Choosing the right honeymoon is as important as picking the right location for your wedding - except the choice of location is a whole lot wider, from a luxurious spa with a backdrop of the Serra de Monchique mountain range in Portugal to beaches that can be reached only on foot in the Caribbean. Here are five of the best.
One And Only Reethi Rah, Maldives, Indian Ocean
It is easy to see why Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas spent her honeymoon here, as this Maldivian retreat lends itself perfectly to a romantic getaway. Against a backdrop of glorious white sands and turquoise lagoons in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Reethi Rah entertains the likes of Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Hurley in its 130 beautifully chic private villas.
Some villas are on the beach while others are set above the clear lagoon waters.
You can spend your time enjoying the large variety of water sports on offer or simply sipping cocktails by one of the pools.
oneandonlyresorts.com
wauwinet, Nantucket Island, USA
A short boat trip away from Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod, or a swift transfer from New York or Boston, Nantucket Island is full of character. Like a secret, quiet version of its more famous neighbours, Nantucket is discreet, quirky and very classy. Among numerous accommodation options on the island, Wauwinet has to be the best.
Considered one of the top boutique hotels in America and situated on the most north easterly point of the island on some beautiful coastline, Wauwinet offers something truly special. With a spa, restaurant and beautiful bedrooms, it is the perfect location to get away from the world and succumb to the charm of this unspoilt island.
wauwinet.com
Beresheet Hotel, Israel
Beresheet Hotel by Isrotel Exclusive Collection is 800m above sea level, with gasp-making views into the 200 million-year-old Ramon Crater, a natural wonder.
This desert hotel is filled with luxurious detail and is a honeymoon retreat with a difference, with cool, comfortable weather year-round. There are 111 rooms (39 of these have their own private plunge pools), an outstanding restaurant and activities from 4x4 safaris across the dunes to camel treks.
Mind you, with such awe-inspiring views, it could be harder than you think to leave the infinity pool overlooking the crater.
isrotelexclusivecollection.com/beresheet
Villa Marie, St Barts, Caribbean
Overlooking Flamands Beach, Villa Marie is Maisons and Hotels Sibuet's first property outside mainland France. It opens in December, so you can be one of the first to set foot in this luxurious hotel. Named after the renowned property in St Tropez, Villa Marie has plenty to offer in terms of romantic seclusion, hidden coves and beaches (reachable only on foot) but also promises the luxury and attention to detail that one would expect from a high-end brand.
Highlights are the outdoor swimming pool, gardens filled with exotic flowers, a spa using products made from local flora and fauna and a wonderful restaurant.
saint-barth.villamarie.fr/en/#!saint-barthelemy/home
MacDonald Monchique Hotel And Spa, Portugal
This is a new resort in an undiscovered area of rural Portugal, packed with five-star amenities and surrounded by glorious scenery.
Glamorous yet discreet, it is an apt setting for the start of married life.
The Macdonald Monchique Resort & Spa is the only resort in this area of the Algarve and sits high up in the Serra de Monchique mountain range.
A stroll outside will be accompanied by the evocative scents of pine and eucalyptus, providing your very own natural aromatherapy and one is never far from the photogenic.
The area is encircled by ancient cork forests and is known for its thermal waters as well as its panoramas of the Algarve coastline.
Here you can experience the best of both worlds - you can be pampered and relax in well-equipped modern accommodation - yet still feel connected to the nature all around you.
macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonaldmonchique-resort-spa/
