Florida is far more than a collection of theme parks, water parks, and breezy beaches. There are just as many places to visit when you need an adults-only escape, and some of the state’s top resorts have all the ingredients for romance. That means soothing spas, scenic settings, quiet spots for spending time together, and restaurants that skew more foodie than family-friendly. Here are my top picks for the best hotels for a romantic getaway in Florida.
Why you can trust these picks: Read FamilyVacationist’s methodology for selecting and recommending vacation destinations and hotels.
1. Casa Monica Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
St. Augustine, Florida
With a design inspired by Moorish and Spanish Baroque architecture, Casa Monica Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection is a well-known fixture in St. Augustine’s historic district. Dating to 1888, the eye-catching structure features an impressive, castle-like exterior lined with decorative balconies. Inside, ornate touches abound, from fountains and frescos to sparkling chandeliers and colorful mosaics.
You’ll receive champagne or sparkling wine at check-in and can spend your together time relaxing at a poolside cabana, enjoying a luxurious spa treatment, admiring the hotel’s art collection, or dining at new signature restaurant Cordova Coastal Chophouse & Bar, which takes design cues from the hotel’s Moorish style. The city of St. Augustine awaits right outside: Book a carriage ride for a just-the-two-of-you tour of the historic district.
2. The Gasparilla Inn
Boca Grande, Florida
Spend a weekend in “Old Florida” style at the The Gasparilla Inn, where guests have been checking in for romantic Florida getaways since 1913. Accommodations at this elegant escape on Florida’s Gulf Coast include guest rooms with vintage flair in the historic main inn (where the dining room still requires jackets for men at dinner during winter high season) and more spacious options like the inn’s cottages and newer, larger houses that offer modern functionality with retro charm.
You can enjoy a round at the waterfront 18-hole golf course, get some sun at the Beach Club, or visit the on-site spa offering a couples package and other treatments. The inn is located in the of-another-time village of Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, where golf carts are the preferred mode of transportation and boutiques carry everything from fishing gear to Lilly Pulitzer dresses.
3. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Little Torch Key, Florida
Romantic getaways in Florida don’t get any more luxe than a splurge at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, considered America’s only private island resort. You’ll arrive at this adults-only escape in the Florida Keys by boat or seaplane and immediately begin unplugging and unwinding. Thatched-roof bungalows offer ocean views and West Indies style, with no phones or TVs to distract you from the peaceful setting.
Take your stay to the next level with one of the resort’s romantic turndown options with rose petals, candles, and champagne to help set the scene. You can spend your days poolside, on the white sand beach, or exploring the waters surrounding the resort by paddleboard or kayak.
4. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection
St. Petersburg, Florida
Set right in the middle of the action in downtown St. Pete, The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection first opened on New Year’s Eve in 1925. A renovation in 2023 added modern touches but still preserved plenty of the pink-hued hotel’s historic charm and original Mediterranean Revival design, like lovingly restored glazed tile floors and original cypress beams.
You’ll want to make time for a drink at Veranda, situated on the hotel’s iconic front porch, and a romantic dinner at new restaurant Elliott Aster, opening in spring 2025. Recharge at Vinoy Spa with the Tranquility for Two massage or the Marine Dream treatment, which features a specialized massage performed with a warmed seawater massage balm that evokes a dip in the ocean. When you’re ready to explore, it’s easy to head out on foot to take in St. Pete’s lively arts, dining, and craft beer scenes.
5. The Breakers Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
Founded in 1896, The Breakers Palm Beach has been a popular spot for romantic getaways in Florida for more than a hundred years, attracting names like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Astor, and Carnegie to its Atlantic Coast location. Situated on 140 oceanfront acres, the extravagant Italian Renaissance-style hotel offers refined guest rooms and suites featuring high-end linens and fluffy bathrobes and slippers. For an ultra-luxurious stay, opt for the recently renovated Flagler Club, an exclusive boutique hotel of 21 rooms and suites located atop the resort on two private-access floors.
