Tiny homes that are big on romance
Looking for a romantic couple’s getaway? Snuggle up with someone special in one of these perfectly proportioned Vrbos
When it comes to booking a romantic couple’s getaway—as with choosing Valentine’s Day gifts—it’s true that good things come in small packages. From tiny country cabin rentals to cute city pied-à-terres, we’ve found all sorts of special corners to slip away to together. Get back to nature in a national park, browse galleries on a cultural weekender, or unplug on an island escape… whatever trip you’re in the mood for, these petite properties will get your heart racing.
01
A slow-living Southern charmer on Tybee Island
Tybee Island, Georgia 
Sleeps 2
Siren & Seafarer Cottage might only be half an hour from Savannah, but it feels much further—especially when you’re in the swing bed in the screened porch overlooking Tybee Island’s saltwater marsh. True to the cottage’s name, you’ll find a mermaid over the king bed and seashell mirror in the bedroom, plus nautical touches in the living room, including paintings of ships and salty seamen. Outside, enjoy the natural surroundings on the complimentary kayaks and bikes, or hop in the golf cart to whizz down to Sea Wolf Tybee for oysters and cocktails. This is a siren call to a simpler life.
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02
A cool, cultural corner in Berlin
Berlin, Germany Sleeps 3
This doll-sized townhouse is squirrelled away in the leafy courtyard of an apartment block in the heart of Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. Originally built in the 1930s, it has recently been completely refurbished: The sleek white kitchen contrasts with the exposed brickwork, and a curving metal staircase leads up to the loft-style bedroom. You’re a five-minute walk to the U-Bahn to head to the Brandenburg Gate or Museum Island, but Prenzlauer Berg is ripe to explore, too. Walk the cobbled streets hopping between cool coffee shops, indie stores and funky bars—and don’t miss the KulturBrauerei, a 19th-century former brewery now home to concert halls and movie theaters.
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03
A big-skies silo by the mountains of Montana
Kalispell, Montana Sleeps 3
Three generations of the Clark family have grown crops here in the Flathead Valley, but a few years back, something else sprouted on their farm: five metal grain silos. They found them on another farm over the state line in Idaho and disassembled them piece by piece, ready to be reimagined as cozy retreats looking out onto the Montana mountains. The huge Flathead Lake is nearby for swimming, sailing or fishing, while the epic hiking of Glacier National Park is 40 minutes’ drive north. Back at base, kick off your boots around the campfire or stargaze from your bed beneath the Treasure State’s twinkling skies.
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04
A volcanic hideway in Hawaii
Pahoa, Hawaii Sleeps 3
Phoenix House rises from the ashes of the lava field at the base of the Kīlauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island. One of four active volcanoes on the island, Kīlauea has been erupting constantly since 1983, and you can see the steam rising where molten lava plunges into the Pacific just four miles away. The 450-square-foot interior of the off-grid property is cleverly simple yet supremely comfortable, letting your otherworldly surroundings take center stage. The owner also offers kundalini yoga classes and gong-bath sound-healing sessions, so you can fully feel the power of this elemental location.
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05
A secluded cliff house in the Colorado desert
Cortez, Colorado Sleeps 2
Part vacation home, part geological sanctuary, Cliff House is literally built into Sage Canyon, ancient sandstone bulging out of one wall of the living room like a sculptural work of art. The light casts a pink glow on the rock as the day shifts and the Milky Way blazes bright overhead after dark. There’s no TV inside (although there is fast WiFi and cell service) so instead watch bobcats and mountain lions from the cactus garden, discover thousand-year-old petroglyphs not far from the house, and head out into the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument to hike through striking rock formations and pueblo ruins.
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06
A cute countryside nook in Somerset
Nr Bath, England Sleeps 2
The Loft House is a stylish hideaway in the Somerset countryside, beautifully fitted out with a mix of mid-century finds and tactile textiles by its decorator owner. The two-story vacation home is attached to a Grade-II listed Georgian house in the pretty village of Hinton Charterhouse, with walks to cozy pubs and historic National Trust houses. It’s just a 15-minute drive to Bath, where sweeping, honey-stone crescents and Regency mansions are straight out of Bridgerton. Pick up a cardamom bun from Landrace Bakery, browse the bookshelves at Topping & Company, and tour the Roman Baths. This is easily England’s most romantic city.
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07
A cozy forest cabin by Lake Superior
Two Harbors, Minnesota Sleeps 4
Hidden among the trees on the fringes of the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, this wooden-clad cabin has knockout views of Lake Superior from the king bed slotted beneath a huge window. There are hypnotic vistas from the barrel sauna just outside, too, where you can warm tired muscles after hitting the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, a paved bike path that cruises past the house. While there are plenty of hiking and mountain-biking trails nearby, it’s just as easy to hole up together in the hammocks, or cozy up around the firepit beneath the string lights. This is your own little pocket of serenity.
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08
A place to soak beneath the stars in Victoria
Victoria, Australia Sleeps 2
In the foothills of the Grampians, the Nook on the Hill was lovingly built using repurposed materials including flooring from a high-school basketball court and the roof of an old Melbourne warehouse. This tiny house is just as big on spoiling as it is on sustainability though: A complimentary hamper is stuffed with local Blue Wren Bakery bread and Pomonal Estate wine, while an outdoor claw-foot bathtub overlooks the garden, planted with native Australian species. As the sun sets behind the hills, watch grey fantails swoop through the trees and throated treecreepers hop up the trunks. Pure escapism.
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Fiona Kerr
Writer
Fiona Kerr is a food-loving travel journalist and former features director at Condé Nast Traveller. Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Telegraph, Elle Decoration and The New York Times. When she gets to a new country, her first stop is usually the local supermarket.
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