Places of the heart

[Photo: Visit Florida] The lure of the Gulf of Mexico and uncrowded beaches makes Sanibel Island especially romantic.

Travel experts offer a variety of romantic destinations, from Mississippi to Bora Bora.

By JAY CLARKE
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 9, 2003

What makes a moment romantic is not just who you are with, but where you are when sharing this experience.

But what makes a place romantic?

"Women are into tactile: softness of sheets, good lighting, a view, flowers," says Marybeth Bond, author of A Woman's World and Gutsy Women, as well as a travel segment host on CBS. "Sunsets are wonderful, and so are nature and charm."

Privacy is also a must, she says.

That being the case, we asked a few well-traveled notables what they consider their most romantic destination, in selected categories.

Should you choose to follow in their footsteps, we've provided a brief description of each choice and a contact number. Here are some "most romantic" locales:

Inn: Monmouth Plantation, Natchez, Miss.

Our expert is Deborah Sakach, publisher of America Historic Inns, which produces three annual bed-and-breakfast guides and has a Web site, www.iloveinns.com:

"When I think of all the places I've been in these last 20-plus years of writing about country inns, I remember coming down from (Monmouth's) gorgeous Riches Suite and dining under flickering gas lights in the dining room. I was overcome by a sense of timelessness, beauty and peace. . . . No one can replicate the character of Monmouth."

Monmouth Plantation: Named one of the 10 most romantic inns by Glamour magazine and USA Today, this antebellum mansion in Natchez drips with Southern charm. Many of its spacious rooms have working fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Its 26 acres of gardens have paths lined with plants and flowers.

Rates begin at $155 per night and include full Southern breakfast. Toll-free 1-800-828-4531, www.monmouthplantation.com.

Beach: Sanibel Island

Stephen P. Leatherman (a.k.a. Dr. Beach), a Florida International University professor and author of America's Best Beaches, who has been rating the world's beaches since 1989:

"Here's a place where you can . . . have your own beach together for two people. (It's) fantastic for sunsets; that's what I like to do, walk along the beach and see the sunset going across the gulf. It's really something.

"Great restaurants, good places to stay . . . it's like a world away."

Sanibel Island: Recognized as one of the best beaches in the world for shelling, Sanibel pokes into the Gulf of Mexico just off Fort Myers. It is an upscale place, with trendy shops and boutiques, atmospheric restaurants, low-key lodgings and not a single high-rise anywhere.

Accommodations range from moderate to high end. For more information, contact the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, toll-free 1-800-237-6444 or (239) 338-3500, or the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce, (239) 472-1080.

City: Seville, Spain

Hunter Reno, whose work as a model and host/narrator on the Travel Channel has taken her to destinations around the world:

"This is a very special city, and it's where I got engaged. With orange trees lining the streets, Seville didn't feel far from home (Miami), but it was like being in another world. We listened to music in the town square, climbed to the top of the Giralda Tower, got lost in the maze in the gardens of the Alcazares and ate tapas whenever we felt like it, which was often.

"Peter had planned to propose on the plane to Seville but didn't have a chance. Then he was going to do it just as we passed the statue of Cupid on a romantic carriage ride we took in the Parque Maria, but he forgot to bring the ring. So he wound up proposing in our hotel room."

Seville: The capital of the Andalusia region has palaces and cathedrals, wonderful gardens and parks, a rich history and a lively night life. Seville's former Jewish ghetto, Santa Cruz, is perhaps the city's most romantic quarter, with picturesque alleys, a huge cathedral, the historic Reales Alcazares royal complex and extensive gardens. Spring and fall are the best times to visit; Seville in summer is hot and humid.

For more information, call the government tourist office in Coral Gables, (305) 358-1992; www.spaintour.com or www.okspain.org.

Ski resort: Portillo, Chile

Picabo Street, Olympic champion skier, who has traveled to winter resorts all over the world:

"There's a lot of 'feminine energy' here that makes it romantic. . . . The parties are very festive, but you can also go off in a corner and be by yourself. There's a sitting room (in the Grand Hotel Portillo) that overlooks the pool, the lake and three different mountains, and the view from Tio Bob's (a cafe on the mountain) is spectacular.

"My fiance wanted to propose on the Plateau (ski run), writing in the snow, but the weather didn't cooperate, so he proposed in our room."

Portillo Ski Resort, Chile: Nestled in the Andes 89 miles from Santiago, this world-class resort is generally regarded as one of the best in South America. It overlooks a deep glacial lake.

In addition to the hotel, the complex has two budget-priced lodges. Prices for a week's stay in the hotel start at $910 per person, based on double occupancy. The Octagon Lodge begins at $620, the hostel-style Inca Lodge at $390. Prices include lodging, lift tickets, four meals daily and free use of fitness and entertainment facilities. Because the seasons are reversed south of the equator, skiing takes place in July, August and September. Call toll-free 1-800-829-5325, or go to www.skiportillo.com.

Hotel: Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, New Zealand

Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor of Conde Nast Traveler magazine and author of Wendy Perrin's Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, who has stayed in more than 60 countries:

"Matakauri's villas afford a stunning 180-degree panorama of Lake Wakatipu and the snow-capped Remarkables (mountain range). . . . The four villas are made for romance: Beyond all that glass lies only nature -- no people, no buildings, only an occasional, distant boat. This means simultaneous exposure and privacy from virtually every corner -- the bed, the fireplace, the giant window seat for two.

"The bathroom yields another view, visible from both the glassed-in shower with twin shower heads and the spa bath for two, with candles and matches suggestively placed beside it. Honeymoon, anyone?"

Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown, New Zealand: Beech wood is used extensively through this high-end lodge. The lodge also has a lounge, summer room and wine cellar. Suite rates begin at about $268, villas at about $338, per person, double occupancy, plus taxes. Included in the price are breakfast, predinner drink and dinner. From the United States, call 011-64-3441-1008; go to www.matakauri.com. Tourism New Zealand, toll-free 1-866-639-9325 or www.purenz.com.

Island: Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Joan Tapper, former editor-in-chief of Islands magazine:

"Romance is more the mood than the place, but Bora Bora is intrinsically romantic. It has all the hallmarks: lush peaks . . . blue lagoons, Polynesian sensuality, a natural glow."

Bora Bora: "Spectacular" is the word that even veteran travelers use to describe this South Pacific island, which is part of the Tahitian group.

Two jagged volcanic peaks give the island its signature profile. Intensely rich foliage enhances its paradisiacal quality. High-end lodgings such as the Hotel Bora Bora have rooms that jut out over the water. The only downside is that it's becoming too popular; you may see more visitors than natives.

Contact the Tahiti Tourism Board, (310) 414-8484, www.gotahiti.com or www.boraboraisland.com. -- Jay Clarke is former travel editor of the Miami Herald.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright