A honeymoon to remember ought to be personal rather than hackneyed; a reflection of shared good taste. And if there’s one holiday people are going to ask you about, it’s this one. Here are some of the most exciting and adventurous honeymoon destinations we can think of – from Portugal to Japan via South Africa.
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Getty ImagesBORA BORA
Bora Bora in French Polynesia is well-known for its vast volcanic views, aquamarine lagoons and sieved-flour sand. Adding to the tropical bundle are the luxurious overwater villas that pepper the perimeter of the island, just offshore, and complete the textbook honeymoon image. In short, it’s a tried-and-tested formula that’s proved itself perfect for couples basking in the post-wedding glow (and fatigue).
Away from the crowds of other traditional honeymoon destinations such as Hawaii and the Caribbean, resorts here favour those on post-nuptial getaways and are known for pulling out all the stops. Expect private island picnics, intimate snorkelling excursions and elaborate spa packages.
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, Bora Bora is surrounded by sand-fringed Motus (islets) and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, making it a prime spot for scuba diving.
There are no direct flights to Bora Bora, but, with the most popular stopover en route being Los Angeles, see it as an opportunity to tack some green-juice-wielding Hollywood glamour onto your trip.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to go to Bora Bora is between November and April, when temperatures are still warm. The high season runs from May to October, and though rain showers become less frequent during this time, the number of visitors swell and rates rise.
WHERE TO STAY
The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora was recently voted one of the top 15 resorts in Australia and the South Pacific in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2021. As well as being loved by travellers the world over for its unrivalled collection of overwater bungalow suites, beachfront villas and fine dining options, it can also claim fame as the backdrop for several films over the past few decades.
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Getty ImagesNAPA VALLEY
Straying from the traditional biscuit-hued beaches of a more ‘traditional’ honeymoon, Napa Valley ties together a European feel with Californian climes and a bucolic pace. Known for its hundreds of hillside vineyards, the wine country of the USA is a food-focused getaway that can easily be paired with the urban buzz of San Francisco or the rugged expanse of the Big Sur.
And when you’re not sipping world-class sauvignon blanc (the region is famous for it) with views across the valley, there are a string of enchanting towns to meander at leisure, including Calistoga (well-known for its hot springs and mud baths) and St. Helena (home to Beringer Vineyard – considered the oldest continually operating winery in the Valley).
In the middle sits Yountville, famed for its high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, while a more low-key dining experience can be enjoyed at Oxbow Public Market in Downtown Napa itself.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Napa is August through October or March through May.
WHERE TO STAY
A place that feels as though it was plucked straight from the heart of rural France and dropped into the middle of the dramatic Californian landscape, the five-star Auberge du Soleil is an adults-only hotel nestled within a terraced, sun-kissed hillside.
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Luc Brousseau / Alamy Stock PhotoST. KITTS
When it comes to honeymoon destinations, St. Kitts (and her sister island, Nevis) is often overlooked in favour of some of the Caribbean’s more eminent islands, offering those who choose to shun some of the bigger names a quieter, often more affordable, getaway. The island’s laid-back vibe is immediately infectious and the rainforest-coated mountains invite immersive day trips that lead visitors along a path that feels much less trodden.
Famous for its white, grey, and black sand beaches and volcanic terrain that offers memorable hiking scenery, St. Kitts is also home to freshwater pools for forest bathing and Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which was built in the 18th century and has panoramic Caribbean views.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit St. Kitts is between May and June, when hotels lower their rates. However, during peak season – December to April – the island hosts a six-week carnival.
WHERE TO STAY
The Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour on Banana Bay houses spacious rooms and suites (ideal if you don’t plan on stepping outside it very much), contemporary architecture and unobstructed views across the Caribbean Sea.
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Steve Murray / Alamy Stock PhotoST LUCIA
St Lucia and its sky-piercing Pitons have long been a favourite of honeymooners looking to pair bare-foot luxury with the opportunity to explore a rich tapestry of history and culture. Dive sites are teeming with marine life, natural harbours (like that of Marigot Bay) carved into the island create ample opportunity for wonder and the hiking is second-to-none (Trails in the interior rainforest lead to waterfalls like the 15m-high Toraille, which pours over a cliff into a garden). Castries, the lively capital, has an eternally bustling market and Pigeon Island, now no longer estranged from the mainland, will enchant history lovers with its tales of the colonial era and fort remains.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Saint Lucia is between February and May, when rain showers are almost non-existent.
WHERE TO STAY
Sugar Beach sits on a former sugar plantation sandwiched between the Pitons and certainly wins the award for the most immersed hotel on the island. A forest spa with treehouse treatment gazebos completes the romantic experience.
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Getty ImagesTAHITI
Soaring peaks, tranquil lagoons and crystalline waters have drawn honeymooners to Tahiti’s South Pacific shores for years. More remote than islands of similar stature, the off-grid appeal helps to add to the feeling of being fully immersed in island life. Shaped like a figure of eight (or an infinity symbol if you want to get romantic, which of course we do), Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, with black-sand beaches and two extinct volcanoes among its charming collection of rugged scenery. Though relatively unexplored by British tourists, those who do venture here rave about Papenoo Valley, in the heart of the island, with its luxuriant jungles and string of waterfalls, perfect for cooling off in after a warm-weather hike.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Tahiti is between June and August when the climate is at its driest and the weather is balmy.
