Top 10: Honeymoon Destinations
Posted by Lucy on September 1st, 2008Let our destination inspiration whet your wanderlust and provide a guide to the most romantic cities, idyllic islands and wilderness escapes. LUCY FENNINGS rounds up a worldwide hot-list of honeymoon destinations…
01 Kruger National Park
LUXURY SAFARI STAYS
Countryside South African wilderness
Country life Eye-spy the Big Five
Why to go Safaris epitomise romance, with spine-tingling safari drives, the thrill of a close encounter with nature’s biggest and strongest beasts and tall tales told round the campfire. In the spectacular Kruger National Park, wildlife abounds: there are white rhino and buffalo in the densely wooded southwest; and the eastern plains play home to wildebeest, impala and zebra – in turn attracting prides of lions. After a few days of safari drives, you’d have to have been pretty unlucky not to have seen the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
When to go Winter (July–September) is the dry season and is the best time to spot game, although it will be cold at night; there’ll be plenty of newborns in summer (November–December) but it will be hot and humid.
Where to stay Safari honeymoon hotels in Kruger include luxury lodge Lion Sands; modern-among-the-trees Singita Lebombo; and safari-and-spa stay Tintswalo. See more safari lodges…
02 Koh Samui
Coastline Lush, sun-kissed Thailand
Coast life Beach-basking and bar-hopping
Why to go Providing the blueprint for the perfect honeymoon getaway, this tropical Thai island ticks all the white-sand, blue-sky boxes and promises a hedonistic fortnight of sun-lounging, spa pampering, sundowners and fragrantly spiced food. If you’re feeling energetic, rent a boat and explore the hidden coves of the Ang Thong National Marine Park, or kayak off gorgeous Cheong Mon beach.
When to go Koh Samui’s hot-weather high season is from May to November, ideally coinciding with the late-summer wedding window. It’s still pleasantly sunny during the off-peak periods, although be prepared for rain.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Koh Samui include hilltop spa retreat Six Senses Hideaway Samui; secluded seaside stay Anantara; designer beach bolthole The Library.
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THE WORLD’S MOST ROMANTIC CITY
Cityscape Archipelago of alleyways
City life Walking on water
Why to go Mist rising over silvery lagoons; the rhythmic ‘doop’ of gondola oars striking the canal floor; masked figures darting behind Byzantine and Baroque buildings… Venice is a visual, sensual, historical treat, and if its maze of alleyways and many surprising sights fails to quicken your pulse, you may as well call it a day right now. Stray off the beaten track and you’ll discover your own classic Venetian vignette.
When to go Avoid August, which is hot, sticky and crowded. Autumn is our favourite time to visit; November is quietly fabulous when the city is cloaked in fog. February is great, especially if you’re going to a carnival ball, but you’ll have to book your hotel well in advance. Spring in Venice is also lovely.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Venice include Baroque boutique hotel Ca Maria Adele.
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DESERT-ISLAND FANTASY
Coastline Nothin’ but blue skies
Coast life Coconuts, cocktails and coral reefs
Why to go When you dream of sailing into the sunset on a deep, glassy sea, it’s probably the Indian Ocean you’re imagining. Whichever island archipelago you choose, you’ll be rewarded with the classic escape-from-it-all tropical-island dream, with floating palm fronds, kingfisher-coloured lagoons, vanilla beaches and cornflower-blue skies. Scuba divers will be in seventh heaven on a Maldivian atoll; get a taste of the East in magical Mauritius; or go for untrammelled luxury on a Seychelloise private island.
When to go Between April and October for Mauritius, when the mercury doesn’t shoot up too and the island is at its driest. It’s incredible humid from January to March: frizzy hair and fainting spells might spoil the mood a bit. In the Maldives, you’d be very unlucky to get more than a few days’ rain on the trot, even in the Monsoon season (mid-May–November). The Seychelles are good year-round, but the islands are at their driest May–October, their wettest December–February, and their most humid October–April.
Where to stay Indian Ocean honeymoon hotels include Cocoa Island or Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives; Frégate Island Private, Round Island or Maia Luxury Resort & Spa in the Seychelles; Constance Le Prince Maurice or The Oberoi in Mauritius.
