Hard-partying Cancún, Mexico, isn’t the first place you’d think to take a secluded romantic getaway. But adults-only Le Blanc Spa Resort will make you think again. This all-inclusive sets the mood with a private beach, butler service, and infinity pools—and has even attracted romcom sweetheart Julia Roberts.
That’s no surprise to André Leavitt of Time Travels Inc., who wholeheartedly recommends the couples-only, all-inclusive experience to clients. “These resorts are simply more conducive to romance,” says the travel pro and mom. As Leavitt knows, sometimes you want a table just for two, without any kids in shouting distance. And the best romantic all-inclusive resorts have evolved to appeal to more sophisticated tastes—improving menus, diversifying amenities, and raising the bar on 24/7 service.
Related: Best Affordable All-Inclusive Resorts
With all your meals and activities at the ready, you can tune out distractions and tune in to each other. This kind of coveted alone time comes easily on the island of Maui at Travaasa Hana, a serene group of plantation-style cottages that purposely don’t have TVs, radios, or clocks. Instead, you’ll wake up to the sound of the Pacific waves outside your window, soak in a private hot tub, and learn to stand-up paddleboard or even hula. Trying out something new together is bound to get that adrenaline pumping.
While endless water views are undeniably romantic, cuddling by the fire at a mountain hideaway has its own dreamy appeal. The Adirondacks are the site of one such retreat, The Point Resort on the edge of Saranac Lake, which draws big-city couples looking for a quick escape, whatever the season. Blame it on the nightly bonfires, sunset cruises, and the ganache hot chocolate.
Related: 50 Best Romantic Getaways 2010
Of course, all this gourmet eating, pampering, and bliss comes at a price, anywhere from about $120 per person per night to upward of $600. But once you find the resort that’s right for you two, the bucks stop there. “Not having to think about paying for a drink by the pool or lunch—it’s a completely carefree experience,” says Ernesto Coppel, founder and CEO of Pueblo Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas.
Related: The 50 Most Romantic Places in the World
After all, when the fire pits come on at Pueblo Bonito, theirs aren’t the only sparks flying.
Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
Thai kings chose Hua Hin for their summer palace, and not far away, within seven acres of banyan-filled gardens, this beachfront resort makes everyday couples feel like royalty. After a welcoming lemongrass tea, a personal adviser will help you plan a program that might include cooking classes, watsu treatments, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and herbal massages. The just-renovated spa draws on organic products grown at Chiva-Som, and private butlers keep the attentive service going throughout your stay.
Price Tag: From approximately $2,000 per person per night for a three-night stay; includes all meals and drinks, selection of one daily massage per day, fitness and leisure activities, wellness consultation, and unlimited use of water therapy suites; adults only (16 or older).
Couples Sans Souci, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Your biggest worry at this cliff-side Jamaican resort may be choosing just how to indulge yourselves. You could opt for a rubdown in a cabana overlooking the turquoise sea, or seek out the award-winning spa’s hidden, spring-fed grotto. There are coral reefs to explore, balcony hammocks for dozing off to the sound of the waves, and fantastic sizzling jerk chicken at the resort’s beachside Bella Vista restaurant.
Price Tag: From approximately $456 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, and nightly entertainment; adults only (18 or older).
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
This 154-room retreat wins over couples with 2.5 miles of private, pristine sand; no hard-partying tourists or pesky beach vendors here. Instead expect your own beach bed, candlelit beachside dinners, and wellness classes to set the lazy agenda. Two outdoor heated pools with underwater music, tennis courts, and a cactus garden round out the resort. In the fall, 54 new rooms will open, including six suites with private pools.
Price Tag: From approximately $270 per person per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, and use of sister properties; adults only (18 or older).
Royal Davui Island Resort, Fiji
So remote that it’s accessible only by boat or helicopter, this South Pacific island resort guarantees some coveted alone time—and in a paradise-like setting. Consider your accommodations: 16 thatched-roof villas, each hidden by dense plant life and equipped with a private plunge pool overlooking Beqa Lagoon; an outdoor shower; and stretches of white-sand beach. Venture out for champagne breakfasts on a deserted sandbar and diving with dolphins and turtles.
Price Tag: From approximately $1,148 per couple per night; includes all meals and use of nonmotorized sports; adults only (16 or older).
Excellence Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Groves of coconut palms make way for this colonial-village-style resort facing a 30-mile stretch of powder-white beach. Excellence counts eight restaurants, 10 bars, two enormously never-ending pools, and private swim-up suites with awesome sea vistas. Days are filled with yoga, coastal horseback rides, siestas on your hammock, or hand-in-hand beach strolls. Stick around the beach as night falls for sunset dinners and moonlit massages.
