Romantic hotel picks for Valentine’s and beyond
Valentine's is now two weeks away, which means many Second Life couples will be thinking of how and where to spend it.
Second Life has dozens of hotels and resorts that mimic the RL experience, and having now stayed in close to 60, here are my romantic picks for Valentine's and beyond.
Alpha Beach
Alpha Beach is a new resort from the owners of (the now closed) Bali Virtual. It’s a couple’s themed beach island with private chalets (500L a week), which though simple, are nicely designed and have pretty much everything you need.
There’s a bar to hang out in, a small pool, a restaurant and various beach activities you can take part in (note this place does not have RP staff).
If you are a couple looking for a good value, well designed beach resort for the Valentine’s Weekend, I don’t think you can go wrong here.
Bonaire YanuYanu
If you are looking for more frills for your romantic tropical break, I recommend the Fijian themed Bonaire YanuYanu, which is spread over three islands with Blake Sea access.
This place was created by the owner of the Bonaire house store, and it really shows in the overall design quality.
My recommendation would be to do what Aurelia Von Troubles and myself did after Christmas, when we booked a package which included a private jet transfer from Second Norway Airport to Fiji, and then a helicopter transfer.
The resort includes cheaper ‘Tiki’ huts (500L a night) and then a range of private villas. This includes a personal favourite, the lighthouse at 1950L a night.
By special arrangement, you can also rent the Amber Villa, which is normally where the owners live.
Both the spa and restaurant have RP staff, and you can book dinner / treatments.
Finally, if staying here, bring a boat. You can rez it on the guest pier, and then have a combined Valentine’s sailing and resort date.
The Ishtar Hotel
This is a brand new place opening on February 12th, but creator Agnes Whittle gave me free reign to tour the resort before the opening, and from what I’ve seen I’m very impressed.
Occupying a full region, this consists of a main hotel building housing the reception and public areas.
Two pools (one more adult themed than the other) adjoin the main hotel building, as does a restaurant / bar and events space.
Around the hotel itself you’ll then find a woodland area, a dock and a beach. Across from the hotel there’s a spa with a great rooftop terrace.
This is very much a couple’s themed retreat, and I loved the scale, the quality of the design and build and the little hidden areas.
The Ishtar features ‘whiskey’, ‘champagne’ (for parties and groups) and ‘martini’ themed suites, the latter being my personal favourite.
Prices are still being set, but are likely to start at 750L a night, with different rates for weekends and weekdays.
Ishtar Hotel SLURL (from 12 February)
Little Santorini
Little Santorini is a Greek themed vacation experience, with a village built on the slopes of a hill.
The village includes little shops and restaurants, a beach, a diving area (with one of the best underwater dive spaces I’ve seen in SL), a private spa (residents only), and a series of private villas that start at 695L a night.
Aurelia and myself recently stayed in one of the larger villas (at 2495 a night), which included a gorgeous pool, poolside bar, living area, two bedrooms and a roof terrace with jacuzzi.
The Kidaka Safari Resort
As the name suggests, the Kidaka consists of a safari lodge with restaurant, pool and beach and then a savannah area with animals.
I know of many couples that have gone to The Kidaka for their honeymoon or anniversary, and I can see why.
The chalets, which cost 300L a night, overlook the main animal reserve and include a bedroom, living room, bathroom and private terrace.
The pool and spa area (restricted to guests only), is also a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening.
The Makanyi Safari Resort
The Makanyi should be your choice if you are looking for a couple’s safari break with more extras. The resort has RP staff on hand who are available for anything from spa treatments to dinner at the restaurant.
The Mankanyi Safari Resort is also newer than the Kidaka and it shows. The chalets are more luxury themed and many have private pools making them perfect for a couple’s break.
However, it is much more expensive than the Kidaka with prices starting from 1500L a night, so it really all depends on what you are looking for and how much you want to pay.
The resort itself is open, you can tour the grounds, but if you want to stay you need to book via the website.
SLURL if you want to come and look
Poconos Ski Resort
It’s still very much the ski season in the Northern hemisphere, and if you want your Valentine’s Day to have a winter theme, my pick would be the Poconos Ski Resort, which will be open until March.
The Poconos resort comes from the operators of the popular (and now shut) Ibiza SL and Winter in New York.
You can see the same level of detail, excellent service and range of things to see and do at Poconos. The cabins are cosy, intimate and feature private outdoor hot tubs. There are also restaurant and spa RP services on offer.
Note Poconos is a closed resort, you need to book in advance and you get a group tag on check in. For an explanation of the difference between open vs closed resorts, I’ve got a post up.
Prices start at 1000L a night.
The Ritz SL
This is where Aurelia and myself are staying at time of writing, and several months after opening, it remains a personal favourite.
The Ritz is a vast place loosely based on classic European five star city hotels.
The Ritz SL has a series of themed suites including the Swan Suite, Peacock Suite and Dove Suite.
I absolutely think it’s worth paying more for these, as you get a bedroom, huge bathroom / dressing room, living room with themed wallpaper and decor (e.g. the peacock suite features peacocks), and your own courtyard with a private hot tub.
The Ritz also features what I think is one of the best pre-date meeting places, Hitchcocks Bar.
Prices start at 500L a night, the themed suites cost 1500L a night.
Fête: The Restaurant Experience
My final pick isn’t a hotel, but a restaurant. You could combine dinner here with a stay at one of the resorts I’ve listed.
I’ve now been to Fete three times, so obviously this is somewhere I recommend.
Owners Exeter and Je’Von have brought RL restaurant service levels and realism to SL, with dinner starting at 900L pp.
The main restaurant also includes a pool and events space, making it more akin to a high end dinner club than a restaurant.
We have been both as a couple, as well as with Aurelia’s best friend Semina and her partner Zack, so it’s a great double date, as well as date option.
Aurelia Von Troubles currently has an exhibition running at L’autre oeil gallery called “My Seven” (after the seven deadly sins), go and see it here.