This is one of the most anticipated and indulgent holidays you’ll ever take, so naturally expectations are high. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as champagne picnics on uninhabited islands, diving with whale sharks and staying in over-water villas with their own chef tend have long lured happy couples. But now action and adventure are a top priority for newlyweds who have already taken sun, sea and sand holidays together numerous times – anything from gorilla encounters in Uganda to tandem skydiving in New Zealand. And twin-centre honeymoons – city and spa, safari and sand – are also very popular. Some things never go out of honeymoon style, though: a big bed, amazing views, fantastic food and top-notch service.
OVER-WATER VILLAS
Baros, Maldives
30 wooden water villas line a crescent boardwalk in the lagoon, and these are furnished with large four-poster beds and private sunbathing decks with daybed and loungers. It’s also home to Lighthouse, one of the loveliest Indian Ocean restaurants; open-sided, set over water and circular with tables dotted around the edge, you really feel like you’re dining alone together in the middle of the ocean.
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, Tahiti
Each over-water villa is a pocket oasis, complete with broad bed, private deck with steps to the sea and a freestanding bathtub beside sliding doors which, when opened, reveal views of Bora Bora’s Mount Otemanu across the lagoon. It’s the sexiest tub in the world. The private beach, cathedral-like spa with couples’ massage room and poolside cabanas are also fabulous. Over-water suite from £625.
St George’s Caye Resort, Belize
If you’re on a budget but want the over-water suite experience, St George’s Caye is a great option. The six thatched-roof cabanas built on stilts in the Caribbean Sea are simply furnished with a mosquito-net draped bed, private bath, hammock on the porch and little else for a Robinson Crusoe-vibe. When you’re not snoozing in the hammock, Belize is on your doorstep, which means some of the best scuba diving in the world and Mayan ruins to explore.
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Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Surrounded by rainforest and pristine sandy beaches on a private island off the west coast of Malaysia, Pangkor Laut is honeymoon gold. Standing elegantly on stilts in Emerald Bay, each wooden sea villa has a king-sized bed, balcony and enormous bath with sea views. Two pools, yoga deck and rainforest walks are calming diversions, or you can book treatments at the Spa Village, which offers ancient Malay, Chinese and Thai healing rituals.
Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge, Panama
Wonderfully remote, this Bocas Del Toro eco retreat isn’t a renowned honeymoon escape but it should be. The nine green and yellow over-water cabanas, connected to each other and the restaurant via walkways, have a downstairs living area and veranda with a ladder plunging into the sea. It lies in 150 acres of protected rainforest and mangrove reserve, and everything’s powered by solar energy. Prices include snorkelling, kayaking, breakfast and candle-lit dinners.
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