Celebrate Love Around the Globe on Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and everyone is looking for that perfect romantic travel destination. Whether you’re looking for the ideal romantic getaway or that once-in-a-lifetime location to pop the question, Jetset Extra’s got you covered. We scoured the globe to find the most glamorous and romantic getaways for Valentine’s Day 2012.

Head down to Costa Rica to the Nayara Hotel, Spa, and Gardens for a dramatic getaway overlooking the Arenal Volcano. TripAdvisor named it the “Most Romantic Hotel in Central and South America,” and for good reason – the Nayara has 50 individual casitas with private terraces featuring outdoor showers and hot tubs. Wander the Nayara’s 15 acres of lush gardens, swim in a sparkling pool, or head out to one of the numerous attractions in the area.

For a sizzling Valentine’s Day, think Grenada – the Isle of Spice. Your sweetheart will love the boutique Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort on Grand Anse Beach. With its 21 deluxe villas and luxury suites and Cinnamon Spa, the Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort is the perfect romantic getaway. Sit on the terrace at Savvy’s Restaurant and gaze at the glittering lights of St. George’s reflected in the Caribbean while you enjoy gourmet meals prepared from produce grown on the nearby plantation estates. For an adults-only retreat, consider the exclusive LaSource resort on Pink Gin Beach. Be as active or relaxed as you like – LaSource offers a variety of classes and activities, including snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, yoga, pilates, tennis, archery, and even scuba yoga. Both resorts are offering specials throughout February 2012. Learn more of the Caribbean’s Elite Island Resorts.

For breathtaking views, nothing beats Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Whether you love to hit the slopes or just appreciate a winter wonderland, Lake Tahoe is a stunning setting to celebrate your love. Board the Heavenly Gondola with your special someone and alight on the observation deck at 9,123 feet above the topaz waters of Lake Tahoe. 

If you and your valentine love adventure, think about a dogsledding trip through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Take the lead and drive your own team or snuggle together under a sleeping bag on a short jaunt or an all-day outing. Or take an overnight trip to the romantic Mahoosuc Inn, perhaps pausing on one of the high peaks to pop the question. Once you arrive at the inn you’ll enjoy wine, a home-cooked meal, a hot tub, and massages. Best of all, the tours support the Husky rescue efforts of the Muddy Paw Kennel.

For a rustic Valentine’s Day celebration, check out the Smoky View Cottages in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Cabins feature romantic fireplaces or intimate secluded hot tubs, and the hiking and trout fishing is phenomenal.

In nearby Asheville, North Carolina, historic Biltmore offers a truly luxurious getaway in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. U.S. presidents, celebrities, and literary lions have all considered the Biltmore to be their favorite getaway. This lovely French Renaissance chateau – America’s Largest Home – offers the perfect romantic backdrop for your Valentine’s Day. Take a sunset carriage ride or a romantic horseback ride, or stay inside and enjoy the fragrance of the Orchid Room. The Biltmore also features a winery, fine dining, and beautiful art and antiques.

Lovers of exquisite architecture should head out to Connecticut for a unique getaway at Rock Hall in the Berkshires. This 1912 Mediterranean Revival-style manor house originally built by famed architect Addison Mizner is the last remaining Mizner-built home north of the Mason-Dixon Line and was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year. There are only five guest rooms – four have en-suite fireplaces – so you’ll truly feel like a guest in an exclusive private home. Rock Hall’s Valentine’s “Love Shack” package includes flowers, chocolates, and champagne as well as breakfast mimosas and discounts on couples’ massage.

If you’re looking for an elegant Valentine’s Day getaway for you and your sweetheart, head down to La Playa Beach and Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. Their Arousing Romance package features champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a private dinner on the beach with a custom menu, a couples’ massage, and a night on the town – tickets to the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra or the Silverspot Symphony. La Playa’s glittering white-sand beach features private cabanas and personal beach butlers.

The Omni Amelia Island Plantation is offering a romantic package for at the oceanfront inn that includes a room-service breakfast on a private balcony. Explore Northeast Florida’s 1,350-acre barrier island near the Intracoastal Waterway on your personal “island hopper” and stop at a French market to fill a picnic basket for a brilliant sunset over the natural salt marshlands.

Puerto Rico offers a beautiful backdrop for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day getaway. Watch wild horses gallop past on a pristine beach in Vieques, take a boat ride on the glowing bioluminescent waters of Mosquito Bay, or explore the historic fortress of El Morro perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in San Juan. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with a wide variety of accommodations ranging from five-star resorts to paradores – charming locally operated boutique hotels.

