Sometimes a vacation means more than just a chance to get out of town. Maybe you're looking for an extra spark to your relationship, or perhaps you're in need of the perfect place to celebrate an anniversary. There's a lot of pressure to find romantic getaways in just the right spot, and that's before cost comes into the equation; it can seem doubly difficult to find cheap vacations for couples that also hit the romantic bull's-eye.

With this in mind, we put together this roundup of the world's most romantic detinations—along with some budget-friendly ways to get you there—to help you out. Disagree with our picks? Let us know in the comments below.

1. Charleston, South Carolina

Stay at the Elliott House Inn or shop for more Charleston hotels here.

Why it's romantic: Peaceful waterfront setting, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a culinary scene worthy of a candlelight dinner—few places are more romantic than Charleston. South Carolina's largest city and perhaps America's most-historic setting, Charleston is rife with Federal- and Georgian-style mansions and original cobblestone streets. When you're here, it's easy to become convinced that your romance is as timeless as the palmetto trees lining the pathways.
Most romantic things to do: Forget about your diet and enjoy the city's scrumptious Lowcountry cuisine. Buttermilk biscuits, fried chicken, and shrimp 'n grits are all better aphrodisiacs than chocolate. Or spend some alone time walking the centuries-old gardens at Magnolia Plantation

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Stay at the Presidential Hotel Prague or find hotel and flight deals for Europe, Africa, and Oceania here.

Why it's romantic: Prague feels so intimate it's like you're being embraced as you walk the streets. This is especially true in Old Town, a tight patchwork of colorful buildings and archways on the east side of the Vltava River. Few roads stay straight for long, so be prepared to get a little lost, preferably during a nighttime walk to the riverbank, where you can see Prague Castle lit up in the distance.
Most romantic thing to do: Go to the top of Letná hill. Here, the whole city comes into view: bridges spanning the river, church domes and spires rising into the sky, and red, white, and blue Czech flags fluttering in the breeze.

3. Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Why it's romantic: Buenos Aires is sometimes called the "Paris of South America" for its wide, leafy boulevards, cosmopolitan spirit, and elegant cultural offerings. Another thing the two cities have in common: each one is no slouch in the romance department. Buenos Aires gives its European counterpart a run for its money when it comes to getting visitors in the mood for love, thanks to its dreamy architecture, picnic-friendly parks, and intimate restaurants serving Argentine beef and malbecs.
Most romantic thing to do: Buenos Aires is the hometown of the world's sexiest dance: the tango. Spend some time in one of the city's milongas filled with locals slinking and snaking across the floor, and we dare you not to get hot under the collar.

4. Fort Payne, Alabama

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Why it's romantic: Rural Alabama may not sound like one of the world's most romantic getaways, but it's a sneaky-great "get away from it all" destination. The scenery here is gorgeous thanks to the nearby Appalachian Mountains. Little River Canyon National Preserve is perfect for people who enjoy great views of nature but aren't up for the sort of hiking it usually takes to get to them.
Most romantic thing to do: Motor through the park's 11-mile scenic drive, which winds through a hilly forest, offering several lookouts where you can see waterfalls tumbling over cliffs and the river cutting through the canyon.

5. Cinque Terre, Italy

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Why it's romantic: One of the world's best vacation ideas for couples, Cinque Terre is a confederation of five neighboring villages on the breathtaking Italian Riviera. Multicolored rows of tiered buildings and lush vineyards line the coastal hillsides, which are populated with townspeople and business owners who go out of their way to be hospitable. Some hotels furnish their terraced patios with complimentary jugs of wine, setting the stage for moonlit discussions about life, love, and whatever else couples talk about.
Most romantic thing to do: After nursing hangovers with real-deal espresso in the morning, twosomes can work up a sweat hiking the forested, cliffside trails that connect the five towns before grabbing a bite at a seaside trattoria. Or you can always throw your itinerary to the wind and just lie out on one of the so-gorgeous-they-look-fake beaches dotting the area, too.

6. Saint Lucia

Stay at the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort or shop for other Caribbean deals here.

Why it's romantic: If you prefer your romantic couples getaways with a side of intimacy, you'll find the Caribbean island of St. Lucia enchanting. Sure it's beautiful, with mountainous rainforest and soft, sandy beaches that disappear beneath turquoise waves. But more important, it's quiet. Even the country's most iconic landmarks (two volcanic plugs known as the Pitons) aren't jam-packed with hikers vying for a photo op. You will, however, find dense clusters of ferns and wild orchids, and it's not uncommon to feel as though you have the entire trail to yourself. Très romantique.
Most romantic thing to do: Stroll hand-in-hand on the beach or explore the food markets in Castries, the capital city.

7. Monterey, California

Stay at Hotel Abrego or shop for more Monterey hotels here.

Why it's romantic: Located along the California coast, Monterey is the type of place where you can start your day with an early walk to the marina, where a chorus of gulls and sea lions will accompany elderly fishermen getting a jump on the day's catches. Your day can end with views of the sunset from Monterey's Pacific Coast beach. Does it get more romantic than that?
Most romantic thing to do: Sample California's best wines with an ocean view at a Taste of Monterey-Wine Market & Bistro. (And be sure to use our wine-tasting-for-two deal.)

8. Iceland

Check our all-inclusive deals to Europe for airfare and hotels to Iceland.

Why it's romantic: Though you'd likely fly into Reykjavik—a capital city full of charm—it's the journey along Iceland's Ring Road that'll steal your heart. You can trek across glaciers, hike along the seaside, and ride horses through sun-kissed fields against a mountainous backdrop. And since Iceland's population density is one of the lowest in the world, you might have these monumental landmarks all to yourself. Then all that's left is you and the one you love on top of the world (literally).

Most romantic thing to do: Going camping under the stars is always romantic. But in Iceland, you get the added bonus of lying underneath one of the planet's best spots to view the Aurora Borealis. Sit back in awe.

Photos of Little River Canyon National Preserve and Iceland courtesy of Joseph Wesley and Sarah Gorr, respectively.