Best Romantic Vacations
Rekindle a long-standing romance, or kick a new one up a notch, in one of these romantic destinations
While we tend to think most of romance around Valentine's Day, our favorite romantic vacations are guaranteed to rekindle a long-standing romance, or kick a new one up a notch, all year long.

Whether you choose to cuddle up on a gondola ride in Venice, snuggle under a blanket on a caleche ride in Quebec City, dance cheek-to-cheek in Buenos Aires, spend long days canoodling on spectacular islands like Bora Bora, Santorini, and Nevis, cruise magical Halong Bay, or discover breathtaking Dubrovnik together, you're bound to feel a renewed (or new) sense of intimacy with your partner.

Of course, no list of this sort would be complete without a nod to Paris, the epitome of romantic cities (and site of countless marriage proposals), but dear Santa Barbara, closer to home, is just as ripe for a tryst, with countless spas and vineyards in the vicinty sure to help you and yours relax – and lose your inhibitions.

1. Buenos Aires
As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango – and there’s no better place to practice your moves with your partner than Buenos Aires, the birthplace of this incredibly sexy dance. Watching expert tango dancers spin around the dance floor at one of the local venues here is already hot stuff – women dress the part in fishnet stockings, heels, and high-slit dresses, while men doff tailored suits and cravats – but taking to the floor with your honey can make the temperature go higher still.

Play the voyeur at neighborhood spots like Bar Sur , or, put on your dancing shoes and trot your stuff at Centro Cultural Torquato Tasso, which also offers lessons for first-timers. When you need to rest your feet, this Paris of South America has a lot more to tempt visiting lovebirds, from elegant turn-of-the-century mansions and tree-lined boulevards reminiscent of European cities like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, to cozy bistros in trendy neighborhoods where diners linger over long meals.

Plus, with the peso so low nowadays, this city that used to rival Manhattan in terms of price has actually become extremely affordable.

2. Bora Bora
If there’s one destination to blow your savings on in the name of love, this tiny, pricey South Pacific island is it. Novelist James A. Michener described Bora Bora as, “the most beautiful island in the world” and visitors to its far-flung shores rarely disagree.

So small that the island road is a mere 19 miles long, this Polynesian idyll sits 143 miles northwest of Tahiti and boasts the best that nature can offer: a high- mountain center cloaked in jungle, a superb cobalt lagoon, a splendid coral reef, and pristine stretches of bone-white sand dotted with fallen coconut husks.

When you’re not discovering the many bounties of this island paradise, hang out at the local watering hole, Bloody Mary's, where Pierce Brosnan has been known to woo his leading lady, or send off the sun with a sunset catamaran cruise. Come nightfall, few can resist bedding down at a lavishly appointed over-the-water bungalow.

3. Dubrovnik
Couples in search of romance are flocking to this wondrous city on the southernmost stretch of Croatia’s coast, as enchanted by its beauty today as the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who once proclaimed, "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik."

The city has been magnificently restored to its former glory to emerge as one of the most fashionable vacation spots in all of Europe. Dubrovnik's resurgent popularity should come as no surprise, however – this “jewel of the Adriatic,” as the coastal resort town is often referred to in tourist brochures, is breathtakingly beautiful and a magnet for dreamy-eyed lovers in search of romantic inspiration.

The city's fortified old town overlooks the dazzling Adriatic from a shelter of limestone cliffs and its marble-paved streets are lined with marvelously preserved churches, stately palaces, squares, and terracotta-roofed townhouses. Meanwhile, down below, along the seaside coast, fine beaches beckon – as do a slew of offshore islands – making Dubrovnik uniquely appealing to just about any taste.

4. Halong Bay, Vietnam
Now that you’ve found your knight in shining armor, put his dragon-slaying skills to the test in this ancient dragon’s lair near the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. Indeed, “Ha Long” means "where the dragon descends into the sea" and, once you're sailing the enchanting emerald-green waters here, you'll easily understand why the bay is believed to have been formed by the thrashing of a dragon's tail.

It’s a sight that confirms Vietnam’s status as one of the most romantic countries in Asia; undoubtedly the country’s most mesmerizing natural setting, this UNESCO-protected area is dotted with grottoes, some 3,000 limestone islets (only one of which is inhabited), and often shrouded in mist, which only adds to its mystique. While day trips are available, we strongly recommend booking an overnight cruise to experience the bay's phenomenal sunset and sunrise, as well as more of its splendid landscapes.

Our favorite agencies for two- day cruises are Emeraude Cruises and Buffalo Tours.

5. Nevis
If you’re craving a Caribbean getaway that’s just as high on romance as it is on R & R, look no further than darling Nevis (pronounced NEE-vis), the sister island of St. Kitts. A quiet, old Caribbean charm reigns on this 36-square-mile patch of land that famously produced Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Nowadays, cocooning lovers can hole up in converted plantation houses – rather than sterile high-rise beach resorts – where atmospheric verandahs, louvered windows, and four-poster beds guarantee your hours, if not days, will be spent canoodling. Should you deign to leave your room, the island’s scenery is equally entrancing: disused stone sugar mills are now overgrown with vines, lush island paths invite hiking and horseback riding, and sugarcane fields lead to remarkable restaurants serving fine Creole fare.

Add in the fact that Nevis is still relatively difficult to get to (you have to change planes in Antigua, St. Maarten, or Puerto Rico), and you’ll be looking at spending serious quality time with your sweetie – without having to share him or her with other vacationing sun worshipers.

Read the full article at ShermansTravel.com.

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source: yahoo.com