Valentine's Day is right around the corner, with a summer of weddings and honeymoons right on its heels, and so Mike Thiel, founder and president of Hideaways InternationalTM, Inc. (www.Hideaways.com) of Potsmouth, NH, reveals his picks for the love-liest places to court cupid, any day of the year.

1. Scrub Island--BVI
For the cutting-edge couple
Sequestered away on one of the last remaining private islands in the BVI and reachable only by boat, this elegant and brand-new resort (opened January 2010) has the entire shoreline--with hidden beaches, coves, and bays--all to itself. Guest rooms, suites, and private three- to five-bedroom villas have water or tropical garden views. Charter a boat from the full-service marina, indulge in a spa treatment, or say "I do" by the poolside waterfall.
Hideaways International's
Sexy 7 Hideouts
1. Scrub Island (BVI)
2. Cap Maison Resort & Spa (St. Lucia)
3. La Posada de Santa Fe (New Mexico)
4. Turtle Inn (Belize)
5. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa (Argentina)
6. Taj Lake Palace (India)
7. Azamara Club Cruises (Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico, and more)
. Honorable Mention: The Sarojin (Thailand)

2. Cap Maison Resort & Spa--St. Lucia
For the tropically chic couple
This luxurious villa resort is a refreshing breeze of low-key luxury, superb dining, and well-honed yet unpretentious service. Each spacious Oceanview Villa Suite is a lovely study in whitewashed walls, dark woods, rich fabrics, and hand-painted tiles, and offers a full kitchen, terrace or veranda, and handmade furnishings from Mexico.

3. La Posada de Santa Fe--New Mexico
For the see-and-be-seen couple
Enjoy Southwestern flair on six beautifully landscaped acres tucked behind adobe walls, just blocks from Santa Fe's historic plaza and famed art galleries. Guest rooms and suites, some offering shady patios and wood-burning fireplaces, are a page right out of Architectural Digest. Dining choices run the gamut from the casual Poolside Grill to crystal and linen at award-winning Fuego restaurant.

4. Turtle Inn--Belize
For the castaway couple
Built by film director Francis Ford Coppola, this hideout is perhaps best described as rustic elegance. With its thatched-roof cottages, well-manicured grounds, and Bali-meets-Belize decor, the experience is so idyllic it's almost surreal--like a movie set depicting the archetypical beach hideaway.

5. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa--Argentina
For the adventurous couple
Set in the stunning Patagonia region of Argentina, this Canadian-style hotel is framed by mountains and nestled between two magnificent lakes. Outdoor adventures include water sports, health walks, mountain biking, and golf on the resort's challenging 18-hole course, backed by breathtaking scenery that must be experienced first-hand to be believed. Almost as legendary as its scenery is the hotel's exemplary service, cozy mountain indulgences, and exquisite dining (hint: a mid-morning feast here could last you until happy hour).

6. Taj Lake Palace--India
For the glamorously exotic couple
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the (boat) ride--it's the only way to reach this royal-summer-palace-turned-hotel, set on an island in the middle of Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Making a watery entrance is certainly special, but it's just the beginning of Taj Lake Palace's unforgettable attributes. The "Royal Butlers," descendents of the earliest palace retainers, offer flawless old-world service. The public spaces are luxurious, most with a view out in one direction or another over the lake. And the suites are downright hedonistic.

7. Azamara Club Cruises--Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico, Transatlantic
For the prefer-to-be-pampered couple
This luxe line offers small-ship advantages with yacht-inspired touches like butler service, European bedding, and gourmet specialty dining. The Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey each carry about 700 guests to some of the more secluded and little-visited ports of the world, making them a good choice for those looking for unique destinations. In fact, Azamara considers its "shore immersions" to be the hallmark of its cruise experience. This type of cruise should appeal mostly to couples seeking an out-of-the-ordinary voyage to less-touristed ports in destinations like Asia and South America.

. Honorable Mention: The Sarojin (Thailand)
For the low-key-yet-high-style couple
Bordering five national parks and sharing Khao Lak, a nearly seven-mile-long stretch of white-sand beach, this resort is a modern Asian oasis of restoration and harmony. Each of the spacious one-bedroom "guest residences" is set among serene gardens and benefits from little luxuries like a couple's bath; some have an outdoor relaxation pool. Should you desire to leave this blissful atmosphere, The Sarojin's in-house "Imagineer" is the ultimate personal concierge who can arrange most anything, whether it's a private gourmet lunch by a waterfall or a personal jungle adventure just for two, complete with champagne.

"Reignite the fire, or keep those hot embers burning, with a romantic getaway," says Mike. "Valentine's Day might come around only once a year, but you can get that loving feeling any time you travel to the kind of hideaway that makes even Cupid blush."

For more information, visit www.Hideaways.com or contact Gail Richard at 603-430-4433, ext. 112, or pr@hideaways.com.

This story was published on 04 Feb 2010.