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two on a private island under the stars, and diving coral reefs so rich with sea .... breakfast in bed, hike in a cloud
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HONEYMOON IDEAS FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

MAGAZINE

BEST

HONEYMOONS

MICHELLE HOLDEN/ TRUNK ARCHIVE

2016

BRIDES BEST

HONEYMOONS 2016

We surveyed the A-list agents at Virtuoso, a network of more than 11,000 luxurytravel specialists, to find the most romantic hot spots in the world. Dive in! FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO VIRTUOSO.COM/BRIDES.

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GETAWAY

THE WORLD’S 20 MOST ROMANTIC DESTINATIONS

1 FRENCH POLYNESIA This is the third year in a row that Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the rest of the 118 islands in this South Pacific archipelago have claimed our number-one slot. No surprise: They pretty much invented the overwater bungalow—the sexiest thing to happen to honeymooners since, well, ever. If chilling with your husband in a cottage on stilts above a gorgeous blue sea isn’t reason enough to go, consider the bucket-list adventures to be had: snorkeling with reef sharks, shopping for jewelry at a working black-pearl farm, dinners for two on a private island under the stars, and diving coral reefs so rich with sea life that Jacques Cousteau couldn’t stop raving about them. Prediction: You won’t be able to either.

2 Italy 3 St. Lucia 4 Maui 5 South Africa

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MATTEO COLOMBO; GETT Y IMAGES; GALLERY STOCK; MATTEO COLOMBO; GETT Y IMAGES; DYAD PHOTOGRAPHY, ST YLING BY MIAKO K ATOH (3)

6 Maldives 7 Mexico 8 Fiji 9 Kauai 10 Seychelles

11 Jamaica 12 Greece 13 Turks and Caicos 14 British Virgin Islands 15 Bali

AMENITIES WORTH FLYING FOR When you book a first- or business-class ticket, not only do you arrive at your destination well rested, you also get to pamper yourself with the high-end products found in the exclusive amenity kits.

Delta Air Lines Tumi’s formmeets-function aesthetic shines through in this hardsided kit (available in Delta One cabins), which includes lip balm, body lotion, and mouthwash by Malin + Goetz.

Qantas Airways The Australianmade products in this businessclass kit may be new discoveries, but you’ll recognize the covetable bag’s designer, Kate Spade. Bonus: Your husband gets the Jack Spade version.

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Singapore Airlines Expect to feel like an Italian fashionista when you open Salvatore Ferragamo’s first-class bag and find luxe hand cream, eau de parfum, and lip balm.

16 Thailand 17 Hawaii Island 18 Nevis 19 France 20 Dominican Republic (continued on page 196)

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Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii Island

EXCLUSIVE

One lucky couple will score complimentary airfare and a five-night stay at Jade Mountain, an insanely romantic spot on St. Lucia (and our winner for top Caribbean resort, below). See page 66 or visit brides.com/win for more details.*

TOP RESORTS IN THE CARIBBEAN TOP RESORTS IN MEXICO 1 | JADE MOUNTAIN, ST. LUCIA All suites at this cliffside retreat are open air (an exterior wall is actually missing), giving you awesome views of the Piton mountains and Caribbean Sea. The best place to soak it all in? From your private infinity pool; every room has one. Doubles from $1,080; jademountain.com. 2 | AMANYARA, TURKS AND CAICOS Doubles from $1,450; aman.com. 3 | CHEVAL BLANC ST-BARTH ISLE DE FRANCE, ST. BARTS Doubles from $688; chevalblanc.com. 4 | LADERA, ST. LUCIA Doubles from $575; ladera.com. 5 | SUGAR BEACH, A VICEROY RESORT, ST. LUCIA Doubles from $425; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

1 | ONE & ONLY PALMILLA, LOS CABOS Fresh off a $140 million renovation, this haute property (Jennifer Aniston is a regular) is hotter than ever. Not only does it have two pools and one of the only swimmable beaches in Los Cabos, but every whitewashed room features a balcony and a stunning ocean view. Doubles from $590; oneandonlyresorts.com. 2 | LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO, A ROSEWOOD RESORT, LOS CABOS Doubles from $925; rosewoodhotels.com. 3 | ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA, RIVIERA MAYA Doubles from $515; rosewoodhotels.com. 4 | BELMOND MAROMA RESORT & SPA, RIVIERA MAYA Doubles from $765; belmond.com. 5 | SECRETS MAROMA BEACH RIVIERA CANCUN, RIVIERA MAYA All-inclusive doubles from $413; secretsresorts.com.

