Love needs to be celebrated – preferably always, but certainly on Valentine's Day. This is particularly exclusive and romantic in luxury hotels. In Dubai, for example, you can dine on a river made of rose petals while gazing at the starry sky from a private boat near the Florida Keys.
Valentine's Day is gaining in importance year after year. This is not due to extravagant gifts of chocolates. Although they are still appreciated, they should only be the prelude to the actual “proof of love”. Supply and demand agree: when it comes to love – think big! When planning a Valentine's Day that should be truly unforgettable, luxury hotels provide ideas. Just this much in advance: love still goes primarily through the stomach.
Two from the same star
Eternity is not reserved for all lovers. However, you should always strive for it. A look at the starry sky probably comes closest to the human idea of eternity. At the Little Palm Island Resort & Spa near the Florida Keys, you try to get a little closer to the stars, surrounded by azure waters. The chances of a clear view are good, as light pollution is not a problem on the only private resort island in the USA. A celestial concierge guides you through the firmament on a two-hour private yacht tour. Back in the Romance Suite, a high-end telescope awaits the stargazers. You can buy a bit of star magic for your home in the form of a personalized Van Cleef & Arpels Zodiaque necklace.
Always follow your nose
The evening could end on a bed of roses. It begins with a river of rose petals in the Pai Thai restaurant, part of the Jumeirah Al Qasr hotel in Dubai. Rose petals adorn the waterways of Souk Madinat, where lovers cruise into the evening in pleasantly non-European temperatures in an abra, a traditional wooden boat. When you put it on, the scent of roses changes to jasmine flowers, from whose flowers each guest is given a handmade bracelet. Violin sounds herald a Thai-inspired four-course meal. If you wish, you can take the scents of the evening home with a mini perfume set designed by Cartier.
The brown gold of the Maya and Aztecs
Chocolate is as much a part of Valentine's Day as champagne. Lovers seem to be in exactly the right place at the Rabot Hotel Chocolat on Saint Lucia. On one of the island's oldest cocoa farms, guests stay in private lodges with views of Petit Piton Mountain. Chocolate can also be discovered in a completely new way here – for example as a cocoa detox body wrap or cocoa facial. All other senses are reached on a tour through the Design Hotel's green area, where you learn how delicate chocolate bars are made from the cocoa tree bean. Not full yet? At the Rabot Restaurant and Bar, cocoa cocktails are combined with cocoa cuisine.
For princesses and princes
Being a princess might work better on Valentine's Day than on your own birthday – at least if you check in at “La Mamounia Marrakech”. The traditional Moroccan building, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, is rightly called a palace hotel. In keeping with the general mood, the Dîner Éphémère royal keeps things private. The courses are chosen from a menu put together by chef Jean-Georges and accompanied by exquisite Grand Crus. Those who opt for dinner on the “La Bananeraei” terrace can dine al fresco with a view of the lush garden. The architecture of the house, however, is better enjoyed in the black and white patio. A romantic walk in the garden afterwards is worth it for everyone.
Declaration of love to yourself
Singles should also use Valentine's Day as an opportunity to celebrate: namely, love for themselves. Bridget Jones would probably do this on her couch with a few “bubbles”. However, things could be more fun at the “Cocktail Making Class for Singles” in the Onyx Bar at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Zurich. Mixology beats lonely cork popping. So you can toast with like-minded people and perhaps new friends with what is hopefully the best drink you've ever had on Valentine's Day.
