Top 20 romantic getaways in the West

Escape with your sweetie to one of these dreamy retreats.


A clifftop perch above the Pacific
The most dramatically situated and architecturally ambitious of the Big Sur inns, Post Ranch Inn has rooms set along the bluffs and others tucked away in the forest. And what do we think of the clifftop rooms? Wow. As in: Wow, check out those end-of-the-earth ocean views and get a load of those James Bond-worthy bells and whistles.
> More: Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA


Luxe huts in a winter wonderland
Skip the snow cave, and check into a stylish winter perch. Tucked into the tranquil upper end of northern Washington's Methow Valley-where the loudest noise is the swish of cross-country skis-are the Rolling Huts, tricked out with platform beds, wood-burning fireplaces, and sleek kitchenettes.
> More: Rolling Huts, Methow Valley, WA


A boutique hideaway near the beach
Relax on the stylish rooftop lounge at Petit Hotel Hafa, a tiny boutique hotel two blocks from the beach, where the Moroccan-inspired decor in the middle of the Mexican tropics draws both design enthusiasts and hideaway seekers.
> More: Petit Hotel Hafa, Sayulita, Mexico


Sleep in view of the Golden Gate Bridge
Cavallo Point is so close to San Francisco, you could walk across the Golden Gate Bridge for a glass of bubbly on the porch, where rocking chairs and couches are positioned for a view of those red towers jutting above the Marin Headlands. Their Ultimate Date Night package is a surefire winner for a weekend for two.
> More: Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA


An intimate rainforest retreat
In the secluded Sanctuary, light candles, make the Tibetan chimes kiss, play a CD of sensuous Indian music, and whisper words from a bedside book of meditations on love. As you snuggle under the Balinese-print quilt, you'll feel a glow that comes only partly from the ornate cast-iron fireplace.
> More: Volcano Rainforest Retreat, Big Island, HI


A place to inspire castaway fantasies
This ragged stretch of the Sunshine Coast is so unspoiled and awe-inspiring, it's sometimes hard to imagine that anyone but a bald eagle or two has been here before you. Wooden walkways meander through the forest where Rockwater Secret Cove Resort's 13 roomy, light-filled, adults-only canvas tent suites―with fluffy king-size duvets and tubs for two―perch above the blue water.
> More: Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, near Halfmoon Bay, B.C.


An exotic enclave in the desert
Grab the glass of mint tea that awaits you in your Moroccan- or Mediterranean-style room, then head out through French doors onto your bougainvillea-edged patio to sip and stare at the San Jacinto Mountains. Later, go for a swim in one of the inn's two torch-lit pools under clear desert skies, or catch an outdoor movie.
More: Korakia Pensione, Palm Springs, CA

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Affordable romantic inns in the West