destination weddings & honeymoons get answers! … · 70 destinationweddingmag.com...
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The Next GREAT HONEYMOON Escapes P.66
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2015i n t w o - t h o u s a n d a n d f i f t e e nWHERE TO HONEYMOON
These hot spots are making headlines — and we’ve sifted through the most Googled, Instagrammed and “liked” locales
for a honeymooner’s hit-up list. Here’s where to make your great escape in 2015 and when (hint: It’s not always in June).
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CROATIACroatia might have Bey and Jay to thank for its record 10 million visitors in 2013. Music’s it couple
reportedly named daughter Blue Ivy after a local tree. June warms the Adriatic Sea enough
for a swim — and you’ll beat the high-season masses. Adriana
Spa Hotel (from $280 per night) boasts views of the ancient city
center and Paklinski Islands archipelago. Explore Hvar’s
wineries and sample seafood like Dalmatian fish stew at Giaxa.
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ITALYAfter the Kimye nuptials,
Florence is high on newlyweds’ romance radar, and June sees both mild temperatures and
crowds. Kardashian-West guests stayed at The Westin Excelsior
(from $315 per night), a move you might want to mimic, given the hotel’s terrace with panora-
mas of the Florence Cathedral and Arno River. See the city on two wheels; Florence by Bike
offers a new photography tour of the town’s living history.
KAUAIMost flock to Hawaii when it’s wintery at home — December
through March — but local conditions are best in June.
After a $10 million renovation completed in summer 2014, the 200-room Kauai Shores (from $239 per night) on the island’s
Coconut Coast features two cozy pools and free oceanfront yoga.
At nearby Koloa Landing Spa, book the Honeymoon Ritual, a
massage topped with a bath for two in a wooden soaking tub.
FIJIShoulder season is short in Fiji,
but the weather is ideal in June. Last year, the South Pacific locale
was named one of the Top 10 Dream Destinations by Virtuoso
luxury travelers. Viti Levu’s newest spot, Nanuku Resort & Spa (from $756 per night), which debuted in March 2014,
fronts sandy Beqa Lagoon. Villa accommodations include non-motorized fun like snorkeling.
Bonus: June is best for spotting manta rays and bull sharks.
BRAZILNo time to rest from the
World Cup — Brazil is now deep in preparation for the 2016
Summer Olympics. The lineup of new digs includes swank
newcomers like Fasano Rio de Janeiro (from $820 per night) and Copacabana Palace (from
$550 per night), located smack in the middle of the iconic beach. At Ponta dos Ganchos resort
(from $700 per night), relaxation reigns in seaside bungalows
nestled in the rainforest.
BALI, INDONESIAWHY IT’S HOT ➸ It’s been four years since Julia Roberts’ character ate, prayed and loved her way through Bali, but the mystical tropical island is still all over celeb Instagram feeds — Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev struck a standing split with its emerald palms as her backdrop, while The Hills’ star Audrina Partridge floated freely in its crystal waters. Unless you’re a hard-core, hang-ten surfer, summer is the time to take advantage of Bali’s moderate temperatures and balmy breezes. WHAT’S NEW ➸ Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas — a three-resorts-in-one property with dramatic Indian Ocean vistas, 10 restaurants and a spa that’s home to Bali’s only ice-fountain room — debuted in 2013. From $380 per night. TO DO’S ➸ Channel joy with The Oberoi’s couple’s blessing by a Pemangku (Hindu priest); master Bali’s famous bold curry dishes at Anika Cooking Class; wander Jatiluwih’s rice terraces for stun-ning jungle and ocean views.
W H E R E TO ’ M O O N I N J U N E According to a 2013 survey on TheKnot.com, 44 percent of couples honeymoon in June. If that includes you and your new spouse, here are five top spots to see.
June
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Walking the cliffsides of Uluwatu in Bali. Rice terraces in Jatiluwih. Indonesian stew. A sea view at Mulia, Mulia Resort & Spa. Floating near Bali’s Nusa Lembongan. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Fairy-tale romance in the English countryside. Turtle Beach on the island of Tahiti. A bungalow at The Brando. View above Ponta dos Ganchos. Strolling Florence. Aqua waters at Nanuku Resort & Spa Fiji. Getting close in Kauai. Adriatic waterfront in Dalmatia, Croatia. Stealing a smooch in London.
Why it’s hot ➸ London was crowned the world’s most popular tourist destina-
tion by the MasterCard Global Cities Index report in 2014.
Plus, the March release of Cinderella, starring Games of Thrones’ Richard Madden as
Prince Charming, shows off fields of blooming
wildflowers in the English countryside. Summer’s bustling outdoor-market scene provides respite from London’s year-round moody skies.What’s new ➸ Sneak off to the Cots-wolds to Ellenborough Park, a 16th-century hotel evoking English heritage. Watch for the Cotswolds’ village of Bampton in the January premiere of Downton Abbey. From $384 per night.To Do’s ➸ Fly away on The London Helicopter for views of Buckingham Palace and Olympic Park. Snack on English delica-cies like soused Cornish mackerel at The Feathers.
ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
Why it’s hot ➸ Tahiti landed the top spot in Virtuoso’s report on the world’s best honeymoon destinations, so natu-rally it’s a Hollywood hot spot. Leonardo DiCaprio and his latest blond bombshell heated up Bora Bora’s cobalt coves on a recent PDA-packed visit. Winter (May through October) brings less rain and
cooler weather to French Polynesia. Don’t expect a hotel deal, though —
it’s the official high season. But then again, isn’t it always high season in this honeymoon haven?What’s new ➸ Dive in at The
Brando, an all-inclusive that debuted
its 35 Polynesian villas — each with its own plunge pool and slice of beach — in July 2014. Set on the remote atoll of Tetiaroa and accessible by private plane, Marlon Brando’s for-mer personal sanctuary now features a native spa and a lagoon-view bar. From $4,015 per night, three-night minimum, all-inclusive.To Do’s ➸ Save your appetite for a se-cluded motu picnic packed by The Brando’s experts or a champagne lunch and lagoon float at The St. Regis Bora Bora.
THE ISLANDS OF TAHITI
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