We asked eight discerning world travelers tell us about their most unforgettable getaways à deux. Model your romantic escapes after theirs, and you're sure to have a happy Valentine's Day.
Gordon Thompson III, executive vice president and creative director of Cole Haan and G Series: "For serious romantics, I would have to go with the Hotel Il San Pietro di Positano, on the Amalfi Coast. The hotel is a throwback to 1960s Italian glam: anything goes, and nothing is too much. It's built right into a huge cliff, and the rooms have incredible views of the Mediterranean. Room 13 is the most romantic, because it wraps around the cliff. The best part is the tub — it's perched right at the cliff's edge, so you feel as if you're floating over the sea when you're taking a bath. Because Positano is difficult to get to and the hotel is located a few miles outside town, the San Pietro is the ultimate escape. The staff totally understands the concept of privacy, and when you go there with someone special, you feel as if you're the only two people in the world." $490–$1,277 per night; 011-39-089-875-455; ilsanpietro.it.
"For another romantic adventure, I love the exclusive Tawaraya Ryokan, in Kyoto, which is understated and restrained. It feels as if you've been welcomed into a beautiful Japanese home, and from the minute you get there, you're swept up in its seductive, magical quality. The rooms have futons on the floor and soaking tubs. I recommend a room that opens on a private garden. More than romantic, the hotel is incredibly peaceful: you just sit and read and stare into the garden. The place forces you to relax." $336–$864 per night; 011-81-75-211-5566.
Josie Natori, fashion designer: "Without a doubt, the most romantic hotel room in the world is at the Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, on Lake Garda, in Italy. It is like a fantasy home away from home that you can truly pretend is your own personal villa. I have used the salon's grand piano many times to serenade my husband, with hardly ever a person in sight. The Al Lago Suite, where we always stay, has a gigantic terrace overlooking the lake, with magnificent views of the gardens and mountains, and it has a bathroom the size of my bedroom at home. The service is incredible — you never have to leave the suite if you don't want to! It provides a total escape." $903–$3,870 per night; 011-39-0365-798-000; villafeltrinelli.com.
Kelly Wearstler, interior designer: "My most romantic room would have to be the sea-facing Katikies Suite at the Katikies, on the island of Santorini, in Greece. The hotel is a villa with just twenty-two rooms. The atmosphere is residential and very elegant, but it's also divinely simple, which I think is important. Katikies is situated high above the water, so the views are stunning. The suite comes with its own large Jacuzzi and spacious terrace, where meals are served. Everything you could possibly need and desire is right there." $290–$1,485 per night; 011-30-22860-71401; katikies.com.
Marco Maccioni, restaurateur: "When I was in high school and college, I spent several summers apprenticing at the Château Les Crayères , a nineteen-room hotel in the Champagne region of France. It's next to the vineyard of Champagne Pommery. Each room is decorated differently, and they're all gorgeous. The most romantic is room 14 — a corner room with a balcony that looks out on the giant garden and rolling hills. You have a marvelous view of Reims's Saint-Remi basilica and the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims (Clovis, the first king of France, was baptized on the site in 496). The hotel's restaurant is among the best in France. During summer evenings, you can have aperitifs on its terrace, which is illuminated by the sunset. And after a delightful dinner you can watch the sun descend between the basilica and the cathedral. It's an absolutely stunning place. Unfortunately, every time I've stayed there, I've been working, so I have never visited it with the right person." $355–$615 per night; 011-33-3-26-82-80-80; gerardboyer.com.
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