1 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT HUALALAI, HAWAII ISLAND Want your super-luxe ‘moon with a side of Hawaiian culture? This swank resort on the Kona-Kohala coast offers fun classes in everything from hula to lei making. If you’d rather just hang by the beach or one of seven stunning pools, that’s cool too. King’s Pond, carved out of lava rocks and filled with fish and an eagle ray, is beyond Instagram-worthy. Doubles from $845; fourseasons.com. 2 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAUI AT WAILEA Doubles from $729; fourseasons.com. 3 | ST. REGIS PRINCEVILLE RESORT, KAUAI Doubles from $495; stregisprinceville.com. 4 | HALEKULANI, OAHU Doubles from $495; halekulani.com. 5 | ANDAZ MAUI AT WAILEA RESORT Doubles from $399; andaz.hyatt.com.

TOP ALL-INCLUSIVE BRANDS 1 Velas Resorts

2 Secrets Resorts & Spas

3 Zoëtry Wellness and Spa Resorts

4 Sandals Resorts

5 Excellence Resorts

SANDALS: COREY MAY WALT; ALL OTHERS: COURTESY OF THE RESORTS

TOP RESORTS IN HAWAII

YOU COULD WIN A TRIP TO ST. LUCIA!

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. FOR COMPLETE RULES, VISIT BRIDES.COM/WIN.

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TOP RESORTS IN THE MAINLAND U.S. AND CANADA

TOP RESORTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

TOP RESORTS IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

1 | LITTLE PALM ISLAND RESORT & SPA, FLORIDA KEYS You don’t have to fly to the South Pacific to honeymoon on a private island. Depending on where you live, you may not have to fly period; just take U.S. 1 from Miami to Little Torch Key and hitch a ride on the hotel’s gleaming mahogany boat. Your suite— topped with thatch and outfitted with an outdoor bamboo shower—only adds to the castaway fantasy. Doubles from $990; littlepalmisland.com. 2 | POST RANCH INN, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA Doubles from $675; postranchinn.com. 3 | AMANGIRI, CANYON POINT, UTAH Doubles from $1,250; aman.com. 4 | MEADOWOOD NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Doubles from $500; meadowood.com. 5 | AUBERGE DU SOLEIL, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Doubles from $1,175; aubergedusoleil.com.

1 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT COSTA RICA AT PENINSULA PAPAGAYO Nestled between two golden-sand beaches, this posh Pacific oasis lets couples get their nature on without sacrificing big-resort perks (four pools, a golf course, tennis courts). Wake up to breakfast in bed, hike in a cloud forest, then sign up (November through May) for a star-gazing dinner that includes wine aged with—no joke—meteorite dust. Doubles from $500; fourseasons.com. 2 | MUKUL BEACH, GOLF & SPA, GUACALITO DE LA ISLA, NICARAGUA Doubles from $500; mukulresort.com. 3 | TURTLE INN, PLACENCIA, BELIZE Doubles from $319; turtleinn.com. 4 | BELMOND SANCTUARY LODGE, MACHU PICCHU, PERU Doubles from $975; belmond.com. 5 | NAYARA SPRINGS, ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA Doubles from $650; nayarasprings.com.

1 | ONE & ONLY CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Although it’s set on the touristy Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, this property feels like a private retreat, with views of iconic Table Mountain, a spa on its own island, and the only Nobu restaurant in Africa. Expect to work up an appetite shopping, surfing, and cage diving with great whites. Doubles from $689; oneandonlyresorts.com. 2 | ROYAL MALEWANE, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA All-inclusive doubles from $2,752; royalmalewane.com. 3 | SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA All-inclusive doubles from $2,450; singita.com. 4 | SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA All-inclusive doubles from $2,580; singita.com. 5 | ONE & ONLY ROYAL MIRAGE, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Doubles from $536; oneandonlyresorts.com.

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BRIDES.COM

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TOP RESORTS IN ASIA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND 1 | ONE & ONLY REETHI RAH, MALDIVES Look up luxe in the dictionary and you might find a photo of this sleek, überprivate resort in the Indian Ocean. Many villas have an infinity pool, and overwater bungalows have hammocks suspended above a crystalclear lagoon—the better to take in all that tropical gorgeousness. Doubles from $1,190; oneandonlyresorts.com.

One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives

COURTESY OF THE HOTELS

TOP RESORTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Le Sirenuse, Italy

2 | ONE & ONLY HAYMAN ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA Doubles from $648; oneandonly resorts.com. 3 | LIZARD ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA All-inclusive doubles from $1,699; lizardisland.com.au. 4 | FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE, CHIANG RAI, THAILAND Doubles from $2,200; fourseasons.com. 5 | AMANPURI, PHUKET, THAILAND Doubles from $600; aman.com.

