What travelers consider a romantic vacation is as varied as love itself. Some may crave five-star, opulent service, while others prefer complete privacy. But one thing is certain: stepping away from the conveyor belt of day-to-day life with a loved one can shake up any relationship. Choosing the destination for a romantic getaway matters less than the experiences you share, though a beautiful backdrop is always a welcome bonus.
The Best Hotels in the World for the Ultimate Romantic Getaway
The hotels listed here rank among the most over-the-top accommodations in the world. They’re celebrated for exceptional privacy, extravagant interiors, and thoughtful couples-focused dining and experiences, all tailored to create a deeply romantic stay. From the floating Taj Lake Palace in Rajasthan, India, to the former villa of Elizabeth Taylor, these are some of the most dreamy hotels in the world for the ultimate romantic vacation.
We hope you love the hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Amanera — Dominican Republic
Amanera sits high above Playa Grande on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, overlooking a long, undeveloped stretch of sand backed by jungle. The property is enormous. Villas are widely spaced, and the beach, pools, restaurants, and bars are sized so generously that even at full occupancy, the resort feels largely empty. All accommodations are freestanding villas — 25 in total — with Balinese architectural influences, high ceilings, and large glass doors opening onto expansive outdoor living areas. Even the smallest one-bedroom casita includes multiple outdoor dining spaces and a full-size private pool.
Through March 12, 2026, Amanera’s Celebrate the Season package includes four nights for the price of three, along with several couple-focused extras. Champagne and sweets await in the casita on arrival, a jungle breakfast beneath the trees, and a 90-minute Signature Couples Massage at the Aman Spa. A private candlelit dinner is arranged either oceanfront or within the gardens, followed by a Romantic Bath Ritual prepared in the villa.
Sina Centurion Palace — Venice, Italy
The five-star Sina Centurion Palace gives guests a front-row seat to Venice. The hotel sits directly on the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro, with a private dock that makes arrivals (and escapes) feel wonderfully cinematic. Step outside and you’re minutes from the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Punta della Dogana, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and despite its Grand Canal address, the streets immediately behind the hotel are among the quietest in Venice.
The Centurion occupies Palazzo Genovese, a neo-Gothic palazzo built in 1892 and converted into a hotel in 2009. By its own account, it was the first property on the Grand Canal to showcase contemporary art, and the unapologetically bold, colorful, and modern decor works in unexpected harmony with the palace’s historic architecture.
Between the high arched windows framing the water, the opulence of arriving by water taxi, and the hotel’s restaurant, Antinoo, with its canal-side tables and Michelin-star–level cuisine, few hotels channel Venice’s sense of occasion as completely as the Centurion Palace.
Nihi Sumba — Sumba Island, Indonesia
Sumba is a remote island sitting off the east coast of Indonesia and offers some of the best surf in the Indian Ocean. But regardless of whether surfing is your thing, the island’s countryside of limestone hills and savannas peppered with small villages is a haven in the Indonesian archipelago.
The hotel, Nihi Sumba, encapsulates the charm of this island. Nihi Sumba’s nine villas are connected by a series of white stone paths enclosed by banana and frangipani trees and all have a private infinity pool with views out over the ocean. The resort’s tagline reads, “This is not an escape from everyday life. It is the return to a life well lived.” And yes, you could happily live here. From sunset private yoga to horseback riding on the beach to its spa safari, there is a lot to do. That said if you would rather kick back and do very little, this is one of the more special places on the planet to do so.
Menizei — Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Menizei is a new, adults-only luxury camping retreat set above the Salish Sea on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, near Olympic National Park. Opening for its first full season in April 2026, the property consists of just three private basecamps set among grand fir, hemlock, and western red cedar trees. Each basecamp includes a blackout sleep tent and a private floating bathhouse with heated floors, a private sauna, and windows that look directly into the forest and out toward the sea.
This gorgeous glamping site is best suited to those who don’t want a full schedule to fill the day. There are optional add-ons such as forest-based massage, guided sauna sessions, and private photography, but it’s well suited to couples who prefer privacy over activity menus and are comfortable spending most of their vacation among the trees.
Taj Lake Palace — Rajasthan, India
Photo: Taj Hotels
Photo: Taj Hotels
Floating in the middle of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, northern India, the Taj Lake Palace is one of the most romantic hotels in the world. Built in 1743 as a summer palace for Maharana Jagat Singh II of the royal dynasty of Mewar, the hotel was converted in the ’60s — but has lost none of its original features or opulent design aesthetic. Taj Lake Palace offers guests 360-degree views of the peaceful lake — a key filming location in the James Bond film Octopussy — and those lucky enough to stay here are treated like royalty.
