The honeymoon. Your first great adventure as a married couple. A time to recover from the busyness of wedding preparations and to connect in a new way, free of responsibilities and time constraints. A time to focus on one another, and your new life together.
Here at Luxury Travel Destinations, honeymoons are our specialty. And finding the right honeymoon – and ultimate honeymoon destination and resort – for each couple is what I do best.
So with that said, these are four of my favorite resorts for honeymooners:
Ultimate resort to get away from it all: Four Seasons Bora Bora
Bora Bora is the best known of the French Polynesian Leeward islands, and is known for its tranquil beauty. The Four Seasons Bora Bora is surrounded by sand-fringed islets and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Mount Otemanu from over-water, private bungalows and a state-of-the-art spa.
The Four Seasons boasts four exceptional restaurants, but my favorite dining experience there is the Sunset Restaurant and Bar, featuring fresh, delightful Asian cuisine. You can also enjoy a stargazing cruise after your meal, complete with dessert, champagne and live music.
The Four Seasons resort is known for its exceptional service. You can expect every need to be met with gracious Polynesian charm and a warm smile.
Ultimate eco-friendly resort: Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Located on the edge of the Mayan jungle, the Banyan Tree Mayakoba is the most sustainable 5-star resort on the shores of the Caribbean. Beautifully designed to blend Mexican culture with Asian hospitality, its serene, verdant landscape features private, tranquil villas, freshwater lagoons, natural dunes and coral reefs.
The Sanctuary Pool Villa offers an idyllic space, with separate living and study pavilions, an outdoor dining area, a private, landscaped garden and your own heated swimming pool and outdoor whirlpool.
The resort has nine different dining options, but the restaurant Ixchel is my favorite. Ixchel, meaning “Moon Goddess”, is Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s traditional trajinera, or dining boat. The menu offers a combination of local and international cuisine, all while drifting among the moonlit canals and mangroves.
Aside from the breathtaking scenery, the Rainforest Spa is one of the reasons couples choose this resort. Offering a wide compliment of services and treatments, the spa specializes in hydrotherapy.
Ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
The sanctuaries of Jade Mountain truly set it apart from any other resort. 15 ft. high ceilings, infinity pools and an open 4th wall, create a magical, transformative experience you will never forget. There are no televisions, radio or telephones to distract from the natural beauty.
Jade Mountain also offers an exquisite Total Romance package, which includes everything you need plus the following activities; tours of a volcano, sulfur springs and diamond mineral baths, a scuba diving course for beginners or two dives for certified divers, ½ day jungle biking excursion in Anse Mamin Valley, and a ½ day sailing on a skippered resort yacht.
My favorite activities at the resort are the daytime and sunset sails on the resort yacht and the jazzy sunset cruise on the 60 ft. resort catamaran.
Ultimate resort for luxury: Eden Rock, St. Barths
The embodiment of French art-de-vivre, Eden Rock is in the heart of the Caribbean. Known for its upscale shopping, active cultural calendar and celebrity sightings, St. Barths is an upscale escape that offers a plethora of the finest cuisine, art galleries and museums.
No two rooms and Eden Rock are alike. Each is individually decorated and they range from exquisite rooms to gorgeously appointed beach cottages and secluded villas. Each offers extravagant style and hospitality, with dedicated butler service around the clock.
A full range of beauty and spa treatments are brought to your own private room, for the ultimate in luxurious pampering. Leisure activities and nautical sports will ensure the perfect balance of relaxation and entertainment.
Planning the ultimate honeymoon for couples is one of the things I enjoy most about being a travel professional. So if any of these destinations seem like the right honeymoon option – or you just want to learn a little more about what other brides and grooms have experienced – give me a call.
Next month: More of my top honeymoon resorts