The Sunshine State is among one of the most traveled states in the U.S. for vacations. Florida’s abundance of sunshine and consistently warm weather makes sure your expensive vacation isn’t ruined by weather (just keep an eye out for the occasional hurricane). But with Disney World and other theme parks dominating the tourism scene, not a lot of people consider the affordable romantic getaways in Florida.
Check out the Boca Raton Resort & Club, a resort that’s been making dream romantic vacations happen for more than eight decades. Take to the Ocean Key Resort & Spa in Key West, from where you can walk to the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. Or check out WaterColor Inn & Resort at Santa Rosa Beach for a beachfront room in one of the most romantic resorts in Florida.
No matter your preference and style, read on for our picks for the most romantic hotels in Florida so you can start planning your romantic getaway for you and your special someone.
The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island – Amelia Island
Why It’s Great for Couples: The 444 rooms at this classic beach resort cater to luxury lovers with plush beds, marble bathrooms and private terraces. Onsite amenities are just as cool: a waterfront pool and beach with chaise lounges and attendants; access to a private golf club; and dining options from the bikini-friendly Ocean Bar & Grill to Salt, an award-winning standout with a multi-course tasting menu.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Rent a pair of horses, and take a ride along the ocean’s edge. Amelia Island is one of the few places in the country where regulations allow it.
Boca Raton Resort & Club – Boca Raton
Why It’s Great for Couples: This Waldorf Astoria Collection romantic hotel has been hosting the rich and famous for more than 80 years, lured by the striking Addison Mizner architecture. With its elegance and storied past, you’ll love the glamorous vibe of this pink-hued beach castle.
Seven pools and a half-mile stretch of private beach (complete with wait staff and towel service) offer plenty of options for soaking in the Florida sunshine after a morning spent at the world-class tennis courts or one of the two 18-hole golf courses. Enjoy a romantic dinner without ever leaving Boca Raton Resort & Club. There, you have a delicious array of options, ranging from sushi from the legendary Masaharu Morimoto or any of the other 12 restaurants and lounges.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Indulge in a couple’s massage in Spa Palazzo’s private couple’s suite, or have it up in your room instead, with a 24-hour advanced notice.
Hawks Cay – Duck Key
Why It’s Great for Couples: Adventure-loving couples will feel right at home at this 60-acre paradise, which even has its own full-service marina. Swim with dolphins, catch a sunset cruise, explore the reef — the list of activities goes on and on, so bring some energy to one of the most romantic Florida getaways.
A true island hideaway, each villa has a water or garden view, and the resort’s stone fire pit is a perfect place to sit back after a long day and before you snuggle into the cozy white linens of your dark-wood poster bed. When you’re done with all the high-energy thrills, sip a poolside mojito at the adults-only tranquility pool, and then follow it up with a Key Lime Mojito body treatment at the Calm Waters Spa.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Get up early, and watch the sunrise over your private lagoon at one of the best Florida resorts for adults. You’re likely to be the only ones there, and the light on the still water is something you won’t soon forget.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa – Lower Torch Key
Why It’s Great for Couples: This intimate, private-island resort was designed with romance in mind. Stand-alone thatched-roof bungalows showcase ambiance galore in the form of canopy-draped, king-sized beds, oversized tubs and private garden showers.
What they don’t have — in-room telephones and TVs or any guests under age 16 — is as important as what they do have: a beautiful beach, a secluded pool, multiple shady nooks with hammocks and a marina, should you prefer to arrive by sea to one of the best couples resorts in Florida.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Toast to your love by the light of tiki torches when you sign up for a private dinner, served a table in the sand or under a thatched-roof gazebo at secluded Palapa Point.
The Don CeSar – St. Pete Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: Florida’s Pink Palace has it all: luxury service, infinite Gulf views and a little mystery (it’s rumored to have a friendly ghost). Nestle into 300-thread-count white linens in one of the 277 guest rooms. You’ll need the rest after all that parasailing, kayaking, beach volleyball and pool time (there’s even an underwater sound system).
Need a break from the sun? The Don also boasts three restaurants, a host of specialty shops and an 11,000-square-foot spa.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Legend has it that the hotel was built on romance. Developer Thomas Rowe used to meet his secret lover, an aspiring opera singer, by a fountain outside the Royal Opera House. After her death, Rowe built the hotel as a tribute to their love, complete with a replica of their special fountain. He called this romantic hotel the Don CeSar, the name of the hero in Maritana, the opera in which his lover performed.