WHERE TO STAY
Not all hotels can boast a natural aquarium, but the InterContinental Tahiti Resort can. With lush gardens, views across the volcanic peaks of Moorea Island and an overwater gourmet restaurant, this five-star hotel is a safe pair of hands for any couple looking to push the boat out.
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Getty ImagesLOS CABOS
Just an extra little nudge away from the United States, Mexico is a long-loved honeymoon destination in its entirety. However, Los Cabos, located on the very tip of the Baja California Peninsula, is a particularly entrancing stop for recently-espoused lovers. Between December and March, whale watching is firmly on the agenda, though the rich tapestry of marine life here is on hand all year-round (think: sea lions, turtles and myriad tropical fish). The area comprises two old towns, San Lucas and San José del Cabo, linked by a 32km corridor of beach-front properties and championship golf courses. Secluded? No. Romantic? Yes.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Los Cabos is from May to June, and after October once the bigger rain showers have passed.
WHERE TO STAY
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal has continually cropped up in our Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, and it’s easy to see why. Mediterranean village vibes, paired with a rustic beach and elevated Mexican details combine to create a truly heady atmosphere.
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Getty ImagesJAMAICA
Known as the ‘birthplace of reggae,’ a honeymoon in Jamaica is certainly not going to be a quiet one. But in place of a sleepy atmosphere is a vibrant tapestry that envelops travellers in a landscape that is just as colourful and rich as its culture. Tree-cloaked mountains, vast rainforests, meandering rivers and fish-fringed reefs are all open to exploration during your time here, while the manmade side, with many historic plantations, where you can sample tropical fruits and tour the grand great houses, offering its perspective of the island. It’s worth touring around during your trip as each area offers its take on island life: lively Montego Bay (the country’s capital city) is one of the most popular resort towns, while Ocho Rios is the island’s major port, and Negril is famous for its long, languishing beach, trimmed by coconut palms.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Jamaica is from November to early December — hurricane season has ended, and the hotels and restaurants are all open, but you’ll be able to enjoy the island without the high volume of visitors that arrive in mid-December.
WHERE TO STAY
The Trident Hotel sits just outside of Port Antonio on Jamaica’s wilder Northeastern coast and offers villa-only accommodation, an intimate feel and a private, protected lagoon just beyond your infinity pool.
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Getty ImagesARUBA
For those yearning to be marooned on a desert island but who perhaps can’t quite hack an off-grid lifestyle, Aruba is the ideal honeymoon destination. Having long-lured loved-up travellers to its clear jade waters, the Caribbean islet is within easy reach of the United States, enjoys more predictable weather than its neighbours and, due to the year-round arid climate, offers crystal clear viewing conditions underwater (perfect for anyone wanting to explore the peppering of shipwrecks that lie just offshore). UTV tours are popular here, often involving an opportunity for cliff-diving as you explore the more rocky rubble of the island’s Northeastern side, while animal-lovers will enjoy the focus on caring for nature here, from the butterfly farm to the animal sanctuary.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit Aruba is between April and August when the island hits a sweet spot of more affordable rates paired with good weather.
WHERE TO STAY
The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba offers, among a smorgasbord of luxury amenities, direct access to a private pristine beach, an adults-only pool and an expansive spa that puts focus on using indigenous ingredients like aloe.
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Getty ImagesSOUTH AFRICA
A popular destination to mix and match with one of the sleepier Indian OceanIslands, South Africa merits inclusion on our best honeymoon destinations list all on its own. Known worldwide for its Big Game safaris (hello, eco-friendly lodges and infinity pools that double as water holes for the surrounding wildlife), the rest of the country is equally as fascinating, from the bustling V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, lorded over by the flat-topped Table Mountain, to the vine-woven valleys of the Winelands onto the penguin spotting at Boulders Bay (though colonies can be found from southern Namibia around the South African coast to Port Elizabeth). Many honeymooners hire a car, or better yet, a private tour guide, and head down to the Garden Route or Route 62 along the Western Cape.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit South Africa is from May to September, especially if you plan to head out on safari, as the cooler winter months in the northern regions conjure ideal conditions for viewing big game.
WHERE TO STAY
Though the country offers myriad privately-owned guest houses and lodges that all boast their unique charm, the One&Only Cape Town is somewhat of an institution among honeymooners here. Holding a prime position on the city’s lively harbourside, the hotel is framed by the majestic peak of Table Mountain, which makes for pretty magical viewing at sundown.
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Getty ImagesAMALFI COAST
Closer to home but with the promise of ethereal charm, Italy’s Amalfi Coast is widely considered one of the world’s most breathtaking coastlines, beloved for its chocolate box towns, white-washed villages and the shimmering MediterraneanSea. You’ll be hard-pressed to find one spot here that isn’t a photo opportunity, but the Amalfi is much more than the sum of its biscuit-hued beaches and hidden coastal caves. This romantic area offers a slower pace of life, and easy charm that lulls even the most highly-strung newlyweds (table planning will do that to any couple) into a pervading calm. Dotted with forests, mountains, small fishing villages and ample opportunity for island-hopping, it’s not hard to see how this no-stress destination makes it onto the list of best honeymoon destinations. For maximum romance, rent a vintage, open-top car and drive yourselves around the 50km stretch of road between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento, winding past grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is in the spring and fall, specifically May and September.
