

On an elegant estate in the charming seaside California town of Monterey, of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row fame, the Old Monterey Inn is all about love. For activities, the resort can arrange everything from swimming with wild pigs to snorkeling, diving, and even shark tagging research trips. With just 78 villas in total, ranging in sizes from one to four bedrooms, this four-star property is not too large to feel private on a romantic holiday. It has sliding glass doors that lead to furnished terraces with views of Emerald Bay’s sparkling blue water and ivory-hued beach or equally pristine Greg Norman-designed championship golf course that’s also on-site. The sprawling villas feature full gourmet kitchens should you want to eat in. When it comes to jacuzzis, you’ll want to book the Two-Bedroom Panoramic Penthouse Villa at Grand Isle, which features a marble whirlpool spa bath in the master bedroom. The island is part of The Bahamas’ “Out Islands” and has a remote vibe that is also out-of-this-world beautiful - the clarity of the turquoise water juxtaposed against pearly white sand is awesome in the truest sense of the word. Reality TV shows aside, it doesn’t get more tropical romantic than Great Exuma, where the all-villa Grand Isle Resort is located. Fans of The Bachelor might recognize the Grand Isle Resort and Spa from Season 20 starring Ben Higgins (he took the contestants here during Week 6).
