Three Romantic Caribbean Adventures
I popped into my local Target a few days ago only to find that the aisles of Christmas decorations had already been replaced with all manner of Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Which started me thinking about some of the most romantic Caribbean places I’ve visited over the last six years. Those trips were usually for work and in the company of ace magazine photographer and Southern-fried sidekick Zach Stovall. But this year I’m hoping JetSetHusband might take the bait and whisk me off on one of these amorous adventures.
A Moonlit Shower at El Secreto
Forget about marble bathrooms with glass vessel sinks and heated toilet seats. Because when it comes to romance, nothing beats an outdoor shower. What could be more indulgent than lathering up en plein air, the glow of moonlight illuminating your skin, the scent of tropical flowers in the air, the breeze (and hopefully your sweetie) gently kissing your shoulders. I’ve come across a few lovely outdoor bathrooms in my travels (there’s a real beauty, complete with clawfoot tub, at Goldeneye in Jamaica) but the latest one was at the new El Secreto resort on Ambergris Caye in Belize. Spacious enough for two (or more, if you’re into that sort of thing), it’s really more of an outdoor garden that just happens to have a shower. Mine was within earshot of the surf, surrounded by flowering plants and moodily lit with colored lights. If only I hadn’t been alone …
A Private Dinner at The Caves
Dinner in a cave sounds more like a test of survival than a romantic gesture, but trust me, this is no makeshift meal. Reserve the dining cave at The Caves in Negril, Jamaica, and you and your lover will enjoy a private dinner a deux in a cozy water’s-edge cavern glowing with a gazillion votive candles and embellished with tropical blooms. Toast the sunset with a little bubbly, sample the chef’s finest fare, then repair to one of 13 charming cliff-side cottages for ... ahem ... “dessert.”
A Couples' Cruise from Fowl Cay
What’s better than a getaway to a tiny private island? Getting away from that private island to discover even tinier islands you can have all to yourself. At all-inclusive island retreat Fowl Cay not only do you have the run of a 40-acre Bahamian outpost, but guests in each of the six cottages get their own 17-foot boat to explore the surrounding islets and cays that are the Exumas’ claim to fame. Get a quick lesson from the resident boatmaster, have the hotel pack you a lunch, and then set off for an all-day idyll to deserted beaches such as my favorite, nearby Twin Cays. It'll be just you, your sweetie and miles of sugary sand, no swimwear (or inhibitions) required.
What are your favorite romantic spots?