Where is the most romantic place you’ve ever been to?

Valentine’s Day Edition

Jody Bear asked top travel icons from around the World and their responses will touch your heart…

It is not Bora Bora, Seychelles or any other usual suspect. It is Galapagos, Ecuador.

We stayed at a little oceanfront hotel on the water and sat in a hammock with a gentle breeze, drinking cold coconut milk and watching the sunset each night. Wild life everywhere, huge turtles blocking the streets, sea lions swimming next to you in the water, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas crossing your walkway etc. Each restaurant is reached by little boats with grilled seafood and Latin inspired food.

Walking over volcanic land to a hidden lagoon and jumping from 15 feet in,  swimming in the clear water or walking through the nature preserve 2 miles to the most beautiful, deserted beach that we have ever seen was an extraordinary experience.  No cars were allowed and cell phone reception was refreshingly poor! Crystal clear water, white (!) powder-like beaches and maybe 3 humans on a 5 mile stretch and, of course, doing this all with my beautiful wife at my side…

Christian A. Boyens

General Manager

Ritz Paris

Love the question and without a doubt, it would be our Casa de la Luna, here at the Four Seasons Costa Rica.

I proposed to Dominique, now my wife of three months,  last year on the pool deck of the estate house ... it might sound all cliche, but the sunset, the wide ocean, a little breeze, some boats on the horizon  - it was just perfect.  And she said yes of course, with a big smile (and a tear) .....
Pascal Forotti
General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Guanacaste, Costa Rica

I love New York and, for me, there's no setting more romantic than Central Park.  It's made that much more special by sitting on a bench with someone you really care about. In my particular case, I happen to have a park bench with my name on it, and this remains one of the best gifts I ever received.  It also remains my favorite romantic spot in the world. 

Edward Mady
Regional Director of West Coast USA and General Manager
Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows

For me the most romantic place is the Amalfi coast with its hidden treasures-- nothing like sitting and watching the sunset over Capri.

Aaron Kaupp

General Manager

Armani Hotel Milano

First Class Cabin of an American Airlines 777. It was an eight hour flight from Sao Paulo to Miami. We requested to have our dinner together, they set up our pod for sitting for two and it was fantastic to gaze into my partner's eyes at 38,000 ft as we enjoyed a great dinner accompanied by fine wine.

Jorge Collazo

Director of Sales and Marketing

The Setai

South Beach, Miami

Sailing through the Andaman Sea in Thailand.

Maximiliano Broquen

Director Vik Retreats

Estancia Vik José Ignacio

Playa Vik José Ignacio

The most romantic place I have been to is a small chalet restaurant called the ‘Le Vieux Chalet’ in the mountains near Champery in Switzerland.  A tiny little place with log fires, great food and an amazing view of just beautiful mountains and snow.  After a day of skiing, it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the beauty of this place. I cannot think of a more romantic place to share with your loved one.

Helle Jensen

General Manager

Covent Garden Hotel

London

The most romantic destination I have been to is Namibia!  It’s so rugged and raw and just so naturally beautiful that you cannot escape the hold that it takes over your heart.  The sunsets over both the Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei are the most dramatic I have seen.  I was there 10 years ago and it still takes my breath away just thinking about it. 

The most romantic hotel would be Cameron House on Loch Lomond.... you can almost hear the eeriness of Robert Burns’   “You take the high road, and I’ll take the low.....  on the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond” coming across the water of the Loch as you have a wee dram in the Whisky Bar by the fire!  I really love it there!

Restaurant.... hmmmm.....  How about most romantic Pub (can you imagine!)  ... “The Compass” in a suburb of Edinburgh (the suburb is Leith).  They do super food, lovely wine, great service and they have some super leather window seats where you can sit next to, rather than across from, your loved one for a cheeky kiss!!

Tamara Kobiolke

Director of Sales & Marketing

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Scotland

It would have to be Florence for me.  I have been there a few times now and it never disappoints.Walking up the clock tower is a long trek, but once at the top the views of the city are quite something.  I find the best place to stay is the Continentale Hotel- it is beautiful and is ideally situated right next to the Ponte Vecchio.

