky bluff, very private and elegant, with an intimate hot tub overlooking the azure Caribbean.

5. Blue Palace Resort & Spa (Crete, Greece)—Foster a little romance while sharing an open-air meal by candlelight overlooking Mirabello Bay, then restore your libido with a sensual steam bath and picture an indefinite future together while relaxing in your room's own (swimsuit-optional) infinity pool.

6. Villa & Palazzo Aminta (Stresa, Italy)—Enjoy old-world Italian luxury and life's most civilized pleasures here, whether you're relaxing in a chaise by Lake Maggiore, jetting from one alluring island to another (easily reachable from the hotel's dock), or sharing a divine meal.

7. The Salt Hotel (Uyuni, Bolivia)—When it's time to add a little spice to your daily routine, consider adding some salt, literally, at this boutique hotel. Almost everything, including your bed, is made of salt from the Uyuni Salt Flats, the world's largest, highest, and most dramatic expanse of salt.

8. Turtle Inn (Placencia, Belize)—Built by film director Francis Ford Coppola, this archetypical beach hideout (just perfect for you "castaway couple" types) is perhaps best described as rustically elegant, with its thatched-roof cottages, well-manicured grounds, and Bali-meets-Belize decor. Check out my son Andrew's Belize report.

9. The Sarojin (Khao Lak, Thailand)—At this modern Asian oasis of restoration, each of the spacious one-bedroom "guest residences" is set among serene gardens and benefits from little luxuries like a couple's bath. The in-house "Imagineer" (the ultimate personal concierge) can organize all manner of romantic escapes, like a private champagne picnic by a hidden waterfall. Read about my romantic albeit solo stay here, and my amazing private seaside "picnic."

10. Silversea Cruises (Worldwide)—This is the epitome of luxurious cruising, with intimate, all-oceanview-suite ships, six-star level of quality and service, fewer guests, more room, and an all-inclusive price tag that covers food, beverages, and a selection of well-organized excursions.

There's still time to plan your Valentine's getaway if you act quickly. After all, spontaneity can be very heady and exciting stuff!

Happy travels,


Mike Thiel
Founder, President, Inveterate Traveler