Whether it's your first romantic holiday away together or a second honeymoon, sometimes only an adults-only hotel will do - especially if your getaway for two coincides with the school holidays.
Finding a child-free haven of calm with no toddlers in the pool or teenagers hanging around the bar, can be tricky. Here are ten of the best from an arty B&B in the West Country to a castaway resort in Zanzibar.
Capri
The chi-chi island of Capri just off Italy's Amalfi Coast has long been a-see-and-be-seen kind of place beloved of celebrities and the well heeled. Its grown-up vibe is well suited to the adults-only Casa Morgano, a charming 28-room hideaway just five minutes walk from Capri Town on the panoramic Via Tragara. This hotel offers old-school Italian hospitality, with sumptuous private villas and delicious cuisine served by the pool.
Zanzibar
The Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar has exotic written all over it. Add an ultra luxurious bolthole of the calibre of Kilindi (pictured above) and you're on to a winner. It's a fabulous place to stay after the excitement of a safari, or you could head direct to this stylish oceanfront retreat which has just 15 pavilions, a powdery sand beach and gourmet cuisine.
Somerset
Watchet in Somerset is one of those small English towns that holds enchanting secrets. It was the inspiration for Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic lyric, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and the place that Jason and Annie Robinson chose as their country retreat. After buying a bolthole on the high street, they bought the shop next door and created the four-room Swain House, an ultra-cool B&B close to the beaches and the wilds of Exmoor, with freestanding slipper baths, custom-made wallpaper and a touch of the National Gallery about the place. Foodie couples will love it here too.
Lanzarote
The most northerly of the Canary Islands has everything you need for a romantic getaway including blue skies, intriguing villages and the local art of Cesar Manrique. Stay in the 14-room Hotel Villa Vik near the small coastal town of Arrecife and you'll feel like you've bagged yourself the perfect private villa, though there are in fact 14 rooms, each with private courtyard gardens and large Jacuzzi. Chill out by the heated pool and or the lovingly-tended gardens with semi-circular lava stone walls, traditionally used to protect vines from the wind. No need to make a move for dinner, as there's a daily changing menu in the charming restaurant.
Barbados
The West Coast of Barbados has made a name for itself as the Caribbean island for the flash pack. Finding an adults-only hideaway is surprisingly tricky as this is such a popular family destination, but The House is the answer. This chic retreat, adorned with the kind of immaculate white sofas and drapes that you'd only get in a place that didn't allow kids, is the perfect Caribbean couples domain with champagne breakfasts, couples' massages, horseback riding and even a couples' photo shoot. Private water taxis are all included in the price. Book on a B&B basis and explore those amazing 'Platinum Coast' restaurants each evening.
Paxos
The Purple Apricot Hotel (pictured above) on the Greek island of Paxos is an intriguing original. With just seven eclectic and bohemian-style suites, the emphasis is on overloading the senses. Breakfast is served under a silvery canopy of trees before a lazy day around the pool with its entrancing sea views. Paxos itself is such a pretty island - dinner under the stars in the harbour town is a joy.
Mexico
The Maroma Resort & Spa on the Mayan coast of Mexico with its turquoise Caribbean sea and crescent white sand beaches, is an adults-only gem that knows a thing or two about romance. With understated whitewashed rooms, sunset picnics on the beach on a white day bed surrounded by paper lanterns or a beachside couples massage by moonlight, you can easily lose a week or two here. Or combine it with a multi-centre holiday, taking in the ancient Mayan sites.
Thailand
Koh Lanta has managed to retain the feel of an unspoilt castaway island, perfect for a romantic escape. Head to Layana Resort & Spa for a genuinely warm welcome. This adults-only hideaway has a contemporary Thai aesthetic and serves delicious cuisine right on the beachfront, has a beguiling spa and a delicious sense of calm.
Morocco
The intimate Capaldi hotel, a former olive farm in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains has a sexy, exotic vibe that you only find in Morocco. Just 25 minutes from Marrakech, yet fabulously remote, the hotel fuses modern chic with Moroccan architecture and design. The hotel's two Michelin star chef whips up a fabulous fusion of French and Mediterranean flavours. Couples will love the spa with its traditional hammam and there's even a big screen movie room. The hotel doesn't accept children aged under 13.
USA
If log cabins, roaring open fires and fresh mountain air do it for you, head for Triple Creek Ranch (pictured below) in Montana's Rocky Mountains - one of the only ranches in the USA which is for adults only. This is a Relais & Chateaux property so you can bank on superb service and food. Build up an appetite with snowmobiling or fly-fishing when you're not out horse-riding.
Find more adults-only hotels.
* Jane Anderson is Editor of 101 Honeymoons
