Destinations Designed for Romance

You don’t need an excuse to do something special for the one you love, but with Valentines Day fast approaching, this is the perfect time to plan a romantic getaway for two. Whether you’re off to Europe, or want to stay local, here’s a guide to a few very romantic destinations.

Hotel de Orangerie, Bruges

The cobblestoned streets and quaint canals of Bruges were just made for romance. Spend the day sampling Belgian chocolates in all shapes, colours and flavours and the night trying moules and frites. Zip along the canals on a boat tour alongside the city’s resident white swans. At the Hotel de Orangerie, rooms in the rafters look out across to the bell tower and are a confection of delicate pink wallpaper and gilded mirrors. Take tea downstairs in the lounge, where vintage Louis Vuitton luggage is stacked artfully in the corner.

Azur Luxury Lodge, Queenstown

Despite popular belief, Queenstown has a lot more to offer than snow sports and adventure activities. While to many the idea of bundling up in beanies and ski boots is not particularly romantic, once you’re off the slopes there’s open air onsens and hot springs, après drinks and fine dining to enjoy. At Azur Lodge, nine luxury villas offer a little oasis from the ski village lifestyle. Looking out over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables, each villa has a super king bed and a bath tub set into its own bay window. The main lodge is home to lounge and dining areas, but treat your special someone to in-villa dining for a more intimate affair.

Ametis Villas, Bali

These luxury villas in Canggu provide everything you need for a fly and flop holiday. With a butler at your beck and call, plunge pool, bath tub overlooking the lunge pool and spa and restaurant on site, you’re set for two nights or two weeks of pure luxury. Each villa is more like an open-air pavilion in its own compound, with bedroom, bath tub, kitchen and living areas clustered around a plunge pool that’s big enough to be in your backyard. There’s only 14 villas in the entire complex so you’ll never feel crowded.

BLUE Sydney, a Taj Hotel

Running right along the edge of historic Cowper Wharf, BLUE Sydney is the place to stay if you’re after more than just a cookie cutter hotel room. No, you won’t look out at the Harbour Bridge or the Circular Quay, but you’re still right on the edge of Sydney Harbour. Moor your yacht out the front or hop in a water taxi from Circular Quay and cruise right up to the front door. Inside, BLUE has preserved its historic past – the converted warehouse was once the cargo handling space for ships coming into the harbor. The long covered foyer is the setting for Water Bar, where the cosy nooks are snapped up by couples drinking cocktails. Book into one of the loft suites, which take advantage of the sloping roof and are popular with honeymooners.

Hotel Danieli, Venice

The grand staircase inside Venice’s Hotel Danieli has been the setting for many a romantic scene – whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or a honeymoon couple. The former palace dates back to the 14th century and takes opulence to a new level. Expect plenty of gold leaf furniture, Murano-glass chandeliers and hand carved marble columns. Bedrooms look out to the Grand Canal while the hotel itself is just minutes from San Marco Square and the Doges Palace.

The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne

If you’re after a bit of old fashioned romance, with a good dose of old world glamour, The Windsor Hotel has both in spades. One of Melbourne’s first five star hotels, it opened in 1983 and is older than the Hotel Ritz in Paris, Raffles in Singapore and the Savoy in London. Expect chandeliers, marble bathrooms, claw foot bath tubs and downright decadence. Prime ministers, politicians, pop stars and celebrities have all called the hotel home when in Melbourne. Check in for a night away from the hustle and bustle of modern Melbourne, or spend an afternoon having high tea, where the dining room is filled with white gloves, silver trays and perfect petit fours.