Part of our Romantic Vacations guide.
Two itineraries from our Romantic Vacations coverage, gathered into one page: a weekend escape from London into the British countryside, and a two-day plan for Napa Valley.
Related travel guides: Itineraries For Caribbean and Itineraries For Hotels.
Great Weekend Getaways From London
London's surrounding countryside is filled with natural beauty and charming villages. The Cotswolds lie roughly 90 minutes by train from Paddington Station, with villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold offering stone cottages and riverside pubs. For a coastal option, Brighton is under an hour from Victoria Station; its pebble beach and the Royal Pavilion make a low-key day trip. If you prefer a historic city, Bath is about 80 minutes from London by rail, where the Roman Baths and the honey-coloured Georgian crescents provide a backdrop for a relaxed weekend. Each of these destinations works as a two-day itinerary: leave London after breakfast on Saturday, explore in the afternoon, stay overnight in a local inn or B&B, then return Sunday evening.
A Weekend Getaway Guide To Napa Valley
Located an hour's drive north of San Francisco, Napa Valley offers a blend of natural beauty, exquisite cuisine, and luxurious accommodations. For a two-day romantic itinerary, start Saturday morning with a wine tasting at a vineyard that opens early—many, such as Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, begin tastings at 10 a.m. Reserve a spot for a seated tasting (around $50 per person as of 2023) to avoid the crowds. For lunch, stop at Oxbow Public Market in Napa town; it has several casual counters serving local produce and cheese. In the afternoon, drive the Silverado Trail rather than Highway 29 to see fewer cars and more hillside vineyards. Evening plans could include dinner at a restaurant with a view of the vines, such as Auberge du Soleil's dining room (book weeks ahead). Sunday morning, take a hot-air balloon ride over the valley—flights depart at sunrise and cost roughly $250 per person. After landing, visit a spa for a couple's massage; many resort spas, like those at Calistoga's Indian Springs, offer day passes. Finish with a late lunch in Yountville, then drive back to San Francisco by late afternoon.
Throughout the article, romantic honeymoon love in romantic vacations is a recurring theme, and these two itineraries directly support that. For those seeking coastal options, the best beach getaways for couples often appear in our broader coverage, though this page focuses on countryside and wine country. If you are planning a longer trip, our events and seasons in romantic vacations page details harvest festivals in Napa (September–October) and Christmas markets in the Cotswolds (December). For a different kind of adventure, romantic getaways in Bozeman, Montana offer mountain scenery and hot springs, but that is a separate itinerary entirely.
