Hi Reader,

With Valentine's Day around the corner, it's the perfect time to share how we approach romantic trips for our clients.

Paris. Venice. California Wine Country. These places are classics for a reason. Our travelers love them. But what makes a couples' trip really memorable? It's the unexpected addition. The place you didn't know existed until someone showed you.

Here's a few of the top romantic trips we've been planning lately. Think of it as the classic with a glow up.

Paris & The Loire Valley

Paris is always a good idea. But we recommend adding on a few days in the Loire Valley. It's just two hours south and incredibly easy to reach by car or high-speed train.

Stay in a riverside 5-star hotel. Wander a château. Have candlelit dinners in medieval villages. Walk through vineyards before breakfast. The Loire hits its stride in spring, as everything starts blooming and it's genuinely breathtaking.

Geneva & Gstaad

Switzerland is stunning, but the big ski resorts can feel hectic. What we love for couples is Geneva paired with some skiing in Gstaad.

Geneva is elegant and understated, with incredible food. From there, head to Montreux and hop the Golden Pass train to Gstaad. The train ride alone is worth the trip, winding by the shores of Lake Geneva, picturesque vineyards, and rolling hills.

Gstaad is like the Aspen of Switzerland in that it brings the glitz and glam. Fondue by the fire, Alpine skiing, high-end shopping, fine dining, and mountain views.

San Francisco & Sonoma

San Francisco is on the rebound, and it's great to see. For couples who plan trips around meals, this is it. Dinner at one of the city's farm-to-table restaurants, take a morning walk through the Presidio, sip cocktails with a view.

Then drive north to the Sonoma coast. You can stroll through redwoods, stop by a cheese maker, hike a little, and end up in wine country where the wineries are small and the service is personal. It's farm-to-table the whole way.

You'll leave with bottles you'll open years later and tell the story all over again.

Venice & Trieste

Everyone knows Venice. Almost no one knows Trieste.

Venice absolutely deserves its reputation. We plan it for couples all the time. But we also add Trieste. This Habsburg-era port city an hour east with amazing coffee culture, Austro-Italian food, and barely any tourists.

One tip: visit outside of summer. The weather is nicer, the crowds in Venice are thinner, and both cities feel like they're yours.

Classic destinations you already love, plus the places that make them unforgettable. That's the Salt & Wind approach.

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