ENROUTE TV   ENROUTE FM   MEDIA KIT   AIR CANADA   LINKS   WRITERS'   GUIDELINES	THE WORLD’S 30 MOST ROMANTIC GETAWAYS No wonder Valentine’s Day falls in February. From a Canadian perspective, there’s no better way to melt the winter chill than to snuggle up with a loved one. But Canadians know romance is better served far from home. Especially in February. So we found 30 of the world’s most romantic getaways, places that simply throb with the possibility of love. And because everyone is different, we divided the getaways by personality type. Don’t know yours? Take our quiz. (We thought of everything, including Odd Couple destinations for those couples burdened with different personality types.) From the privacy of an art-festooned hotel in the Côte d’Azur to a resort spa in the Maldives, we’ve covered the world – romantically. Now get your pencils ready. (If you know what we mean…) Text: ENROUTE STAFF THE QUIZ What is your (romantic) personality type? Answer the following questions to find out. 1. Your favourite drink is a: A glass of Australian Shiraz B soy chai latte C mojito D bottle of Cristal E squirt of Gatorade 2. You never leave home without your: A sunglasses B Buddhist prayer beads C didgeridoo D Vertu cellphone E duct tape 3. Your dream car is a: A Jag B Smart car C Bugatti D limo E Land Rover 4. Your favourite smell is: A vanilla B patchouli C durian D money E sweat 5. Your closet contains mostly: A cashmere B organic hemp C bright colours D black E Gore-Tex 6. Who has the most sex appeal? A Hugh Hefner B Leonard Cohen C Frida Kahlo D Donatella Versace E Vin Diesel 7. Your perfect evening consists of a: A gourmet dinner at home B meditation and yoga session C Tibetan throat-singing concert D see-and-be-seen photo op E rappel off a cliff If you have three or more… As = Privacy Seeker Bs = Soul Searcher Cs = Exoticist Ds = Socialite Es = Adventurer PRIVACY SEEKER Text: ENROUTE STAFF La Colombe d’Or, France You dream of getting lost with your loved one – but what you really want is to lose the rest of the world. A charming inn on the Côte d’Azur should do the trick. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a romantic (in that nonchalant way that everything in the south of France is romantic) walled medieval village in the hills above the French Riviera, is isolated enough. At La Colombe d’Or, a legendary inn on the outskirts of town, privacy is taken to another level. Like the rest of the region, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is overrun by tourists every summer. But few of them know of La Colombe d’Or. A small door in a stone wall and a discreet sign are the only evidence of life inside. The tourists don’t see the picture-postcard garden terrace, where you can sit at tables under white umbrellas and stare at the otherworldly azure of the Mediterranean. They can’t smell the scent of garlic and herbs wafting from the famed Provençal kitchen. And they can’t admire the inn’s art by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Braque and Miró. (Many years ago, La Colombe d’Or’s private setting attracted artists, most of them penniless. They paid for their meals with their work.) Even the well-hidden pool is presided over by an immense Calder mobile sculpture. When French movie legends Simone Signoret and Yves Montand needed to get away from the paparazzi, they came here to get married. The world didn’t know until they’d left. When to go: Summer (avoid the weeks leading up to the Cannes Film Festival). Closed from November to Christmas. Cost: From $340/night. T: 33-4-93-32-80-02 F: 33-4-93-32-77-78 www.lacolombedor.com Amanwana, Indonesia Be alone, together, in a luxury tent cottage under a rain forest canopy on the Indonesian island of Moyo. www.amanresorts.com/wana_m.html Faré Gauguin, Tahiti So remote, you have to take a boat across the lagoon from Moorea to arrive at Dream Island. (With a name like that…) www.dream-island.com Villa Feltrinelli, Italy The private guest cottages at this estate, 120 kilometres east of Lake Como, have hosted generations of Italian aristocrats. www.villafeltrinelli.com Baron Island, Spain A private volcanic island with a Rapunzel-like tower, built by Frank Lloyd Wright, just off the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. www.elysianholidays.co.uk ODD COUPLE: The Lancaster Hotel, Paris Zen courtyard, alfresco dining, Champs Élysées shopping and a guest book signed by celebs from Greta Garbo to Ewan McGregor. www.hotel-lancaster.fr SOUL SEARCHER Text: ENROUTE STAFF Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Republic of Maldives Soothe your mind and physique at this island paradise, which combines the best of Indian, Sri Lankan and Southeast Asian cultures. You’d expect an island resort to have a spa. But how many resort spas have their own island? Here a wooden dhoni (Maldivian boat) sails you across the lagoon to a cluster of