Self-care’s essential in the lead-up to the wedding, but what about after? We round up the most restorative honeymoons for you both
Bahamas
What would happen if New England went tropical? Eleuthera and Harbour Island, that’s what! Located about 60 miles from Nassau, Eleuthera is best known for its pineapple crop, while charming Harbour Island, just off its north-eastern tip, is a Barbie girl’s dream, with actual pink sands and pastel-hued architecture.
Whilst it’s tempting to ’gram the heck out of the Bahamas, wellness is the name of the game here, so log off for a spell and laze on those unspoilt beaches.
Nana Princess, Crete
Fairly new to the scene, the five-star Nana Princess first opened its doors in June 2018. Nearly all of the suites and villas on offer have individual plunge pools, but it’s the Ambassador Wellbeing Suite that we’re lusting after, with its additional private sauna, gym and unbelievable sea vistas.
If you can bear to tear yourself away, the resort also has two seawater pools and a cabaña-peppered beach. From around €191 per night.
Finikas, Koufonisia
Tranquility is guaranteed on this small, peaceful Greek island, particularly if you book into Finikas, a hotel that’s based a stone’s throw away from Harokopos beach and the emerald Aegean Sea.
The restaurant is famed for its fresh catches, which you can savour outdoors, listening to the lapping waves, before indulging in a massage and resting your head in a deluxe suite, complete with balcony to bask in those views. It’s also an easy base for island-hopping. From £135 per night.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa
Now that’s a bird’s-eye view! As well as being idyllic, Pullman Hotels & Resorts’ first Maldives property, the Maamutaa, serves up a leading wellness programme. There’s a Fit Trail, an island jogging track with five fitness stations, and a boot camp if you fancy putting your body through its paces, or, if you need to slow down, the resort’s Spa by Phytomer has eight treatment rooms to get stuck into. Opt for a signature facial or massage, overlooking the shallow lagoon. From £935 for a Beach Villa.
Banyan Tree, Phuket
2019 was a big year for Banyan Tree. Not only did the Phuket resort celebrate its 25th anniversary, but also introduced a series of 25 Serenity Pool Villas. Each has a pool, a butler on call 24 hours a day, a dedicated wine fridge and a combined steam and shower room (nope, we wouldn’t want to leave either).
Good job that the on-site spa can bring its treatment menu to your door. Look forward to a Sanctuary Sleep Experience (with binaural music and aromatherapy), unlimited daily wellbeing activities and a morning juice served with a side of neck massage. From £600 per night.
One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Rwanda
If Tarzan is your favourite Disney flick, you might just need to take a seat before reading any further. This astonishing bucket-list resort launched in November and boasts, as its name suggests, a front-row seat to a mountain gorilla sanctuary, alongside five dormant volcanoes.
When you’re not trekking through the rainforest, indulge in a holistic, plant-based treatment, tailored to a specific part of your body. A Forest King two-bedroom lodge starts at around £2,386 per night.
Bawah Reserve, Indonesia
Did someone say ‘all-inclusive island’? Our bags are packed. Getting to the Bawah Reserve is a journey – a private guide will escort you from your hotel in Singapore to Batam Island to clear customs ahead of an hour’s flight by seaplane to Bawah – but the destination is more than worth it.
Between jungle trekking, snorkelling, paddle-boarding and hiking, you’ll have no problem re-connecting with nature. Seven nights from £3,925pp, including international flights.
Seychelles
If this sight isn’t enough to soothe you, surely nothing will. The only appropriate word for the Seychelles is ‘paradise’, so soak it all up with a leisurely, refreshing dip at Anse Soleil on the main island of Mahé, one of the most glorious beaches on the planet.
Afterwards, head to the Anse Soleil Resort, where you can stay in total seclusion in a self-catering apartment. Each has a private veranda with panoramic ocean views, where you can enjoy some brekkie.
Scenic River Cruise
The Wind in the Willows had the right idea: rivers really are supremely relaxing. Why not sail down one as part of your honeymoon? Leave the high seas behind and cruise through the fresh waters of Bordeaux or south-east Asia with Scenic, whose ships have their own on-board wellness centres, featuring a vitality pool (above) and innovative salt therapy lounge. There’s even private one-on-one yoga sessions. Bliss. Bordeaux Affair river cruise from £2,170 pp.
Beachcomber Royal Palm Luxury, Mauritius
As if you’d need any more reasons to bump Mauritius up your wish list – but oh, wait, here’s another! The Beachcomber Royal Palm Luxury, on the sheltered north-west coast of the island, has just relaunched its spa following a €1million refurb, revealing a new look and partnership with French brand CODAGE.
Recharge with revamped treatments, blending ancestral rituals, like Ayurveda or Reiki, with cutting-edge technology, in the most decadent, heavenly surroundings imaginable. From €347 per night.
Earthlinks, Sri Lanka
Thanks to Greta Thunberg’s transatlantic crossing, we’re all aware more than ever of the negative repercussions of travel. Luckily, companies like +Impact Travel are ready to help us give back with our much-needed break. Go off-grid with an ethical yoga retreat.
We’re tempted by EarthLinks in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, where you can spend up to 12 days tucking into tasty vegan cuisine, gently working out, surfing and unwinding in a colonial-style bungalow. From £733 for a six-day package.
Sandals Grande St Lucian
Hopelessly romantic, with a mile-long beach framed by volcanic mountains, Sandals Grande St. Lucian is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous, with over-the-water bungalows, 12 restaurants and the resident Red Lane Spa.
There’s such a wealth of treatments here, from massages to manicures, but it’s Raindrop Dreams, a transcendent 90-minute aromatherapy session, that’s piqued our interest. Buh-bye stress. Seven nights from £2,319pp.