USA: Romantic Getaways
Romantic Getaways
- New York City: Manhattan Magic
Expect to pay: £300–£700 per night for luxury hotels; £180–£350 for boutique options
The city that never sleeps offers romance at every turn—from sunrise in Central Park to midnight cocktails in hidden speakeasies. Walk the High Line as the city stretches below, catch a Broadway show and dine at a candlelit West Village restaurant afterwards, or simply wander the streets of SoHo watching the world’s most interesting parade of humanity pass by. Book a room with skyline views, request a corner table at a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, and let New York’s legendary energy sweep you along. The Statue of Liberty at sunset, jazz in a Harlem club, pizza at 2am—Manhattan delivers romance both epic and intimate.
- California’s Big Sur: Coastal Drama
Expect to pay: £350–£800 per night for cliffside resorts; £200–£400 for quality inns
Where the Santa Lucia Mountains plunge into the Pacific, Highway 1 traces one of the world’s most dramatic coastlines. Big Sur offers couples a landscape of crashing waves, ancient redwoods, and cliffs that drop hundreds of feet to churning sea. Stay at the Post Ranch Inn or Ventana, where hot tubs perch above the ocean and rooms frame the infinite blue, or find smaller inns in the forest where silence is absolute. Hike through redwood groves to hidden waterfalls, watch whales migrate offshore, and dine at Nepenthe as the sun sets the sky ablaze. Big Sur demands disconnection—there’s little phone signal—and rewards with unforgettable natural beauty.
- Charleston, South Carolina: Southern Charm
Expect to pay: £220–£500 per night for historic district hotels; £350–£700 for luxury properties
Antebellum mansions line cobblestone streets draped in Spanish moss, horse-drawn carriages clip-clop past hidden gardens, and the food scene rivals any city in America. Charleston offers romance steeped in history and warmed by Southern hospitality. Walk the Battery as the sun sets over Fort Sumter, explore the colourful houses of Rainbow Row, and dine on Lowcountry cuisine that blends African, French, and Caribbean influences into something uniquely delicious. The historic district invites wandering—every corner reveals secret courtyards and centuries-old churches. Stay in a converted mansion where breakfast might include shrimp and grits, and surrender to Charleston’s considerable charms.
- Napa Valley: Wine Country Romance
Expect to pay: £300–£600 per night for vineyard hotels; £400–£900 for luxury estates
California’s most celebrated wine region delivers romance by the glass. Drive between world-class wineries, tasting Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay with views across vine-striped hillsides. Book a hot-air balloon ride over the valley at dawn, lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant surrounded by vines, or simply sit on your terrace as the golden hour light transforms the landscape. Yountville and St. Helena offer charming main streets for evening strolls; the resorts offer spa treatments using grape-seed oils. Napa requires a designated driver or hired car, but the rewards—exceptional wine, food, and scenery—justify the logistics. Come thirsty, leave inspired.
- Hawaii: Island Paradise
Expect to pay: £350–£700 per night for resort hotels; £500–£1,500 for luxury beachfront
The Aloha State offers romance across six distinct islands, each with its own character. Maui delivers beaches and the spectacular Road to Hana; Kauai offers lush rainforest and the dramatic Na Pali Coast; the Big Island provides volcanic drama and stargazing at nearly 14,000 feet. Snorkel together in waters teeming with tropical fish, watch humpback whales breach offshore, and toast each sunset with mai tais as the sky turns impossible colours. Stay at a resort where ocean views greet you each morning, or find a private cottage on a quieter island. Hawaii’s isolation creates a world apart, where time moves to the rhythm of the waves.
Useful Links:
1. New York City: Manhattan Magic
Hotel:
The Plaza — Iconic luxury hotel overlooking Central Park and Fifth Avenue.
https://www.theplazany.com
Activity:
Top of the Rock Observation Deck — Official Rockefeller Center experience with panoramic NYC views.
https://www.topoftherocknyc.com
Restaurant:
Le Bernardin — World-renowned seafood and fine dining in Midtown Manhattan.
https://www.lebernardin.com
2. California’s Big Sur: Coastal Drama
Hotel:
Post Ranch Inn — Luxury cliffside retreat with Pacific Ocean views in Big Sur.
https://www.postranchinn.com
Activity:
Big Sur Coastal Drive Experience — Scenic drive with officially recommended turnouts and viewpoints (no singular booking site but details via official Big Sur tourism).
https://www.bigsurcalifornia.org (official tourism site)
Restaurant:
Nepenthe Big Sur — Legendary restaurant with ocean balconies and classic California cuisine.
https://www.nepenthebigsur.com
3. Charleston, South Carolina: Southern Charm
Hotel:
The Dewberry Charleston — Elegant hotel in historic downtown with refined service.
https://www.dewberrycharleston.com
Activity:
Charleston Historic Walking Tour — Book with an official local tour provider specialising in heritage walking experiences.
https://www.charlestonwalkingtours.com
Restaurant:
Husk Restaurant — Southern cuisine with locally sourced ingredients in an iconic Charleston setting.
https://huskrestaurant.com
4. Napa Valley: Wine Country Romance
Hotel:
Auberge du Soleil — Luxury resort with vineyard views and Michelin-starred dining.
https://aubergeresorts.com/aubergedusoleil
Activity:
Napa Valley Wine Train — Official scenic rail journey through the heart of wine country.
https://www.winetrain.com
Restaurant:
The French Laundry (Yountville) — World-famous fine dining experience (reservations essential).
https://www.thomaskeller.com/tfl
5. Hawaii: Island Paradise
Hotel:
Halekulani (Oahu) — Classic luxury beachfront hotel on Waikiki Beach.
https://www.halekulani.com
Activity:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Entrance & Tours — Book official park entry and guided tours.
https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Restaurant:
Merriman’s (Maui) — Renowned farm-to-table Hawaiian cuisine with ocean views.
https://www.merrimanshawaii.com
