With Valentine’s Day upon us, chances are you’ve either already devised the world’s greatest surprise or you’re freaking out trying to come up with an idea that won’t seem like it was conceived during your 15-minute work commute. The good news is that if you fall into that latter camp, you don’t need to panic. There’s always a great last-minute option if you’re willing to go the extra mile marker, and the best romance awaits in Florida.
From incredible multicourse meals set on a private sandbar to daily couple massages that take place in luxury suites (because you won’t want to move for hours), these eight hotels and resorts are ready to make this Valentine’s Day one you’ll never forget. There’s even a special spa option for your dog, because everyone could use a little extra love in 2021.
The Ultimate Love Affair
hotel-effie
The Place: Hotel Effie; Sandestin
The Experience: We hope that the rest of the world will soon know why we’re buzzing about the brand new Hotel Effie in Sandestin, Florida, and perhaps Valentine’s Day will be one of the occasions that shines the spotlight on this stylish property. Home to the Emerald Coast’s only rooftop pool, this hotel sits near stunning Miramar Beach and boasts romantic aspects like the enchanting Spa Lilliana and Ovide, a dining experience led by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson.
Here, the Be Our Valentine package welcomes couples with cocktails, chocolate-covered strawberries and a complimentary bottle of champagne for all the toasting that will be done. Best of all, there’s also a $100 resort credit that can be used for a couple massage, which is never a bad idea.
Bubbles for Couples
The Place: Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa
The Experience: On any of the other 364 days of the year, Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa is one of the most romantic spots in all of South Florida. But on Valentine’s Day this year, the incredible beachfront property is cranking up the romance for an experience that rivals just about any other resort package in the Sunshine State, and it all starts with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
Each day will begin with a private breakfast served on the room’s balcony, while the centerpiece of this amazing display will be a multicourse dinner enjoyed in one of the resort’s exclusive oceanfront cabanas, which will of course make for amazing photos that will undoubtedly lead to many jealous friends.
An Overnight Staycation
The Place: Orlando World Center Marriott
The Experience: Landlocked Floridians know the pain all too well—sometimes the drive to the best beach areas takes too long. Couples dreaming about the quickest possible getaway can head to the City Beautiful for a little bit of everything… except sand.
Orlando World Center Marriott’s Valentine’s Day deal puts the focus on the pair with a very special dinner for two. With a variety of dining options onsite, it isn’t always easy to choose a restaurant here, so the resort will do the choosing for couples. At the very least, it’ll make the decision easier. A three-course Prix Fixe meal can be selected upon booking, taking the hard part out of what should be a very casual experience of romance and relaxation.
Cupid’s Suite Piece of Paradise
The Place: Ocean Key Resort and Spa; Key West
The Experience: When Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday and the next day is President’s Day, which means you hopefully have a three-day weekend, you should be looking at more than just a one-night experience. Especially when it’s somewhere as wonderful as Key West. Ocean Key Resort and Spa’s romantic experience is a three-night deal (that runs the entire month of February, in case you need more time to plan) that will guarantee guests never want to leave.
For starters, the spacious Oceanfront Boutique Suites boast private balconies, large living rooms and extravagant bathrooms that will make exploring the rest of the resort difficult. That’s why one option for the nightly romantic dinner is enjoying it on the terrace, but guests can also dine at the onsite Hot Tin Roof as well. Begin each day anew with waterfront breakfast before enjoying arguably the best aspect of this experience: daily SpaTerre visits.
Dinner on the Sandbar
The Place: Little Palm Island Resort and Spa; Little Torch Key
The Experience: If your goal is privacy in a setting that makes you feel like you’re the only couple on Earth, all while not having to travel to another country, welcome to Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, the only private island resort in the entire U.S. Not only will couples dine on one of the island’s many sandbars, offering 360-degree views of the water, but they’ll be seated at a decorated table on which a downright amazing five-course meal will be served.
Executive Chef Daniel Ganem’s menu begins with an amuse bouche of kusshi oyster and strawberry gazpacho, followed by first and second courses that’ll keep the mouth well-watered, a third course that’s make stomach growls from several states away, and a final course of three desserts that sound too good to be true. Am I being intentionally vague for the sake of keeping the best parts of this meal a surprise? You bet.
