HONEYMOON HOTSPOTS

Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by Homes Etc in Articles, Reviews

Discover your dream destination on the ultimate honeymoon getaway. Here is a selection of some beautiful, romantic hotspots worldwide…

Cocoa Island, Maldives

Location: Cocoa Island, known locally as Makunufushi, is located among South Malé’s coral atolls. Importantly, guests don’t need seaplanes to access the island, it’s just a 40-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport on Malé (the main island). In addition, Cocoa is located in the opposite direction to the majority of resorts (concentrated in the North Malé atoll) occupying a quieter, undisturbed area.

What to do: Cocoa Island is a small private island resort perfect for those in search of barefoot luxury. Is has a fully equipped watersports centre and there is also a comprehensive COMO Shambhala Retreat. A number of excursions are available; island hopping is a popular activity, incorporating uninhabited spits for snorkeling and impromptu barbecue-picnics. Explore typical Maldivian villages, for example, the neighbouring island and fishing village of Maafushi.

Where to Stay: Accommodation is over-water. Rooms are inspired by local dhoni boats in bleached wood with alang-alang roofs. They are reached via planked walkways stretching out into the lagoon. From your platform bed, watch fishermen traverse the cerulean sea. The island is about 350 metres long – with sand snaking out into a perfect spit that disappears with the evening tide. The house reef, which encircles Cocoa, delineates a gin-clear lagoon that’s rich with sealife, including ray and baby sharks.

Rates: Elegant Resorts (www.elegantresorts.co.uk, 01244 897 538) offers 7 nights at Cocoa Island in the Maldives from £2,545 per person. Price includes a complimentary night (saving of £550 pp) based on two people sharing a Dhoni Suite with breakfast. Flights depart from London Heathrow on Qatar Airways and speedboat transfers are included. This offer is valid from 10 Jan-14 May 2010, www. cocoaisland.como.bz.

Dugong Beach Lodge, Mozambique

Location: Dugong Beach Lodge is situated on the East- African Seaboard, on the coast of Mozambique within the boundaries of the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary covers 30,000 hectares of pristine marine and wildlife territory, a unique ‘Beach and Bush’ experience in a hidden corner of sub tropical Africa.

What to do: Partake in activities ranging from fishing, scuba diving, or snorkelling, to sunset cruises. Discover the tranquillity and unspoiled paradise of Dugong, set in the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary right on the end of the beach. Enjoy your meals on the deck beneath the African stars or at a table laid on the beach with the warm sand between your toes. Dugong Beach Lodge also has the best beach, low or high tide, that we have seen in Southern Mozambique.

Where to Stay: Dugong Beach Lodge, perched right on the edge of the beach is an idyllic setting with ten luxury tents built on raised decks. The tented chalets are big and spacious and cleverly designed to ensure that they remain cool even without air conditioning. The Bath tubs and outdoor showers are really rather romantic too making it the ideal place to spend a few nights before heading out to the Islands.

Rates: Tailor made honeymoon specialists ‘to escape to’ have a special offer from £2,270 per person sharing, which is a saving of over £700pp. Price includes 7 nights staying at Dugong Beach Lodge, Mozambique on a Full Board basis, including non motorised sports, return boat transfers, return flights from Johannesburg to Vilanculos, return international flights from London Heathrow. Valid until 31 October 2010, www.toescapeto.com.

Occidental Grand, Aruba

Location: The sun-kissed Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is becoming a favourite for loved-up UK couples looking to tie the knot, with bookings for wedding packages for 2010 already at twice the number sold in 2009. A great destination to get married or relax on your honeymoon.

What to do: Aruba’s breathtaking sunsets, worldclass beaches and year-round warm weather make the island a picture perfect place for a destination wedding. Couples choosing to get married in Aruba usually opt to have their civil ceremony in the morning at the historic, sea-coloured Civil House first, followed by a blessing on the beach or at one of Aruba’s luxurious hotels and resorts later in the day.

Where to stay: Guaranteed to take your breath away, the Occidental Grand Aruba offers luxury in every sense of the word, with a truly elegant decor, beautiful rooms and countless facilities. Special features like its beach massage service and Japanese garden restaurant make this hotel unforgettable.

Rates: First Choice offers 14 night holidays in Aruba staying all-inclusive at the Occidental Grand Aruba from around £1,685 per person, based on two sharing, departing from London Gatwick on the 8th May 2010. Weddings at the Occidental Grand Aruba start from £1,609, www.firstchoice.co.uk, 0872 664 0131. Alternatively, Thomson offers 14 night holidays in Aruba staying all-inclusive at the 5T Riu Palace Aruba from £1,699 per person, based on two sharing, departing from London Gatwick on the 8th May 2010. Set on the breathtaking Palm Beach, with its talcumpowder- soft sands and bright blue water, Riu Palace Aruba has one of the best settings on the island. It offers a fabulous range of restaurants and bars, along with sports and relaxing beauty treatments. Weddings at the Riu Palace Aruba start from £1,739, www. thomson.co.uk, 0871 971 0545. Prices include flights, transfers, fuel surcharges, air passenger duty, and accommodation. Visit www.aruba.com.

Pacific Coast Highway, Califonia

Location: This is a great holiday option for adventurous couples. Explore the California’s Pacific Coast Highway 1 and discover different sites and areas along the Californian coast.

What to do: This selected package from Bon Voyage includes the following destinations on route: Santa Monica: boasts 3.5 miles of quintessential southern Californian beach and enjoys on average 340 days of sunshine a year. Santa Monica has some of the best-known restaurants in LA along with some of the hippest hotels and bars in the city (www. shuttersonthebeach.com).

