Whether you’re looking to explore a new city together (ahem, Paris), scale mountains side-by-side, retreat to a secluded beach, or some combination of the three, these spots kind of do all the work. And while a honeymoon is a perfect excuse to check a far-flung destination off the bucket list, there are a bevy of romantic getaways stateside for more low-key affairs (or if you’ve burned up all those vacation days on the wedding itself). Needless to say, each of these spots are equally good options for re-igniting an old flame, or stoking one that’s been burning for many years.Uruguay isn’t usually on the short list for secluded beach vacations, but the sleepy beach town of Jose Ignacio (just a few beaches away from the louder, better-known beach town of Punta del Este) makes a convincing argument for adding it. Bahia Vik’s sleek, modern bungalows sidle right up to the beach, with wide windows looking out over the ocean. And while those bungalows offer private pools and manicured lawns as communal hang-out space suited to families or small groups, the couples-focused rooms in the main lodge are perfectly romantic. While it’s not likely that you’ll tire of lounging on the idyllic beach, the hotel’s significant art collection could keep you occupied all afternoon.
Characteristically over-the-top, Alan Faena’s flagship, signature property in Buenos Aires is wall-to-wall dramatic touches, from luxurious red velvet curtains to tufted red-leather sofas and mirrored armoires—all in stark contrast to the renovated, industrial-looking grain mill that the building occupies. Faena has installed a series of lively restaurants on-site, too: Bistro Sur, the chandelier-clad fine dining destination; El Mercado, Faena’s take on an old-school Argentinian cantina (and where dishes are prepared in a huge brick oven); The Library Bar, which becomes a nightlife destination after dark; and a major cocktail operation that’s fitting of the spectacular, crown-shaped fountain installed in the hotel pool’s deep end. Be sure to leave time for nightly cabaret performances and a few hours in the marble-walled hammam.Fasano has hotels all over Brazil (you’ll find them in Rio, Sao Paolo, Boa Vista, and more), but their property in the Uruguay beach town of Punta Del Este, opened in 2010, is their first international project. Nestled alongside the Maldonado River, the 20 bungalows and ten suites were designed by architect Isay Weinfeld in sleek, square shapes that are high-design and a completely refreshing aesthetic for a beach vacation. The interiors are suited to the modernist exterior without feeling cold—rooms are done in soft, cozy neutrals with pristine marble and limestone bathrooms, and porches that look out over the landscape. Also on-site, you’ll find two incredible restaurants: Las Piedras, a casual café, and Fasano, their more formal dining experience, which occupies a large, view-happy sunroom. Of course, the main attraction here is the beach, accessed through Fasano’s high-touch Beach club, but there’s also a very cool onsite pool (carved into a naturally occurring rock formation), and concierge can arrange tennis, golf, horseback riding, and reservations at restaurants in the area’s quaint town.
Perched on the raw, wild cliff overlooking the Pacific, Mukul brings a dose of open-air luxury to this quiet stretch of Nicaragua’s coastline. There are twelve beachside villas and twenty-three treehouse-like bohios, on the property— both styles do a great job of bringing the outdoors in. (Think sugarcane twig headboards, carved teak tables—a private plunge pool and ocean views come standard.) If you really want to spread out, the six-bedroom, 20,000-square foot Casona Don Carlos compound can be booked when the resort owners family isn’t in residence. The spa is top-notch with its Turkish baths and Indonesian massages For meals, the hotel has several dining options on site, ranging from canopy dining on the beach to fine dining at La Mesa, where Nicaraguan-inflected dishes include a yellow fin tuna confit with chili oil and blue crab ceviche.As far as classic neighborhoods go, few can really top BA’s Recoleta, and no place better captures the glamour and history quite like the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires. Its imposing façade, in a Neoclassical style, was inspired by grand European architecture, and is made up of two buildings, a 1930s Palace and a more contemporary building called Posadas. While there are 165 rooms in total, it’s best to request one of the 23 rooms in the original palace. The rooms on the palace side tend to be more of a balance between old a new: there are stucco fireplaces, French windows, and crystal fixtures. The rooms in Posadas have a minimalist bent, with pale wood flooring, a soothing neutral palette punctuated by jewel tones, and black-and-white photographs of old BA in addition to unbeatable views. The two buildings are connected by an underground gallery lined with an impressive collection of important Latin American art. Between the two towers, a beautifully manicured garden terrace and patio serve as one of the very best seats in the house. Particularly charming is La Floreria del Duhau, on the ground level, where you can see some of the hotel’s grand arrangements being put together as well as pack up your own bouquet to take away.
The Purcell family were the long-time owners of Ski Portillo, Chile’s most famous ski resort, before they expanded their hospitality company to include properties in Patagonia, Chiloé, and the Atacama Desert—each of which prove that great design hotels can exist far outside city limits. The best itinerary here is to have Tierra book you a period of time at two (or all four) of their hotels, but if you only have one week, it’s hard to beat the Atacama property for romance. The Chilean architects designed the property so every room (each of which is equipped with an outdoor shower) would have spectacular views of the Licancabur Volcano during the day, and patios for enjoying the incredible night sky here at night—that is, if you’re not watching it from one of the property’s fire pits, glass of wine in hand. During the day, Tierra’s staff organizes desert outings in cars, on foot, or by horse to explore local towns, hot springs, and the nearby mountains. In the evenings, they’ll welcome you home with a series of incredible spa treatments—the spa has both an indoor and outdoor pool—and meals made with ingredients grown in on-site orchards and gardens.Granada, where the majority travelers fly in and out of to go anywhere in Nicaragua (from here, it’s fifty minutes to the airport), has plenty of old-world charms—tree-filled plazas, cobblestoned streets, a saffron-hued cathedral, and a promenade overlooking Lake Nicaragua, the country’s biggest lake. On a quiet block in town, the seven-room, expat-run Tribal Hotel is full of global influences: White-washed walls are inspired by the oldest house in Granada, a black-and-white patterned staircase is reminiscent of fabric the owners found in Kenya. Rooms are small, but you’ll want to spend most of your time hanging around the palm-lined pool in one of the lobby’s day beds. Breakfast includes coffee, tropical fruit, and locally baked bread. More adventurous couples will enjoy using Granada as a jumping off point for their travels, and can easily access Mukhul in Tola further south for some blissed-out pampering and, of course, surf.
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