Love is in the air in February, when Valentine's Day shouts its presence. But if you haven't already booked a getaway, you can indulge at other times of year at these accommodations in out-of-the-ordinary destinations that promise sunshine, crashing waves and a feeling of getting away from the rest of the world.

The Seychelles

Getting away was certainly part of the plan when Prince William and Kate Middleton honeymooned in the Seychelles, an archipelago of more than 100 islands about 1,000 miles east of Kenya in the Indian Ocean.

A tropical paradise, the Seychelles were uninhabited until the 1700s, when pirates, explorers and other sailors stumbled upon them. The French were the first settlers, arriving in 1770 to a place some viewed as the real Garden of Eden. Mahe and Praslin are the two largest islands, and the area has a tropical microclimate with year-round temperatures between 74 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

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The Raffles Praslin hotel (raffles.com/praslin) is an over-the-top luxury escape where the 86 villas and suites have private outdoor pavilions and plunge pools with amazing Indian Ocean views. Guests are assigned a butler to help with any planning or room needs. The hotel's spa is open air and provides couples' services, naturally.

Rates begin at about $500 per night, but some packages give a fourth night free when you spend three nights.

If you visit Praslin, there are a few things you shouldn't miss.

Anse Lazio, a short walk from the hotel, is regularly noted as one of the world's best beaches. With impossibly soft sand, the crescent-shaped beach is backed by jungle and fronted with warm crystalline waters that glitter under amazing sunsets.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Vallee de Mai in the Praslin National Park is a primeval palm forest that is home to the coca de mer tree, which produces the largest nut in the plant kingdom, weighing as much as 18 pounds.

In the Raffles garden, the resort can arrange for lovebirds to plant two trees in one spot so the trees become wrapped around one another as they grow. Photos are sent to couples on their anniversaries.

Curacao

Once part of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao is an island in the southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. It has terrific beaches, predictably hot temperatures and a mix of histories and cultures.

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Curacao became a distinct country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010 and retains much of its Dutch flavor. Dutch and English are official languages, but the most widely spoken is Papiamentu, a Portuguese creole. Partly European and partly African, people from more than 50 nationalities live on this 170-square-mile island. This mix of cultures is seen in the food and architecture, with Willemstad's pastel buildings an iconic and familiar image in the capital.

With a tropical savanna climate and a dry season that lasts nine months of the year, it's easy to see why Curacao is a popular destination for scuba divers and beach lovers.

A big event each year in Curacao is the North Sea Jazz Festival, an offshoot of the same-named event in Rotterdam, over Labor Day weekend. Undoubtedly, hotels will be harder to book and probably more expensive, but if you're a music fan who loves hot weather, this is a great place to be.

Try the Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort (855-590-2266, santabarbararesortcuracao.com) if you want to be away from it all. About a 40-minute drive from Willemstad, this 27-acre resort features a Pete Dye golf course, a spa, pool, sand beach and plenty of outdoor lounging areas. Rates in March are about $300 per night.

cComments

Willemstad, Curacao has many romantic and authentic small hotels and BnBs. http://www.poppyhostelcuracao.com and http://www.bedandbreakfastblenchi.com . Enjoy the island without breaking the bank and spend the extra cash on great duty free shopping http://www.shoprenaissancecuracao.com

Closer to town and more upscale is Baoase, which says its philosophy is barefoot elegance (888-409-3506, baoase.com). On a white sand beach amid botanical gardens, Baoase offers rooms, suites or villas, some with private pools, starting at $475 per night in March.

The 60-year-old luxury Avila Hotel (800-747-8162, avilahotel.com) has two beaches in its downtown location, with March rates beginning at $272. One of my favorite nights in Curacao was a visit to the hotel's Blues Jazz Bar and Restaurant. Food was OK, drinks were better, but the location — outside on a pier-like structure over the water — with amazing sunset views, was unforgettable.

Don't miss the Restaurant & Cafe Gouverneur de Rouville (de-gouverneur.com) on the Otrobanda waterfront in Willemstad's historic old town, for traditional food and terrific views.

Dominican Republic

Sharing the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the Dominican Republic has a long colonial history; the capital of Santo Domingo was founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus — yes, a Columbus brother. Santo Domingo is a large city, but for a more remote and romantic destination, visit the Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge (800-961-5133, casabonitadr.com) in the unspoiled southwestern region of the country.

Atop a jungled hill, Casa Bonita and its 13 guest rooms have stunning sea views. Just outside the check-in area are an open-air restaurant and an infinity pool edged by palm trees overlooking the water.

There's not a whole lot to do off the property, but on site you can go zip-lining and visit the Casa Bonita spa, which offers one of the most unusual massages I've ever experienced. The massage table is set up in the Riosito River, and the therapist stands barefoot in the water to give you the treatment. At first it seemed odd, but after I turned onto my back, the sounds of the water passing over river rocks while butterflies floated overhead made for an experience to remember.

Room rates for most of the year begin at $220 per night. Meal plans cost extra.

Mexico

A small Mexican town south of Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa isn't an island but might as well be, because you can get there only by boat. No roads to get you there, no cars in town, it's definitely an out-of-the-way place for romance.

A longtime hippie haven, it still has the feel of the lost generation, with frequent sightings of gray-haired ponytails of both genders. Out of the way and off the beaten path, it will definitely make you feel like you've left the world behind. Especially if you stay at Casa Pericos (805-308-2209, yelapacasa.com), a very unusual and very small boutique hotel.

A four-story structure built into the side of a mountain and just steps from the crashing ocean waves, it has three units open to the ocean and sky with just waist-high concrete posts and wires lining the edge.

After we arrived — hopping off the boat into the surf at nearby Playa Isabel before heading right to the third building — it was difficult to leave Casa Pericos and our 35-foot-wide perch overlooking the ocean. Snorkeling equipment and kayaks are provided and can be enjoyed just outside the door. You might be lucky enough to see whales or dolphins from your sitting area. A 10-minute walk into town takes you along rutted stone paths, through a small stream, past a tiny grocery store and to some surprisingly good restaurants (one with a French-trained chef) for such a remote location.

The second-level unit at Casa Pericos is Vista Romantica, a 1,000-square-foot space with a large bathroom built around the stone mountain wall and a jungle strangler fig tree growing through the floor to the next level. The beds all have Moroccan-style canopy mosquito nets, and multicolored glass hearts line the back wall. High-season rates for Vista Romantic are $180 a night.

Casa Pericos is perfect for alone time with your lover. But there's one thing: You are so close to the water that earplugs are helpful for blocking the sounds of crashing waves at night. Couples will need to decide for themselves whether earplugs are helpful to their relationships.

If you go

To get to the Seychelles you must first travel to Africa for a connecting flight, so it's obviously a long haul, especially from North America.

There are few direct flights from the U.S. to Curacao (curacao.com/en), but it's just over three hours from Miami, so it's easy enough to get a connecting flight.

cComments

Willemstad, Curacao has many romantic and authentic small hotels and BnBs. http://www.poppyhostelcuracao.com and http://www.bedandbreakfastblenchi.com . Enjoy the island without breaking the bank and spend the extra cash on great duty free shopping http://www.shoprenaissancecuracao.com

Many U.S. cities have direct flights to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (godominicanrepublic.com/rd), but it's another three hours by car to get to Casa Bonita, which can arrange your ride.

The only way to get to Yelapa is by boat from Puerto Vallarta. The ride is about 40 minutes, and the round-trip fare is about $25 U.S. Casa Pericos sends detailed instructions on arranging the water taxi when you book.