> > by Writers: JB-John Borthwick, MB-Matthew Brace, ROA-Rachael Oakes-Ash, GP-Gemma Price, TJ-Tanya Joslin SW-Staff Writers: Nicole Deuble, Margaret McGuire
Hot Honeymoons! Luxurious accommodation, new romantic destinations, ultimate retreats, serene escapes, sublime locations ... here is our Honeymoon Hotlist featuring 20 of the best resorts in the world!
1. Alila Villas HadahaaMaldives
Date Opened: August 2009
www.alilahotels.com
It’s a big call to make a splash in the already-intoxicating pool of Maldivian resorts but Alila Villas Hadahaa pulls it off in style. The location alone is enough to send honeymoon hearts aflutter with the closest (inhabited) island neighbour a civilised ten kilometres away, but it’s the design which really impresses; barefoot luxury all the way with contemporary-cool overwater Aqua Villas sporting endless ocean views and equally lovely Island Villas with private gardens and plunge pools. Stroll the spotless sands, hit the day spa, or immerse yourself in the traffic jam of exotic fish which inhabit these fabled waters. (SW)
Perfect for: camera-shy couples who want the ultimate honeymoon retreat.
2. UXUA Casa Hotel
Trancoso, Brazil
Date Opened: May 2009
www.uxua.com
It’s unique, it’s colourful and it’s very, very cool. Creative director for international label Diesel, Wilbert Das, has set a fresh benchmark in relaxed glamour with the new UXUA Casa Hotel, overlooking Brazil’s legendary Bahian coastline. Head to the deep golden sands of the beachfront Praia Bar to top up on sunshine and cocktails (a fishing-boat-turned DJ booth keeps the blissed-out guests entertained) or chill out in one of nine individually crafted ‘casas’. Couples will love Casa Da Arvore, a rustic treehouse suspended above an open-air spa tub and private garden which is illuminated by candlight each evening, and honeymooners are privy to treats such as moonlit horse riding on the beach and traditional Bahian blessings. A special touch; 60 per cent of the property is reserved for the local sea turtles, which can often be spotted wandering across the sand! (SW)
Perfect for: laid-back couples who are looking for gorgeous beaches, unique accommodations and a cool South American vibe.
3. Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa
Phuket, Thailand
Date Opened: October 2008
www.anantara.com
For the ambience of a southern Thai village with the indulgences of a resort, Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa ticks all boxes. Each villa is adorned with silks and locally-made furniture and boasts a made for- two terrazzo tub, enormous pool and plenty of modern touches. Some even have a private dining sala, perfect for a romantic tete-atete. Tempted to stay in? The range of local cultural and adventure pursuits might rouse you. Watch baby turtles taking their first steps, try a moonlit canoe trip, dive the Similan islands, or simply swan about in the innovative ‘lifestyle’ pool featuring water terraces, fountains and in-built loungers. Then there’s Anantara’s renowned spa ... pure bliss! (SW)
Perfect for: leisure-loving couples who are up for a little adventure and discovery.
4. Diva Maldives Resort and Spa
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Date Opened: October 2008
www.naiade.com
Viva Diva! Swoop into Diva Maldives on a seaplane and you’ll see a long white sand island with nests of over-water suites. One of them is yours. Inside it are all the creature comforts you’ll ever want in a tropical hideaway. Meanwhile outside are champagne picnics on sandbars, astonishing throngs of dolphins at sunset, a top quality spa and irresistible dining. Did I mention the world-class diving? Jet-ski tours? And simply the sand between your toes? (JB)
Perfect for: the honeymoon couple who want moonlit seas, sunlit sands, dolphins a-leaping and simply a fine feed to top it all.
5. Six Senses Destination Spa
Phuket, Thailand
Date Opened: November 2008
www.sixsenses.com
Want total relaxation on a private island with complete privacy and exceptional service at the ring of a bell? Picture 70 stand-alone ocean view and beachfront villas with infinity pools, meditation salas, personal steam rooms, lush garden bathrooms and your own spa butler. Add a 30-treatment room spa inspired by China, India, Bali and Thailand, two spa cuisine restaurants and a hidden Chinese tea garden for personal reflection. (ROA)
Perfect for: the healthy honeymoon couple who won’t sacrifice luxury for relaxation.
6. Amantaka
Luang Prabang, Laos
Date Opened: June 2009
www.amanresorts.com
Housed in a classic French colonial building within walking distance of the 32 stunning temples and many historical and culture attractions of World- Heritage-listed Luang Prabang, Amantaka is a truly elegant retreat. The enchanting township is small enough to explore by foot so you can embrace the gentle pace of Buddhist life, visit the colourful night markets and return in time to enjoy the authentic Lao and French-influenced cuisine and peaceful ambience of your villa. (SW)
Perfect for: culture-loving couples looking for scenic attractions and a serene escape.
7. Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay
Oman
Date Opened: November 2008
www.sixsenses.com
Paraglide, jet boat or take the luxury Hummer limo down to an azure ocean paradise surrounded by rugged desert mountains. Expect private cliff-top picnics, secret snorkelling trips to hidden bays with boat butler at hand or stretch the limbs with rooftop yoga at the desert spa. The 79 two-storey, standalone villas afford complete privacy with ocean views and private pools, all a mere 90-minute chauffeured drive from Dubai airport. Did we mention the two bars, three restaurants and wine tower? (ROA)
Perfect for: the exotic honeymoon couple who likes adventure.
8. Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
Date Opened: October 2009
www.emirateshotelsresorts.com
Yearning to go bush but not so keen on beating a path through the scrub? Then get aquainted with the very easy-to-take style of roughing it at the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. Set within its own 4000- acre private conservation and wildlife reserve with a dramatic backdrop of sweeping Australian bush vistas, Wolgan offers 40 homestead-inspired (yet totally luxurious) suites boasting five-star facilities, a private deck and courtyard garden and their own swimming pools. Activities such as 4WD wildlife safaris, horse riding, scenic picnics, and bike riding will keep you close to nature, then you can relax away a day of exploring at The Timeless Spa. (SW)
Perfect for: couples who want to discover (or rediscover) the beauty of the bush with the creature comforts of a five-star resort.
9. Misibis Bay Raintree
Cagraray Island Philippines
Date Opened: May 2009
www.slh.com/philippines/cagrarayisland/cagdis.html
Peachy sands, azure seas, and unforgettable adventures await you at this Small Luxury Hotels-accredited tropical gem. Misibis Bay Raintree is an all-villa resort but honeymooners should definitely check out the spacious Beachfront Luxury Villa with its private deck extending out to the ocean and beachfront jacuzzi for a soak under the stars. The 24-hour butler service, superb spa, and choice of three swimming pools are complemented by plenty of options for exploration and adventure. Try an underwater submarine exploration, diving with whale sharks or a helicopter trip to the crater of the Mayon volcano. (SW)
Perfect for: adventurous couples who want to come home to Pacific Ocean views and a swim-up bar.
10. Cooper Square Hotel
New York City
Date Opened: December 2008
www.thecoopersquarehotel.com/
Indulge the voyeur within from Cooper Square Hotel’s floor to ceiling glassed guest rooms with rooftop views of the East and West Village in the core of the Big Apple. Skipping distance to the boutique shops, galleries and restaurants of Soho, Chelsea and Tribeca, the hotel is favoured by the media, fashion and film set and features a private screening room, cosy library with six thousand vintage books available for reading or purchase and the happening Table 8 restaurant with schmick terrace bar. Forget chocolates, turn down service is all about the vintage Playboy magazine placed strategically on the bed. (ROA)
Perfect for: the saucy honeymoon couple who prefer urban to suburban.
11. Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa
Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Date Opened: October 2008
www.anantara.com
Many destinations claim to be ‘fit for royalty’, but Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa is one destination that can truly live up to this statement. Once the private retreat of Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Nahyan, the late leader of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, today the island welcomes discerning guests from all over the world. After a major renovation, the Sheik’s guest house is now a five-star resort complete with 64 rooms and villas, a spa and fine restaurants. The Pool Bar overlooks the Arabian Gulf and is the perfect spot to relax during the day; and to watch the stunning sunset before indulging in one of the locals’ favourite ways to relax, Shisha. Boasting one of the Middle East’s largest Arabian Wildlife Parks, you can get up close and personal with exotic species such as Arabian Oryx, Sand Gazelle, Indian Spotted Deer and even the elusive Arabian Hare. For active couples, there are plenty of pursuits to keep you busy, including mountain biking, kayaking and guided game walks. Thanks to a fishing ban around the island, the waters offer a whole other world for you to explore. (TJ)
Perfect for: the honeymoon couple who want to live out their Arabian Nights fantasy in absolute luxury, while experiencing one of the region’s most unique nature-based travel experiences.
12. Atlantis, The Palm
Dubai
Date Opened: November 2008
www.atlantisthepalm.com
Dubai, that creation of a modern genie-in-a-bottle, always astonishes. Take the plush Atlantis Palm Jumeirah resort where, just beside the lobby, you find an 11-million litre aquarium with 20,000 fish. Retreat to your suite and you’re amid serenity, opulence and sea views. Step back out and you find an arcade of name-dropper stores and an avenue of world-class restaurants, plus the huge Aquaventure waterpark. And you haven’t even left your resort. (JB)
Perfect for: the honeymoon couple who want luxury, fantasy, water fun, top shopping and fine noshing, all in one.
13. Wynn Encore Hotel
Las Vegas
Date Opened: December 2008
www.WynnResorts.com
Lights lights lights ... Las Vegas glimmers and shimmers in the warm desert air, a cornucopia of glitz, glamour and amazing night life. It’s not just about the gambling, it’s experiencing a place almost totally devoted to satisfying visitors from all over the world who come to immerse themselves in round-the- clock entertainment, dining and gambling. And where better to lay your weary head than at one of the newest, sparkliest hotels in town. The Wynn Encore Las Vegas is over-the-top colour, pattern and texture in a luxurious setting. The nightclub sings with style and is just made for some serious dancing, and if you get too hot, have a dip in the nightclub pool! I kid you not. (SW)
Perfect for: couples willing to dice with some serious fun!
