Top 10 Romantic Hotels Worldwide

La Reserve Ramatuelle, St Tropez, France

On a hill above the Mediterranean and St Tropez, perches La Reserve Ramatuelle, a recently opened hotel with 23 bedrooms that are all about chic simplicity. The floor-to-ceiling windows let the ocean views take centre stage. Order champagne cocktails for two and sink into a beanbag by the heated outdoor pool.

Eagles Nest, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Five secluded villas, hidden away on a peninsula in northern New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, blend ocean vistas with minimal contemporary furniture, abstract art and glam gadgets, including flatscreen TVs and home cinema systems. Prepare your own meals in the kitchen or arrange for a private chef. Flop in the Jacuzzi, cocktail in hand, and enjoy swimming, sailing and whale-watching.

Capella Singapore, Singapore

The 112-room Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island has lush lawns, peacocks and sculptures surrounding a heritage hotel. Constellation rooms come with an alfresco terrace tub. Visit the award-winning Auriga spa before feasting on fine Chinese fusion dishes at Cassia.

Palazzo Barbarigo, Venice, Italy

Blending modern boudoir glamour with deco chic, all 18 rooms offer a canal view, four-poster beds, and ceiling mirrors to reflect light from the water outside. There’s a velvety lounge bar and small dining room serving light snacks, but venturing out to eat is a joy in this neighbourhood near the Rialto bridge.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia

For animal encounters without foregoing creature comforts, head to Kangaroo Island boutique hotel Southern Ocean Lodge, a designer haven just off the coast of South Australia. Stretching along the coastline at Hanson Bay, its 21 contemporary suites, serene spa, bar and restaurant blend into the environment.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Hop aboard a speedboat from Nha Trang, on the south-central coast of Vietnam, to reach this sanctuary. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay retreat offers 58 villas with a choice of jungle seclusion, hilltop views, beachside or water-edge settings. Amble from your canopied bed to your own private pool or descend a ladder directly to the sea.

St James’s Hotel & Club, London

This London hotel in ritzy Mayfair combines a gent’s club feel with oodles of luxury, starting from the red entrance carpet and rose and white Victorian facade. The 60-room newly-revamped hotel has decor teaming Murano glass chandeliers with artworks and sensuous materials. Velvet, silk, leather and cashmere season the rooms alongside massive tubs, L’Occitane toiletries, heated towels and a built-in LCD TV.

Uma Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

One of Bali’s most romantic retreats, hillside Uma Ubud boasts valley scenery and guided treks around the green paddy fields, daily yoga classes and a main pool surrounded by monkey-inhabited tropical trees. The 29 rooms offer outdoor showers, open-air lounging pavilions, and serene koi ponds.

The Standard NY, New York

The Standard NY created by hip hotelier Andre Balazs is a glassy, minimal high-rise in New York’s western Meatpacking District. Of the 337 rooms, the lofty Standard Suites are the most glam, with three walls of floor-to-ceiling glass giving views from your bath.

Satri House, Luang Prabang, Laos

Satri House was once the childhood home of a Lao prince, and this grand yet intimate 1900s boutique hotel has 25 elegant rooms with four-poster beds and south-east Asian decor. Art and antiques, including gilded Buddhas and Chinese lacquered cabinets, add a touch of gallery chic. The hotel also has two pools, a small spa and a tempting restaurant.