If your sweetheart loves sweets, check out this Valentine’s package through February 2012 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, CA. You’ll be greeted upon arrival with a bottle of house champagne and donut holes with vanilla ice cream plus crispy waffles with salty caramel ice cream. Awaken in your deluxe guestroom to a bedside breakfast for two. The AAA Four Diamond Laguna Cliffs Marriott features two heated pools, a 14,000-foot spa, and is situated near five local golf courses.

The Boulders is a romantic Waldorf-Astoria resort in Carefree, Arizona that features private casitas with wood-burning fireplaces tucked among dramatic 12-million-year-old boulder formations. For a truly romantic Valentine’s Day treat, consider a private dinner on top of a pile of boulders at Sunset Point, a moonlight bicycle ride, or an intimate hot-air balloon trip with champagne. Enjoy a romantic couples’ aromatherapy massage or a decadent dinner for two at the Boulders Resort.

For an exotic getaway in the Belizean jungle, consider the Ka’ana Boutique resort 70 miles outside of Belize City in a valley of the Maya Mountains. Stay in a private cottage and enjoy a pool, a gourmet restaurant, a small spa and the biggest wine cellar in Belize, or explore the nearby town of San Ignacio. You can also experience horseback riding, have a private picnic at Big Rock Falls, go cave tubing, and visit Mayan ruins. For an unforgettable experience, spend the night alone in the ancient Mayan city of Caracol.

If you’d like to celebrate Valentine’s Day up in the air, head to the Lodge at Sedona, AZ for a romantic sunrise balloon ride. Glide over the Red Rock country of northern Arizona on a three- to four-hour adventure. Once back at the lodge, relax at the indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, and check out the meditative labyrinth.

For an exotic Valentine’s getaway, head to the Tongabezi Safari Lodge near Victoria Falls in Zambia. The Tongabezi Safari Lodge offers several romantic accommodations, including the Honeymoon House and the Tree House, where you can relax overlooking the Zambezi River and enjoy secluded candlelight dinners under the stars, sunken open-air tubs, and beds swathed in filmy mosquito netting. Each house and cottage has its own valet who acts as your personal concierge throughout your stay.

If you and your sweetheart are looking for quiet time, think about the “Kalahari Safari of Silence” in Botswana. This is for couples who really, really like each other – it’s said that the silence is so complete in the vast Makgadikgadi Pans that you can hear your own blood flowing. Expert Africa offers tours to those who are seeking to unplug from the connectivity and noise of modern life.

Romance awaits in Aspen, CO at the Little Nell, a five-star, five-diamond hotel that has been named the most romantic ski lodge in the West. Go skiing or snowboarding with your sweetie, soak in a hot tub, and then curl up in front of the fire with a glass of wine or a cup of cocoa. Visit one of the nearby restaurants or indulge in a horse-drawn carriage ride. For a truly unforgettable experience, ride the Silver Queen Gondola up Aspen Mountain to an elevation of more than 11,000 feet.

There are plenty of opportunities for romance in San Diego this Valentine’s Day. At the Hotel del Coronado, soak up 120 years of history while you enjoy the wine and chocolate tasting room, the Spa at the Del, and the 1500 Ocean restaurant. Have a private bonfire on the beach or visit the 1500 Ocean restaurant.

The historic Hotel Galvez and Spa on the beach at Galveston Island, Texas is the perfect place to pop the question, renew your vows, or just enjoy a romantic getaway with your Valentine. Enjoy champagne upon arrival, rose petals on the bed, and breakfast in bed throughout the weekend with their Romantic Rendezvous package.

Or take to the skies in a hot-air balloon for a champagne toast high above San Diego County. California Dreamin’ offers sunrise and sunset flights above the beautiful Del Mar coastline. If a sailplane is more your style, glide like Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in the Thomas Crowne Affair over the backcountry of San Diego County with Sky Sailing, Inc.

For art lovers, the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Washington offers the “Hot Piece of Glass” package that includes two tickets to the Museum of Glass and a hands-on glassblowing class for two at the nearby Tacoma Glassblowing Studio. You’ll return home with a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted memento of your Valentine’s getaway.

Head down to the U.S. Virgin Islands for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day at the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas. Their Valentine’s package includes a five-night stay, a sunset cocktail cruise on a 53-foot catamaran, a three-course dinner and bottle of wine, rose petals on the bed and a bottle of champagne upon arrival, and complimentary non-motorized watersports equipment and an in-pool SCUBA lesson. For an extra-special romantic experience, arrange for a private dinner on the beach or transport to a secluded island post for a private gourmet picnic.

For a unique way to pop the question, head to Las Vegas and the Minus5 Ice Bar. With 48 hours notice, you can order up the “Monica,” a $10,000 cocktail made with Jewel of Russia Ultra vodka and a diamond engagement ring frozen into the glass. You’ll also get dressed up in fun faux-fur coats and booties to wander a winter wonderland of intricately carved ice sculpture.