10 of the best honeymoon retreats for couples who want to relax
Clear your to-do list, switch off your phone and set your mind free, often the simplest pleasures in life are the most memorable...
Kuramathi Island Resort, Maldives
Just look at this stunning scene.
You can almost smell the salty air infused
with notes of frangipani. The Maldives is the
ultimate choice for doing nothing, and this
resort in the North Ari Atoll has all the
qualities required for lavish lounging
around. With 290 villas, it’s one of the larger
resorts in the archipelago, and with size
comes space. Plenty of it. At one end of the
island, there’s actually a sandbar that stretches over a mile. On top of this there are
two swimming pools, ten restaurants, six
bars, tennis courts, a gym, a selection of
watersports and an eco-centre boasting the
skeleton of a sperm whale. There’s also a
marine biologist on hand to show you round
20 local dive sites. But who are we kidding,
with beaches like these, you’ll be horizontal
in no time…
Insider tip: The ‘Select’ all-inclusive package
is well worth considering (from £70 per day).
It includes a choice of a-la carte restaurants
plus wine with meals.
Local tip: Take a seaplane transfer
at least one way for the
best way to see the
beautiful Atolls
Velassaru, Maldives
Lovestruck young couples are sure to be
enamoured by this chic and trendy Maldivian
retreat. Mood lighting, minimalism and a
shisha menu are just a few of the highlights that
have earned the resort its place within the Small
Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio.
Teppanyaki, a Japanese restaurant set over the
lagoon, has its own creative twist on Asian
dishes, but for the sheer simplicity of doing
nothing, we like Sand, where you can feast on
fresh seafood at candlelit tables dotted along the
beach. It’s raw, stripped-back island living just
as it should be. For further opportunity to sit
back and relax, there’s a stunning oceanfront
infinity pool, and often the staff will set up
beanbags and popcorn on the beach for a movie
under the stars.
Insider tip: The beach rooms have enormous
indoor/outdoor bathrooms, so you might want
to opt for one of those instead of the
traditional villa on stilts option.
Solana Beach, Mauritius
Doing nothing couldn't be easier at Solana
Beach on the east coast of Mauritius, the beach is
to-die-for. Need your umbrella adjusted so the
sun isn’t in your eyes? No need to get up.
Handsome beach boys patrolling the shores are
there to help – that is, when they’re not handing
out fresh coconut water or serving guests tropical
fruit punch. Guest rooms have a fresh,
contemporary take on tropical luxe with
blackboards on the walls for planning as much or
as little as you like. There are zumba and aqua
fitness classes and free paddle-boarding and
glass-bottom boat trips, but avoiding the hoopla
and watching a sensational sunrise or sunset
with your new Mr or Mrs is just as rewarding.
Insider tip: Want to hook yourselves some
yellow fin tuna or striped marlin? Belle Mare,
where Solana Beach is located, is a great
location for deep-sea fishing.
Kuoni travel secret: Honeymooners
receive one
complimentary
candlelit dinner and
a relaxing couple’s
massage.
Long Beach, Mauritius
Long by name and long by nature, the beach at Long Beach
stretches as far as the eye can see. The hotel, on the other hand, is
designed with urbanites in mind, around a central modern
piazza. There’s even a funky little nightclub called Bombora
should you have any bombastic moves you’d like to show off.
Down at the water’s edge, fresh seafood is on the menu at Tides
restaurant and there’s a secluded spa with plenty of chill-out
areas including a breezy treetop pavilion, ideal for doing nothing
in. Jetsetters who think they’ve seen it all can’t fail to be
impressed by the hotel’s climbing wall and the amount of
imagination put into all the details of this unique property, and
with 255 rooms, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to your
style of lodgings.
Insider tip: Long Beach’s Chopsticks is one of only a handful of
Chinese restaurants on the island.
Preskil Beach Resort, Mauritius
Quant and quirky with a dramatic turquoise lagoon, Preskil
on the south east coast of Mauritius, has killer views out
towards Ile aux Aigrettes, Blue Bay Marine Park and Lion
Mountain. All the rooms have been designed to face the sea and
are arranged in charming cottage-style blocks scattered among
well-tended gardens, and a duo of à la carte restaurants serving
tapas and steak, is sure to satiate even the largest of appetites.
Thanks to the hotel’s location on a secluded private peninsula,
there are three different sandy coves for lounge lizards to
choose from – which, we’re sure you’ll agree, makes doing
nothing all the more interesting.
Insider tip: If you take a trip to the coral island of Ile aux
Aigrettes, make sure you take comfortable shoes.
The trail is very rocky and uneven in places.
Local tip: It helps if you can
say a few phrases
in French –
the locals will love
you for it.
