One of the most romantic places in Malaysia is Pangkor Island.
While money can't buy love, love can generate revenue. Last year, North Americans spent $2 billion on Valentine's Day gifts and services--a 25% increase from 2000, according to Stamford, Conn.-based research firm the Gartner Group.
One chunk of that $2 billion went to stays at hotels and spas. Spending Valentine's Day in a beautiful hotel or planning a weekend getaway is one of the most romantic gestures someone can do for the holiday. (This is not to say we would refuse gifts of diamonds, clothing or fur.) The beauty of a hotel stay is that every need is taken care of in an exotic setting, meals and Champagne can be delivered 24 hours a day, and you never have to get out of bed for it.
Bobby Powers, an analyst with Hendersonville, Tenn.-based Smith Travel Research, predicts that this Valentine's Day will outperform last year's in terms of hotel occupancy. This is not because of a sudden rise in romantic feelings; Valentine's Day falls on a Friday this year, which makes it easier for couples to book a weekend trip.
Valentine's Day 2002 was less than hot from an analyst's point of view. For the week of Feb. 10 to Feb. 16 last year, U.S. hotel occupancy was 60.7%, compared with 56.4% for the previous week. Perhaps some men forgot to plan for Valentine's Day and scrambled to find a hotel the following week: Occupancy from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23 was 61.3%.
Whether you plan ahead or are waiting for the next weekend to make up for it, the Forbes.com list of the most romantic hotels should help you find a destination. The hotels on our list range from intimate, secluded inns to big resorts. A few are in far-flung exotic locales, such as Malaysia and Morocco, but don't overlook places that might be closer to home, such as New York's Inn at Irving Place. True romantics, however, know that it's not where you spend Valentine's Day, but whom you spend it with.
Pangkor Laut,Malaysia
Few things are more romantic than a private island resort. Pangkor Laut, located three miles off the west coast of Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca, offers its guests secluded beaches, fine dining and private luxury villas mounted on stilts that overlook crystal green waters. Opera fans can book the Luciano Pavarotti suite, named after the famous tenor who has been a guest here. Although it may not be the most romantic thing to do, guests also can reserve tee times at the nearby Royal Teluk Rubiah Country Club.
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