Santa Barbara: located north of Los Angeles, it is an upmarket destination for dining and shopping and acts as a great base for exploring the surrounding areas. The Santa Ynez Valley is crammed with wineries and beautiful scenery, while out to sea the Channel Islands (known as the Californian Galapagos) can be explored on day kayaking and hiking trips (www.bacararesort. com, www.spyglassinn.com). Between Santa Barbara and Big Sur visitors can stop off at Hearst Castle (www.hearstcastle.org).

Carmel: provides an ideal base for exploring the surrounding areas – Big Sur, Pebble Beach and Monterey. Visitors should take a drive along 17 mile drive which winds through Pebble Beach, and some of the largest homes in the state (www. carmelvalleyranch.com).

Where to stay/Rates: Bon Voyage offers a seven night holiday along California’s Pacific Coast Highway 1 from £1,625 per person. This price includes two nights at Shutters On The Beach in Santa Monica, one night at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, one night at the Spyglass Inn in Pismo Beach, two nights at the Carmel Valley Ranch and one night at the Hotel Palomar in San Francisco. Also included are return flights to Los Angeles, returning from San Francisco, and Mustang convertible car hire. Visit www.bonvoyage. co.uk, 0800 316 3012.

Uma Ubud, Bali

Location: This extraordinary Indonesian island is spliced by a volcanic mountain chain which divides the quiet north coast from the busy south coast. At its heart lies Ubud, a small but lively town regarded as the island’s cultural hub.

What to do: The town is a compelling mix of rustic tradition and active Hindu spiritualism (Bali’s religious heritage is unique in Indonesia). The resort is hidden on the fringe of Ubud with views over the valley and without the sound of traffic, though just a 20mins walk into town. This is the ultimate escape complemented by the restorative treatments available at the COMO Shambhala Spa. Guests after activities have the choice of yoga, trekking, white water rafting, mountain biking and bespoke cultural tours, or hit the beach at the Bali Hyatt. A timeless resort with all the 5* facilities associated with a Hyatt.

Where to stay: Uma Ubud is located in the centre of the island. The hotel, occupying a three-hectare site, is hidden on the fringe of Ubud, overlooking the Tjampuhan Valley Bali shares the same peak season as Europe and from May – October there is no better time to go.

Rates: Trailfinders (www.trailfinders.com, 0845 054 6060) offers 7 nights culture/beach twin-centre in Bali from £999 per person in May and £1,255 in August. Price is based on two people sharing with breakfast staying 3 nights at Uma Ubud inland and 4 nights at Bali Hyatt on Sanur Beach with private transfers included. Flights depart from London Heathrow on Malaysia Airlines and May departures receive a complimentary 1hr massage at the COMO Shambhala Spa at Uma Ubud.

Hamilton Island, qualia, Australia

Location: qualia (pronounced “kwahleea”, deliberately spelt with a lower case ‘q’ reflecting the relaxed, understated nature of the property) is a stunning resort on Hamilton Island, located at the Great Barrier Reef. Located only two to three hours flight time from Australia’s major east coast cities Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne.

What to do: Activity options are numerous and varied, ranging from the leisurely to the active, such as; jet ski touring, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, seaplane flights, sunset cruises, and golf. If you wish to relax and be pampered, enjoy a selection of treatments at Spa qualia, one of the world’s “must experience spas”.

Where to Stay: qualia is an exclusive $75 million world class luxury resort located on the secluded northern tip of Hamilton Island. The resort offers guests a choice of 60 pavilions: 27 Windward pavilions, each four times the size of an average hotel room with private plunge pool on an expansive deck, and 33 west facing Leeward pavilions. For guests desiring more space the Beach House comes with its own full size swimming pool, extensive entertaining area and a separate guest pavilion. Resort facilities include a helipad for guests wishing to arrive directly and independently, a gym, and a fashion boutique featuring labels like Kenzo and Just Cavalli.

Rates: 7 nights at qualia for two people will cost from £8,170 with Turquoise Holidays (www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk, 01494 678 400). This includes flights from London to Sydney, Sydney to Brisbane and Brisbane to Hamilton, as well as all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, www.qualia.com.au.

Monte Mulini, Rovinj, Croatia

Location: Rovinj, the “Blue Pear of the Adriatic” is a romantic getaway, only two and a half hours from London. With its cobbled streets, Venetian architecture, natural forest parks and beautiful churches, this destination offers a diverse range of locations and romantic spots ideal for honeymooners.

What to do: One of the star attractions at Hotel Monte Mulini is its spa. Set over two levels, the Monte Mulini Wellness Centre includes a VIP Salon with ‘zones’ which can be booked by individuals or couples for individually designed treatments which last for up to four hours.

Where to Stay: The 5 star Monte Mulini is a luxurious haven for honeymooning couples. The true romance of Rovinj is evident immediately on arrival. All guest rooms benefit from balconies offering fantastic views of the chic pool area, the crystal-clear sea and the surrounding nature reserve. A spacious terraced area for alfresco dining and relaxation displays amazing views of the pool area, the bay and romantic sunsets.

Rates: Stay 3 nights from £745 per person. Based on two persons sharing a Premium Room on a bed and breakfast basis, economy flights from Stansted with Ryanair including private car transfers. Based on 24 April 2010 departure. Contact Elegant Resorts Reservations, 01244 897516, www.elegantresorts. co.uk, www.montemulinihotel.com.