Guests receive round-the-clock butler service, where they can ring for anything from a signature facial or traditional Indian foot massage to a platter of local fruits or a cooling mango lassi. Although this is not somewhere you would book on a whim, between the impeccable service and the unique, beautiful location, it’s one for the bucket list.
Casa Kimberly — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Casa Kimberly sits on the Bay of Banderas, a horseshoe-shaped shoreline of pristine beaches and dramatic cliffs, overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Mexico. The grand colonial villa was originally home to Elizabeth Taylor in the ’60s and was developed in 2010 into a stunning nine-suite hotel. Rooms — all named after Taylor’s films — are huge and spread across two buildings that are connected by a replica of Venice’s Bridge of Sighs. Reviews rave about the sense of privacy the suites offer, and the service mirrors this with a hands-off approach, allowing guests to feel comfortable and at home.
That being said, Kimberly’s open-air rooftop restaurant and tequila bar are vibrant. With a menu of modern Mexican dishes, a backdrop of the ocean, and a Mariachi band playing in the evenings, this is arguably one of the most romantic places to stay on the coast.
Skybeds — Botswana, Africa
Skybeds offers guests the opportunity to sleep under a canopy of stars on the Khwai Private Reserve in Botswana. This is not high luxury, but it is a one-of-a-kind experience that will not be forgotten. Open to guests staying at the sister safari camp properties of Sable Alley and Hyena Pan, the three wooden treehouses are simplistic in nature but feature comfy beds with luxuriously thick duvets to combat the chilly African nights.
Although the structures are open to the elements, they are spacious and set apart, giving couples total privacy. A fourth wooden tower houses a rooftop bar overlooking a watering hole, where you can enjoy an evening drink and spot local wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, and antelope.
Il Borro — Tuscany, Italy
Within a thousand-year-old village, Il Borro is about 37 miles from the beautiful cities of Florence and Siena, making it an ideal rural romantic escape. Encapsulated by tree-covered hillsides within a 750-hectare organic working estate, the resort looks like a scene from the ’80s movie A Room with a View, yet its Tuscan charms have not been compromised. Although you could easily get lost down the hamlet’s narrow cobbled streets and sprawling vineyards, the hotel offers a wide range of facilities, including a spa, cooking classes, truffle-hunting trips, and horse-riding excursions.
The resort has two restaurants, Vincafè and Osteria del Borro, with the latter being the more refined option. The rooftop at Osteria del Borro is hopelessly romantic, offering views over the Tuscan landscape. Pair that with a glass or two of wine and produce from the local estate, and you’ve got the recipe for an unforgettable experience.
Le Mas de la Rose — Orgon, France
The city of Orgon, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of southern France, has undergone little modern development and has retained its rich historical heritage. Orgon’s ancient streets are adorned with quintessential Renaissance facades, and the market town is one of the prettiest in the region.
Overlooking the city from the hillside, Le Mas de la Rose, a 17th-century cluster of restored farm buildings, attracts those looking for the simplistic luxury Provence is so well known for. The hotel is an ideal base for exploring the region and is set within rolling lawns dotted with olive trees and aromatic lavender. In the evening, the gardens and poolside are romantically lit, and the restaurant’s menu of organic produce grown on the property is in keeping with the hotel’s uncomplicated elegance.
The Caves Hotel and Spa — Negril, Jamaica
The Caves is about as exclusive and hidden away as you can get for a romantic getaway in Jamaica, and what’s more, it’s adult only. The cliffside location is minutes from Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach and about an 80-minute transfer from the airport in Montego Bay.
The resort features 12 secluded cottages set within the property’s tropical gardens along the cliff edge. Brightly colored textiles, artwork, and stained glass accent the palm wood and straw of the cabins, and each has a queen-sized bed, a stocked minibar with local treats, and an outdoor shower. For those looking to celebrate a special occasion, you can book a private candlelit five-course dinner in one of the caves or at a private spot along the cliff face. The saltwater pool and outdoor hot tub are set along the cliff edge, suspended above the ocean.
Song Saa Private Island — Cambodia
Song Saa Private Island is — as its name suggests — a private island set within the Koh Rong archipelago off the coast of Sihanoukville in southern Cambodia. It has been heralded as one of the world’s leading luxury eco-resorts. The two small islands are covered in rainforest and surrounded by a 100-hectare marine reserve that Song Saa helped establish. With sustainability at the forefront of the resort’s creation, all villas were crafted using local materials and are adorned with southern Cambodian textiles and artwork.
Maldivian-style accommodation sits above the water, and each villa has its own plunge pool with steps leading directly into the clear ocean below. The island is also dotted with outdoor spas, where treatments take place beneath thatched canopies and draw on native plants and Buddhist practices. This is not somewhere you arrive on a whim, but for those seeking a tailored romantic experience in one of the most private settings in Asia, Song Saa delivers. 