Best New Hotels for Romance 2011

The Waikiki Edition, which opened October 2010, gives couples good reasons to wing their way across the Pacific to Hawaii. First of the Edition hotels, which combine the stylish savvy of hotelier Ian Shrager with the muscle of Marriott, The Waikiki Edition is for young and young-at-heart couples.

Features that make us want to don Hawaiian shirts and chuck our shoes include a private man-made beach, restaurant by Iron Chef's Masaharu Morimoto, an outdoor movie theater under the stars, and Crazybox nightclub. And surfing boot camp sounds like wet-and-wild fun. Rooms feature 46” LCD TVs, down pillows, Frette sheets, and free wi-fi. Another plus: no facilities for kids. This is Hawaii hedonism designed for lovers. More about this hotel >

A Victorian queen made over for a new generation, Ocean House stands on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. She ruled this part of Watch Hill, Rhode Island from 1868 to 2003, then shuttered her doors. Damaged by the worst hurricane ever to hit New England and later unable to meet the state's new fire safety laws, it was unlikely she'd welcome guests again. Until new owners decided to rebuild her from the ground up.

While some original artifacts were salvaged and reused, this is an entirely new construction with modern conveniences like air conditioning and wi-fi. A restaurant serving farm-to-table fare, lap pool, and couples spa suite make this a 2011 best new hotel for romance. More about this hotel >

Worlds away from the glitz and glamour of some Caribbean islands, eco-conscious Rosalie Bay Resort is tucked into a verdant corner of Dominica, aka "the nature island." Truth is, there's not much more here than a black sand beach, tropical rainforest, 172 types of birds, and easy-rolling Rosalie River.

Couples who can't imagine a more relaxing vacation than hiking and kayaking, swimming in the pool and ocean, and sampling local food and beer will find the resort refreshing. It gets most of its power from wind turbines and solar panels. Guestroom furniture is hand-hewn by local craftsman from indigenous wood. Children 14 and older are welcome, which means no screaming babies to disturb your reverie. More about this hotel >

Travelers in search of tropical sun have caught onto the fact that Curacao in the Caribbean lies below the hurricane belt, making a visit in any season a safe bet. For years there were few new hotels rising on the island, then in 2009 the Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino opened in the capital city with a man-made beach.

In 2010 the Hyatt Regency Curacao debuted to offer romantic couples a true beach resort whose sands stretch 1,500 feet over two bodies of water, the Spanish Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Plenty of eateries, a spa, beach beds, plus a kids' camp and an "active" pool that keeps splashers a good distance away from adults' poolside cocktails make this new hotel one of the year's best for romance. More about this hotel >

You say you're not beach lovers, and you'd rather romanticize in a great city? Then get yourselves to London, where one of the best new hotels of 2011 is actually a century-old landmark. The Savoy shut down in 2007 and for three years more than a thousand craftsmen and artisans worked to restore the hotel to its former Edwardian and Art Deco glory.

Today a Gordon Ramsay Holdings chef presides over the kitchen in the famed Savoy Grill, and gorgeous new River Suites and guest rooms provide stunning views of the Thames. And the best place to have tea for two is inside the gazebo in the Thames Foyer, where couples sip under a sparkling glass dome. More about this hotel >

The best new hotel for romance in New York this year is The Chatwal, a perfect lair for Broadway lovers. Most couples who visit the city plan to take in a show; the Times Square location of The Chatwal makes it easy to see a different one nightly (and take advantage of discount ticket prices nearby). Rooms and suites are spacious (those on the 7th floor even have heated terraces) and bathroom amenities that include Asprey products, a mirror-embedded TV, and heated Toto toilet will spoil you. Hotel restaurant fare and onsite wedding-party catering come from the Lambs Club kitchen, overseen by chef/proprietor Geoffrey Zakarian. More about this hotel >

The Villa by Barton G is where Gianni Versace lived, loved, and was murdered by a deranged fan in 1997. But that's history. After passing through several hands and being renovated for millions, the property reopened in 2010 as most flamboyant, over-the-top hotel on Miami's South Beach. Although the majority of the designer's furnishings were auctioned after his death, local impresario Barton G. Weiss reconstituted the ambiance of the former pleasure palace. Beds twice the size of kings, a shower in the round with eight heads, a swimming pool paved with a thousand mosaic tiles, and a private butler for each suite are just a few of the elements that make The Villa by Barton G a rare retreat. More about this hotel >

Despite the fact that the economy hasn't dealt Las Vegas the best hand over the past few years, projects long in the pipeline have added more hotel rooms, restaurants, and casinos recently. Last year saw the opening of CityCenter, whose Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas we loved.

Hopefully the city's luck will change with the December 2010 opening of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. This luxury lair has a couple of unique features sure to attract romantic couples who like to be among the first to try out new hotels. First, most rooms feature a balcony. Second, The Cosmopolitan's casino will have windows overlooking the Strip. Third, lounge lizards have both a day pool and a nightclub where they can make the scene. More about this hotel >

Couples can make sweet music in this new southern outpost of the boutique-y W hotels brand. Cool and contemporary, the W Austin is steps from "live music capital of the world" clubs and surrounded by some of the city's hippest boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

Guest room amenities — including cushy pillow-top beds wrapped in good linens, an entertainment center plus a "munchie" box that takes the place of a minibar, and Bliss Spa toiletries — appeal to hedonists, making it a best new hotel for romance in 2011 and beyond.

A rooftop pool and bar, spa with aromatherapy steam showers, fitness center and yoga room might induce you to leave your room — but no guarantees. More about this hotel >

The Four Seasons Resort Vail, open December 2010, caters to couples who appreciate and can afford the best of everything. Visit Vail in ski season, and the hotel's Ski Concierge will not only wax and tune your skis; they'll be waiting for you at the top of the Vista Bahn chairlift. When you're done, drop your equipment. It'll be prepped and ready the next day.

Back at the cozy hotel, opt for a couples spa treatment in a private suite with a whirlpool and fireplace. Or go for a dip in the heated swimming pool surrounded by the pristine mountains. Later, turn up the flame in Flame restaurant — or sizzle in your own suite with room service, a fireplace, and a balcony to take it all in. More about this hotel >

Los Angeles has no shortage of hotels. In fact, some of the world's best hotels for romance are clustered at the heart of America's entertainment industry in Beverly Hills.

To draw visitors downtown, the L.A. Live entertainment district was built. It's home to the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, 14-screen movie complex, restaurants, nightclubs, even a bowling alley-cum-lounge.

Looming over it is a 54-story tower that holds the JW Marriott Los Angeles, condos, and the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, built directly on top of the other hotel. The Ritz has the views, the spa, a sexy rooftop pool, a Wolfgang Puck restaurant — and California couples who want to be among the first to make the scene. More about this hotel >

Post-Olympics, the Chinese capital remains in the spotlight with a host of architecturally rich buildings. At 1,082 feet the tallest in town, Shangri-La’s China World Summit Wing, Beijing, which opened in August 2010, houses guests on floors 64 to 81. Its sleek Adam Tihany-designed Grill 79 on the 79th floor, view-rich Atmosphere Bar, and CHI spa sanctuary may even make non-acrophobics swoon. And for those who marry here, the chef whips up an original dish for the couple, theirs and theirs alone. More about this hotel >