WHERE TO STAY
Nestling in one of the most beautiful corners of the Amalfi Coast, Hotel Santa Caterina is well-known, and loved, for its beach club. The late 19th-century liberty-style villa has a seawater pool and a view from the lofty rock face it sits on that is second to none.
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Oliver PilcherITALY
Ah, Italy! The home of romance! Where to start? Amalfi, where the light makes your heart sing, and the vertiginous mountain road leads from one beauty spot to another? Tuscany, where the sunshine bathes the hills and your lover in its golden haze? Puglia, for quieter beaches and great food; the Italian Lakes, which feel like another era altogether, and that most eternal of romantic destinations, Venice (though never in August)…
Then there are the Italian islands: Sardinia, with its unbelievably turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of the Costa Smeralda; Capri and lesser-known Ischia, which has sandy beaches and hot springs. And don’t forget Sicily. True, you don’t get the chi-chi lidos and it’s a bit more rough-and-ready – but for some couples, that’s exactly where the appeal lies; plus the beaches are great and the Baroque cities simply enchanting. And Italy has some of the world’s most romantic hotels.
WHEN TO GO
Summers are beautiful but more crowded – visit Tuscany in autumn, when the landscape turns golden, or plan a spring trip to Venice.
WHERE TO STAY
Check into Santa Caterina on the Amalfi Coast, the hotel with the best views in the area, or at Le Sirenuse in Positano. In Venice, stay at Ca Maria Adele, a 16th-century palazzo. And in Tuscany, we recommend Borgo Santo Pietro, 13th-century villa.
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Jenny ZarinsTHE MALDIVES
If you have visions of yourselves lazing in hammocks in your over-water villa, while your butler brings you a martini by boat, then the Maldives is the honeymoon destination for you.
Every year the resorts of the Maldives out-do each other with increasingly opulent and romantic experiences – candlelit dinners for two on your own private sandbank; rambling wooden suites on stilts out to sea, which can only be accessed by boat. The only difficult decision you’ll have to make is choosing the right island to suit you. Almost all of them offer the kind of dreamy, laid-on-luxury holiday fit for a honeymoon, surrounded by the bluest of blue scenery that never, ever loses its sparkle.
WHEN TO GO
Go for a hit of winter sun between November and April.
WHERE TO STAY
Some of our favourites include the designer good looks mixed with relaxed boho vibes at Joali, and Soneva Jani, a dazzling hangout that has some of the biggest villas with huge private pools.
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Jenny ZarinsGREECE
There’s something so utterly captivating about Greece and the Greek islands. The simple beauty, the rich history and mythology, the scrubby wildernesses scented with wildflowers, the perfect clash of blue and white. All that light! Dazzling on little whitewashed church domes and fishermen’s cottages built into the rock. And the unbelievable blue of the sea and the skies in long, hot summers that seem to last most of the year.
How remote do you want to be? Hundreds of islands, their names like gods and monsters – the Cyclades, the Ionians; Thassos and Zakinthos and Spetses – each with their own distinct character. One of the most photogenic of them is Santorini, a honeymooner’s paradise. It is absurdly beautiful, but thanks to the natural amphitheatre of its caldera, anyone staying in the whitewashed villages that tumble down its steep hillsides gets an uninterrupted view of the volcano and the deepest blue sea. At sunset the setting sun paints the villages pink and honey-gold.
WHEN TO GO
Spring or early summer will be sunny without too many crowds, while most of the islands stay warm well into autumn, too.
WHERE TO STAY
In our round-up of the most romantic Greek islands, we name some of the loveliest hotels for couples.
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Getty ImagesTOKYO, JAPAN
Call it the capital of good taste. Foodies, drinks snobs, design buffs and culture nuts: you’ve found Shangri-La. More Michelin stars than any other city. (Yep, Paris comes second – and by a stretch.) Architecture doubles for art, from those all-glass Prada and Dior stores to Tadao Ando’s minimalist-concrete shopping mall, Omotesando Hills. Mixologists blend craft cocktails with laser precision at intimate 10-seater bars; sumo wrestlers scuffle in stadiums and kabuki performers peacock around theatres. Narrow back streets bristle with slow-drip coffee bars, indie fashion boutiques, traditional tatami workshops and eighth-generation noodle counters. Everything artisanal, long before it was cool. And then, when that’s quite enough sophistication, neon-soaked thoroughfares thrum with restaurants staffed by robots and cafés filled with goats.
WHEN TO GO
Sunny days and autumn colours in October and November lend a certain romance.
WHERE TO STAY
Aman Tokyo is the most spoiling stay in the city.
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Getty ImagesCOSTA RICA
Known for its steamy cloud forests, gorgeous surf beaches and multicoloured wildlife, this country is the stuff of travel legend. Those looking to indulge should look no further than Peninsula Papagayo. Think of it as your own exclusive corner of Costa Rica: 21 powder-soft beaches, eight miles of scenic sea cliffs and 600 square miles of protected rainforest and mangroves to explore. There’s also a team of expert naturalists to help guests tailor adventures into the wilderness, from paddling through bioluminescent plankton to mountain-biking rainforest trails. Swiftly followed by some serious poolside cabana time, of course – you wouldn’t want to work up too much of a sweat.
WHEN TO GO
January and February fall comfortably within the dry season, and all but guarantee perfect beach weather.
WHERE TO STAY
This magnificent private stretch of 1,400 acres on the Pacific coast has just two hotels – a Four Seasons and an Andaz – and a handful of Four Seasons villas.
