Current Best New Hotels
Where are the best new romantic hotels this year? They span the globe, so whether your romantic getaway fantasy consists of just the two of you on a tropical atoll, at a mountaintop village, in a luxe jungle hideaway, loving it up in Europe, or sequestered in city elegance, there's a place for you. Romantic hotels on this list opened in 2004 or 2005.
Hotels don't get much more romantic than this: Set in a corner of Provence nearby the glamorous Côte d'Azur, the new, all-suite Four Seasons Provence overlooks medieval villages and fields of lavender. Guest rooms are decorated Provençal-style, with fabrics inspired by sunshine and flowers, and they feature a private terrace and DVD player. Do have the hotel chef pack a picnic basket for two and head out to explore Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez, Monaco, and other legendary romantic spots.
Opened April 28, 2005, the $2.6 billion dollar Wynn Las Vegas aims to out-Vegas even the biggest, most luxurious hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Set on 192 acres, Wynn Las Vegas holds approximately 2,700 guest rooms, 18 restaurants, and a 110,000 square foot casino. There is an 18-hole championship golf course, a five-story waterfall that cascades into a man-made lake, and priceless artworks on display.
You don't have to board a boat to feel like you're on one at the ship-themed Maritime Hotel in New York City's Chelsea/lower West Side section. And you won't feel lost at sea: The wi-fi ready Maritime is easy walking distance (watch those cobblestones) from the super-hot Meatpacking District that comes alive at night. The trendy Jeffrey store is right around the corner, and there are ample restaurants in the hotel and nearby.
Looking like a castle set against British Columbia mountaintops, Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre contains a full-service boutique hotel with 82 suites. A valet will be available to store your skis or snowboard at the mountain base, ensuring that you won't have to carry them far.
Whether you're honeymooning in New York or stopping in the city en route to someplace else, the new 70 Park Avenue Hotel can put you up in stylish comfort. Previously known as the Doral Hotel, 70 Park has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation under new owner Kimpton Hotels. At the cutting edge of hotel amenities, 70 Park Avenue Hotel offers wi-fi throughout the hotel, broadcasts a Yoga Channel on its 42" flat-screen TVs, and is even pet-friendly.
Scheduled to open at the end of 2005, the 401-room Fairmont Mayakoba hotel will encompass 112 miles of coastline some 40 miles south of Cancun. Guestrooms and suites will be in a series of two-story casitas. Before reserving, contact a Fairmont Platinum Honeymoon Concierge; it's a complimentary service dedicated to creating a couple's dream honeymoon through personalized planning. Fairmont Platinum Honeymoon couples receive free upgrades, gifts, and more on their stay.
At the edge of San Antonio's famed Riverwalk, the Watermark Hotel & Spa stands as a serene, elegant oasis. Generously proportioned lodgings feature 12-foot-tall ceilings, Jacuzzi baths, and four-poster beds. Enjoy the hotel's rooftop cafe and pool, and also use the Watermark Hotel as your home base for exploring landmarks that include the Alamo, El Mercado, La Villita District, and the Spanish Governors Palace, all within walking distance.
Recently opened after a significant refurbishment by designer Jonathan Adler, Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs is a retro fantasy surrounded by exquisitely landscaped gardens set against southern California's mountain and desert scenery. Facililties include European red clay tennis courts, the Palm Springs Yacht Club, a spa, two indoor swimming pools, Jacuzzis, a yoga terrace, and a fitness facility open around the clock.
Immerse yourselves in the gentle culture and surroundings of northern Thailand. This graceful new hotel, which overlooks terraced rice paddies and plantations, features a spa, health club with tennis and squash courts, restaurants, a Thai cooking school, and an authentic Thai shopping village. The luxurious hotel's 144 serene suites feature locally handcrafted decorations and beautiful antiques. Some open terraces off suites feature private and blissfully romantic plunge pools.
