Love is often referred to as an international language, capable of breaking through all cultural and
linguistic boundaries. If love itself is an international language, then it only makes sense that its
celebration should be taken around the world. As Part One of Lifestyle’s Romantic Getaways feature, we take a
journey to some of the world’s most exquisite escapes where lust and love are sure to bloom in blissful leaps
and bounds. From the city of Bath in the United Kingdom, to Australia’s secluded paradise, Lord Howe Island,
to Charlottesville Virginia’s grand estate, Keswick Hall Hotel, romantic excursions have never been more
adventurous or unique. Whether celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary, a newly-wed union, or simply an escape
for two soulmates, you need not settle for an common destination when your courtship surely is nothing less
than exquisite.
Bath
London, UK
If Jane Austen found Bath a suitable setting for scenes in two of her novels — both pieces Romantic fiction —
and made the location her home from 1801 to 1806, it’s safe to say the English city is good enough for a
non-fictional romantic getaway.
A city set in the ceremonial county of Somerset in the southwest of England, Bath fosters numerous natural
hot springs, and offers a distinct experience with spectacular architecture, great shopping and iconic
attractions, such as the world-famous Roman Baths complex and the nearby Stonehenge. When it comes to
romance, Bath is a ranked high amongst the world’s top locations for spending time with a special someone.
The English city offers much more than the typical lavish hotel or bed and breakfast setting for courtship.
Akin to its name, Bath is known for its baths — but not your typical ceramic, footed type. Using warm,
mineral-rich waters enjoyed by the Celts and Romans over 2,000 years ago, Bath’s Thermae Bath Spa is
Britain’s original and only natural thermal spa. Juxtaposing old with new, Thermae Bath Spa displays an
intermixing of historic spa buildings with the contemporary design of the New Royal Bath. With a rooftop,
open-air pool offering picturesque views of the city, an indoor pool and a number of aromatic steam rooms,
Thermae along with the city’s additional Roman baths make Bath an ideal location for a warm and inviting
romantic excursion.
Lord Howe Island
Australia
Less than a two-hour flight from Sydney or Brisbane, off Australia’s east coast, is the breathtaking Lord
Howe Island — one of the four island groups to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list for the global
significance of its natural beauty and heritage. Home to the world’s most southerly coral reef, Lord Howe
Island houses unspoiled beaches and secluded corners, ideal for couples of all ages.
If not kayaking through the waters of more than six kilometres of beaches, bays and reefs within
the island’s protected lagoon, or walking right off any of the golden sand-adorned beaches to explore
breathtaking coral reefs, you and your mate can indulge in blissful spa treatments.
Lord Howe Island’s Capella Lodge offers a range of treatments for both men and women, such as “Sacred Stone
Therapy,” which combines heated basalt stones from the island’s windward beaches with massage techniques.
Arajilla Retreat’s spa focuses on hydration and rejuvenation through both massage and the use of natural
products such as fruits, botanical herbs, nuts, grains and flowers. After such spa services, not only will
your bodies be rejuvenated, but the romance will be too.
Keswick Hall Hotel
Charlottesville, VA
What could be more romantic than escaping to a lavish manor? Located moments from Charlottesville, Virginia
and wine country, and covering 600 acres of land, sits Keswick Hall Hotel, an extensive and elaborate estate.
As guests of the Hall, couples are privy to Charlottesville’s colourful and vibrant charm and character, as
well as the countryside of Central Virginia, which Thomas Jefferson adoringly referred to as “the Eden of the
United States.” With much of city’s original architecture preserved — including historical halls, paths and
streets — couples will become submerged in an urban landscape recalling the time of the American Civil War.
Speaking of times past, for the couples who regard themselves as history buffs, Thomas Jefferson’s home
Monticello and his Academical Village at the University of Virginia are both only minutes from the Hall. With
fine art museums, theatres, symphony and operatic productions, not to mention numerous equestrian events and
award-wining vineyards nearby, Keswick Hall Hotel is just the start to a Charlottesville retreat.