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Alamy ImagesCOMPORTA, PORTUGAL
Chic and discreet, Comporta is the back-to-nature, beach-shack type of exclusive: a pristine idyll that’s drawn everyone from Louboutin to Sarkozy. It is only an hour’s drive from Lisbon, on Portugal’s blustery west coast, and the strict preservation laws and stewardship by an elite banking group have been key to keeping it spotless and secluded. Singular scenery ranges across bright-green rice fields, scented cork forests and 12km of thrillingly elemental beaches, all icing-sugar sand and thundering surf. Endlessly compared to pre-fame Ibiza or St Tropez, it’s in fact far less glitzy – and better for it. Kick off your flip-flops for sunset dining at a handful of unshowy restaurants on sun-bleached boardwalks, icy jugs of white sangria aside fresh, garlic-steeped clams and coriander-spiked local arroz.
WHEN TO GO
Still warm but less crowded in shoulder seasons: April to May or September to October.
WHERE TO STAY
Villa rentals help embed guests in the good life here, or else there’s the sublime Casas Na Areia, a minimalist beachfront hideaway with sand-floor sitting rooms and thatched roofs – modish enough to get a shout-out on Goop.
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Getty ImagesPERU
Bagging that bucket list trip to Machu Picchu needn’t mean slogging your way along the Inca Trail unshowered for a week. There are ways to do the Sacred Valley in style. For one: Belmond’s spectacular Andean Explorer train, which rumbles through the Andes, past Lake Titicaca and onto Cusco, with a spa to help couples wind down from all that frenetic wedding-day energy, and no end of Pisco Sours in the dining car.
WHEN TO GO
Visit in the dry season – May to October – for the best chance of clear, cloudless views, but do try to avoid the crowded peak season (June, July and August).
WHERE TO STAY
In Cusco, hop off to venture into the countryside and stay at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection retreat with a private train station from where you will be whisked straight to the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. It also has elegant supper options, an indoor/outdoor pool, and 360-degree mountain views. Perfect for a sexy splash of adventure.
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Øivind HaugDEPLAR FARM, ICELAND
Yes, yes, Iceland is the destination du jour – the number of visitors has rocketed threefold in the past five years or so. But you won’t see many folks in the far north’s Troll Peninsula. A rugged hinterland of emerald valleys, snow-cloaked mountains and chilled teal waters, it’s just as otherworldly as it sounds. Deplar Farm is the isolated, high-spec lodge at the heart of it: formerly an actual farm and now a 13-suite stunner with a living grass-covered roof, indoor-outdoor geothermal pool (a hell of a place to see the Northern Lights) and a spa with isopod flotation tanks, it offers the ultimate in de-stressing calm. But the end-of-the-world epicness isn’t just for looking at – this adventure is hands-on. Heli-skiing offers runs that literally no one on Earth has skied before, stretching from peak to sea; summertime spells fat-biking untouched mountain trails. Honeymooning on a remote island? Ha. Deplar Farm is another planet.
WHEN TO GO
You’re most likely to see the Northern Lights between October and February.
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Getty ImagesCARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
Time was Colombia would have been a less obvious honeymoon destination. But Caribbean-side Cartagena’s deep-rooted romance has proven irresistible, helping tourism to grow more than an incredible 300 per cent in the past 12 years. The old, walled town woos with sun-yellow colonial villas and cathedrals, balconies with billowing bougainvillea, and slow ambles through cobbled streets to arcaded squares. But it also bubbles with a contemporary energy, brought by freshly experimental kitchens (now rivalling Lima’s), and a savvy fashion crowd drawn to the colourful brew of old and new. Beyond the old-town walls, glitzy Bocagrande beckons with swimming beaches and upscale bistros; at Donjuán, chef Juan Felipe Camacho fuses Basque and Colombian flavours, influenced by years at Michelin-starred San Sebastian restaurants. (President Juan Manuel Santos is a vocal fan.) Things get steamier still in late-night salsa bars, or an hour’s boat ride away at the protected Rosario Islands – ideal for a castaway canoodle.
WHEN TO GO
January to March, when an evening sea breeze dials down humidity.
WHERE TO STAY
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THE SEYCHELLES
The Seychelles archipelago is the ultimate castaway-island fantasy. It’s out-of-this-world beautiful, the archetypal Indian Ocean paradise: palm-fringed beaches shelving gently into a dreamy-turquoise sea. And there’s a romantic wildness to it which certain others lack; the islands of the Seychelles are less groomed; there’s adventure to be had and curious wildlife – a wildlife so rich it is comparable to the Galápagos – to be found among its virgin forest and coral reefs. It’s not hard to happen upon a beach where you can leave the first pairs of meandering tracks in the powder-white sand.
WHEN TO GO
May to October – perfectly timed for the wedding season – when the trade winds blow in refreshingly cool, dry weather. Temperatures are fairly constant year-round at 24-31ºC, though certain islands have their own microclimates, so check first.
WHERE TO STAY
Stay at North Island, the super-natural, ultra-private island where William and Kate (reportedly) spent their honeymoon. Or on Frégate Island Private, where you get a glamorous desert-island experience complete with yacht club, and 16 grand teak villas.