Marco Island Resort & Spa – Marco Island
Why It’s Great for Couples: Why Marco Island? How about year-round summer weather, white-sand beaches and a scenic location in Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands? This 727-room Marriott is one of the isle’s top stays, thanks to draws like two golf courses, beachside dining at Quinn’s on the Beach, paddleboard rentals and a Balinese-style spa with its own spa pool. Iconic Gulf sunsets are best viewed from the resort’s new Tiki Bar, with fruity cocktails in hand, natch.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Set sail aboard one of the property’s two catamarans (only six passengers each) to eek ocean-bound treasures such as dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.
Ocean Key Resort & Spa – Key West
Why It’s Great for Couples: This getaway exudes a chic SoBe vibe, a refreshing addition to laid-back Key West. Tucked at the tip of Duval Street within walking distance to the evening Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, Ocean Key Resort & Spa is right in the middle of the action. But when you hole up in your private cabana by the sexy waterfront pool, you’d never know it.
During the day, head out for a catamaran sail — snorkeling stops included — or get pampered with Key Lime Margarita pedicures at SpaTerre. At night, roam nearby Duval Street, or sample the specialty-drink menu at the guest-exclusive Liquid Lounge pool bar at one of the most romantic getaways in Florida.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: With private balconies, whirlpool tubs and ocean views, the 100 rooms are designed to make “staying in” completely acceptable — even in party-heavy Key West.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club – Ponte Vedra Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: This oceanfront resort spans a whopping 300 acres and includes private homes, 250 hotel-style rooms in the historic inn and another 68 suites in the elegant, beach-facing lodge. Generations of loyal families return here year after year (the resort dates to 1928), drawn by stellar golf, a top-rated tennis complex, four swimming pools and, of course, that gorgeous beach.
Book a romantic dinner at the Seahorse Grill, where fresh seafood is served from a second-level dining room overlooking the Atlantic at one of the best Florida getaways for couples.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Book time in the elaborate spa where two couples suites come with perks like a private-steam room, a Jacuzzi and an outdoor patio for post-treatment relaxation.
The Setai – Miami Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: Standing stylish on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach, this historic, romantic hotel dates back to the 1930s and exudes an Art Deco feel mixed with an Asian influence. Shop the onsite Asprey boutique (the classic British line is known for its leather goods, jewelry and home décor), laze beside one of three pools (each set with a different temperature), or listen to the surf from your beachside daybed at the Setai.
Come evening, retire to your room, sexily outfitted with rainfall shower, black granite tub and bed topped with custom Fischbacher linens.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: The spa is one of the best in Miami. Book a couples bath, and enjoy champagne and canapes, as you soak up the view of the pool.
South Seas Island Resort – Captiva Island
Why It’s Great for Couples: This Gulf Coast resort is so sprawling (it takes over one entire end of Captiva Island) that guests hop a complimentary trolley to get around. Standard hotel rooms and one-bedroom villas make great home bases for couples, but the real fun is outdoors. Soak in the hot tub at the new lagoon pool, or gear up with Sunny Island Watersports.
Itching to see more? Rent bikes or golf carts to explore Captiva’s varied attractions, from quirky eats at the Bubble Room Restaurant to bird watching at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Grab picnic fixings (made-to-order paninis, fresh fruit, wine) at the resort’s Captiva Provision Company. Then claim a spot for two on the powdery beach. At two-and-a-half miles long, there’s ample room to find some seclusion.
Sunset Key Cottages – Key West
Why It’s Great for Couples: The 40 cottages of Sunset Key are hidden away on a 27-acre island, located 500 yards from Key West. Each cottage is equipped with modern amenities disguised with “Old Florida” ambience (think Victorian-style tin roofs, airy living and dining areas, pre-stocked kitchens and grand porches overlooking the sea).
There are no cars here; instead, people walk or take golf carts. The Sunset Key pool, onsite restaurant Latitudes and the spa are all steps away (the four-bedroom cottages even boast their own private plunge pools). Should you want to see the outside world, a 24-hour ferry delivers guests to the sister property, the Westin Key West Resort & Marina.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: For pure seclusion at Sunset Key, have your concierge arrange a private dinner on the beach with fresh-caught seafood and glasses of bubbly.