thatched-roof spa pavilions to enjoy side-by-side couples’ body and facial treatments. Try an Indian ayurvedic oil rub or a Javanese Lulur beauty ritual using sandalwood, ginger and tropical flowers. Dine at Baraabaru restaurant for a hit of Indian spice; take daily afternoon tea to add a dash of colonial style to your stay. For those whose souls need physical rejuvenation as well, the Maldives is rated one of the world’s top 10 scuba-diving destinations; snorkelling, catamaran sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing are also available. Charter a seaplane for a day to hop to nearby islands or board a game fishing boat for a chance at landing a juicy tuna or wahoo. When you’ve exhausted the possibilities, order champagne and a private dinner in the downy paradise of your own private bungalow, then skinny-dip in your private pool. When to go: Weather is perfect year-round. Cost: Three-night Romantic Getaway Package from $3,230. T: 960-444-888 F: 960-441-188 www.fourseasons.com/maldives Golden Door, California One of the world’s finest health spas opens its Japanese-style gilded gates to couples only four times a year; coed weeks in 2003 begin March 16, June 8, September 14 and December 7. www.goldendoor.com Ulysse Palace and Thalasso, Tunisia On the island of Djerba, the specialty of the house is Mövenpick’s market-style cuisine and thalassotherapy, a heavenly detoxing seaweed treatment. www.movenpick-djerba.com Hale Akua Shangri-La Bed and Breakfast Retreat Centre, Maui Naturalists (that’s nudists to those in the buff) will embrace this clothing-optional hideaway and its sessions on Oceanic Tantra (a version of tantric sex). www.haleakua.com Zen Mountain Monastery, New York The monastery’s bell is tolling for you in the Catskills, where Zen disciplines (from Japanese flower arranging to martial arts) let you exercise your mind. www.mro.org ODD COUPLE: Royal Palm Hotel, Mauritius An oriental hamman, deep-sea fishing and a strict no-paparazzi policy. Appreciated by Royal Suite regulars Nelson Mandela and Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). www.lhw.com EXOTICIST Text: ENROUTE STAFF Posada Del Angel, Antigua, Guatemala A dormant volcano, lush vegetation, a historic village – and a heated lap pool. Do you feel a rumble in the jungle? There aren’t too many places in the world that can truly advertise "getting away from it all" on a par with the Posada Del Angel in colonial Antigua. Sure, the history might be a good reason for coming here, but not this time. Start your day in the "chapel," where your breakfast consists of mouth-watering frijolitos on freshly baked bread or a delicate huevos rancheros spiced up with some hot sauce, all washed down with juices made from a medley of local fruits. Spend the day lounging in bed or on the patio, from where you can appreciate the grandeur of the Volcán Pacaya (unless you’d rather ramble your way to the top); breathe in the air, redolent with the sensuous scent of bougainvillea. Or perhaps you feel like jetting off to the Mayan ruins at Tikkal and Copan. At night, after a candlelight dinner on the Zocalo in town, plunge into the lap pool, where flower petals perfume the water, a soft light emanating from the dozens of candles that surround you. Housed in a small colonial-era townhouse on a quiet street and surrounded by luscious greenery, the inn contains five rooms, each individually decorated. Artists and writers are drawn here by the exotic romanticism; it oozes from the sensuous ochre walls of the place. When to go: November to April. Cost: $230 to $300/night (breakfast included). T: 502-832-5303 and 502-832-5244 F: 502-832-0260 www.posadadelangel.com www.aroundantigua.com Kerala, India See this unique corner of India from the deck of the 23-metre luxury houseboat Sauvar Nigam (Tamil for grand home with all the facilities). www.geoex.com Ouarzazate, Morocco Le Berbère Palace is a kasbah-style castle with landscaped gardens of jasmine and roses. So authentic is the ambience, parts of Lawrence of Arabia were filmed here. www.tourism-in-morocco.com Petra, Jordan The Sofitel Taybet Zaman has taken up the digs of an abandoned Bedouin village, transforming it into a resort with a Turkish bath and outdoor pool with stunning views. www.otigroup.com/jordan/hotels/petra.htm NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia Located on this 184,000-hectare desert preserve, Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge beckons with enchanting chalets built of rugged mountain rock. www.sossusvlei-namibia.com ODD COUPLE: The Venetian, Las Vegas Two Guggenheim museums and Jack’s Velvet Lounge; New York, Paris, Monte Carlo, ancient Egypt and desert adventures are all within reach. www.venetian.com SOCIALITE Text: ENROUTE STAFF Yachting on the French Riviera If you want to turn some heads in jet-setter central, floating around on a 55-metre luxury craft