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Rex FeaturesMAURITIUS
Mauritius is the Indian Ocean paradise with a pulse. No fear of getting bored here; this spice island has incredible national parks; its interior soars up into mountain ranges, where tropical forests harbour amazing wildlife; and it has an astonishingly rich coastline and marine parks to explore, by boat or underwater (watersports are quite the thing here). The neighbouring islands of Réunion and Rodrigues offer their own riches – and feel off-the-beaten-track even by Mauritian standards; while hundreds of tiny islets dotted around the coastlines three have breathtaking scenery
It’s not just about the beaches, but the beaches are superb. And if that’s the kind of holiday you want – to lie on a cabana and be handed cocktails on the hour, every – Mauritius is the place for it. Many beachfront resorts here tend towards high-octane glamour; but it is also possible to find under-the-radar, more laid-back places to stay to suit independent travellers.
WHEN TO GO
June-September. The cool winter, when temperatures average around a balmy 20ºC, runs through June, July, August, September. Perfect for a post-summer-wedding de-stress.
WHERE TO STAY
Stay at One&Only Le Saint Geran, with its whitewashed villas and swaying palms.
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FRENCH POLYNESIA
Surely there is nowhere more exotic and far-flung than Polynesia, the islands of the South Seas. Thousands of miles from anywhere, Fiji is a castaway fantasy: empty beaches washed by spectacular surf, waterfalls splashing into deep green pools in the jungle, blue lagoons where couples can swim alone amid shoals of rainbow-coloured fish – Blue Lagoon was actually filmed here, as was Cast Awayand, less romantically, Shipwrecked. But those who wash up here get a warm welcome, smiley locals proffering hibiscus flowers.
Fiji is made up of hundreds of islands, and no small number of them have been turned into private-island resorts. Laid-on luxury, no-expense-spared resorts, or stylish eco-lodges where nature is king – and the best are a mix of both. Set sail for a dreamy honeymoon with a conscience.
WHEN TO GO
May-November. Fiji has a warm and wet tropical climate all year round, though from May until November the temperatures drop and there is less rain.
WHERE TO STAY
For the ultimate castaway adventure, stay at The Brando, French Polynesia, an elegant, low-impact hideout.
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Getty ImagesBALI, INDONESIA
Land of pirates, and dragons, of a million islands, misty, mythical mountainous stacks. Land, too, of some of the most beautiful places to stay in the world – and most of them are on Bali. It seems almost unfair, just how many heavenly hotels Bali has; and still more keep opening. Those deep-green infinity pools, jungle-cloaked and inviting, so classy after all that ubiquitous turquoise.
Yet however many five-star hotels open up, Bali is no homogenized island resort. It’s a magical, spiritual place, which manages to retain its authenticity and culture, as well as its unspoilt beaches and green tropical landscapes. And there are places to stay for all budgets from backpacker beach-huts (full-moon parties can be found) to super-sexy designer retreats.
WHEN TO GO
Dry season is April to September, although July and August are the busiest months. A visit in spring or autumn will be quieter.
WHERE TO STAY
Como Shambhala Estate is the most relaxing spa in Bali’s hinterland.
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CARIBBEAN
Beaches around the world are compared to the Caribbean, but nowhere, really, is quite like the Caribbean. Limpid, pale-blue sea through which you can see your toes, wiggling in the shell-pink sand, angelfish flashing around your ankles. In the evening the sun falls fast and lights the sky up electric pink, orange, red.
Of course, all this is no secret; and nothing bursts the just-married bubble like a sunset buffet with a dozen other newlyweds.
So to escape the crowds, seek out the quieter corners – the rustic, rum-shack Caribbean that’s chilled out and still rough around the edges. Or head for one of its exclusive private islands, where the beaches are straight out of Treasure Island and you can stroll the empty shoreline.
WHEN TO GO
For winter sun, visit from December to April.
WHERE TO STAY
Cobblers Cove in Barbados is on the prettiest hotels in all of the Caribbean.
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PA PhotosSCOTLAND
From June to August, when Santorini and St Lucia are swarming with brides hot in their frothy frocks, when every terrace in Venice and Ravello is clinking with newlyweds, Scotland might very well be the smart choice for honeymooners.
True, Edinburgh in August is full of festival mayhem. But beyond the capital: miles and mountainous miles of astoundingly beautiful landscapes, some of Britain’s loveliest beaches – on sunny days compared to those of the Caribbean – and the sweet rivers and murmuring streams of Burns’s love poems brought to life. And how many places in the world are just as spectacular in winter, even while stormclouds roll across gigantic skies?
WHEN TO GO
In August, when the weather is fair for exploring.
WHERE TO STAY
Stay at the arty Fife Arms in Braemar, or maybe Perthshire’s Gleneagles, the most famous hotel in Scotland.
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Getty ImagesZANZIBAR
The spice islands of Tanzania – Zanzibar, Pemba, Chole, Mafia – are the stuff of fantasy. Extraordinarily clear, blue waters and remote white-sand beaches, empty but for a salt-harvesting local in the distance, perhaps; or a single pair of sunloungers set out just for you.
Here you can really go off-radar. And these islands are but drops in the ocean compared with the vast wildernesses of the rest of the country. Tanzania is a giraffe’s head and shoulders above other countries when it comes to wildlife and landscapes: the highest mountains; the greatest lakes; a quarter of it given over to national parks and game reserves, thrumming with great numbers of birds and beasts.
So it’s no wonder that the bush-and-beach honeymoon is becoming increasingly popular – two weeks or more, split between two or more of Tanzania’s extraordinary lodges, from the plains to the coast. Two out-of-this-world honeymoons in one.
