Escape to the Caribbean or to a Windy City, either way, a deal awaits.
The Place: Dominican Republic
They know. Beyonce, the Kardashians, J Lo, Cameron Diaz and Carlos Santana can’t be wrong — can they? If you have a hankering to canoodle like a headliner, head to La Romana, the Dominican Republic’s swish southern-sited, Caribbean coastal city (and surrounding tropical expanse), where sugarcane peppers the terrain and turquoise beaches quicken the heart. Jet set like the best of them at Casa del Campo Resort & Villas, This member of Leading Hotels of the World, stretches across a 7,000-acre retreat, complete with a marina, tennis and equestrian centers, private beaches, a spa, boutiques galore, pools and three Pete Dye-designed golf courses. Experience puppy love, golf buff style, on the resort’s Teeth of the Dog, the number one course in the Caribbean. Named for its dog legs, this classic course features seven of its 18 holes overlooking the sea. Divers can submerge just off Catalina Island, just one-and-a-half miles off shore from La Romana, where a healthy coral reef has memorable immersions, such as the Captain Kidd shipwreck. Altos de Chavon Village, a folly, was erected to mirror a 16th-century Mediterranean village in every detail. Expect to buy more than you’d planned from the plethora of shops and galleries in its charming entertainment district.
The Deal: Take advantage of Casa Del Campo Resort & Villas eye-popping Romance Package. From jus- $299 a night, you’ll get luxurious accommodations for two, gold carts to use during your stay, daily breakfast (including one “breakfast in bed”), one 50-minute couple’s massage. Valid through Dec. 20, 2021. Must be booked by March 15, 2021. casadecampo.com.do/vacation-packages-offers/romance-in-casa
The Place: Chicago
You’ll be blown away . . . in the Windy City. A fantasia of soaring skyscrapers, iconic architecture, glamorous shopping, top chefs, bustling festivals and steadfast sports teams, Chicago reigns as a sexy urban escape. The Drake Hotel, an historic fount of luxury and sophistication, embodies its spirit. A refuge for visiting kings and queens, beloved by silver screen stars, a hangout for Al Capone (a private outdoor balcony, accessed via a hidden door camouflaged as a bookshelf was his oasis, purportedly), and a place so eccentrically opulent that baby alligators once swam in its fountains, The Drake knows how to pamper honeymooners. Splurge with the Gesture of Grandeur package (starting at $150,000), which provides accommodations in the Hidden Residence (a lofty apartment on the top floor), flowers from the onsite flower shop, private dancing to a personal violin concerto, a decadent seven-course candlelit dinner, private breakfast in the booth where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio carved their initials, private photography atop the hotel and much more.
The Deal: Consider the more affordable Date Night Package. It’s bookable with the with the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in Chicago on the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit’s website. Get a hotel stay, bottle of champagne, flower bouquet, box of chocolate truffles, hotel amenities and more — plus a private balcony to enjoy the exhibit. The hotel is also offering $100 room rates through April 10 in honor of its 100th anniversary.