is a good way to start. The French Riviera at sunset: You and your boy toy have spent the last 10 hours shopping, eating and hobnobbing with les noms du jour in Cannes. He says it’s time to dance the night away, but your Manolo Blahniks are barking. What to do? Call the captain to bring your yacht, True Blue, into port so you can jump aboard your floating retreat, swap for a less torturous pair of Jimmy Choos and sail over to that hot new nightclub in Monaco. On the way, you can pop a bottle of Cristal, go for a quick dip in the hot tub and get the chef to whip you up a bite to eat; the 11-man crew is at your beck and call. When the dancing is done and you’ve exhausted all the small talk and cheek kissing, invite pals like Puffy, Giorgio and Naomi back to the yacht for a nightcap. Catch up on the day’s gossip and talk about tomorrow’s itinerary: a little jet skiing in the middle of the Med perhaps? As you and your lover retreat to the stateroom for some private time, just remember: You need your beauty sleep. When to go: All summer, beginning in May (when the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix are held). Cost: $304,500/week. T: 33-4-97-04-10-50 (Cannes location; for others, see Website) www.cnconnect.com Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro Drink caipirinhas poolside with Leonardo – or just absorb the patina lent by fabled guests like Edith Piaf and Rock Hudson. www.copacabanapalace.orient-express.com Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize Francis Ford Coppola found his jungle paradise here in the midst of Mayan ruins and natural caves and waterfalls. Now his stellar friends are flocking to find out what the attraction is. www.blancaneaux.com Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles That it was Grace Kelly’s favourite hideaway tells you all you need to know. There are hotels in L.A. with more flash, but none with more class than this classic old-Hollywood haunt. www.hotelbelair.com Goldeneye, Jamaica Rent this all-inclusive villa for the sheer satisfaction of romping where James Bond creator Ian Fleming debauched with pals like Noël Coward and Errol Flynn. Contemporary adventurers like Pierce Brosnan and Harrison Ford have. www.islandoutpost.com/Goldeneye ODD COUPLE: Delano, Miami Beach South Beach celeb spotting, Latin dancing, Nobu dining, art deco architecture and the Bass Museum of Art. www.delano-hotel.com ADVENTURER Text: ENROUTE STAFF Singita Private Game Reserve, South Africa Nothing sets your heart pounding and adrenalin racing like the close proximity of some African big game. From the moment you touch down on the private airstrip at Singita, you know you’re not roughing it on this luxe adventure. Lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, cheetah, giraffe and zebra sightings are de rigueur on daily guided safaris, on foot or from the comfort of a Land Rover. When you’re not on the hunt, the property also offers a decadent spa and a market featuring local jewelry and crafts; your romantic suite accoutrements include a fireplace, private swimming pool and playful outdoor shower. Complement meals on your private deck with one of 12,000 bottles from the best wine cellar in Africa – or would you prefer a private breakfast in the bush or a sunset champagne toast? For a broader slice of Africa, take a day trip to the nearby village Justitia, add a romantic Rovos Rail Safari (between Pretoria and Komatipoort) to your itinerary or visit the similarly luxurious sister property (Singita Lemombo Lodge) in Kruger National Park. When to go: May to September (African winter). Cost: From $1,000/night (includes meals, beverages, two guided safaris daily, ground transfers and laundry/valet service). T: 27-11-234-0990 F: 27-11-234-0535 www.singita.com Heli-skiing, British Columbia For unbridled luxury, book a chartered, private heli-skiing tour to Valemount Lodge. The rustic hideaway has a big stone fireplace that may kindle more than your hearts. www.cmhski.com Daintree Eco Lodge, Queensland Some look around the world’s oldest rain forest and see luxury villas and an awesome spa; you only see opportunities for diving, hiking, fishing and horseback riding. www.daintree-ecolodge.com.au Hotel Salto Chico, Chile At the tip of South America, in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park, perches a low-slung modern hotel as white and cool as the glaciers. www.explora.com Grazalema National Park and Biosphere Reserve, Spain In the midst of the mountain trails of Andulucia, the four-star Hotel Puerto de la Villa beckons your weary feet. The town, built entirely of white stone, glows romantically in the moonlight. www.grazhotel.com ODD COUPLE: Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida Scuba to your own room in the world’s "only underwater hotel." Imagine the privacy! www.jul.com
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