WHEN TO GO
July to March. Avoid the rainy season from April to June.
WHERE TO STAY
Check into Zuri Zanzibar for a socially-aware, blissed out beach break.
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Getty ImagesNAMIBIA, AFRICA
It’s an adventurous choice for sure, but with 300 days of sunshine a year, an other-worldly expanse of desert and some of the best wildlife on the planet, it’s a great choice. Untouched stretches of coast, wind-sculpted sand dunes, ethereal salt planes and a sparse population make one thing obvious: here, there is space. This year, some of that space is set to be filled by a flock of ambitious hoteliers. Arnaud Zannier’s eponymous hotel group is opening two new spots: the Windhhoek region’s Omaanda property will consist of ten traditional thatched-roof rondavels, equipped with mod-cons as well as African antiques, and Sonop, a highly-anticipated tented camp in the southern part of the Namib desert. Meanwhile, Hoanib Valley Camp is situated in one of the country’s most remote environments where you can spend the days tracking desert-adapted elephants and endangered rhinos. Villa Violet, a comfortable guesthouse with lemon trees in the garden, tops our current list of where to stay. Read about it in The Last King of Scotland author Giles Foden’s account of his adventures in Namibia. By Anna Prendergast
WHEN TO GO
June to October is best for seeing game and catching the sun, but pack for colder nights as temperatures can drop to as low as 1° C.
Pictured above, Fish River Cynyon in Namibia.
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MIAVANA, MADAGASCAR
Over 1,000km off the east coast of southern Africa, what Madagascar lacks in accessibility it makes up for with its unique wildlife. The island’s native lemurs, of which more than 100 species exist, will leave you as wide-eyed as the primates themselves. But take a short helicopter ride from Diego Suarez in the north of the country to Nosy Ankao and you’ll find Miavana. The country’s first super-smart eco lodge arrived in May 2017, delivering a conservation-first approach with utter privacy (away from even the most invasive zoom lenses). Backed by Time + Tide’s Thierry Dalais (who sold William and Kate’s Seychelles honeymoon destination North Island in 2010), Miavana was built with similar priorities in mind. In an effort to sustain the island’s fragile ecosystem, local staff are employed as much as possible and architecture blends in with its natural surroundings – even the pale stone used for all the buildings came from a family-owned quarry on Madagascar. Despite the island’s eco-conscious approach, this hotel is extravagant too. Stay in one of 14 enormous, mid-century-modern beachfront villas, complete with private pool. And make the most of the island, which is part of a protected marine area, with deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, whale and dolphin watching, or walk on Miavana’s wild side with lemur safaris and turtle-spotting. By Anna Prendergast
WHEN TO GO
Avoid the wet season (between November and April) which can involve cyclones and storms.
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Getty ImagesLITTLE KAROO, SOUTH AFRICA
Like many creative bohemias (think Big Sur or Hudson Valley), South Africa’s Little Karoo is an accessible wilderness, a few hours’ drive from Cape Town but satisfyingly off-map and gathered in the pleats of many a spectacular – and steep – inland mountain pass. And where the Mother City is today a hive of commercial hipsterdom (see the V&A Waterfront and its spanking-new Zeitz MOCAA art museum), Little Karoo remains all understated cool. See spa town Montagu’s farm-fresh barns-turned-restaurants and quirky Barrydale, where road-trippers eat diner-style burgers amid neon signage and rusting petrol pumps, and design studios forge art from rubbish dumps. Best of all, you’re driving on Cape Route 62 – the Garden Route’s quieter, cooler counterpart.
WHEN TO GO
Dodge extreme temperatures in milder autumn and spring.
WHERE TO STAY
There’s a Big Five fix at Singapore-sized private wildlife reserve Sanbona.
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Getty ImagesARAVALLI HILLS, INDIA
This spring, Indian officials announced their intention to double tourist inflow to the country within three years. Say a prayer for Rajasthan, already the most popular region, with a boggling 35 million visitors a year. You could join the masses on its well-worn Jaipur-Jodhpur-Udaipur trail. Or retreat to the Aravalli Hills, a remote mountain range bisecting the state and an hour’s drive from Jaipur but a world away from its frenzy. Stay at Alila’s spectacular Fort Bishangarh – it is centuries old and appears to grow out of the granite hill it crowns, its 360-degree views taking in empty valleys and faraway hills. Or head to Brahmin-blue Bundi, a quiet version of Jodhpur, all narrow alleys and toting its very own hillside palace.
WHEN TO GO
Winter offers more manageable temperatures, from October to March.
WHERE TO STAY:
Up the ante at Jawai Leopard Camp, outside Udaipur, where you’ll track big cats before retiring to one of just 10 air-conditioned luxury tents. It’s Rajasthan, but not as you know it. And once you do know it, you keep it to yourself.
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Rex FeaturesNIHI SUMBA, INDONESIA
Don’t call it ‘the new Bali’. That’s exactly what Chris Burch, Tory Burch co-founder and owner of this far-flung surfie retreat, doesn’t want. Sumba Island might be bigger than its famous cousin, but it’s harder to get to, and thus – as the sign welcoming guests to Nihi says – ‘the edge of wilderness’. A lost world of jungle villages, gushing waterfalls and ‘Occy’s Left’, a wave that plunges any surfer worth their sea salt into a misty-eyed trance at the mere mention. It’s not only a revered wave but exclusive – Nihi limits access to just 10 surfers per day. When guests aren’t riding their own private ripple walls, they’re blissing out in one of the retreat’s 27 grass-thatch and teak villas. Utterly secluded, with their own gardens and plunge pools, they’re found everywhere from hilltops to jungle to beach, even up in the trees. And how many hotels have their own chocolate factory? Life at Nihi Sumba is certainly sweet.