Constance Ephélia, Seychelles
Located off the east coast of Africa,
the Seychelles comprises a string of 115 glorious
sun-drenched islands. On Mahé, the mainland
where you fly in to, there are a number of
excellent resorts to choose from, but for anyone
seeking true natural beauty, Constance Ephélia
ticks all the boxes: Bounty-commercial beaches,
a dramatic backdrop of mountains and
fascinating flora and fauna. Inside, elegance is an
understatement. Rooms have a colonial air and
the communal areas are smart and grown-up.
There are five restaurants and two bars, each of
which deserves credit for its flawless service.
There’s also a snazzy Shiseido spa where you can
try a few ancient Japanese treatments. Oh, and
the hotel’s sister resort, Constance Lemuria on
neighbouring Praslin island, is equally alluring –
so you might want to consider a twin trip.
Insider tip: Between October and February,
turtles come to lay their eggs on the beach.
You might even see one hatch!
Rendezvous, Saint Lucia
Paradise-seeking princesses will feel right
at home at this cosy Caribbean love nest.
Exclusively for couples, there’s no fear of a baby
squealing in the next-door room or bickering
teenagers spoiling your special moment. Beachlovers
will be in their element, galloping handin-
hand along the two-mile stretch of Malabar
Beach. And when you need a pina colada or a
club sandwich, all you need to do is push a little
flag into the sand for beach service. New this
year, the hotel has added a ‘river’ of wading
pools, a rockery and a palm-enshrouded spa, so
there’s plenty of opportunity to cool off when
the mercury hits red. Alternatively, you can
indulge yourselves with an ‘in-room retreat’ –
cue candlelight, petals, chocolate truffles and
champagne. Yes please!
Insider tip: To make a VIP entrance, why not
book a helicopter transfer from the airport and
save yourselves the 90-minute road transfer?
Local tip: The local ‘Piton Beer’
is definitely worth
trying. It tastes
like shandy and
costs around 80p a
bottle.
Zoëtry Paraiso De La Bonita, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Flamboyant, arty and brimming with fiery
Mexican character, this feel-good resort is
certain to appeal to creative types seeking
something a bit different. A rustic hideaway on
Mexico’s windswept east coast, there is plenty
to admire in the surrounding area so you can
do as much or as little as you like - with no
danger of feeling guilty if you want to simply fly
and flop. Why go sightseeing anyway, when
there’s an amazing thalassotherapy spa on the
premises? With just 90 suites, this is one of the
most intimate resorts in Cancun, and with a
strong emphasis on healthy eating – think lots
of fresh juices, sushi and ceviche - it’s just right
for 21st century stylistas.
Insider tip: To shrug off any side effects of jetlag,
head to the spa for a mud and seawater treatment.
You’ll emerge glistening like a mermaid.
Kuoni travel secret: Consider the
‘Endless
Privileges’ allinclusive
package. It’s one
of the best deals
in Mexico.
St. James's Club Morgan Bay, Saint Lucia
Flamingo-pink, Floridian in its proportions
and full of fun, this great-value all inclusive on
St Lucia’s northern coastline caters well to
honeymooners with little ones in tow. There’s a
kids pool complete with waterslides and an
excellent kids club with programmes for
toddlers and tweens alike. But that’s not to say
honeymooners sans enfants will feel left out.
Thanks to the hotel’s extensive grounds (a
whopping 25 acres) there are plenty of peaceful
pockets to sneak off to, plus there’s an adultonly
hilltop pool with the best views reserved
for its visitors. With or without kids, you can
bask in the sun or work your way through the
imaginative cocktail list – one thing’s for sure:
you’ll be begging to stay longer.
Insider tip: Book a table at Jardin for a
sophisticated menu of French Creole dishes
and a pianist on hand to set the mood.
The Verandah Resort & Spa, Antigua
Craving an authentic Caribbean experience with plenty of romance? The Verandah has a
winning combination of colonial charm (think
traditional plantation-style cottages) and quirky
character. Presiding over a picturesque swoonworthy
bay that will have you reaching for your
camera over and over again, everything from the
cocktails that come overflowing with straws and
flowers to the platters of exotic fruit at breakfast,
spells tropical delight. Lover’s Beach (yes, really)
is a blindingly white slice of paradise ideal for
swimming, thanks to its calm and protected
setting. And in the evening, you can dress up for
dinner at Nicole’s and pick lobster claws out of
each other’s bibs, or keep your flip-flops on for
jerk chicken and mojitos at Rasta Bar.
Insider tip: Book an Exclusive Kuoni
Water View Spa Suite and you’ll get three
free spa treatments and a dinner for two
included in your stay.
Kuoni Travel Secret: If you want to
truly escape head
to the adults only
pool - no music &
no wifi
Inspired?
Looking for the perfect honeymoon? From intimate and romantic resorts to thrilling cities and adventure safaris, Kuoni has a honeymoon to suit you. If you're inspired and wish to find out more, speak to one of our Personal Travel Experts.