The world's best honeymoon hotels, an ultimate list
- 1/11
The world's best honeymoon hotels, an ultimate list
The pandemic not only caused pent-up demand for travel, but also delayed weddings which led to even more elaborate honeymoons. If you’re getting married soon, you’ll be in search of the world’s best honeymoon hotels, whether you want to lie on a beach in a tropical paradise, set off on a scenic safari or meet mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Honeymoons don’t have to be long-haul – equally memorable options closer to home include Positano perfection at the legendary Le Sirenuse; and the romantic Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco estate in the rolling hills of Tuscany.
If you do want to venture further afield, Mexico’s Baja California peninsula is the A-list-approved destination of dreams, and there’s helpfully a One&Only there. Or go off-grid in Namibia for a new take on camping out in the bush at the Habitas retreat there.
If you’re planning on taking a smaller, more low-key trip first, we’ve also got some handy mini-moon inspiration.
Other types of holiday involving the suffix ‘moon’ include babymoons – to be taken during pregnancy as a sort of pre-childcare last hurrah.
Starring some of the world's most romantic stays, here are the best honeymoon hotels for an unforgettable adventure. Bucket lists at the ready…
Le Sirenuse © Brechenmacher & Baumann - 2/11
1) Best for… spectacular sunsets: Grace Hotel Santorini, Auberge Resorts Collection, Greece
There are lots of stellar hotels in Santorini, many of which have the obligatory private plunge pools, but few are as special as Grace, part of the stand-out Auberge Resorts Collection, which began with Napa Valley’s Auberge du Soleil in 1981.
Overlooking Skaros Rock in Imerovigli (and well away from Oia’s sunset-seeking crowds), Grace is carved into the cliff-face, with a bar that’s perfectly positioned for sundowner o’clock; a fine-dining restaurant (even the breakfasts are several courses long and champagne at dawn is definitely not frowned upon); and multi-room villas for guests in search of more space and seclusion.Marc Plantec - 3/11
2) Best for… in-suite swimming pools: Jade Mountain, St Lucia
If Jade Mountain looks familiar, it may be because you spotted it starring in the BBC’s Amazing Hotels series – an accolade which most certainly fits the bill. The Caribbean is a popular choice for many honeymooners and Jade Mountain is at the top of many wishlists, for obvious reasons (where else can you have a full-size swimming pool in your bedroom?).
The architectural masterpiece has a Seventies Bond villain’s lair type of vibe, with open-air suites framing St Lucia’s famous twin peaks, the Pitons, in the distance. It’s hard to beat the romance of the rooms, but the terrace on the roof of the restaurant at sunset is a close second place.Courtesy of the hotel - 4/11
3) Best for… inimitable Italian glamour: Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Ah, Italy. Is there a more romantic country on the planet? It’s full of honeymoon hotels from top to effortlessly elegant toe, whether you want an opulent retreat in Venice or a high-culture holiday in Florence – but for peak romance, it has to be the Amalfi Coast and, specifically, Positano.
There are lots of perfect Positano hotels to choose from, but the most iconic is the family-owned Le Sirenuse, which has been welcoming guests since 1951. There’s no finer place for an Aperol spritz than on its statue-graced terrace.Brechenmacher & Baumann - 5/11
4) Best for… an A-list adventure: One&Only Palmilla, Baja California, Mexico
If you want to honeymoon where A-listers holiday, the Mexican state of Baja California is the Pacific-edge paradise for you. One&Only Palmilla in San José del Cabo has everything a honeymoon needs, from palm trees and pools to its own tequila and guacamole made table-side. Then there’s the Japanese restaurant, legendary chef Jean-Georges’ wood-fired grill and sundowners overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
Activities to keep you entertained include fishing trips, whale watching, stand-up paddle-boarding, surfing and scuba-diving.Courtesy of the hotel - 6/11
5) Best for… rural romance: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany, Italy
This 5,000-acre Rosewood estate, which (at 800 years old) is one of the oldest in Tuscany, overlooks the Val d’Orcia. You won’t need to leave the grounds to locate a traditional osteria, since there’s one helpfully located on-site, with dreamy views of the cypress trees and surrounding fields to enjoy with your lunch.
For total seclusion, book one of the private villas, which were created from restored farmhouses and each have a heated pool, terrace, pergola and garden. Honeymooners can also enjoy trips to hilltop Montalcino, which is famous for its red wines.Courtesy of the hotel - 7/11
6) Best for… an island escape: Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius
A perennial honeymoon favourite (and with good reason), Mauritius is the ultimate island paradise. Staying true to its name, Shangri-La has indeed created an Indian Ocean utopia on the isle’s east coast, with resident turtles, a private island reached by boat and couple’s massages at the spa.
Breakfast can be served on your ocean-facing terrace if you’re hoping to take the honeymoon theme seriously and barely see anyone else, on the beach and even at sea.Courtesy of the hotel - 8/11
7) Best for… souks and sundowners: La Sultana, Marrakech, Morocco
You don’t have to be on honeymoon to appreciate the romance of Marrakech, but its pink buildings, elegant gardens and souks to disappear in make it an excellent destination for short-haul sunshine and post-nuptial paradise.
At La Sultana, five riads form a peaceful retreat within the city walls. Up on the rooftop terrace, loved-up levels can be improved with one of the best views in town: sunset over the Atlas Mountains. There’s also a spa with two hammams to keep your wedding glow going.Courtesy of the hotel - 9/11
8) Best for… a trip of a lifetime: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Rwanda
Sitting on a sun lounger sipping endless cocktails isn’t everyone’s idea of a dream honeymoon – for something a little more adventurous, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet the mountain gorillas of northern Rwanda could be the post-wedding voyage for you.
Luckily for lovers of the great outdoors who draw the line at camping, there’s a One&Only outpost in the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park, which means you can see it all in style. The Nest restaurant has views of the Virunga mountains and surrounding forests of 60-foot eucalyptus trees, and there’s an excellent spa ready to revive you post-trek.Courtesy of the hotel - 10/11
9) Best for… romantic seclusion: Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
The Maldives is one of the world’s top honeymoon destinations and it’s not hard to see why – if you want to take it easy after all those months of wedding planning, a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean is calling. At Gili Lankanfushi, you can take it even further, by booking in to one of the Crusoe Suites, which are adrift in the water and only accessible by boat (or a swim to shore).
The authentic barefoot-luxury experience starts on your boat from Malé, where your shoes are (voluntarily) confiscated – it wouldn’t be an authentic castaway experience in heels anyway. Spa treatments can take a ‘sip and soak’ approach, if you’d like some wine to accompany them; and your Mr or Ms Friday can set up an alfresco bed on the roof of your villa for some starry-eyed stargazing.Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Best for… going off-grid: Habitas Namibia
For an environmentally conscious honeymoon, Habitas Namibia takes camping in the bush to new levels. The vast (100,000-acre-plus) nature reserve is home to free-roaming wildlife, which you can watch from the terrace of your room. It may feel wonderfully remote, but the camp is only 60 kilometres outside of Windhoek.
Your adventure-honeymoon itinerary will include safaris in search of lions, giraffes and elephants. At the spa, treatments make use of the red ochre cream used by the Himba tribe; and you’ll also be able to join your fellow guests on a serene bush meditation.Kleinjan Groenvald