WHEN TO GO
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Getty ImagesMNEMBA ISLAND, TANZANIA
It’s no secret Zanzibar is among the most drop-dead gorgeous destinations in the Indian Ocean. But a recent burst of splashy openings – a Park Hyatt in Stone Town; Per Aquum’s refresh of Essque Zalu on the main island’s east coast – means more people are making an effort to see for themselves. There is one place you can have a personal piece of this barefoot haven, however. At &Beyond’s private, 1.5km-circumference Mnemba Island, just 12 palm-frond, beachside bandas, accommodating a maximum of 24 guests, facing an impossibly pure lagoon. Each banda sports Afro-rustic interiors (lots of rattan, wood and reeds), a large veranda and private beach sala (pavilion) with a ceiling fan, daybeds and bar. The smattering of guests can scuba-dive with whale sharks, take a dhow cruise, watch out for the island’s green turtle hatchlings – or do nothing at all. This is your private Zanzibar kingdom: it’s your call.
WHEN TO GO
Savvy travellers pick the quieter ‘short dry season’ from January to February.
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Getty ImagesJOSHUA TREE, CALIFORNIA
There’s always been a rock ’n’ roll magic about Joshua Tree. But today, LAcreatives tired of city chatter are increasingly decamping to the region’s dusty desert towns, bringing a new, artsy vitality to the Mojave’s spare and bewitching landscape. Driving down empty two-lane highways, you’d never guess just how much there is to explore. Like Noah Purifoy’s 7.5-acre junk sculpture park, or 1950s sci-fi structure the Integratron, originally intended as a time machine but now the go-to spot for a healing sound bath. (Book ahead – it gets full.) Look the part with a quick trip to boutiques like Hoof & The Horn, its racks stacked with High Desert aesthetics – 1970s boho with a little gypsy, a little Old West. Then drinks and dinner with locals at Pappy & Harriet’s, a tiny saloon where the likes of Paul McCartney and Arctic Monkeys have played surprise sets. A dreamy meeting of hip and hippie, legends and leading edges… and the very definition of California cool.
WHEN TO GO
The soft autumn light in October and November gives things a magical glow.
WHERE TO STAY
At Sands Hotel & Spa in Palm Springs.
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ShutterstockSONG SAA, CAMBODIA
The original vision for this intimate resort, set over two tiny private islands in Cambodia’s remote Koh Rong archipelago, involved a starry Bangkok designer and a big-name hotel brand. But the decision by Australian owners Rory and Melita Hunter to pare things back paid off. The chic simplicity of their independent hideaway, a 45-minute speedboat ride from party port city Sihanoukville, is considered by many to be the last word in Asian tropical luxe. All 27 thatched villas, decked out in reclaimed driftwood, have plunge pools and private decks; some are tucked into jungle, others stand over gin-clear shallows on stilts. But it’s the authentic connection to Cambodian culture that truly stands out. Sweet staff come from local village Prek Svay; the overwater restaurant serves traditional, locally sourced cuisine; Buddhism-influenced spa treatments, split into themes of ‘stillness’, ‘healings’ and ‘blessings’, feature ingredients from the surrounding landscape and are performed at several al-fresco ‘spa sanctuaries’ hidden in the islands’ nooks. Sure, Cambodia has been touted ‘the new Thailand’ for years. But, in 2018, both Six Senses and Alila open their own corners of Cambodian paradise, bringing the prophecy closer. Song Saa’s quiet subtlety will cut through the noise.
WHEN TO GO
Dry season is from November to April.
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Getty ImagesMALLORCA
This Balearic beauty’s more glamorous side has always been an A-lister secret – it’s the sort of place you’ll find Kate Moss sipping sangria in a honey-hued, stone-hewn hilltop village, or Michael Douglas wandering his vineyard on a remote coastal cliffside, and all at a suitably refined distance from the better-known, built-up resorts. Sure, the island’s super-chic starring role in BBC hit The Night Manager might have tipped more people off to its smarter pleasures, but a honeymoon here still promises glorious seclusion: Mallorca has more than 260 beaches, many of them tucked into secret coves, so you and your amor are all but guaranteed a private roll-around in the surf. Plus, along with the dreamy scenery – sweeping white-sand crescents, pine-peppered cliffs, golden citadels – there are some seriously out-of-this-world hotels.
WHEN TO GO
Avoid the stiflingly hot and busy summer months and opt for the serene seclusion of shoulder season: May and September temperatures average around 22°C.
WHERE TO STAY
Finca Serena, a white-washed spa sanctuary, is spread across 40 hectares of orchards and farmland; Cap Rocat, a former fortress turned private retreat, is set on the coast; and Predi Son Jaumell, a forested 16th-century estate, has a Michelin-starred restaurant, aromatic gardens and yoga classes.
