Best Weekend Getaways for Couples

• Guest-only restaurant
• Surf lessons
• Beach yoga
• In-room massages
• Horse riding
  

As beach destinations go, it doesn’t get much more iconic than Malibu. And right across from its famous pier is this effortlessly chic boutique hotel, destined for icon status, too.

With just 20 rooms right on Pacific Coast Highway, it offers easy views of one of California’s most famous surf breaks and its longboarders from artisan-made hammocks. The vibe is more beautifully curated private beach house than inn (down to the Parachute robes, custom scented candles, and gourmet minibar stash).

Stylistically it’s impossible not to feel equal parts inspired and envious of the place, but fortunately, you can shop some of the goods to take home a bit of that Malibu aura. It feels super exclusive up on the roof, too, where only guests are allowed to dine on seafood from sustainable area farms and fishermen, paired with expertly selected vinos and savory craft cocktails.

When you’re not in full relaxation mode or out learning to surf (or SUP) on one of the Surfrider’s beautiful custom boards, order a gourmet picnic to take on one of the recommended hikes and get ready for an epic sunset panorama.

Rooms start at about $499 per night.

• King-sized pool
• Restaurant (dinner and weekend brunch)
• Event space
  

The Catskills are back, and a mountain region is an ideal place for drivable holidays that double as a nature-drenched retreat. This revitalized 65-room property that opened June 2021 offers approachable luxury on the site of a 1905 resort, and also includes event venues including a barn, onsite Conover Club restaurant, and bar (serving American comfort food with cheeky twists, sourced locally), a coffee shop, and a King-sized pool.

Throughout, design buffs will appreciate the locally made furniture, eye-catching lighting, and ethically made rugs. The whole vibe feels a bit like adult summer camp, with possible activities in the area including fly fishing and hiking, as well as antique store perusing and microbrewery tastings.

There are also cute towns to explore within driving distance. Bottom line: A trip out to Callicoon Hills can be as active or chill as you desire.

Rooms start at about $266 per night.

• Coffee shop
• Hiking
• Outdoor dining area
  

A trip to Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood may not sound like much of a vacation, but one step inside this new boutique hotel’s heavenly plastered entrance, and you’d swear you were in Europe. Or the Caribbean. Or maybe Morocco.

There are subtle and sublimely chic design references everywhere, from the palms and olive trees scattered around the reflecting pool to the exquisite custom crown molding and global artwork, exuding an exotic air that has truly transportive powers.

This transformed motel is now an extremely elegant and intimate spot to escape without going too far. The all-white rooms with balconies are stocked with fluffy robes and the most delectable minibar imaginable (we’re talking craft cocktails, artisan salted caramels, and other tasty snacks).

The restaurant is the heart of the place, with the talented chef putting care into every plate of sumptuous burrata and tomatoes and perfect cheeseburger by seriously vetting the ingredients he uses, all from California farms. Work it all off by hiking the many scenic trails of Griffith Park, just up the street.

Rooms start at about $289 per night.

• Outdoor pool
• Beach
• Fitness center
• Tennis court
• Nightclub
  

There are many reasons Miami makes for a sexy couples’ getaway, namely the steamy beach city’s opulent hotels and incredible dining scene.

This ocean-view hotel certainly checks both of those boxes, with a significant design renovation of its plush guest suites, minimalist spa (don’t miss the Ultimate Bespoke Couples Massage, involving massages, facials, lunch, and Champagne), and bungalows. The new look of the former is modern beachy perfection, with balconies offering sweeping panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean in all its shades of brilliant blue.

Of course, there’s a pool and a variety of lively bars and eateries, plus rooftop tennis and basketball courts. There’s also the famous Mr. Chow restaurant at the beach, legendary for its mouthwatering Beijing duck and noodles. Making lovers’ vacations even easier is a personal concierge available 24/7 for needs ranging from yacht charters to grocery shopping.

Rooms start at about $539 per night.

• Outdoor pool
• Beach
• Fitness center
• Spa
• Outdoor activities (bike riding, horseback riding, windsurfing, etc.)
  

There’s nothing quite like a little bit of aloha spirit and some fresh flower leis to instantly put you in a vacation state of mind, and it’s hard to find a resort that does it better on the island of O’ahu. Far from the buzz of Waikiki is this western coast gem where you can go outrigger sailing and spot pods of spinner dolphins, visit sea turtles in a nearby cove, or play golf amid waterfalls.

Splurge on a room with expansive ocean views from your balcony—or one oceanfront—and savor the smell of salt air alongside dynamic sunsets there or down by the adult pool, where Dr. Mai Tai’s will mix up something rum-based to cure all your ailments. The dining at the resort is diverse, including the excellent Mina’s Fish House and Southern Italian restaurant Noe, by a Michelin-starred chef.

Consider trying your hand—and hips—at learning hula, instead of simply attending a luau, and definitely don’t leave without a trip to the spa, or even better, couples Lomilomi massages in a candlelit cabana and stargazing after dinner one special night.

Rooms start at about $920 per night.

• Bike tours
• Hiking
• Fitness center
• Indoor saline pool
  

If wellness to you is about the setting more than the spa, the latest Canyon Ranch retreat is your kind of idyllic long weekend trip. It’s nestled amid redwood trees in a virginal wooden area ripe with hiking and pink sunsets that lead to de-stressing nights around a fire pit.

There are so many activities at the all-inclusive getaway (think cycling, yoga, meditation, painting, breathwork, and mind-body talks) you might not be in your room much; but if you plan to keep your schedule light, opt for one of the treehouse-esque lofts where plenty of glass allows for wide views of the peaceful forest.

It may sound counterintuitive at a wellness retreat, but the cuisine is unreal. Of course, it’s healthy (as in made from the only highest quality ingredients that are locally grown, raised, and gathered) but in a sort of secret way, because it’s so delicious you’d never know. Don’t miss the hiking trip to Djerassi Ranch or a sublime treatment using nearby McEvoy Ranch’s olive oil–based skincare range.

Rooms start at roughly $1,125 per night.