Valentine’s Day is near and if you don’t already have an idea on how to spend the day with your Sweetie, you better start planning! Valentine’s is all about showing those you love how much you care about them, whether you’ve been together 50 years or are just beginning your life together. What better way to celebrate your love than with romantic travel?

Let’s take a look at the top characteristics that draw lovebirds to a place, and 15 Travel Maestro recommendations for romantic travel that are guaranteed to unlock your love.

Location or scenery is the most often cited romantic characteristic of a destination.

• A deserted moonlit Caribbean beach is the quintessential romantic setting for a lovers’ stroll.
• For the ultimate castaway experience try an over-water bungalow in Tahiti with complete privacy, an unobstructed sunset view and a glass floor window into the underwater world.
• You’ll definitely leave a piece of your heart in San Francisco when you see the expansive Bay views from the Top of the Mark cocktail lounge on the 19th floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill.

The personality and quaint neighborhoods of a place can also set the scene for love.

• Travel doesn’t get much more romantic than dining in a cozy candlelit bistro or walking the cobbled backstreets of Paris, aka, ‘the City of Love.’
• Wandering hand-in-hand through a picturesque English cottage garden is classic romantic travel.
• The vibrant colors, tantalizing smells and poignant sounds in the souks of medieval Fez, Morocco stimulate the senses and inspire romance.

 

Local people and culture are an integral part of a destination’s romance factor.

The sweet serenade of a Venetian gondolier charms passersby, as well as his passengers on the canals of the ‘City of Water.’

A hot-blooded tango performance in Buenos Aires can fan the flames of passion in lovers like few other experiences.

New Orleans’ famous French Quarter is a neighborhood like no other where lovers can discover the local flavors of the food, music and multicultural heritage that make it so unique.

 

Nightlife and entertainment can turn up the heat on romance, too.

Las Vegas is the undisputed queen of no-limits nightlife with sexy shows and flashy casinos – maybe you can start the night with the Beatles’ LOVE Cirque du Soleil show.

New York is called ‘the city that never sleeps’ for a reason. Whatever your interest, from hot dance clubs to live jazz, from Broadway shows to pub crawls, New York has your style of entertainment.

Sip a mojito and groove to the Latin vibe as the jet set A-List of South Beach, Miami favor the current hot spot with their style and panache.

Sharing favorite activities in new places sets the tone for romantic travel.

• A wine tasting weekend in Napa, California; Mendoza, Argentina; or Tuscany, Italy will score points with oenophiles.
• Active couples will find snorkeling and diving in the clear, Tiffany-blue waters of the Bahamas romantic from dawn to dusk.
• A bicycle trip through the back roads of Europe is a fabulous way to slow down and spend time together while discovering off-the-beaten-path places.

Valentine’s Day is an excellent excuse for romantic travel, but you don’t really need an excuse to get away with your Sweetheart. The two of you can enjoy these 15 and many other romantic escapes any time of year. BUT, here’s your Travel Maestro tip: If you aren’t going away for Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to say “I love you” on February 14th.