Princely Palace
The Principality of Monaco
According to the Consulate of Monaco, the name “Monaco,” or “Monoikos” in Greek, is commonly associated with
that of Hercules by ancient writers. Although “Heracles Monoikos” in Greek may mean “Heracles alone” or
“Heracles who has only one temple,” present-day “Monaco” understood by the language of love arguably means
one thing: Romance. A visit to Monaco-ville quarter, or the “Rock” as it’s also known, will allow couples to
navigate the narrow alleyways that date back to the Middle Ages, leading to the scenic Place du Palais where
the Princely Palace sits. Built in the 18th century then modified during the Renaissance, the Princely Palace
consists of — among its many features — the Louis XV lounge adorned in yellow and gold accent, the Main
Courtyard with its 17th-century Carrara marble double staircase and the Hercule Gallery with its delicate
15th-century frescoes. If such royal attractions weren’t enough, couples can view an extraordinary panorama
while sauntering towards the Saint Martin Gardens. Planted in the 1830s during the reign of Prince Honoré V,
the gardens encircle the stunning Oceanographic Museum. Opened in 1910, the museum houses the most noteworthy
coral reef in the world within its shark lagoon, 400 cubic metres of water in which hammerhead sharks and
regal stingrays swim before a coral reef inhabited by a multitude of tropical fish and living corals. With
such royal ambiance and alluring intrigue, it’s no question that Monaco will elevate common romance to
princely proportions.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn, New York
In a world where lavish, luxurious and far-off destinations lure those with refined taste to experience
romance, it is hard to consider the traditional garden as a location where love still lives — or blooms, to
be exact. After taking a trip to Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, New York however, one’s thoughts on
flora-as-aphrodisiac may very well change. Growing from its modest beginnings as an alleged ash dump in the
late 1800s, like a flower from a seed Brooklyn Botanic Garden has transformed into the finest in urban
gardening and horticultural presentation. Of the 13 gardens that constitute Brooklyn Botanic Garden, one in
particular has the potential to steal hearts. The Osborne Garden, a semi-formal garden adorned with Italian
landscaping, features 10 wisteria-draped pergolas enclosing an emerald lawn, a boulder wall with large
plantings of varied coloured and textured plants, and several stone features and benches. This peaceful oasis
in the middle of the city houses a picturesque fountain measuring more than 17 feet in diameter and is
surrounded by a semicircle of limestone benches, with what is regarded as “curious acoustic properties.” It
is said that if you sit at one end of these “whispering benches,” you can whisper clearly to someone —
ideally your loved one — sitting at the opposite side, your sweet nothings audible for even the birds to
hear.
Montmartre
Paris, France
A famed art district located in the north of Paris, Montmartre, which is essentially a city on a hill,
provides visitors with a breathtaking aerial view of the entire city of Paris. Once reaching what is known as
the second-highest viewpoint of the City of Love — the first being the Eiffel Tower — couples will encounter
the grandiose Sacré-Coeur Basilica: An exquisite triple-arched portico surmounted by two bronze equestrian
statues of France’s national saints, Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX, as well as one of the world’s
heaviest bells, weighing in at 19 tonnes. After spending a moment or longer enjoying the beauty of the
Basilica’s Romanesque-Byzantine architectural style, couples can make the descent back down the hill where a
garden and fountain are located. And just in case a garden and fountain aren’t romantic enough, couples can
stroll over to Café Montmartre located at the bottom of the steps leading down from the Sacré-Coeur. This
authentic Parisian tavern captures the essence of Montmartre and its culture, and is frequented by both
tourists and locals. As Montmartre came to be known as the centre of artistic life in Paris courtesy of its
bohemian aura, many artists from Berlioz to Picasso chose this free-spirited artistic urban oasis as their
home. Although couples visiting today may not opt for a permanent stay, Montmartre’s juxtaposition of
architectural grandeur and artistic flair may just make for a momentary sacré coeur pour les deux.
Make sure to take a look at Part Two of Lifestyle’s Romantic Getaways in our February digital edition, where
you’ll be graced by the wonders of Portugal’s Madeira Islands, Austria’s breathtaking Belvedere Palace and
Italy’s iconic Amalfi Coast among others. •