14.Evason Ma’In Hot Springs
Jordan
Date Opened: February 2009
www.sixsenses.com
Hidden away in a dramatic Middle Eastern mountainscape, 264 metres below sea level, you’ll find this oasis of low-key luxury and unique pampering. Soak up a desert sunset from the cliff-edge restaurant and marvel at the distant lights of Jerusalem; succumb to mud wraps, stone polishes and healing hot spring baths; and watch your cares float away as you bob in the nearby Dead Sea. Treat yourself to the well-appointed Honeymoon Suite which boasts 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls. Unforgettable. (SW)
Perfect for: the honeymoon couple who crave the beauty and drama of a Middle Eastern escape with a side-order of serious pampering
15. Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Date Opened: July 2009
www.banyantree.com
Slick sleek stylish - minimalism writ large but with luxury as the defining element. Banyan Tree Mayakoba fronts onto sparkly white sand and blue blue ocean but you may not need to venture into the sea when the pool is nearly as big ... This is pure indulgence with architecture which references its location without becoming a slave to it, with a spa which draws you in and sets you on the road to relaxation, with a golf course designed by Greg Norman - and then there’s the world’s second largest coral reef to explore. (SW)
Perfect for: water babies with stars in their eyes.
16. Sal Salis
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Date Opened: October 2008
www.salsalis.com.au
Perfectly sited to put you at one with nature, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef offers tented accommodation (that’s tents with bathrooms and decks) just back from white sand beaches and water that’s warm and so clear you’ll be able to see for miles. This is remote Western Australia, but access to the resort is easy, and once you’re there, the site is sure to work its magic - imagine gorges of multi-coloured rock where shy black-foot rock wallabies hide in the heat of the day and mangroves are a haven for marine life. And then there’s the reef - home to whales and whale sharks, and myriad marine life - but even snorkelling in front of the camp is an experience that will mark Sal Salis as truly exceptional. (SW)
Perfect for:nature lovers who like luxury!
17. Amala
Seminyak, Bali
Date Opened: August 2009
www.theamala.com
The Amala is a small, exclusive resort (max 28 guests) where the emphasis is on peace and harmony. Stroll among bamboo stands and frangipani trees, take yoga at dawn, dine on food produced to match your preferred diet and consult your personal butler to arrange a tailor-made wellness package from one of Bali’s most comprehensive and imaginative spa menus. Choose from one of the five one-bedroom villas or six one-bedroom spa villas, or for the ultimate indulgence book into the three-bedroom Amala Residence. Regardless of which villa you choose, you’ll enjoy luxurious privacy right in the heart of one of Bali’s most exciting precincts, Seminyak. (MB)
Perfect for: honeymooners who want to just zone out after the wedding; as well as the wellness philosophy there is a ‘no children below 12 policy’.
18. Rumours of Escape
Aitutaki Cook Islands
Date Opened: September 2009
www.rumours-rarotonga.com
The absolute beachfront location may be the star attraction at Rumours of Escape but the five-star, rustic luxe features give even a tropical sunset a run for its money. Think super-king ‘castaway’ beds; private pools, waterfalls and water features (complete with tropical fish) for each villa; and boardwalks which reach out into the lagoon to a personal gazebo and hammock made for two. As a sister property to the equally divine Rumours Luxury Villas & Spa in Rarotonga, Rumours of Escape is blissful, lolling-about-in-paradise stuff. (SW)
Perfect for: hopeless romantics who are readily seduced by swinging palms, crystalline waters and restful ocean breezes.
19. Princess d’Annam
Ke Ba Bay Vietnam
Date Opened: April 2009
www.princessannam.com
Named for a 13th-century Vietnamese princess, Princess d’Annam resort is Vietnam’s first all-villa boutique luxury resort, blending modernest sensibility with post-colonial ambience, high-style public spaces with intimate private settings. Set within sprawling tropical gardens overlooking a pristine swathe of soft sand, each of the 57 villas feature an understated contemporary interior which enhances the light-filled, airy ambience, and all bring the outdoors in – alfreso bathrooms feature rain showers and baths and sunken tubs perfect for two. (GP)
Perfect for: honeymooners who fancy an elegant, tropical getaway overlooking the South China Sea.
20. Buddha Bar Hotel
Prague, Czech Republic
Date Opened: January 2009
www.buddha-bar-hotel.cz
Czech it out! The beyond-hip Buddha Bar brand has launched its first hotel, treating guests to a multisensory experience as French flair meets Asian exoticism to spectacular effect. You won’t be able to miss the captivating Buddha-Bar which occupied two massive floors, a giant buddha presides over the dining level while the luxe mezzanine pumps out colourful cocktails and the signature World Music-influenced Buddha Bar beats. Plump for one of the opulent suites where you can rejuvenate after a night of on-site indulgence with an in-room Buddhattitude Massage for two. Or head for a steam clean in the resident hammam. Located just steps away from Prague’s Old Town Square but definitely a world of its own, this is a so-cool-it’s hot kind of honeymoon. (SW)
Perfect for: the honeymoon couple who want the romantic ‘Old Europe’ experience with a luxe modern edge (and a fantastic soundtrack!)