Couples will appreciate amenities at The Breakers like an indoor-outdoor spa with a tranquil private courtyard space, a new tennis and racquet facility, and the Beach Club featuring a private oceanfront stretch, four pools, and 25 daytime bungalows. When you want to explore the rest of Palm Beach, take advantage of the complimentary chauffeured house car service.
6. The Pearl Hotel
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Located in Rosemary Beach, The Pearl Hotel offers an ideal location for a romantic escape on the Florida Panhandle. The 55-room boutique hotel exudes Old World European style, and many rooms feature private balconies, with some overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. A recent room refresh included new flooring, window treatments, and other updates to make rooms even more comfortable and reflective of their coastal setting.
Guests receive complimentary sparkling wine at check-in and have access to a private stretch of beach with complimentary beach chairs and black-and-white-striped umbrellas that match the hotel’s awnings. Spa Pearl provides a range of treatments in four private poolside treatment rooms, while the hotel’s Havana Beach Rooftop restaurant and bar offers light bites, firepits, and water views.
7. Bungalows Key Largo
Key Largo, Florida
It’s not hard to relax and reconnect at this all-inclusive, adults-only getaway in the Florida Keys, where amenities include an oceanfront infinity pool, daily yoga sessions, and a spa with outdoor treatment cabanas, a eucalyptus steam room, and a Himalayan salt therapy treatment room. Each individual bungalow keeps that restful vibe going, with private verandas with outdoor rain showers and soaking tubs and two cruiser bikes for pedaling around the property.
If you want more activity, there’s a “fitness tiki hut” and standup paddleboards and kayaks for exploring Florida Bay. End the day on one of the resort’s nightly sunset cruises or with a romantic beachfront dinner.
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Amelia Island, Florida
Get back to nature (but in a totally upscale way) at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Situated on a North Florida barrier island, this romantic Florida hotel sits along more than a mile of dune-lined Atlantic Ocean beachfront ideal for strolling, paddleboarding, and even horseback riding. If you’d rather spend a day by the pool, reserve a cabana complete with an outdoor TV and butler service.
All 446 guestrooms and suites are done up in luxe coastal style with dual vanities and enlarged showers in the bathrooms. Head to the hotel’s recently redesigned Salt restaurant for a refined dining experience with views of the Atlantic, or visit the recently reimagined Spa and Wellness Center for a couple’s massage, red light therapy, or a yoga or meditation session.
9. The Alfond Inn
Winter Park, Florida
Enjoy a romantic Florida getaway at this gem of a boutique hotel in Winter Park, an Orlando-area city that offers a totally different vibe from all the nearby theme parks. Owned by Rollins College, the 183-room Alfond Inn offers appealing features ideal for together time, like two pools, a new spa offering couples treatments and hydrotherapy amenities, and The Café, a cheery space that’s a crêperie and pâtisserie by day and wine and dessert bar by night.
The sophisticated hotel also showcases pieces from The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art at Rollins College throughout the property. Take a happy hour art tour on the first Wednesday of the month or just discover the collection on your own throughout your stay. Outside the hotel’s front doors, you’ll find a pleasing array of shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants to explore together.
10. Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
A midcentury modern landmark designed by Morris Lapidus, Fontainebleau Miami Beach first opened in 1954 and has been attracting movers and shakers ever since (Elvis Presley, Lucille Ball, and Judy Garland among them). It underwent a major renovation in the early 2000s, but Lapidus’s curving façade and famous “Stairway to Nowhere” in the lobby are still there, better than ever.
The fashionable 22-acre oceanfront property includes a central pool area where you can reserve a private cabana or daybed, a slew of restaurant and nightlife options on-site serving everything from steaks to Cantonese specialties, the luxe Lapis Spa that offers a private oceanfront spa suite for treatments for two, and a marina where you can book a private yacht charter to get out on the local waters.