Toby Garden
Manager

The Soho Hotel

London


According to me,the most romantic place in the world is the splendid terrace of La Vignette Haute in Auribeau, on the Azur Coast, to have an unforgettable dinner.Eric Boonstoppel
General Manager
Cheval Blanc & Head of Operations
LVMH Hotel Management

It would be Pranburi beach which is about 2 hours drive from Bangkok where I escape for the weekends.

Robert O'Kennedy
Director of Sales & Marketing

Mandarin Oriental

Bangkok, Thailand

I have to say that the most romantic place is actually the island of Filicudi in Sicily. Few houses and a wonderful sea! The best for newlyweds.

Isabella Cillerai

Director of Sales

Villa d’Este

Cernobbio, Italy 

Two places come to mind. Le Meurice in Paris is where my wife and I spent part of our honeymoon. We had a suite with a view to the Eiffel Tower!

The other place is La Toiny in St. Barths. Very remote, very private, very beautiful.

Robert Whitfield
Regional Vice President and General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Hawaii


The most romantic place I've ever been to is on Mount Batur in Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia. It's a half active volcano on the north part of Bali which you start climbing at 4am and you reach the top by 6am where you see the most beautiful views and sunset! 

Philip Michopoulos

Owner

Kivotos

Mykonos, Greece

Most Romantic City and one of the Most Romantic Restaurants:
City: Paris, will always have Paris!  Without a doubt , it is one of the most romantic cities in the world

Restaurant: El Celar de Can Roca in Gerona Spain - lovely, simple, romantic and just a complete breathtaking experience

Ian Nicholson

CEO

Hotel - Faena, Faena Hotel Group

Buenos Aires

The most romantic place I’ve spent on Valentine’s Day is in a little chalet in Verbier, Switzerland at 2800 meter altitude with three meters of snow around with a beautiful fire, my wife  and very isolated.

Christophe Sadones

General Manager

Park Hyatt Shanghai

For me it’s not about the destination, it is all about the person you are with that makes something romantic.  That said-- the most romantic place I have ever been with my sweetheart is an enchanting, small village called Ortakoy, where simply sitting along the Bosporus is like poetry.  There’s no place like it on earth if you are with the one you love.

Abdullah Vural

General Manager

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

For me ,it’s a choice of two places- actually the first is Château de Perreux, in Amboise where I spent a few days  a few years ago with the eccentric owner who was an ex French ambassador and his partner. The surroundings were breathtaking amid the vineyards of the Loire Valley and they had greenhouses in the grounds where they grew their own food. They didn’t offer dinner at the chateau, however, they invited us for dinner at their home and we had the most incredible time.   

The Caldesi in Campagna in Bray- I had lunch there last spring on a surprising warm afternoon.  The service was just incredible the team took our tables out of the restaurant and sat us on the sun soaked terrace as the day suddenly changed. The food and wine were amazing.  It is a romantic spot to spend the afternoon.

Eva Mount

General Manager

Charlotte Street Hotel

So many places, so many memories… 69 countries, 4 continents and 18 years since I left my native Australia to chase my hospitality dream.
… and it comes back to a single memory so important to me, it is indelible upon my heart: my first wedding anniversary at Le Cinq restaurant in The George V in Paris, France. A gastronomic experience with unparalleled service that was so subtle that Rebecca and I felt we were the only people in the restaurant. Combine this with the unrequited allure of one of the world’s truly romantic cities and a lifelong memory was born that we live and relive!Hugh Templeman
General Manager
Viceroy Snowmass


The most romantic place I have ever been is the four seasons tented camps in the north of Thailand! Just amazing! Also the Thai people make it very special!

Nikheel Advani
COO and Principal
Grace Bay Resorts
Turks & Caicos Islands

My greatest romantic moments were a:
Dinner at Pierre Gagnaire in Paris
Sunrise hike with picnic breakfast on Mount Greylock
Watching the stars and milky way at Al Maha Dubai
Marc Wilhelm
General Manager
Wheatleigh
Lenox, Massachusetts

Happy Valentine's Day!