Sexy Weekend Getaways

Turn your sparks to full-blown flames with these 5 romantic trips.

By: Valerie Conners

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Celebrate that someone special in your life with a sexy weekend getaway guaranteed to set both your hearts aflutter. Whether an island respite complete with spa packages, or a stay in a private villa complete with fireplaces fulfills your idea of a steamy stay, we've sussed out the hottest spots for romance and honeymoons. Turn your sparks to full-blown flames with these 5 romantic weekend getaways.

1. Islamorada, Florida

Photo by: Cheeca Lodge & Spa

Cheeca Lodge & Spa

Islamorada's postcard-perfect beaches, turquoise waters and sultry sunsets have long attracted honeymooners and destination-wedding seekers to its shores. Still, any couple could fall prey to Islamorada's charms, making it an excellent romance-fueled weekend getaway. Part of the northern Florida Keys (it’s located just below the wilderness of the Everglades), Islamorada actually comprises 6 tiny islands, earning it the nickname Village of Islands. There's no shortage of stunning accommodations on Islamorada, though the Cheeca Lodge & Spa offers particularly exceptional luxury amenities. The hotel's 212 rooms are set in buildings scattered across a large property adjacent to a golf course, and the main lodge's airy decor and open-air restaurant are especially alluring.

Couples should book the "Romantic Getaway in the Florida Keys" package, which includes 2 nights’ accommodation; an artful, in-room presentation of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and scattered rose petals; a generous resort dining credit; a half-day pool-side cabana rental, and 2 60-minute massage treatments at the spa. Enjoy swimming in the main pool which overlooks the sea, and in the adults-only pool, or take a dip in the property's saltwater lagoon. You can also simply head to the beach.

When hunger strikes, use your dining credits at the fabulous Atlantic's Edge restaurant, where the catch-of-the-day is always a delight. After dinner, wander to the water and grab a pair of lounge chairs, listening to the waves quietly lap near your feet, and watching the sky for shooting stars.

2. Round Barn Farm, Vermont

exterior of the Inn at the Round Barn Farm

Photo by: Jumping Rocks Photography

Jumping Rocks Photography

Tucked in Vermont’s verdant Mad River Valley, a region of hills teeming with old-world charm, the Round Barn Farm has made romance its business, resulting in what may well be New England's premier destination for an amorous escape. The inn lies amid 245 acres of fields, meadows and woods, and features ponds and landscaped gardens. The property's 19th-century farmhouse and barn were converted into an inn in 1986, and no expense was spared. Each of the inn's 12 rooms is uniquely decorated, and many feature original pine floors, a whirlpool tub, steam shower or canopied bed.

Among the more blissful experiences you'll have at the Round Barn is breakfast, which features a hearty sampling of homemade muffins, pastries, coffee cake and sweet breads, followed by a main course that may consist of cottage cheese pancakes, an egg strata or blueberry waffles. For dinner, venture off the property to Michael's on the Hill, a farm-to-table restaurant set in a 19th-century farmhouse with brilliant views of the Green Mountains. The locally sourced menu includes memorable dishes such as the poached Maine lobster with butternut squash risotto, leeks and truffle; and smoked pork loin with crispy roasted garlic polenta, apples, escarole and sage. By day, plan to explore the nearby Connecticut River Byway, enjoying sights such as the region's ubiquitous covered bridges and red barns.

3. Yountville, California

Photo by: Sammy Todd Dyess/ Courtesy of Bardessono

Sammy Todd Dyess/ Courtesy of Bardessono

Combine your love of food and wine with your love of each other on a romance-filled weekend in Yountville, part of California's vineyard-rich Napa Valley. Yountville sprung to fame as a foodie mecca with the birth of French Laundry, Thomas Keller's esteemed restaurant, and soon attracted other top chefs, such as Richard Reddington and Philippe Jeanty, to a region now home to 4 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Spend your weekend wine-tasting at nearby vineyards, like Cosentino or Nickel & Nickel, perusing art galleries on Washington Avenue, or getting spa treatments at the Villagio Inn & Spa, which features 16 treatment rooms, 5 private spa suites, relaxation lounges with indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor hydrotherapy soaking baths. Indulge in the "Together" spa package for couples: The experience includes a foot wash ritual, an exfoliating body treatment of shea butter and rice, a sensual bath featuring aphrodisiac aromas and an Arabian oil-infused massage.

When it comes time to lay down your well-massaged head, try a stay at Bardessono, a 62-room, hyper-mod retreat that hospitality industry pros recently named America’s No. 1 green hotel. Guest rooms are designed for private, in-room spa services, and the hotel features a rooftop pool and farm-to-table restaurant, Lucy Restaurant & Bar. Book the "Kiss the Day Away" package, which includes 1 night's accommodation, champagne, chocolates and a couples’ massage.

4. Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona

Aqua Dolce

Photo by: Royal Palms Resort and Spa

Royal Palms Resort and Spa

Worried the romantic weekend you planned for your sweetie isn't sexy enough? Fear not! The Romance Director is just a phone call away at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Seriously. This hotel is so very focused on amour they've taken pains to create "Romantication" experiences for their guests, complete with a Romance Team dedicated to helping you create your every sensuous whim.

The Royal Palms has created a series of experiences and packages geared to up the romance ante during your stay. Take advantage of the "Passport to Romance" program, which creates one-of-a-kind experiences for guests based on their interests and length of stay, such as a hot- air balloon ride and gourmet brunch in the Sonoran desert, as well as arranging flowers or personal mementos to be displayed in your room upon arrival, and even delivering customized "love notes" or drawing a bubble bath.

When it comes time to dine, look no further than the Via Capello, one of a series of private dining areas apart from other guests where you can enjoy a menu designed according to your favorite food and even live music preferences. Punctuate this utterly romantic trip with a stay in one of the resort's villas; you're sure to swoon over the grand fireplaces, private patios and canopied beds.

5. St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Photo by: The Buccaneer Hotel

The Buccaneer Hotel

Take your love on a Caribbean jaunt with a stay in St. Croix, known for its palm-lined, white- sand beaches, emerald-green hills and pastel-tinted towns. Pay a visit to the 16-acre St. George Village Botanical Gardens, a former sugar plantation filled with hundreds of species of native Caribbean plants, and a favorite location for destination weddings on the island.

One unique means of exploring St. Croix with your partner is via horseback, and stables such as Paul and Jill's Equestrian Stables offer guided tours along the island's silken sand beaches, and through St. Croix's lush rainforests. For a true taste of paradise, book a snorkeling tour to St. Croix's gem, Buck Island, home to Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Easily St. Croix's most romantic accommodation, The Buccaneer Hotel offers a "Legends and Luxury Romance" package that showcases a gamut of romantic amenities, including private round-trip airport transfers, welcome champagne and chocolates, his and hers bathrobes, beachfront lunch at the Mermaid Restaurant, a 50-minute in-room couples massage, picnic lunch at the secluded Whistle Beach, sunset sail for 2, half-day sail to Buck Island and a dinner at The Terrace restaurant, including 3 courses and wine.