Maybe it’s your anniversary. Or your first real trip with your new true love. Whatever the scenario, there’s nothing like a holiday with your honey to spur fantasies of candlelit dinners, moonlit walks and other time-honored images plucked straight from old movies and vacation brochures. Traveling as part of a couple is a different experience than traveling solo. It’s about the two of you, about sharing an experience – seeing, tasting and enduring moments and places together, and hopefully becoming the carefree, starry-eyed couple of your rose-tinted, romantic dreams.
Whisk your sweetie off somewhere special and spend a delicious weekend remembering why you’re together. I’ve collected a globe-spanning sample of romantic getaways: some far-off, others closer to home. Almost any change of situation and scenery can do the trick when you need a break, but these are my picks for some of the most romantic destinations, along with the best places to stay while you’re there.

1. San Francisco

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Luxurious lodging in the Castro comes courtesy of the recently immaculately restored Parker House ($119-199; gay and lesbian), an elegant mini-mansion. Lounge in the extensive sun-saturated grounds or under down comforters, sip local vintages at the wine social or slip away for a warm time in the on-site steam room.

EAT
Much loved Tallula ($17-23), in the heart of the Castro, fuses Indian flavors with Californian ingredients and French cooking techniques. Try to reserve in advance for a perfectly romantic dinner.
PLAY/MEET
Birds do it. Bees do it. Consider joining the intriguing San Francisco Zoo Valentine’s Day Sex Tour (www.sfzoo.org), offered on several dates throughout February every year. Romantic refreshments are included in this three-hour educational excursion. Find loads more gay-specific discounts and offers at the Web site of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.

2. Provincetown
Provincetown is located at the very tip of Cape Cod, famous for its Atlantic beaches and great sand dunes. With a distinctly New England feel, enhanced by fresh ocean breezes and namesake Cape Cod architecture, off-season “P-town” is ideal for the romantic isolation you’ve dreamed of.
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Brass Key ($115-465; gay and lesbian) is a luxury gay resort without equal with extensive grounds that include hot tub, infinity-edge pool, landscaped brick pool deck, and all-around fabulous atmosphere. Choose one of their fireplace rooms.
EAT
The Red Inn ($21-40) delights diners with breathtaking harbor views and elegant, romantic interior.
PLAY/MEET
Get a beach fire permit. Buy something to grill, or just some sandwiches and a thermos full of lemonade or sangria. Bring your own firewood, and as the sun sets on nearly-deserted Race Point Beach, hug someone tight and enjoy one of the most magical evenings you’ll ever have. Permits are given out in limited numbers on a first-come basis, but usually aren’t hard to get because so few people know about them.

3. Venice
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High-rollers in the know choose the Gritti Palace (278-1,058 EUR) for 16th-century canal side grandeur and fine service. Now owned by Sheraton, it’s the perfect place to make the most of an airline or hotel award (Sheraton has four other options here, including the Danieli and Excelsior).
Though unfortunately not open in February, Hotel Cipriani (EUR625-1300; closed October through March) is the epitome of luxury. Some rooms feature private balconies and Jacuzzi. Its sister property, Palazzo Vendramin, only closes January and February. Stay in either one any time of the year they are open: magnificent!
EAT
With suitably low lighting and delicious dishes, gay-owned Avogaria (EUR14-16) offers a different take on Venice. Stop by to sample its sleek, postmodern décor and cool, understated style.
PLAY/MEET
Cruise across the Venetian lagoon to Burano — an island/ fishing town where the reflections of primary color-pained houses and fishing boats in the canals create a kaleidoscopic effect.

4. Paris
The heart-stirringly beautiful capital city of romance, Paris, trumps all other world capitals with its style, grace and chic splendor.
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The understated entrance to the sleekly designed Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme (410-560 EUR) leads to a rich collection of thought-provoking original art and rooms amply stocked with mirrors, closet space, sinfully comfy beds and capacious bathrooms with heated floors.
EAT
Get close at candle-lit Aux 3 Petites Cochons (25-27 EUR), a small and enticing room, where reservations are essential for really good and reasonably priced, traditional French cuisine.
PLAY/MEET
Whether you choose to ice skate, hand in hand, at the Hotel de Ville (4eme; +33-1/42-76-40-40; until February 26; free) or emulate a scene from countless movies and take an evening stroll through Paris with a special friend, this city is effortlessly romantic.

5. Vancouver
The breathtaking North Shore Mountains create a stunning backdrop for this gay getaway hotspot, setting for many a same-sex marriage. Vancouver woos its visitors whether illuminated by moody light drifting in from the Georgia Strait or backlit by the afternoon sun glowing pink on the peaks.
SLEEP
The luscious Opus ($189-419) adds boutique chic to already hip Yaletown, mere steps from downtown shopping and the gay West End. Choose from several enticing packages, including ones with late checkouts and breakfast in bed.
EAT
Reserve an intimate curtained booth in gay-adored Delilah’s (prix-fixe options: C$26.50 for 2 courses, C$38 for 4 courses), where splendid array of martinis complements the delicious dining experience.
PLAY/MEET
Incongruously set off hectic Granville Street Bridge, is the luscious Miraj Hammam. Lie adjacent to your lover in low-mist, high-intensity steam chambers, before experiencing, in turn, invigorating full-body gommage scrubs on slabs of Jerusalem gold marble.