Honeymoon Hotels
Honeymoon Hotels
by Peter Graham
by Peter Graham
When it comes to holidays, there's one that needs to be absolutely perfect - your honeymoon. As you embark on married life with your partner, this is the first chance you have to spend real quality time together as husband and wife. It is also a time to relax after all the excitement of the wedding. For that, you need a special place.
That could be a beachfront suite on a tropical island, a retreat in an exotic foreign destination or a luxury hotel break in a city that you have both dreamt of visiting. Wherever you go, you should start your new life with memories that last forever. However, deciding on your dream resort can be difficult.
To help you, our panel of experts has selected five of the most exclusive resorts in the world that offer a perfect honeymoon destination. So, whether your penchant is for lingering breakfasts in bed, having a massage on the beach or snorkelling through a maze of tropical fish, we have the spot for you. And, of course, you can book it at a very special rate on HotelTravel.com. Here are our dream resorts:
Do you dream of staying in a luxurious villa with a private pool overlooking the ocean? Do you long for a candlelit dinner for two on the beach, where the only sounds are those of waves lapping the shore? Welcome to the Banyan Tree, which nestles on Intendance Bay in the beautiful Seychelles.
There's a fabulous spa with open-air pagodas, a range of restaurants offering tantalising cuisine and every view is of the Indian Ocean and swaying palm trees. The villas are in a league of their own, all with private plunge pools, and decorated in an eclectic colonial style. Have your breakfast served on your villa patio, surrounded by lush tropical forests. For a special treat, book the presidential villa, which occupies its very own private cove by the water’s edge.
When in Amsterdam, you just have to stay along one of the picturesque canals that flow through the centre of this charming, old-world city. You also need a hotel that reflects the city's quirky, yet sophisticated, character. The Dylan Hotel, housed in a historic 17th century building on the 'Keizersgracht', is playful, intimate and oozes five-star luxury.
Follow in the footsteps of famous guests such as Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz and Will Smith and choose one of the romantic Loft Rooms or the peppermint candy-striped Klassbols room. And when you finally get out of your oversized honeymoon bed, you can dine in the hotel's French restaurant, go shopping in the trendy Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets) area or get cozy in one of the many jazz clubs.Take a stroll alongside the canals and watch the city's fascinating street life. The Dylan is the perfect hotel for Amsterdam.
If you want a honeymoon destination with a steamy Latin vibe, Miami South Beach is the place for you. And there's only one place to stay if you really want to splash out, The Setai. It consists of a renovated art deco beachfront hotel backed by a magnificent 40-storey glass tower block with spectacular coastal views.
The brainchild of legendary Asian hotelier Adrian Zecha, the resort is furnished in art deco style with miles of silk, the rooms feature authentic jade artworks from China on teak walls. You will want to linger in the spectacular marble bathroom, but drag drag yourself to the spa for a Balinese treatment. At night you can dine at singer Gloria Estafan's restaurant nearby or boogie the night away at the nightclub set up by Madonna down the drag.
Well-heeled travellers know that Aman resorts are the epitome of exclusive luxury. The group's resorts in Bali, Phuket and Sri Lanka have made them the jet-setters choice when it comes to 'getting away from it all'. Only one Aman resort has an island to itself - and that's Amanpulo, a retreat on Pamalican island in the Philippines.
This is the stuff of Robinson Crusoe, with days can be spent lazing in a waterfront hammock, strolling on idyllic beaches, snorkelling in crystal-clear waters or cruising in the resort's own yacht. Accommodation is in traditional 'casita' accommodation with every luxury you could wish for.
Every room has its own beach buggy to explore the island and a sprawling sundeck with sweeping vistas of the Sulu Sea. To get here, you are met at Manila Airport by resort staff and flown directly to the island in a private aircraft, landing at the resort's own airstrip. It's an arrival that will set the tone for your stay - you'll get privacy, exclusivity and everything else your heart desires.
For a truly exotic resort, you need look no further than the award-winning Oberoi Udaivilas in India's Rajasthan province. Voted the best hotel in the world for 2007, it has the perfect setting in a city of majestic palaces and beautiful lakes. Rooms have private walled courtyards, complete with silken parasols, table and chairs. Suites take luxury to another level with their own swimming pools and tented dining pavilions.
Dine like a Maharana in one of the hotel's exquisite restaurant or, for a special treat, have dinner on a royal barge as it floats to the islands of Lake Pichola. And if that's not enough pampering, treat yourself to a massage at the hotel's famous spa, which overlooks the lake and the royal palace. This resort, as one writer noted, offers an experience created exclusively for "those who know there is nothing like too much luxury".
Theoxenia Hotel, Mykonos, Greece
The Greek Islands and romance go together like sea and sand, they are inseparable. And what better island for love than Mykonos? With its whitewashed little houses, temples and windmills, it remains the ultimate Greek island. If you want to spend your first days of wedded bliss here, the place to stay is the Theoxenia Hotel. With its bright colours and modern furnishings, it has brought a new sense of style to the island.
Only a short stroll from the glamorous nightlife of Mykonos town and the pebble-stoned shopping streets, the hotel offers rooms and suites with stunning views. You don't have to leave the hotel if you don't want to; it has a superb pool, a health spa and two excellent restaurants. Book one of their honeymoon suites with a private terrace for the ultimate escape.
Read about other romantic hotels in our archive, including:
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Bali, Indonesia
Now is the perfect time to visit Bali, one of the world's most sought-after tropical islands. If you're looking for a funky, modern resort that offers comfortable accommodation, then try out the All Seasons Legian Bali. Within easy walking distance of shops, markets, restaurants and the famous Kuta Beach, the hotel is a great choice for those who want to have an action-packed holiday. Book a room from only US$50 per night
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