Romantic Destinations for Adults Only Because Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Plane Ticket

Parents know that the key to filling our kids’ cups is to make sure we make time to fill our own, too. Go ahead, book the babysitter and plan a getaway with your significant other to a romantic destination. It’s a getaway guaranteed to recharge. From a splurge on vacation spots in the Caribbean and Florida to a New England hideaway, here’s where to find a romantic getaway to remember.

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Book the Babysitter: 10 Romantic Destinations 

From my toasty perch submerged in the hot tub on the balcony of a log cabin at Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado—noticeably relaxed husband soaking silently beside me—there was one thing missing: Our two swim-diaper-clad toddlers. They’re prone to kick, splash and generally run amok any time water is involved.

“Don’t you miss them?” I asked by default. The whinny of a horse filled the valley below us and snowflakes floated down from the sky. Happy hour cocktails would start in an hour in the lodge; we were resting up for the occasion.

“Of course,” he replied, sipping a can of Colorado IPA and sinking further into the water, “But we needed this.”

And of course, he’s right. Getting out the door might be the hardest thing about leaving the kids behind for a romantic getaway. But once the two of you are out there in the world, let the good times roll.

Where to Find Your Bliss

A dude ranch was my place to reconnect. Other couples find their bliss in the urban energy of New York City or San Francisco. Still others choose the outdoor wonder of Hawaii or a national park, maybe even a soak in a natural hot springs. You don’t need rose petals on the bed, a week at an all inclusive resort or a long haul flight to Thailand (although those are very nice)!

Sometimes all it takes is sneaking away for an afternoon on the golf course, a cooking class, or even sipping a glass of wine by the fire pit. The key is the lack of kiddos.

So where should you go for a romantic getaway? Here are some of our favorite romantic destinations.

Escape to a Ranch in Colorado

Family ski vacations are a lot of fun. They’re a lot of work, too. All those layers of clothing, wedging their feet into ski boots and changing diapers in a snow suit. But a romantic getaway in the snow with just your significant other? Even readying for the slopes can feel like a vacation.

My husband and I loved our four-night escape to Visit Verde Ranch near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We spent the mornings on backcountry ski tours with a resort guide or working on our horse skills in the arena. Next was horseback riding in the snow before breaking for a hot tub session and lunch.

The property is a collection of cozy, individual cabins–all with hot tubs and fireplaces. There are three rooms in the main lodge, too. The fact that there were no TVs in the cabins made it so easy to disconnect and relax.

Come evening time, we’d ride the feed sleigh into the pasture to dole out hay and alfalfa to the horses. Finally, we would settle in for a game of Backgammon with a glass of wine in the main lodge, which felt like a giant living room.

I’ve never felt so recharged from a winter vacation.

Experience California Wine Country without the Crowds 

TravelingMom founder Kim Orlando points to Temecula, California as a prime place for a relaxed romantic getaway. “Friendly, easy and smallish, it’s wine country without the crowds,” she says.

Just over an hour southeast of Los Angeles in the Temecula Valley, the region is known for its slew of vineyards and wineries and a delightfully unpretentious vibe. Orlando points to the “decadent patio restaurant” at Wilson Creek Winery as being inviting for a relaxed lunch and views from tables set alongside a babbling brook.

She also likes the Robert Renzoni Winery for wine tasting or a meal. For a romantic boutique inn in the area, look to the Ponte Vineyard Inn, consistently named among the top vineyard hotels in the United States. While there’s no onsite spa here, in-room couples massages can be arranged.

Bask in French-Style Romance without Crossing the Atlantic 

The Caribbean is full of swoon-worthy destinations for the best romantic getaway. But it’s hard to top the authentic tres chic vibe of St. Barths.

TravelingMom Catherine Bennett Kopf warns that you will find it hard to return to your day-to-day routine after escaping to this hideaway in the French West Indies. But, she says, “you’ll have the memory of fab French meals, gorgeous Caribbean sunsets and chilled rosé by the pool” to keep you keeping on.

If you’ve got money to burn, picture yourselves, Champagne (it’s France, after all–no prosecco here!) in hand, in the infinity pool at a private hilltop villa like Villa Vue des Rêves. (You could ostensibly share with some of your best couple friends, since there are five bedrooms in total).

If you prefer a boutique hotel on a strip of beachfront where snorkeling awaits just offshore, consider booking one of the romantic guest rooms at the Cheval Blanc. It’s one of the most celebrated hotels in all of the Caribbean.

Reconnect at an Adults-Only Hotel in the Florida Keys 

Back open since Dec. 2019 after a devastating fire, the Bungalows Key Largo is just a 90-minute drive south into the Florida Keys from the Miami International Airport.

The adults-only vibe at this all-inclusive resort will make you feel like you’ve been whisked away to some Caribbean oasis. Beachfront in Key Largo. Floating tiki boats just offshore. An infinity pool angled for sparkling water views. Plenty of cabanas for napping in the shade. It adds up to a hotel built for reconnecting with your significant other.

The property’s decadent spa is surrounded by stands of black bamboo and with a private pool and hot tub. The spa offers couples massages, facials, aromatherapy and other treatments.

The Florida Keys are all about what awaits out on the water. The hotel concierge can help you book snorkeling excursions, kayaking outings and sunset catamaran cruises that get washed down with cocktails and tapas.

Set Your Sights on the Quieter Side of the Dominican Republic 

The Dominican Republic is a diverse Caribbean destination with many beachfront and oceanfront resorts. But for a romantic getaway that charts a course away from the nightlife of Punta Cana, head southwest to La Romana and its palm-lined stretches of sand.