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ADVENTURE ON A GRAND SCALE
Coastline South Africa’s coastal wilderness
Coast life The greatest show on earth
Why to go Hugging South Africa’s rugged coastline and passing some of the continent’s most beautiful landscapes, this fertile swathe of country is astonishing in its natural diversity – it’s a feast for the eyes, with dramatic cliffs, dense bushland and mighty mountains. And whether your idea of fun is whale-watching, beach barbecues or bravura bungee-jumping, one thing’s for sure: you won’t be short of things to do.
When to go With about 300 days of sunshine a year, the Garden Route is a good choice at any time. Areas such as Plettenberg Bay do get crowded in peak season, particularly at Christmas and Easter. Winter days from May to September will still be warm but temperatures dip sharply at night. July to November is the best time for whale-watching.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in South Africa include private coast look-out, Castle on the Cliff; Nature’s Valley polo estate, Kurland; and East-meets-West escape, Ichibi Lakeside Lodge.
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FOR UNDERWATER EXPLORERS
Countryside A Central American beauty
Country life Piña coladas, getting caught in the rain
Why to go Belize offers not only glorious beaches and some of the best diving on our blue planet, but also jungle-clad mountains and Mayan ruins; it’s a stunning one-off, from its reef-adorned Caribbean coast to the inland Cayo, boasting lush rainforest, white-water rivers, sacred stalactite caves and plunging waterfalls.
When to go Belize has a year-round subtropical climate, but can be quite wet with brief but frequent showers and clouds outside of the driest months (January–May). August to October is hurricane season.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Belize include Francis Ford Coppola’s forest retreat Blancaneaux Lodge; private-island getaway Cayo Espanto; chic shore-shack Turtle Inn.
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EXOTIC AND EXCITING
Cityscape Minarets and mountains in Morocco
City life Mint tea, mules, medina mayhem
Why to go A three-hour flight from London transports you to North Africa; only a short hop from Spain across the straits of Gibraltar, but exotic, mysterious and a world away from modern Europe. A perennial favourite with the boho-chic jet-set, mediaeval Marrakech provides intrepid honeymooners with a glimpse of Berber, Arabic and Moorish heritage. A dawn hot-air balloon ride over rose-hued rooftops, with views of the ancient Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert, has to be one of the most romantic experiences on earth.
When to go Marrakech can be too hot to handle from June to August; we love autumn and spring, when sunny days and balmy nights allow for rooftop sunbathing and starlit dining.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Marrakech include elegant Arabesque riad Noir d’Ivoire; Palmeraie retreat Ksar Char-Bagh; and boutique guesthouse P’tit Habibi.
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COSMOPOLITAN CARIBBEAN
Coastline French-Caribbean jewel
Coast life A-list beach lounging
Why to go As chic as Paris, as cosmopolitan as Cannes… St Barths may be a French-flavoured island with a jet-set fan club, but make no mistake, it’s still as laid-back and gorgeous as its commonplace Caribbean counterparts. More brasseries than beach shacks? Bien sur. Croissants for breakfast? Mais oui… Blue skies, sugar-soft beaches and aquamarine seas? Yeah baby! This is sophisticated honeymoon heaven.
When to go At the tail end of high season (January–April), room rates drop and the beaches empty out; but if you want to be seen with the in-crowd, Christmas and New Year is when the party sails into town. September–October is ‘rainy season’; the rest of the year, trade winds keep the temperature hovering pleasantly around the 30ºC mark.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in St Barths include cottage retreat Hotel Guanahani & Spa; rarefied star stay Eden Rock; and jungle bungalow bolthole La Banane.
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RENAISSANCE ROMANCE
Countryside Cypress Hills of Italy
Country life Pleasures for every palate
Why to go Renaissance beauty Florence, mediaeval marvel Siena, cowboy country Maremma… why not go? Tuscany’s popularity might make you think it’s not the ideal place to get away from it all; but deep in the Chianti countryside, Tuscany’s glories can be enjoyed at every pace, from dozing in the shade of a tree to galloping cross-country with Maremma’s horsemen or hitting Florence’s fashion boutiques. Whatever your holiday wont, this corner of La Bella Italia won’t disappoint.
