Romantic Retreats
Adobe Grand Villas
35 Hozoni Drive, Sedona
928-203-7616, adobegrandvillas.com

When owners Stuart and Ilene Berman hired their artist son Steve to help build this 16-villa hideaway in 2005, he went wild, constructing 10-foot-high, hand-carved entry doors; elaborate scrolled iron railings; and individually designed rooms teleported from the pages of Architectural Digest.

Over-the-top amenities abound: dramatic fireplaces in the bedrooms and bathrooms, cascading waterfall showers, expansive private gardens or balconies, in-room bread machines that bake bread twice daily, an onsite couples’ massage salon, sumptuous three-course French-Mediterranean breakfasts, and an on-site chef who can cater sensuous room-service dinners.

Book the Whispering Pine, a 950-square-foot wood and rock “log cabin” with a hand-carved wood branch king bed and saloon door leading into the bath. Or cozy up in the 2,000-square-foot Hacienda, reminiscent of a Spanish palace. With so much to see indoors, you may never leave your room.

Rates: Regular rates run $399 to $699 per night, but from June 20 to August 31 enjoy a 20 percent discount for a one-night stay or a 30 percent discount for two nights.

Photo by Diana Elizabeth

The Inn at 410 Bed & Breakfast
410 North Leroux St., Flagstaff
928-774-0088, inn410.com

Every guestroom at this 19th-century Craftsman-style home has the creature comforts couples require – fireplaces, down blankets and pillows, meltingly soft sheets – plus individual designs to appeal to partners of every personality. Artsy amours can coucher in Monet’s Garden, a French country-style room with Jacuzzi tub and private porch overlooking a flower garden. Southwestern soulmates can retreat to Canyon Memories, with its Grand Canyon mural and views of the San Francisco Peaks. Outdoorsy couples can get au naturel in Suite Nature’s hand-hewn white pine bed surrounded by pine tree wallpaper, while music lovers can synchronize in the Beethoven-themed Conservatory suite. (Note: The inn is gay-friendly, too.)

Owner Gordon Watkins creates an atmosphere of hospitable luxury, with sumptuous breakfasts (think curried cornbread pudding with pumpkin sauce or baked apple custard French toast), piping hot homemade cookies in the afternoon, gourmet trail mix for your woodland hike, and complimentary hot cider, vodka and brandy to ease the transition to evening.

Rates: In late 2009 Watkins lowered his rates to pre-2005 levels and has not raised them since: $150 to $200 per night.


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