7 Vacation Desintations for Lovebirds
Kruger National Park, South Africa
There’s something primal about being in a remote landscape surrounded by cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants that can be perfect for a couple looking to get back to nature. Singita Sweni Lodge, tucked into the trees of the 33,000-acre national park on the border of Mozambique, is the ideal setting to cuddle up on a safari getaway. The glass-walled suites have a luxe tree-house feel—and absolutely no screens, TV or otherwise, to ruin the view or interrupt your time together. The lodge excels at arranging swoon-worthy meals for couples. A lantern-lit dinner for two under the stars? Breakfast by the river? Then take in all the spectacular natural beauty on open-air jeep rides, where you’ll be among the wildlife, including prides of lions and herds of giraffe. If that’s just not intimate enough, Sweni can organize a morning of mountain biking or hiking in the bush. Then see just how close you can get.
Follow the Adriatic coastline to find some of the best beaches and most gorgeous views in Europe. Start in Dubrovnik. When the crowds get to be too much in the main square, ditch them and slip away to Buza Bar, a cozy watering hole built high up on the southern ramparts of the medieval Old Town walls. If the calm sea below beckons you, you can dive into it from the bird’s-nest perch. Spend a night or two at Hotel Bellevue, where plush suites afford views of stellar sunsets. The concierge can arrange a yacht tour of the neighboring Pelješac Peninsula. Drop by the Korta Katarina winery, where you can sip little-known vintages in the verdant countryside. After a refreshing dip in the ink-blue waters that it sits beside, sail on to the picturesque island of Korčula. Slip inside the town’s 13th-century walls and leave all your modern-day distractions completely behind.
Ponta dos Ganchos, Brazil
With the World Cup coming to its shores in 2014, everyone’s talking about the samba nation of Brazil. Check out all the action with a loved one, but avoid the booming city centers and head south to Ponta dos Ganchos, set on a private peninsula bordering the country’s Emerald Coast. The 25 villas here all face the ocean, and the property is surrounded by dozens of secluded beaches (think the beauty of Rio, minus the masses). After the beach, set up a taste test of the hotel’s own line of premium cachaca, the national spirit, and then enjoy dinner for two on a quiet island accessible via a candlelit bridge.
Whistler, British Columbia
Some healthy competition never hurt a relationship, especially when it takes place in the winter wonderland of Whistler. Hit the slopes here together in a race to the finish, or take it one step further. At the Four Seasons Resort Whistler, its “Ski the Dream Experience” arranges helicopter transfers and private guides for heli-skiing in backcountry terrain. If you fall into the “don’t ski, won’t ski” camp, the hotel offers dog sledding, ice skating, and even sleigh rides—pack a warm blanket for two—that end with indulging in chocolate fondue while sitting beside a bonfire.
Salsa beats in the city and palm-fringed beaches make this easy-to-get-to island a great escape for those seeking a little action and a little rest. By night, restaurants and bars along Calle Fortaleza are where you’ll find the action. During the day, relax with a piña colada—invented on the island—on the white sand of Condado Beach. Back in town, check intoHotel El Convento, a converted monastery, where a complimentary wine-and-cheese happy hour is anything but monastic and the quiet rooms are right upstairs from a hopping courtyard tapas bar.
For wine enthusiasts, Auckland is the Napa Valley of the Southern Hemisphere, with dozens of vineyards thriving in the volcanic soil in a loop around the waterfront city. Vinophiles believe that great wines are produced in great settings, and Auckland is no exception: Rainforests, massive cliffs, waterfalls, and black sand beaches all combine for a postcard-worthy destination (or big-screen-worthy destination—this is where The Hobbit movies are filmed, after all). For an island’s worth of grape experiences, hop the ferry to Waiheke for beachside swirling and sipping. (For an intimate getaway, spend the night on Waiheke at The Boatshed, a seven-room inn with ocean views and outstanding dining.) For a luxurious stay back in Auckland, the Sofitel by the harbor pampers you. It is in the perfect location for sampling the city’s melting pot of Indian and Asian cultures and South Pacific and Maori traditions. From the hotel, you can also book a boat trip to explore the 48 volcanic cones that surround the city, or visit Rangitoto Island, close enough to reach on a sea kayak tour; explore lava caves or climb the grassy slopes of the area’s largest volcanic cone for a picnic with unparalleled views.