When to go The cities of Florence and Siena are best enjoyed outside the peak summer season; the countryside can be busy with tourists throughout summer, but once you’ve escaped to your honeymoon retreat, you won’t notice…
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Tuscany include Borgo Santo Pietro near Siena; L’Andana in Maremma; Villa Bordoni in Chianti; JK Place in Florence.
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WINE, DINE & UNWIND
Countryside Fields of dreams
Country life Havin’ a vine time
Why to go Napa may have been the setting for an ill-conceived stag do in the film Sideways, but it makes a wonderful backdrop to a honeymoon of wine, wooing and wandering in California. With impeccable French-inspired cuisine, a benign climate and some beautiful scenery, it’s hardly surprising that couples flock from San Francisco for some refined R’n’R. If you’re feeling flash, you could of course always charter a helicopter to buzz you to your boutique hotel…
When to go The exciting autumn harvest is known locally as ‘the Crush’. You might want to time your visit and go just after or just before, when the weather is perfect and the crowds less madding.
Where to stay Honeymoon hotels in Napa include ravishing retreat Calistoga Ranch; modern-day pleasure-centre The Carneros Inn; and lyrical hideaway Poetry Inn. See also Hotel Healdsburg in Sonoma County.
Terrific article. These are all places on my ‘destinations-to-visit-list’.
By Erica
On September 2nd, 2008
Thanks Erica - hopefully have avoided any travel-writing clichés, as listed on your blog!
By Lucy
On September 2nd, 2008
Some great choices there! Especially your Marrakes and Samui stays, all of which I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying. But I have to say - and I know you probably don’t think a Four Seasons is a Smith kind of hotel - but I think the Four Seasons on Koh Samui needs to top a honeymoon list. I think it must be one of my most favorite properties in the world - it’s much more ’boutique’ than most Four Seasons. Not only are the restaurants and bars so incredibly romantic, and the whole property is so idyllic and private, it’s hard to beat a private villa with a big wooden deck, billowing curtains, and your own private infinity pool looking out over the sea. If that doesn’t draw a couple in for a skinny-dip, nothing will!
By lara dunston
On September 3rd, 2008
That does sound amazing Lara – if we decide to check it out for Smith, I’m willing to selflessly volunteer myself for that trip…
By Lucy
On September 4th, 2008
Will have to have at least five more (repeat) honeymoons by the looks of it, plus another visit to Marrakech, where we had the our first honeymoon. My travel plans for the next 5 years are made now….
By Roger
On September 4th, 2008
great list. even greater pics. maybe it’s kind of cliche, but what about Mexico? there are some great secluded and exotic places there for honeymoons!
By Chels
On September 5th, 2008
@Chels.
Indeed – what about Mexico? I think if we did a top 20, Mexico would probably cover places 11–15, with some dreamily romantic places to stay in the Yucatan Peninsula, and Jalisco…
By Anthony
On September 8th, 2008
I have to confess a sort of personal bias came into play when I compiled this list, and I’m quite happy to admit that, yes, Mexico maybe shoulda crept in there at number 10 at least – but I also wanted to represent a nice spread of honeymoon types: not every couple just wants to flop on a gorgeous beach for a week or two, especially when it’s for a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ experience; some couples (who are these couples? Are they mad?!) want culture-packed tours in Europe, or action-packed safari stays, not just sun-lounger lazing with ice-cold cocktails a mere arm’s reach away… And Mexico’s Caribbean coast has a lot of similarities with the Caribbean (for obvious reasons). But with extra history. Mmm honeymoon in Mexico = almost reason enough to get married! (Joke! please don’t all hate me for making cynical wisecracks)
By Lucy
On September 29th, 2008
gr8 list and gr8 places. i think Mauritius should also be included in your list
By kunak
On March 30th, 2009
Hi Kunak - yes, Mauritius definitely up there – I’ve included it in the cheatily catch-all Indian Ocean category(number 4 in my top ten!). Check out Constance Le Prince Maurice - home of the annual Le Prince Maurice Prize for the year’s best literary love stories…
By Lucy
On March 30th, 2009
Maldives is the ultimate destination for honeymooners, as it offers tranquility, beautiful scenery, and tropical adventure sports.
By Maldives Dive Travel
On June 18th, 2009