HONEYMOON IDEAS FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

BRIDES BESTHONEYMOONS 2016

We surveyed the A-list agents at Virtuoso, a network of more than 11,000 luxury- travel specialists, to find the most romantic hot spots in the world. Dive in!

MAGAZINE

2016

BEST HONEYMOONS

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2 Italy3 St. Lucia4 Maui5 South Africa

THE WORLD’S 20 MOST ROMANTIC DESTINATIONS1 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 over-water 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.

6 Maldives7 Mexico8 Fiji9 Kauai10 Seychelles

11 Jamaica12 Greece13 Turks and Caicos14 British Virgin Islands15 Bali

16 Thailand17 Hawaii Island18 Nevis19 France20 Dominican Republic

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 form-meets-function aesthetic shines through in this hard-sided kit (available in Delta One cabins), which includes lip balm, body lotion, and mouthwash by Malin + Goetz.

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.

Qantas Airways The Australian- made products in this business- class kit may be new discov-eries, but you’ll recognize the covetable bag’s designer, Kate Spade. Bonus: Your husband gets the Jack Spade version.

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TOP ALL-INCLUSIVE BRANDS

TOP RESORTS IN THE CARIBBEAN1 | 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 Velas Resorts 4 Sandals Resorts2 Secrets Resorts & Spas

3 Zoëtry Wellness and Spa Resorts

5 Excellence Resorts

TOP RESORTS IN MEXICO1 | ONE & ONLY PALMILLA, LOS CABOS Fresh off a $140 million renovation, this haute prop-erty (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.

TOP RESORTS IN HAWAII1 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT HUALALAI, HAWAII ISLAND Want your super-luxe ‘moon with a side of Hawaiian cul-ture? 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 stun-ning 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.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai,

Hawaii Island

YOU COULD WIN A TRIP TO

ST. LUCIA!

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.*

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

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TOP RESORTS IN THE MAINLAND U.S. AND CANADA1 | 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.

TOP RESORTS IN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST1 | 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.

TOP RESORTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA1 | 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 VOL-CANO NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA Doubles from $650; nayarasprings.com.

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TOP RESORTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 1 | FOUR SEASONS RESORT BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA Sure, this super-chic resort has beachfront villas, but for couples it’s all about the over-water 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.

TOP RESORTS IN ASIA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND1 | ONE & ONLY REETHI RAH, MAL-DIVES 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 crystal- clear lagoon—the better to take in all that tropical gorgeousness. Doubles from $1,190; oneandonlyresorts.com.

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 EUROPE1 | 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 restau-rant, 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.

Le Sirenuse, Italy

One & Only Reethi Rah,

Maldives

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

TOP CITY HOTELS Under $3501 | TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL AND SPA, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA With views of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles range behind it, this hotel sits on what may be the prettiest

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.

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

TOP ADVENTURE LODGES Under $3501 | NAYARA HOTEL, SPA & GARDENS, ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA Come for the proximity to rain forests, water-falls, 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 FOR-EST 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.

TOP BEACH RESORTS Under $3501 | TURTLE INN, PLACENCIA, BELIZE Picture 25 thatched-roof villas just steps from the Caribbean Sea, all with Asian touches like hand-carved Balinese doors and Japanese baths. Add access to the Belize Barrier Reef (the second largest in the world), a killer Italian seafood restau-rant (ceviche and pizza, any-one?), and a famous owner, Francis Ford Coppola, who’s packed the place with per-sonal 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.

Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, Costa Rica

Peninsula Bangkok, Thailand

Turtle Inn, Belize

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