Having traveled quite a bit thanks to credit card rewards, I’ve had trips that were about the things to do at the destination and others where the hotel was what it was all about. These are my favorite west coast hotels for a romantic getaway. (I, of course, haven’t stayed at every hotel. There are a few I plan to check out that will probably make this list in the future.)
My top pick is The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV. Probably not all rooms there are as amazing as the one I got (via a free upgrade with my American Express Platinum (referral link) card which also provides a special line for checking in), but the huge soaking tub and balcony by the bed majorly impressed me. It was great to watch the Bellagio fountain show from the privacy of the room. There’s also an excellent spa.
There are two great choices in Portland, OR. Although the room was a bit small at the Hotel DeLuxe, the Driftwood Room restaurant completely sets the stage for a romantic night. You dine entirely in the dark! I wasn’t sure how I was going to cut the steak I ordered given the total darkness, but they’ve thought ahead and served it already in bite-sized pieces. The food was delicious and the drinks even better.
Next up in Portland, OR is The Nines. This is another hotel where I got a room upgrade by booking with the American Express Platinum card. It’s a gorgeous room and there’s a nightly serving of complimentary wine plus live music Monday-Saturday. The hotel doesn’t have a spa, but does offer in-room massage. This stay was my first experience with that and I actually don’t think I’ll repeat it. It just takes too long for everything to get packed up afterward!
Next up are some hotels in California. One I was excited to visit was The Langham Huntington in Pasadena, CA as it was featured in the 1998 version of The Parent Trap (affiliate link). It did not disappoint! Everything was absolutely perfect from the public parts of the hotel including the spa to the room and The Langham Club which I had access to with the Platinum card (proving its worth once again).
Most of the time a Disneyland trip for me is all about time in the park, so I don’t care about the hotel room; but Anaheim, CA does offer some gorgeous hotels for a romantic trip. (I’m sure some of the theme rooms at the Disney-owned hotels would be perfect too, but I haven’t had the chance to stay in one yet.) My stay at The Westin Anaheim Resort began with an upgrade to club access which meant enjoying free food while overlooking the park. The front desk also sent up a welcome treat.
I also absolutely love the Hotel del Coronado outside of San Diego, CA. There’s really no reason to leave the resort as there’s a beautiful beach where they hold nightly bonfires for s’mores! The hotel offers a number of different types of rooms but I always stay in the original building where every room has a pretty unique layout. These room balconies aren’t totally private, but provide lovely views. There’s also an on-site spa if the beach isn’t relaxing enough. My favorite part of staying at this hotel is the history–there’s even a nightly tour about Kate Morgan whose spirit is said to have never left.
An honorable mention goes to the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City, UT. The room (another upgrade from the Platinum card) certainly set the mood with the deep colors and curtain divider, but there are no additional elements like a spa.