Price Tag: From approximately $282 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, and nightly entertainment; adults only (18 or older).
Spicers Peak Lodge, Queensland, Australia
Two hours from Brisbane, the lush mountainous Scenic Rim region is the gorgeous setting of this 9,000-acre lodge, where you can soak in the view from a heated infinity pool. There are 10 suites and two private lodges done in soothing natural tones, most with fireplaces and marble bathrooms. You’ll wake up to a new adventure daily, whether bushwalking in the Australian rainforest, wine-tasting at local vineyards, or biking to a secluded picnic spot.
Price Tag: From approximately $1,200 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks, nonmotorized activities, and selected guided activities; caters to adults (18 or older).
Casa Velas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Mexican sculptor Sergio Bustamante’s works decorate many of these 80 suites done in vibrant yellows and reds with traditional textiles and wooden beams. Soak in your terrace Jacuzzi or take the included beach bag to a nearby private beach club. Flanked by a world-class golf course, the resort’s tranquil grounds include an infinity pool, koi ponds, and plentiful fountains. Couples can heat things up with premium tequila tastings and cooking classes.
Price Tag: From approximately $248 per person per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, private beach club, and use of sister property Velas Vallarta; adults only (16 or older).
The Palms, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Thatched-roof bandas (beach bungalows) with private outdoor plunge pools overlook the Indian Ocean from this resort on the southeastern edge of Zanzibar—an island of commingling cultures that brings to mind romance and intrigue. With only six villas, outfitted with hand-carved furniture, the Palms has an exclusive air and an attention to detail. You can kite surf, sail, dive, and then spice things up with a Thai massage for two.
Price Tag: From approximately $957 per couple per night; includes all meals and selection of wines and spirits; adults only (16 or older).
Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, MT
Outdoorsy types will fall for this 600-acre ranch in the Montana Rockies that delivers privacy and pampering along with all that fresh air fun. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether hiking to remote lakes surrounded by acres of wilderness, lazing by a river for a picnic brunch, taking a moonlit horseback ride, or even enjoying a private scenic tour over Glacier or Yellowstone parks. At the end of each day, retreat to one of the 24 plush log cabins outfitted with wood-burning fireplaces, hot tubs, and locally woven woolens.
Price Tag: From approximately $1,400 per couple per night; includes all meals, house wines and cocktails, and on-ranch activities; adults only (16 or older).
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancún, Mexico
Minimalist décor, bamboo gardens, and French-style balconies set the romantic scene at this exclusive Caribbean getaway that has even attracted Julia Roberts. Towering over a stretch of private white-sand beach, this resort’s selling points include 24-hour butler service, a luxurious spa, three swimming pools (two infinity-style with submerged chaises for ultra comfort), and nightly entertainment.
Price Tag: From approximately $397 per person per night; includes all meals and drinks, massage and use of spa (for guests staying three nights or more), on-site activities, and nightly entertainment; adults only (18 or older).
Travaasa Hana, Maui
Plantation-style cottages occupy a bluff overlooking the rugged Pacific coast from Maui’s eastern shore. The resort, which recently completed a $12 million restoration, is a serene, special place that emphasizes tuning out distractions and tuning into each other—cottages come sans TV, radio, and clocks. All feature private lanais (perfect for locally sourced candlelit dinners), and many have hot tubs. Hawaiian culture shines through, from the indigenous patterns used in textiles to ukulele and hula lessons. You can snorkel or stand-up paddle off Kapueokahi Beach, or stick to the waters of the spa (an aquatic therapy pool, a lava-rock whirlpool).
Price Tag: From approximately $950 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, a daily spa credit of $175 per person, and wellness classes; adults only (16 or older).
The Point Resort, Saranac Lake, NY
Sandwiched between a lake and mountains, this wooded Adirondack resort has year-round appeal for big-city couples in need of an escape. In the winter, ice-skate, cross-country ski, and snowshoe on the property, then settle in with a cup of ganache hot chocolate. In the summer and fall, lake swimming and water-skiing will keep your adrenaline pumping. Couples can forage for mushrooms and wild blueberries alongside the executive chef and enjoy a sunset cruise before dinner, then cap off the night with a bonfire.
Price Tag: From approximately $1,500 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks and unlimited use of sports equipment and facilities; adults only (21 or older).
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
With countless day and evening activities—from kayaking and windsurfing to water aerobics and dance lessons—couples definitely won’t complain of boredom. And with seven restaurants and seven bars and lounges, there’s a new place to try nightly. If the urge to do nothing strikes, the expansive infinity pool offers the chill spot for taking in the awe-inspiring Caribbean blue.
Price Tag: From approximately $454 per couple per night; includes all meals and drinks, on-site activities, and nightly entertainment; adults only (18 or older).