A laid-back vibe and spectacular white-sand beaches await at the Hilton La Romana Resort. TravelingMom Catherine Parker loved this adults-only all-inclusive. Get a couples massage or use the sauna or outdoor hydrotherapy hot tub at the inviting spa.

“Pack a book, a sunhat and three swimsuits, then reserve a swim-out room,” suggests Parker. The outdoor patio of those room opens to a pool with your personal chaise lounge chairs at the ready.

Chalk up Some New England Time in Vermont

Whether basking in the splendor of the fall foliage, covered with a fresh blanket of snow or reveling in its peak summertime glory, Vermont is always a good idea. And TravelingMom Keri Bartok Baugh points to the charming town of Woodstock as a prime place for a romantic getaway.

“There are plenty of shops, inns and nice restaurants,” she says. It’s a good spot to pick up some beautiful handmade pottery pieces as a souvenir of your trip. Check out Farmhouse Pottery in town.

Get ready for charm overload along Main Street at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. From there, you might head out snowshoeing in winter or fly-fishing together in the summer before retiring to one of the sumptuous rooms that look straight from a Martha Stewart spread. The LEED-certified spa offers treatments with organic products that are worth the indulgence.

Woodstock’s covered bridges are perfect for a sweet photo opportunity, too. Set your GPS and hit the road to find Quechee Covered Bridge, Taftsville Covered Bridge, Lincoln Covered Bridge and other nearby beauties.

Swim in a Bioluminescent Lagoon in Jamaica

Flight deals can often be found to Montego Bay in Jamaica, where a classic Caribbean getaway awaits. Bypass the all-inclusive crowds for a stylish (and quite possibly less expensive) stay along the Hip Strip at the new beachfront S Hotel Jamaica. It opened in 2019 and has a great rooftop pool overlooking Doctors Cave Beach.

My husband and I stayed for a few nights last October (we met in Jamaica several years back) and we loved the authentically Jamaican feel of the property and beautiful oceanfront pool. The property is just a five-minute drive from the airport, so you can be in full vacation mode quickly after landing as opposed to slogging it along the coastal highway for several hours to reach a far-off resort.

My favorite thing to do near Montego Bay is to go for a nighttime dip at Glistening Waters, a bioluminescent lagoon that glows green-blue in the night. The waters are really warm and swimming in them in the inky darkness is an otherworldly experience that’s hard to describe (just do it!) and impossible to forget.

For a romantic seafood dinner along the Hip Strip, hit Marguerite’s, a longstanding MoBay favorite fronting Doctor’s Cave Beach where you can eat fresh Caribbean spiny lobster with the sound of the waves breaking just feet away.

Indulge in a Top Florida Spa Getaway

Florida is full of hotels with impressive spas and wellness areas. But Eau Spa at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa stands apart from the wellness retreat crowds. And if it’s physical and mental renewal the two of you want from your romantic getaway, this is a good place to start.

Start your spa journey at the 42,000 square foot oasis by setting a glowing candle afloat in a wishing well at the entrance, with a wish of your own to go along with it. Then it’s off to one of the sensory treatment rooms for a couples massage, facial or wrap. Make time to relax together afterward in the spa’s gorgeous garden, where you can swing in chairs hung over a shallow reflecting pool and let the zen vibes settle in even more.

Rooms with balconies angled to overlook the ocean at the hotel are particularly romantic. The hue of the Atlantic Ocean along this stretch of Florida can look positively Caribbean in color.  Curl up in your robes together on the balcony, sip some Champagne or a coffee and just enjoy all that blissful kid-free silence together.

Make it Adults-Only in Maui

The Hotel Wailea on Maui had us at “apothecary-style cocktails,” liquid salves served up at the pool bar made with fresh ingredients meant to take the edge of your jetlag or soothe you after a day of island adventuring.

And the fact that the resort  named the #1 Hotel in Hawaii on TripAdvisor in 2019 is adults-only makes it all the much more appropriate for a romantic couples trip.

The Relais & Chateaux property makes it easy to settle in with lanai suites with Pacific Ocean views perched hillside over the beach. But do make a point to get off property together, too, to drive along the famed Hana Highway (aka the Road to Hana, be sure to stop at Da Fish Shack for fish tacos) or try something new together, like a surf lesson on the beach at Kaanapali.

Hit the Pink Sands of Bermuda

TravelingMom Jennifer S. Mitchell is a fan of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda for a romantic escape. It starts with the special hue of the island’s stunning beaches.

“The pink sand beaches are very romantic,” she says, adding, “There are lots of great restaurants and easy bus and ferry transport around the island.”

Round structures made from limestone called “

s” found around Bermuda in parks and in front of residences and hotels come with some fun lovers’ lore.

“Legend claims that lovers who walk through holding hands will be blessed with eternal love and happiness,” Mitchell says.

Give that a go, we say. And bless yourselves with some  guaranteed good times at Bermuda’s many fine attractions including the spectacular Crystal Cave, thought to be millions of years old, and the beautiful pink sand beach at Horseshoe Bay on the south coast.

As for hotels, you’ve got options around the island. Favorites include a classic, The Reefs Resort & Club along the South Shore, and the new Rosewood Bermuda in Tucker’s Point.

Make sure you toast your time away together with the island’s favorite drink, a rum swizzle. It’s made with Gosling’s rum and served up most anywhere you go—though the Swizzle Inn, Bermuda’s oldest pub, right near the airport, is the Mecca.