Where do you find romance?

guest post by Sherry Gray

Romance is a subjective and intensely personal preference based on fantasy fulfillment. Finding a romantic hotel starts by defining what makes you feel romantic and includes figuring a comprehensive and comfortable budget for the getaway.

For some people, the key to romance is in simple peace and quiet, a respite from day-to-day stresses with elements of pampered luxury.

Look for a remote location bereft of hordes of noisy tourists and boisterous children, offering opportunity for real relaxation, and absolutely no nearby centers of frenetic activity (theme parks) demanding attention by their very proximity. To fulfill the illusion of privacy, look for a place with individual cabins, lush landscaping and spectacular scenery. Amenities like massage, private hot tubs and fireplaces create the opportunity to get very, very personal with minimal distraction.

Spa at Calistoga Ranch

Situated on 157 acres in a private canyon, the Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, California offers the rich indulgence of the wine country culture and cuisine in a natural setting. Find the romance in the indoor/outdoor living. Luxuriate in a private outdoor shower garden, relax in front of a crackling fire set in an indoor/outdoor fireplace or soak in a private hot tub on the deck of your lodge. Each spacious lodge is placed for maximum privacy in a heavily wooded setting, and view depends on location. Choose a breathtaking hillside view overlooking the private vineyard, a forested location next to a babbling brook, or the majestic Estate Lodge on the shores of beautiful Lake Lommel. Prices start at $850 per night.

If private cabins are out of your price range, consider a bed and breakfast with only a few rooms and simple, pleasurable activities or a luxury resort out of season, like a beautiful lake resort in the winter. Normally unaffordable luxury can be romantic, even if swimming is out of the question. With prices starting at less than $200 a night, the Arch Cape Inn & Retreat on the Oregon coast is nothing less than spectacular. Dramatic cliff views and ocean views, large rooms and exquisite attention to detail combine to give this resort far more sex appeal than the price tag would indicate.

Tropical paradise holds the key to romance for some. Gentle ocean breezes, exotic tropical foliage and the opportunity to wear as little clothing as possible can set the stage for unforgettable romantic adventure.

For a really special occasion, splash out on a hotel set on a private island resort just off the Florida Keys. My favorite place for tropical romance is Little Palm Island Resort & Spa. The price is a bit steep, starting at nearly $1000 per night with a 2-night minimum, but you’re not paying for an ordinary room. You’ll stay in a luxurious bungalow decorated in tropical style, surrounded by exotic foliage. You may choose to dine in suite, in the gourmet restaurant or right on the beach. Children under 16 are not allowed, and there are only 30 bungalows on the entire island. You can reach the island only by seaplane or boat from Little Torch Key, and there are no noisy cars on the island to interrupt your romance, only the seductive sound of the waves punctuated by the cry of seagulls and the rustling of the palms.

Baby, it

Ski lodges offer a classic opportunity for a romantic getaway. After an energetic day on the slopes, snuggling in front of a warm fire with a hot toddy fulfills the deepest romantic fantasies of many people. The Castle Hill Resort and Spa offers elegantly appointed rooms or private resort homes and a majestic view of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

For some, exuberance is romantic, which explains why more than 2300 couples get married at Walt Disney World every year. Suggestions for Disney romance include taking in the fireworks aboard the Breathless, a beautiful boat that accommodates up to 6 guests, or only two, or dinner in Cinderella’s Castle.

Hotels that cater to every fascination are available, from haunted paranormal experience to bird watching to extreme sports, and the choice is up to you and your partner.

Use caution when deciding. A poorly planned getaway can be a romance killer, especially if a special vacation that misses the mark is meant to be a surprise. Choosing a place that reflects only your tastes and does not consider your partner can be disastrous, and so can an overt romance offensive launched too soon in a relationship. Look for hotels that boast romantic touches without heavy-handed lack of subtlety. Hotels that offer really comfortable beds and high quality linens advertise them.

Find as much comfort, privacy and luxury as your budget will allow, with a beautiful setting, good food and whatever level of distraction makes you and your partner happy. That’s where you’ll find real romance.

Helpful Sean

My husband and I needed a night away and a serious spa treatment. Having spent the past week moving our house we were worn out and our backs were in dire need of a massage. Knowing that Calistoga is just over an hours drive from San Francisco, this cozy hot springs town was our immediate destination.

We called on Wednesday morning The Lodge at Calistoga and Sean their front desk manager surprised us with a great deal – for $107 plus tax he gave us a king room upstairs with its own balcony. It paid to call directly.

Hearing our tale of sore muscles, Sean immediately told us about their relationship with the Lavender Hill Spa at the other end of Lincoln Avenue and offered to transfer me directly over.

The Clarion Collection Lodge at Calistoga has worked out some great deals with nearby spas and vineyards – ask when you call to book your room or when you arrive, all of their staff was very friendly and helpful.

Lavender Hill Spa Baths

As a hotel guest, you receive a 20% discount on any spa treatment at Lavender Hill but we chose one of the spa’s own specials. We both received an hour bath treatment (with foot massage) and an hour massage for less than $235 total – yes that’s is less than $120 each…

Driving north from San Francisco we took the scenic route up 101 North then over Highway 12 and down into Calistoga via the Petrified Forest. It can be more relaxing than other routes depending on where you are starting from, the time of day or day of the week.

The hotel offers free wi-fi, free parking and we were given a nice room away from the street – Room 202 – facing our own little patch of green. We didn’t use it this trip but they have a mineral pool to swim in.

Patio area for warm days

In the morning we had a simple and free continental breakfast with hot Belgian waffles made to order. They offer cereal and bagels too, all of which were very tasty.

View From Room 202

After our stress and sore muscles were disposed of, we grabbed a last minute dinner reservation at the Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery. There are travel bargains to be had and you can definitely find them in Calistoga.

Here is another great website where you can find tales of rejuvenating Getaways.

All photos from my iPhone.

Blue Ridge Mountains

A group of friends and I decided to rent a huge, gorgeous cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia at the end of February. I am so excited! I haven’t been done a cabin weekend in a really long time, and I miss it. Check it out – it’s called Blue Mountain Creek Lodge and it has seven bedrooms and 4.5 baths. Big! It’s only four miles away from the town of Blue Ridge and six miles from the lake. There are two fully equipped kitchens, an in-ground pool (no jacuzzi though) and nine acres of private property to explore.

We’re actually also considering a second cabin that’s nearby that has six bedrooms and which has a jacuzzi, because it’s way to cold to swim in the outdoor pool at the other place. This cabin is called Green Mountain Creek and it looks lovely as well.

Blue Mountain Creek Lodge

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been working really hard lately and I need a break! I smile just thinking about relaxing in front of the fireplace on a chilly winter night roasting marhmallows, or chilling in the hot tub. I can hike, explore and frolic to my heart’s content – it’ll be great to be in the outdoors for an entire weekend.

Dogs are allowed at the Green Mountain Creek one, so take your pooch with you! It’s super cheap, too – $600 for three nights! Since we have six people, that’s only $100 per person for all three nights. Talk about sweetening the deal – I’ll have to write another blog to let everyone know how it is!

Photo Credits: Theakshay, Blue Mountain Creek Lodge website