Chocolate is widely seen as an aphrodisiac.
Seen as an aphrodisiac, chocolate is one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts. Combine dessert with a pleasant travel experience and you will have what many call the perfect gift. These hotels around the world have chocolate-themed travel experiences, ideal for lovers during this sweet holiday. Here’s where you can find them.
Sweet Symphony Menu at Thompson DC
Pairing wine and chocolate is a sweet treat for any DC lover
Thompson Washington DC’s wine and chocolate pairing menu combines complementary flavors that are a great way to end a romantic weekend. They include milk chocolate filled with mastic and white chocolate dusted with pistachios paired with a fruit and flower wine from Italy’s Piedmont region and a chocolate knafa with milk chocolate filled with orange blossom water and layers of white chocolate and oatmeal filled with Biscoff. It is paired with a Joel Gott “Palisades” red blend from California. Like other World of Hyatt properties, diners can earn points on food and beverage purchases, even when not staying at the hotel.
The hotel also has a Barbie-themed suite that pink lovers will want to experience while on site throughout the month of February. Silk and velvet fabrics fill the room, and even in the bathroom, pink soap and toiletries wait on the vanity. There are also pink-themed cocktails in the rooftop lounge, making this one of the most romantic rooms in the capital.
Cacao ceremonies in Mexico
The cacao ceremony is an experience that boosts energy and romance on the beach.
Honoring the region’s Mayan ancestors, the staff at W Punta de Mita, part of the Marriott Bonvoy, has developed a new cacao ceremony for guests. The goal is for self-reflection and spiritual awakenings, and couples find it can be a great way to renew their love in front of a flower-filled altar on the beach. Sound and healing frequencies engage guests as they drink cocoa to activate blood circulation and increase their overall well-being.
At Rancho Pescadero, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, in El Pescadero, Mexico, a similar cacao ceremony uses strong, organic cacao from Tabasco as part of the group event. Guided breathing helps guests relax during the process.
Learn to make truffles with a professional chef
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows is part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program.
At Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows, guests can participate in a variety of immersive activities through the Create and Cultivate series. One of them is learning about the health benefits of chocolate and cooking with the property’s pastry chef. By the end of the class, guests will have made (and enjoyed) their own truffles. Like other Andaz properties, this resort in the shadows of Camelback Mountain is part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program.
Chocolate and Strawberry Treats in Laguna Beach
View of the pool from Laguna Beach Resort
At The Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California, guests can indulge in a chocolate and strawberry treat that’s perfect for a romantic getaway. This is a new addition to the spa menu. It includes a strawberry seed sugar scrub followed by a chocolate buttercream massage and wrap. The experience closes with a mist of rose hydrosol. Don’t forget to take advantage of the benefits, including the option to earn points, from the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program from Preferred Hotels and Resorts during your stay.
“Bean to Bar” experience at Hotel Rabot, St. Lucia
Guests can learn a lot about the origins of chocolate during a stay here, including for a fee … [+]
It starts with visitors walking through the cacao trees to learn more about how it grows. Later, participants crush their cocoa beans to make their own chocolate from scratch. An experienced chef helps them develop the best flavor combinations. While the bar is being finalised, guests enjoy a cocoa-themed three-course lunch with views of the famous Pitons. Rabot Hotel by Hotel Chocolat is part of the oldest cocoa-producing estate on the island. For more relaxation, the spa menu includes cocoa massages, a cocoa detox body wrap, cocoa body scrub and cocoa facial.
Visit the “Chocolate Capital of Belize”
Royals William and Kate made a similar tour of Belize.
Follow in the footsteps of a recent visit by British royals William and Kate by making some traditional Maya chocolate in Belize’s chocolate capital, Toledo. Participants learn how to harvest cacao, extract the beans from the pods, ferment, dry and roast them, and then grind the nibs using a Maya stone tool. There’s also a dark and milk chocolate flavor dipped in a sweet corn tortilla plus a chocolate drink.