The Breakers – Palm Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: Heading up the grand, palm-lined drive to the resort’s main entrance, you know you’re about to experience something special. Inside, the romantic hotel’s opulent Italian-Renaissance décor aims to impress, as it has since 1902. Outside, the vibe is more classic beach escape with a pristine beach and five oceanfront pools to choose from.
Two championship courses may give you the urge to tee off. We also love their collection of well-curated shops, especially the modern jewelry at Mix.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Splurge on a poolside beach bungalow (exclusively for day use) for total pampered privacy. Think day beds, a stocked fridge, a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom, plus dedicated concierges for any additional flights or fancies.
The Palms Hotel & Spa – Miami Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: Living up to its name, the Palms is beautifully landscaped with swaying palm trees and lush tropical gardens that decorate the space between hotel and beach. The 251 newly renovated rooms make a chic statement with bold hues and nature-inspired textures that align with the hotel’s focus on green sustainability. Even though you’re just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Miami, you’ll feel like you’re on a private island.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Dinner on the outdoor terrace at Essencia is a must, as much for the atmosphere as for the farm-to-table menu, which changes seasonally.
Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club – St. Petersburg
Why It’s Great for Couples: Located right on Tampa Bay, the water views are stunning at this 1920s-era hotel. But it’s the ornate flourishes of the romantic hotel itself that really characterize this 85-year-old hotel: The Mediterranean Revival architecture landed the Vinoy on the National Register of Historic Places. Pop into the grand ballroom for a peek of the past, and enjoy the sweeping bay views from your room, some of which even have private-balcony spas.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Book ahead for a swanky dinner at the elegant Marchand’s Bar & Grill. With their signature dishes that incorporate fresh herbs and olive oil, you’ll feel like you’re enjoying a romantic dinner in Italy without ever leaving the resort.
WaterColor Inn & Resort – Santa Rosa Beach
Why It’s Great for Couples: We have a major crush on this beautiful resort complex, spanning Route 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. For a romantic escape, stay in the main inn where 60 plush rooms face the beach, and perks include freshly baked cookies at turndown. (You can bring the family back another time to take advantage of their collection of rental houses in every shape and size.)
Leave the keys in your room, and get around the area on a pair of loaner bikes — it’s what the locals do.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Spend the morning kayaking or canoeing on the inland lake, then hit the beach. When you reserve those side-by-side beach chairs in advance, you never have to worry about losing that primo spot.
Casa Monica Hotel – St. Augustine
Why It’s Great for Couples: Blending modern luxury with old-world charm, this circa-1888 landmark in America’s oldest city takes you back to another time. The castle-like feel is present in every detail of the resort (it even has turrets). Every one of the 138 rooms is uniquely appointed and decorated. We love the two-story signature suites, especially the Ponce de Leon, with its rooftop whirlpool and private balcony.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Arrange to have a bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and fresh flowers waiting in your room upon arrival (or delivered at any time). The final touch: a carriage ride through the city’s historic quarter.
The Gasparilla Inn & Club – Boca Grande
Why It’s Great for Couples: Quaint cottages and palm tree-lined walkways give a sense of home to this Old Florida resort, which dates to 1913. Guests love the upscale yet casual vibe, accessibility to the Gulf of Mexico and storied fishing heritage here at the Gasparilla Inn & Club. (Boca Grande is considered the tarpon-fishing capital of the world.) Bonus: Pets are welcomed, too.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Jackets are required for dinner in the main dining room during high season, a Gilded Age remnant that we love. Another reason to dress up: The resort’s three USCA-certified croquet lawns.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando – Orlando
Why It’s Great for Couples: This 700-plus-room bellísimo resort was designed to resemble the Amalfi Coast port of the same name, with a lake standing in for the Adriatic Sea. During your stay at Loews Portofino, challenge each other to a game of bocce ball, book a treatment at the Mandara Spa, or rent a private cabana at the villa pool (a much-quieter setting than the resort’s family-friendly beach pool).
Guests also get express boarding on park rides at Universal Studios for a perfect adrenaline-charged date that’s built right into your stay.
Romantic Extra You’ll Love: Come sunset, grab a bistro table in the Harbor Piazza, and enjoy Musica della Notte (Music of the Night), a nightly live show featuring classic opera, folk tunes and romantic ballads.