TOP RESORTS IN EUROPE 1 | LE SIRENUSE, POSITANO, ITALY Hovering 230 feet above the sea, this 58-room gem is the epitome of all things la dolce vita. Among its features: exquisite, classically decorated rooms; a swimming pool surrounded by lemon trees; and a Michelin-starred restaurant, La Sponda, set on a candlelit deck with epic views of the Amalfi Coast. Doubles from $367; sirenuse.it. 2 | VILLA D’ESTE, LAKE COMO, ITALY Doubles from $511; villadeste.com. 3 | FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GEORGE V, PARIS Doubles from $1,597; fourseasons.com. 4 | PALAZZO AVINO, RAVELLO, ITALY Doubles from $311; palazzoavino.com. 5 | THE GRITTI PALACE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, VENICE, ITALY Doubles from $450; thegrittipalace.com.

1 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA Sure, this super-chic resort has beachfront villas, but for couples it’s all about the overwater bungalow. Three reasons you’ll never want to leave yours: 1. Breakfast is delivered by canoe each morning. 2. All you have to do to swim in a blue lagoon is jump from your deck. 3. If you don’t want to get wet, you can watch fish swim by through a window in your floor. Doubles from $1,148; fourseasons.com. 2 | THE BRANDO, TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA All-inclusive doubles from $2,668; thebrando.com. 3 | ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT, FRENCH POLYNESIA Doubles from $800; stregisborabora.com. 4 | LAUCALA ISLAND, FIJI All-inclusive doubles from $4,800; laucala.com. 5 | LE TAHA’A ISLAND RESORT & SPA, FRENCH POLYNESIA Doubles from $930; letahaa.com. (continued on page 206)

BRIDES.COM

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GETAWAY Turtle Inn, Belize

1 | TURTLE INN, PLACENCIA, BELIZE Picture 25 thatchedroof villas just steps from the Caribbean Sea, all with Asian touches like handcarved Balinese doors and Japanese baths. Add access to the Belize Barrier Reef (the second largest in the world), a killer Italian seafood restaurant (ceviche and pizza, anyone?), and a famous owner, Francis Ford Coppola, who’s packed the place with personal details (there’s even a

beach house named after his filmmaker daughter, Sofia), and you’ve got the perfect beach holiday. Doubles from $319; turtleinn.com. 2 | HOTEL PUNTA ISLITA, COSTA RICA Doubles from $253; hotelpuntaislita.com. 3 | WESTIN ST. JOHN RESORT VILLAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Doubles from $254; westinresortstjohn.com. 4 | TURTLE BAY, OAHU Doubles from $299; turtle bayresort.com. 5 | JW MARRIOTT PHUKET RESORT & SPA, THAILAND Doubles from $160; jw.marriott.com.

TOP ADVENTURE LODGES Under $350

Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, Costa Rica

Peninsula Bangkok, Thailand

TOP CITY HOTELS Under $350

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piece of land in Cape Town. You can check out the peaks from a pool bordered by boulders or take in the ocean from Azure Restaurant, known for its kick-ass wine list and seriously romantic vibe. Doubles from $327; 12apostleshotel.com. 2 | PENINSULA BANGKOK, THAILAND Doubles from $211; peninsula.com.

1 | NAYARA HOTEL, SPA & GARDENS, ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA Come for the proximity to rain forests, waterfalls, hot springs, and an active volcano; stay for the 50 luxe clifftop casitas, all with outdoor showers, private decks, and stunning views. Doubles from $320; arenalnayara.com. 2 | EL SILENCIO LODGE & SPA, BAJOS DEL TORO, COSTA RICA Doubles from $310; elsilenciolodge.com. 3 | BLANCANEAUX LODGE, MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE, BELIZE Doubles from $289; blancaneaux.com. 4 | TREE HOUSE LODGE, LIMÓN, COSTA RICA Doubles from $265; costaricatreehouse.com. 5 | DAINTREE ECO LODGE & SPA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA Doubles from $243; daintree-ecolodge.com.au.

3 | BELLAGIO, LAS VEGAS Doubles from $159; bellagio.com. 4 | SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, BANGKOK, THAILAND Doubles from $195; shangri-la.com. 5 | AUBERGE SAINTANTOINE, QUÉBEC CITY Doubles from $219; saint-antoine.com.

COURTESY OF THE HOTELS

TOP BEACH RESORTS Under $350

GO TO BRIDES.COM/HONEYMOONS FOR MORE WINNING HOTELS AND DESTINATIONS!

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