Five Sexy European Selections

Five Sexy European Selections

With all the clichés and superlatives about love and romance exhausted, Design Hotels™ has sifted through the frilly excess to serve up five member properties where the sublime simplicity of the locale is enough to inspire romantic adventure. www.designhotels.com/romantic_getaways

No need to embellish upon the virtues of the City of Light. The avant-garde aura at Hôtel Sezz Paris charms with modern takes on amour. While over on the Croatian coastline, Hotel Lone's fragrant forest and Rovinj's rich history intoxicate and seduce. Get love-struck and lost in the circuitous streets of Lisbon as Memmo Alfama invites with Portuguese familial warmth. Medieval history and high-tech spa facilities meet at Hotel zum Löwen in Lower Saxony, Germany. With a name like Design & Wine Hotel, expect these two elements to feature prominently at this estuarial oasis in Caminha, Portugal. Eco-aware design, fine art and regional wine will stimulate the senses.

Modern Romance
Located in the seductive heart of the 16th arrondissement, Hôtel Sezz Paris brings modern romance to the epicenter of old world French charm. The hotel's Art Nouveau façade sits among the Rive Droite's luxe supperclubs, concept stores and art galleries. Set at the foot of a hillside across from the Seine River, with sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower, the setting couldn't be any better. Twenty-six rooms entice and set the mood with muted tones accented by polished chrome and red leather. Book the -Romance Package' and rose petals, a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and pastel macaroons await. Bathtubs for two beckon while in-room dining and views from The Loft or Eiffel Suite put the dazzling icon on center stage. Make a private booking of the spa for two then set out hand-in-hand for a stroll down the lively Passy Street. Or never leave the room!

The Landed Love Boat
Situated on the picturesque Adriatic Sea of Rovinj, Croatia, Hotel Lone's 248-room property is a magnet for smitten holidaymakers. Crystal clear aqua waters, ancient woodlands and old fishing town warmth collude to create an idyllic atmosphere for love. Designed to look like an elegant ocean liner floating through the forest-edged waters, the hotel and its sleek and minimalist lines blend seamlessly into the environment. Romantic moments abound with evenings of fine Istrian wine and private infinity pool massages, surrounded by the protection of Zlatni Rt forest. Take in the sunset and view of Lone Bay from a private balcony followed by candlight dinner overlooking the landscaped grounds and pool. Straying further from the hotel provides ample opportunity for
affection with sunset sails in traditional Rovinj boats, quaint walks along the old town's cobblestone streets and indulging in Istria's world-class cuisine and truffle dishes.

Portuguese Pleasure
Among the weather-worn hues and fresh-hung linen that line the streets of Lisbon's Alfama neighborhood, there's a newly-opened hidden treasure waiting for lusty discovery. Memmo Alfama is tucked into the narrow and winding roads that brim with bustling village life in the city's oldest district. Upon entering the 42-room hotel, an intimate living room greets with cozy corners and traditional home-baked cakes, recreating the soulful atmosphere of a Portuguese home. Housed in an ancient courtyard, the property and its surrounding grounds feature the best views of the city. Slowly sip fine wine on the terrace overlooking Alfama and the Tagus River, and let the Fadofilled, meandering staircases of the neighborhood lead. Dine and wine as the locals do, with expertly curated tours and authentic suggestions from the staff.

Heart of a Lion
With all the comfort of a traditional German guesthouse, Hotel zum Löwen is a historical jewel in medieval Duderstadt, located in Lower Saxony. The renovated 17th century timber-framed building and 53 rooms have retained their historic allure while a state-of-the-art spa has introduced a reinvigorated energy perfect for romantics seeking the best of past and present. Couples treatments include spine and facial massages, champagne in-hand, followed by dips in the private pool, Finnish sauna with ice fountain and an invigorating salt steam. Evenings evoke romance with intimate four-course candlelight dinners at Chez Otto or a wine tasting in the rustic wine cellar. Learn about the subtleties of tasting and flavor profiles while fanciful ponderings take over.

Renaissance Romance
Far from the flocks who crowd much of the Portuguese coast, Design & Wine Hotel welcomes with restorative respite in the tranquil center of Caminha. The small, ancient city lies on the banks of the Minho River, hugged by verdant rolling hills and bordered by a tidal estuary dotted with long, white sandbars. Twenty-three rooms and six suites are housed in the 18th century manor and adjoining futuristic addition that rotates to offer an ever-changing panorama. Art and innovative design meld as museum quality art hangs illuminated by the partially solar powered steel structure. Here, subtlety, sensuality and sustainability reign as the rural landscape and pine forests enchant. Daily stresses slip away with feasts of regional fare and young vino verde at Enoteca. Walks through the medieval town inspire romantic notions with the sights of the Renaissance Fountain in the main square, the Gothic houses and relics of antiquity in the old core.