The Month of Love
The Place: Bungalows Key Largo
The Experience: This resort has had people buzzing since it first opened its doors, partially because it’s the first adults-only all-inclusive in the Florida Keys, but mostly because it’s just so darn cool. For the entire month of February, however, it is also one of the most romantic destinations in the entire state, thanks to the Romance Package that starts with a three-night stay in a waterfront or garden view bungalow and spoils couples with chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and rose petals, as well as a $200 spa credit and another $200 credit for a daytime boat trip or sunset cruise.
But Valentine’s Day is always about the little extras that make the overall experience so magical, and Bungalows Key Largo offers add-on perks like the Bungalows Bubble Butler, who is responsible for setting up an incredible bubble bath experience in the private veranda’s oversized soaking tub, and there’s even a pop-up champagne cart because there should always be one of those.
Retreat to Romance
The Place: The Brazilian Court Hotel
The Experience: If you close your eyes and try to picture the ultimate in elegant South Florida living, your imagination won’t even come close to The Brazilian Court Hotel. It’s hardly the biggest or most amenity-packed property in the region, but every aspect has been conceived with the purpose of making guests feel like royalty. And in a time when privacy remains our top concern, this is a hotel that has gone to great lengths to make guests feel like the whole place belongs to them.
With that in mind, this Valentine’s Day experience was cultivated to focus on togetherness, from the in-room couples massage to half-day bike rides around the area. Enjoy breakfast in bed each day and then toast the night away with champagne or any of the hotel’s incredible cocktails, while appreciating all that truly matters.
Pampering Your Pooch
The Place: The Marker Key West Resort Harbor
The Experience: Sometimes the biggest obstacle in planning a romantic escape is finding a last-minute dog sitter or boarding spot for our favorite four-legged friends. It’s really hard for some dog owners to trust strangers, and that can kind of distraction can wreak havoc on your mental state during any vacation, let alone what should be one of the most romantic trips of your life.
The solution? Bring your pooch with you. While couples are sipping champagne or enjoying The Marker Key West Resort Harbor’s Love is in the Air experience, which includes a special helicopter tour, their pets will be enjoying the treat life with a customized goody bag full of toys and snacks, as well as a session at the Salty Paws pet spa, long walks on the beach, a multicourse dinner under the stars, and even excursions with Lazy Dog, which takes your canine out on paddle boards and kayaks for the best experience imaginable.
Romance on the Beach
The Place: Pelican Grand Beach Resort; Ft. Lauderdale
The Experience: When all you want is time away with your partner, but beautiful sand and delicious food won’t hurt, head to Ft. Lauderdale’s Pelican Grand Beach Resort and enjoy the little things that combine for an amazing romantic experience. For starters, this experience includes an Oceanfront Suite with private balcony for appreciating the city’s legendary views, and from there it only gets better.
Spend the big day enjoying a three-course dinner, perhaps following a decadent couples massage (with a $100 spa credit per day), and in between champagne toasts and nibbling on chocolate-covered strawberries and, presumably, ears.
Links of Love
The Place: TPC Sawgrass; Ponte Vedra Beach
The Experience: Golf, anyone? We’re sure that question is asked with a laugh almost daily at this popular destination for players of all skill levels, but with everything that comes with this romantic deal it might actually be difficult finding time to hit the links… just kidding.
Begin each day at TPC Sawgrass with breakfast at the clubhouse before teeing off on The Players Stadium Course or Dye’s Valley (one round on each course is included), and then come in for lunch on the patio at Nineteen before heading back out for another round. In between all the golf, take your pair of complimentary bikes on a tour of the grounds and then reward yourself with a 50-minute massage at the spa.
And when it’s time to celebrate each other, the five-course dinner with wine pairings on the Ponte Vedra balcony—overlooking the 18th hole you double-bogeyed several hours earlier—will only be topped by private sunset sailboat ride, which will include blankets and pillows, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
