The chirp of tree frogs, the rush of the waves, the shimmer of a Caribbean moonscape.
It’s less than a month away — but is there anywhere more romantic to spend this Valentine’s Day than the Caribbean?
This year’s Valentine’s Day is on a Thursday, too, meaning it’s the perfect excuse to spend a long weekend in the islands for a classic getaway just for the two of you.
So where to go? We’ve put together a list of five spots that up the ante on the romantic, places full of irresistible charm, intoxicating beauty — and, perhaps most crucially, restaurants worthy of Valentine’s Day dinners.
Anegada This far-flung outpost in the British Virgin Islands brings you back to the reason why we all travel: the joy of discovery, of the frontier, of journeys that are rewarded. This BVI outpost is all about toes-in-the-sand dining, pristine coastlines and some very cool small hotels, none more romantic than the Anegada Beach Club, which consists of a collection of high-design solar-powered tents perched on the dunes that turn any long weekend into a full-fledged honeymoon. At night, you can choose from an almost endless number beachfront eateries serving the Caribbean’s best lobster.
Cap Cana, Dominican Republic No, this isn’t Punta Cana. The tony enclave of Cap Cana a short drive from Punta Cana International Airport is a rarefied corner of Caribbean luxury — and home to one of the region’s most overwhelmingly romantic places to stay: the Eden Roc Cap Cana. The story here is the rooms, particularly the pool suites — voluptuously designed, remarkably capacious units that simply ooze luxury. And the food factor is met here, too, with three Relais & Chateaux eateries led by the oceanside La Palapa.
The Landing.
Harbour Island, Bahamas It’s hard to find a more charming little island anywhere in the region than Harbour Island, the postcard-perfect pink-sand paradise just off the coast of North Eleuthera filled with whitewashed 18th century cottages and great bars, too. It’s filled with terrific places to stay, from Valentines to The Dunmore, and you won’t lack for romantic dining options, either, led by the island’s hottest table, The Landing (just make sure you book right now).
Nassau, Bahamas The perfect Valentine’s Day weekend getaway. Take a short flight and head to Nassau, which is undergoing a full-fledged renaissance. And the hospitality options are vast: a high-end weekend at the Rosewood Baha Mar or the Cove at Atlantis. And then dinner at Graycliff, just about the most romantic restaurant in all of the Caribbean. (And you can stay there, too, if you like). And Nassau’s burgeoning culinary scene means you can choose a different world-class eatery every night, from downtown’s Cafe Matisse to Dune at the Ocean Club.
St Martin The island’s most romantic hotel, Belmond La Samanna, is back, and that means indulgent French Caribbean beachy afternoons and torch-lit evenings. You can have a wine-filled dinner at La Cave, or venture to the nearby town of Grand Case for delicious French Caribbean meals at eateries like Le Cotage and Bistro Caraibes. Just make sure you splurge for one of the one-bedroom plunge pool suites.