The most romantic hotels in the US 

Found at the meeting point of sea, mountains and redwood forest, Alila Ventana Big Sur is in a perfect position for romantic moments, blissfully tranquil and low-key luxurious. The beauty of the Big Sur flows across the property, throughout the rustic main build and its forested glamping site, where Adirondack chairs, private fire pits and picnic tables sit in view of the ocean. Hosting adults-only vacations and even small weddings, Alila Ventana is as cosy as they come. Each suite’s plush furnishings and wooden features come lit by natural light through huge floor-to-ceiling windows, ensuring views of the property’s manicured gardens between forest and shore. Additional Zen facilities include yoga classes, Japanese baths and two heated outdoor pools.

Those looking for romantic hotels with jacuzzi tubs can do worse than adults-only Auberge du Soleil, a Californian gem with a French heart in the rolling hills of Napa Valley. Being surrounded by wine isn’t the only reason to stay, as Auberge du Soleil also offers Michelin-star cuisine from the masterful hands of French owner and restauranteur, Claude Rouas. Ease up in the terrace hot tub after a long day roaming the estate’s 33-acre olive grove, moving between the outdoor pool, spa and fitness centre in any order. Come morning, the yoga pavilion awaits, though Rouas may also lend you keys to his Mercedes if you’d prefer to whiz around the valley tracking the sun as it emerges from behind the Mayacamas Mountains.

A timeless flirt on the stunning Hawaiian island of Lanai is the Four Seasons’ latest lodging. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai is extra special in that it rests on a former pineapple plantation moments from Manele Bay and a number of the island’s best bits, including the diving paradise of Hulopo’e Bay and the Kanepuu Preserve, preferred among hikers. Stay busy on-site too, lounging beside lagoon-style pools or wandering botanical gardens before a couples’ treatment at Hawanawana Spa. And for dinner? Prepare to be won over by Nobu Lanai, the hotel’s cliffside sushi restaurant run by Japanese master chef Nobu Matsuhisa, just one of the many upscale dining spots on the property.

An esteemed name in hospitality also on hand with the goods is the Ritz-Carlton. We return to California to find one of our favourites near Palm Springs offering views over Coachella Valley. The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is as luxurious as you would assume, with the great service and stylish décor we’ve come to expect for our ritzy hoteliers. Upgrade to a balcony room for the finest sunsets, though the outdoor pools and bar lounge are equally worthy of sundown bevvies. Come morning, sunrise hikes get us out of bed and into the desert, while transformative spa treatments and prime steak dinners bring us back to base. If the VIP cabanas, Club Lounge and fitness centre can’t keep you busy enough, venture into Palm Springs for a never-ending pool party to remember.

Small and stylish is our next offering, an elegant B&B on a slither of land flanked by the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean, edging Florida’s palm-strewn Melbourne Beach. Port d’Hiver Bed and Breakfast hosts just 12 intimate suites, all served with gourmet breakfasts and a ‘sweet’ turndown service each day. In the evening, congregate under bougainvillaea in the courtyard for appetizers and cocktails, marvelling at the property’s early-20th-century brickwork in a relaxed atmosphere. Nearby attractions include the Melbourne Beach pier, Ocean Park beach and Old Town Hall History Centre, though ride further up the coast to find both Orlando and Cape Canaveral.

With a name like Enchantment Resort, this Sedona property can’t help but do exactly that, with cosy fireside views over the red rocks of Boynton Canyon from its guest room Casitas. As well as being among iconic Arizona landscapes, Enchantment Resort romances its guests with nature-inspired décor throughout its casitas. Reconnect with nature on the hotel’s guided adventures, exploring the canyon both day and night, or, if you’re a lucky lover visiting in February, book sunset photography sessions and culinary classes to heighten your passions. And, if that doesn’t work, indulge in the Lotion Potion #9 cocktail and fresh West Coast oysters on the Valentine’s Day specials menu.

One of the most romantic hotels in California Big Sur, rivalled only by Alila Ventana, is the Post Ranch Inn, sure to impress with its romantic pool suites, cabins and cottages strung along a cliffside overlooking crashing Pacific waves. If the hotel’s epic location – based on a ridge some 1,200-feet above the shore and backed by the Santa Lucia Mountains –  isn’t enough to reel you in, then the cosy fireplace features and indoor jacuzzis just might do it. Forget about time while at Post Ranch, minus the burden of clocks or TV, to better take advantage of those infinity pool views, award-winning meals and relaxing spa treatments, in proximity to local flora and fauna and a short drive from both Monterey and Carmen.

A second lovable lodging in Florida lies this time on the gay Mecca of Miami Beach, blending fun beach days with luxe, intimate evenings in a Far Eastern setting, favoured by the likes of Jay-z and Beyoncé. Everything about The Setai Miami Beach is Asian-inspired, from the sake cocktails served poolside to the Art Deco brickwork sourced from Shanghai’s old city. In Setai’s restaurants, try authentic Thai, Korean, Indian, Chinese and Japanese fare, as well as grilled American specials at The Ocean Grill, finishing up with a wander around the serenity pond or a drink in the courtyard. By day, the hotel has its own private beach prepped for lounging, also hosting its own beach kitchen and jet ski rental to keep you and other celebrity guests both full and amused.