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Getty ImagesSLOVENIA
Verdant wine regions and Venetian villages; fairy-tale castles and sparkling marinas: romance is sewn into Slovenia’s fabric – you can even cycle a heart-shaped road in its Špičnik winelands. The country’s name has ‘love’ in it, for goodness sake. Compact enough to explore widely, yet varied enough to thrill at every turn, Slovenia has been hailed the best of Europe in miniature, with its snow-capped mountains, Adriatic coastlines, cobbled old towns and teal-green Alpine lakes. But this enchanted land won’t remain the continent’s best-kept secret: its selection as the European Region of Gastronomy 2021 speaks to a new excitement buzzing around the farm-to-table food scene. A raft of freshly sophisticated offerings such as Pikol Lake Village, where floating wooden villas sit amid the Brda vineyards and are served by a dedicated Michelin-approved restaurant, are opening too. When it’s time to turn in, you can go big at Hotel Gredič, a castle with a Champagne temple, or understated at Hiša Franko, where Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms and renowned Slovenian chef Ana Ros has her restaurant.
WHEN TO GO
Autumn brings the harvest – ideal for food and wine fans – and vibrant colours.
WHERE TO STAY:
Go off-the-charts indulgent at Chocolate Village for riverside glamping on the site of an organic chocolate factory. Or – it’s your honeymoon, after all – all three.
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Getty ImagesVIENNA
The Austrian capital is the ultimate in cultured luxury; an urban honeymoon destination steeped in old-world romance. This is a place for waltzing across shining marble, with neoclassical palaces lining leafy boulevards, opulent Renaissance-style opera houses and coffee shops that are less salvaged wood, more crystal chandeliers. It’s strolling arm-in-arm by the Danube and stealing kisses in stately courtyards. Where you might spend your days floating around art galleries and evenings hogging the best seats at the ballet. Better still, the city has its own urban vineyards, where you can try a crisp white among the vine rows, with views stretching across Gothic cathedrals and imperial residences to the river.
WHEN TO GO
September is an excellent time to enjoy the wine harvest, paired with warm temperatures in the 20s.
WHERE TO STAY
Head back to a sumptuous suite at any one of Vienna’s lavish hotels, all grand staircases, stained glass and gleaming brass.
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Getty ImagesBHUTAN
If you’re looking for something really unique, a honeymoon in this Himalayan hermit kingdom won’t disappoint. The tiny nation of Bhutan is perhaps best known for keeping the outside world at bay – thank the hefty daily tariff the government levies on foreign visitors – and the result is a literal breath of fresh air: a land of pristine peaks, rushing rivers and mysterious, forest-cloaked valleys. Where getting away from it all might entail a trek to the famously precipitous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, followed by a soak in a Himalaya-facing plunge pool. A serene sanctuary of incense and gongs; mindfulness and monks.
WHEN TO GO
October is the best time of year to visit, with cool mountain air and clear skies offering ideal conditions for exploring the Himalayas.
WHERE TO STAY
The sublimest stay for couples here is undoubtedly Six Senses Bhutan. A series of five luxury lodges spread across the country’s most spectacular landscapes, it offers unparalleled views, purifying spa treatments and incredible itineraries where private guides take you hiking and biking into the heart of this special country, connecting with communities as much as the land.
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Getty ImagesFINLAND
If you’re more about hunkering down by the fire than lolling around at the pool, a romantic winter-weather adventure in Finnish Lapland could be for you. The Finns’ national pastime of spa and sauna also gives honeymooners ample opportunities to get cosy. Kakslauttanen’s log cabins have private hot tubs for getting steamy in an otherwise frigid forest; just imagine clinking glasses of Champagne as the warm fog roils around you under a crystal-clear night sky. Add to that moonlit sledge rides, crackling fires and frozen landscapes, and suddenly that tropical-island trip seems basic.
WHEN TO GO
Perhaps surprisingly, autumn and spring are the most active seasons for Northern Lights activity in Finnish Lapland – and, owing to the region’s position above the Arctic Circle, visiting outside of winter doesn’t mean missing out on the snow. It does, however, mean skipping the Christmas crowds. The very clearest skies can be banked on in March.
WHERE TO STAY
The region offers no end of luxurious ways to spot the Northern Lights without leaving bed: be that from a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen, or from Hotel Iso-Syöte’s two-storey Eagle View Suite, with its wraparound glass walls and roof.
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Ana LuiSAN SEBASTIAN AND RIOJA
Foodie couples are in heaven in San Sebastián, that luscious Basque Country beauty on the Bay of Biscay. It’s famous for its pintxos – avante garde takes on tapas – so twosomes can indulge their appetites hopping from bar to bar, sipping sparkling txakoli after txakoli, before collapsing on one of three sensational city beaches, where salty-haired surfers and bronzed sunbathers gleam oh so glamorously on powder-soft sand. Between swoon-worthy belle époque buildings and moonlit strolls along La Concha promenade, there are triple-Michelin-starred feasts at the likes of Arzak and Akelarre, the latter of which adjoins a hillside minimalist eco hotel with a sea-facing spa. Plump for one of the suites: bathtubs have unbeatable bay views. And if you can rouse yourself for a trip to Rioja – about a two-hour drive away – you’ll discover some of Europe’s most exciting vineyards, where wineries veer from centuries-old farmhouses to futuristic Zaha Hadid-designed structures (see R López de Heredia’s HQ).
WHEN TO GO
Aim for June to experience San Sebastián’s exhilarating summer buzz without the overcrowding that can blight July and August.
Source: cntraveller.com
