Tag: romantic
My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)
My favorite Santa Barbara hotel? That’s easy. Belmond El Encanto won my heart with gracious suites in historic cottages, beautiful gardens, and a panoramic ocean view. Spread over seven acres, the hotel feels more residential than commercial. This isn’t surprising, since the bungalows here started out as lodging for students and faculty when a state […]
Most Romantic Christchurch Accommodation
New Zealand: Christchurch accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, but Otahuna Lodge is easily the most romantic. The stately Victorian mansion is surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful gardens, emerald green lawns, and fragrant woodlands. Seven spacious bedrooms – most with working fireplaces – are both grand and welcoming. If you’ve ever longed to […]
Victoria Falls – Best Places to Stay in Livingstone
Victoria Falls – located between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa – is the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls in North America. In height and width it is rivaled only by Iguazu Falls in South America. As you might imagine, this notoriety has […]
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play
Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]
Costa Rica – Moon, Stars, Magic
Larry Kessler contributed this guest post. Costa Rica magic. Abracadabra! Alakazam! Spin the globe and throw a dart. Where do you go to find the perfect getaway? And what makes it so special for you? Relaxing, invigorating, spiritual, and socially responsible? No? How ’bout educational, romantic, secluded or breathtaking? Maybe it’s to reconnect. Or to […]
Nevis – a Caribbean Island for Savvy Travelers
Nevis wasn’t the first Caribbean island I visited. Like many travelers, I started with bigger, more obvious places. Some of these have international airports and almost all of them are on the cruise ship circuit. But what I wanted was an authentic experience, a chance to meet local people and learn about their culture. So […]
Romantic Turtle Island Fiji
Turtle Island is not just the most romantic resort in Fiji, it’s one of the dreamiest places in the world. I’ve written about Turtle Island before, but my husband and I recently visited again, and I can’t resist telling you about the improvements. But first – some Turtle Island things that didn’t change The scenery […]
Best Romantic Hotel in Tuscany
“We’ve found an exquisite romantic hotel in Tuscany,” readers Deb and Tom Tucker wrote recently. “It’s Borgo Santo Pietro, located about 35 minutes from Siena and one hour from Florence. They offer 15 rooms and suites – all elegantly furnished. It’s the perfect place for Authentic Luxury Travelers. “There is a main building with suites […]
Best Big Island Boutique Hotel
I was excited to find this Big Island boutique hotel because I love authentic accommodations that reflect the local culture – and that’s just what the Holualoa Inn does. Before making this discover, I thought that mega-resorts were the only luxury option on the Big Island of Hawaii, but now I know better. Located mauka (toward the […]
Villa in Piemonte, Italy, Wine Region
This guest post was contributed by Jenny Genzale. Finding a villa in Piemonte, Italy – actually almost anywhere in Italy - is relatively easy. Centuries of opulent indulgence, artistic architecture and astounding stone-masonry have left the peninsula literally dappled with villas that mix period and panorama, comfort and creativity. But finding the perfect villa is a […]
Who won the Romantic Getaway in Coronado?
Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Romantic Getaway on a Beachfront Resort contest. The 473 comments you left on Authentic Luxury Travel are a treasure-trove of great hotel recommendations. After the holidays I’ll organize them geographically and post them on the site. That way we can all benefit from each other’s travel experiences. […]
Ibiza, Spain
This guest post was contributed by Dan Perdomo. Is it just me or does anyone else find planning the perfect romantic holiday stressful? One of the most important decisions to make is the destination. Sure, Paris instantly springs to mind, but it’s a little clichéd don’t you think? So I started searching for other destinations […]
Huahine – the Best of French Polynesia
Huahine is one of many spectacularly beautiful islands in French Polynesia. It’s also my favorite, primarily because it doesn’t feel touristy. When my husband and I explored the island on foot and by car, we encountered only friendly locals and felt very welcome. Many readers have told me that if they could go anywhere in the world, it […]
Best Bermuda Hotel – The Reefs
Best Bermuda Hotel? I think it’s The Reefs Resort & Club on the south side of the main island (see map below). This beautiful family-owned resort is geographically not far from the Fairmont Southhampton – but a world away in terms of amosphere. At The Reefs, we couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful beach just steps away and loved snorkeling over the coral […]
