Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and couples around the globe are busy making plans for a love-filled weekend. If you’re looking for the most romantic hotels, you’ve come to the right place.
Thanks to Big 7 Travel, we now know which hotels around the globe are loved-up couples’ favourites. For the fourth year in a row, the Most Romantic Hotels report is here to give you Valentine’s Day ideas.
You’ll also be happy to learn that two of South Africa’s best-loved hotels made it on the global Top 50 list. Let’s take a look!
Valentine’s Day Plans
Top 50 hotels report
Big 7 Travel said the hotels were ranked based on several factors, including properties with high Tripadvisor review scores from couples, unique ‘romantic’ experiences, destination, room facilities and luxury.
Looking for a coral-fringed beach or a rambling castle? It’s on the list. How about once-in-a-lifetime safaris or breathtaking city boltholes? We got you. All the hotels on this list are known for going the extra mile for couples.
“Think champagne breakfasts, private islands. and Michelin-starred dining. After a year trapped indoors, why not up the romance ante at one of the 50 most romantic hotels in the world?”, Big 7 Travel asks.
South Africa’s most romantic hotels
Clocking in at number 33 is the Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in Mpumalanga, and it ticks off all the Big 7 Travel checks, from your champagne of choice to maxi bar and unique dining under the stars.
Lovebird couples can even stay spend a night or two in a luxury treehouse – built on boulders, across a small drawbridge, with lanterns to light the way (Pictured above).
Then there’s the La Residence in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley in the Western Cape. La Residence, a private 30 acre estate, is surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vineyards, olive groves, and plum orchards.
This romantic gem is 29th on the Top 50 list, described by Big 7 Travel as a romantic haven filled with rich fabrics, wonderful artwork, and antique furniture.
Guests dine either in their suite or the central Terrace Room, beside a fire or the stunning double rim-flow pool.
Top 50 romantic hotels
50. Kakslauttanen – Saariselkä, Finland
49. Twin Farms – Barnard, Vermont, USA
48. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Aruba — Palm Eagle Beach, Aruba
47. La Maison d’Aix – Aix-en-Provence, France
46. The Setai – Miami, United States
45. Soneva Kiri – Koh Kood, Thailand
44. Jack’s Camp – Botswana
43. Belmond Castello di Casole – Casole d’Elsa, Italy
42. Koa Kea Hotel & Resort – Kaua’i, Hawaii
41. Desert Riviera Hotel – Palm Springs, California USA
40. Hotel Ranga – Iceland
39. Maison Souquet – Paris, France
38. The Kayon Resort – Ubud, Indonesia
37. Ladera Resort – Soufrière, St. Lucia
36. Benesse House – Naoshima, Japan
35. Hotel Villa Honegg – Honegg, Switzerland
34. Azulik – Tulum, Mexico
33. Lion Sands Ivory Lodge – Mpumalanga, South Africa
32. Eichardt’s Private Hotel – Queenstown, New Zealand
31. Katikies Hotel – Santorini, Greece
30. The Royal Mansour – Marrakech, Morocco
29. La Residence – Franschhoek, South Africa
28. Taj Lake Palace – Udaipur, India
27. Adare Manor – Co. Limerick, Ireland
26. Entre Cielos – Mendoza, Argentina
25. Golden Eye – Jamaica
24. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa – Chile
23. Hotel Villa Ducale – Taormina, Italy
22. The Newt in Somerset – UK
21. ACME Hotel Company – Chicago, USA
20. Pumphouse Point at Lake St. Claire – Tasmania
19. The Witchery – Edinburgh
18. Farmhouse Inn Forestville – California, USA
17. The Peninsula – Hong Kong
16. Yunak Evleri – Urgup, Turkey
15. Shangri-La Hotel – Paris, France
14. Silky Oaks Lodge & Healing Waters Spa – Australia
13. Amandari – Bali, Indonesia
12. Hippo Point House – Great Rift Valley, Kenya
11. Conrad Maldives – Rangali Island, Maldives
10. Villa Cora – Florence, Italy
9. Petit St. Vincent – Grenadines
8. Plaza Athénée – Paris, France
7. The Plaza – New York, United States
6. Huka Lodge – Taupo, New Zealand
5. Fairmont Banff Springs – Canada
4. Omaanda – Namibia
3. Longitude 131º – Uluru, Australia
2. Shinta Mani Wild – Cambodia
1. Amangiri: Canyon Point – Utah, United States
Via Big 7 Travel.