How our Bliss Filters work
Couples planning their honeymoon have a vast array of options at their fingertips when it comes to deciding where you want to honeymoon and whether you want a land-only getaway or land-and-cruise vacation. (See the Travel Romance links at the bottom to help with your decision-making.)
For most honeymooners traveling outside the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico are top choices that provide convenience as well as that lifelong dreaminess factor.
Here are 10 high-end honeymoon resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico that couples are sure to love.
Sophisticated honeymooners who want pristine nature but also crave urbane comforts and haute design love this W resort. A 20-minute flight from San Juan brings them to an island with undeveloped beaches lined by palm trees, the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay and even wild horses. The hotel fetches incoming guests from the airport to the check-in lounge, and there the fun begins. Or does it? Actually, it begins even before that with the Honeymoon Registry, one of the best in the universe of getting hitched.
Each of the W Retreat’s 156 rooms and suites has a private patio or balcony, W signature bed, multiple electronic necessities, Bliss bath amenities, and large, open bathrooms. Patricia Urquiola’s decor is itself a happy menage a trois, blending clean, contemporary lines with earth tones and Caribbean pastels.
The food and beverage service here includes beachfront Sorce, which offers refined Caribbean dishes prepared with organic ingredients and accompanied by a serious wine menu. The cafe serves first-rate coffee and pastries, the poolside bar offers small plates and lunches, and the Living Room is an outdoor lounge with billiards and board games, a firepit, Wi-Fi and irresistible cocktails. Complimentary recreational options include snorkeling, kayaking, tennis, yoga classes, the infinity pool, beach and fitness center. The Away Spa offers more than 30 treatments, and guests venture beyond the hotel to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, diving, horseback riding, and ecotours. Rates start at $295 per night.
Cruise ships that call on Vieques: SeaDream II
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Puerto Rico travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Choosing between the Jewel Dunn’s River Beach and Jewel Paradise Cove resorts in Jamaica, both of which are adults-only, is tricky. Jewel Dunn’s River Beach is a no-brainer for honeymooners on a tight budget, and room rates even include golf at Runaway Golf. Jewel Paradise Cove costs a few bucks more, but it offers terrific value: The level of luxury at this 225-room resort is a bit higher, and its Enhanced Activities program, which is included, features activities for which hotels normally charge considerably extra: golf, a sunset cruise, snorkeling trip, scuba diving, water skiing and a visit to Margaritaville.
Like the other two Jewel resorts, Paradise Cove offers seven restaurants ranging from a beach grill and a buffet to Italian, sushi, pan-Asian, white-glove continental, and pizza restaurants. Other features include six bars and lounges (including a romantic piano bar), entertainers and a nightclub, dive-in movies, water sports, tennis, a fitness center, daily fitness classes, a sauna, three pools, three whirlpools and (costing extra) a full-service spa.
Jewel Resorts gives honeymooners a complimentary photo shoot, and the $199 and $399 packages offer additional goodies (i.e. a couple’s massage). Room rates begin at $584 per night, and Ocean View from $637. The advantage of the Butler Service Junior Suites (from $684), in addition to the extra space and the personal concierge, is that room service is included, which can be a pretty handy thing for newlyweds.
Cruise ships that call on Jamaica: Celebrity Reflection, Regal Princess, Eurodam, Maasdam, Noordam, Star Flyer, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Luminosa and eight ships from Carnival
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Jamaica travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Don’t let the fab new Sandals Ochi make you forget about the company’s second newest resort, Sandals Barbados. As is typical of the Stewart clan, when they took over the former Couples property they rejected the “refurbishment” option, instead putting $65 million into a radical transformation of the property.
The result is a 280-room resort in Barbados in which every room and suite has mahogany four-poster beds, handmade rugs, flat-screen TVs, brand-new bathrooms, and coffee-makers with Blue Mountain coffee (of course). Of the three accommodations groupings, the Caribbean Village has the most affordable units, the Crystal Lagoon includes rooms whose patios have soaking tubs (some rooms also offer concierge service and private access to the Crystal Lagoon pool), and the premium Ocean Village suites have plenty of space and other amenities, not to mention location, location, location.
The 11 restaurants include Sandals’ first-ever Bombay Club, Butch’s Steakhouse, The Merry Monkey Pub, Kimono’s and other establishments under the oversight of Emmy Award-winning chef Walter Staib. There’s a Red Lane Spa and fitness center, daily fitness classes, water sports, live entertainment and optional Island Routes excursions. The European pool even has cabanas with elegant chandeliers, baroque-style sofa and outlets.
A Garden View Caribbean Village Honeymoon Premium starts at $395 a night; an Ocean Village Beachfront Club Level Suite with Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub, from $523; and a Crystal Lagoon Swim-Up One Bedroom Butler Suite with Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub, from $729. Prices may vary depending on desired dates.
Cruise ships that call on Barbados: Silver Cloud, Seven Seas Navigator, Seabourn Spirit, Celebrity Summit, Crystal Serenity, Royal Princess, Queen Mary 2, Wind Star, SeaDream I, Star Clipper, Royal Clipper, Brilliance of the Seas, Norwegian Spirit, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra and five ships from Carnival
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Barbados travel guide. See photos of the venue.
A member of Des Hotels & Des Iles, which includes chic hideaways like Le Tom Beach in St. Barts, La Toubana serves as a reminder that nobody does romance like the French. Located on the protected south coast of Grande-Terre, the eastern half of the Guadeloupe butterfly, La Toubana lies atop a bluff near Sainte-Anne, with its friendly public beach and Afro-French eateries and boutiques. Farther east lie the restaurants and bars of yachtie haven Sainte-Francois, and to the west, the clubs of Le Gosier (the Beguine began here) and the romantic restaurant of Hotel Auberge de La Vieille Tour.
The other islands beckon, too: Basse-Terre, with its lofty vistas, waterfalls, marine preserve, Cacao Museum (because what could be sexier than chocolate?), and prize-winning rum distilleries; Marie-Galante, which offers yet more first-rate rum tastings; and Terre-de-Haut, whose French cafes and village look like some Brittany in the tropics. And that’s just for starters.
Still, it’s hard to leave the hotel grounds, where 32 bungalow spacious rooms and suites offer a sense of privacy, elegantly simple decor (some with vaulted ceilings), Wi-Fi and air conditioning, as well as kitchenettes or kitchens. The spa is as sophisticated as a spa in Paris. A path leads down to a private beach, replete with beach bar/restaurant. And that large infinity pool! By day the illusion of blending with the sea below is perfect; by night sexy purple lighting gives that pool, reached by a walkway over purple-lit fish tanks, the vibe of a worldly dinner club. The poolside bartenders serve with a smile all day and well into the evening, and meals — especially dinners — are all about savoring and lingering. Children are welcome, although you don’t see many of them here. The price is right: from $220 a night, breakfast included.
Cruise ships that call on Guadeloupe: Silver Explorer, Seabourn Odyssey, Oceania's Insignia and Riviera, Tere Moana, Crystal Serenity,Prinsendam, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, Star Clipper and three Costa ships
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Guadeloupe travel guide. See photos of the venue.
AlSol relaunched Sanctuary Cap Cana on Dec. 15, 2014, but that’s yesterday’s news. The new news is that the resort is now adults only.
This three-section, all-inclusive beach resort really does feel like a sanctuary. It starts with the design, a savvy mix of Spanish colonial architecture (carved wood balconies, castle-like walls with turrets, stained glass windows) and spacious accommodations with clean lines and other contemporary touches, lots of space, and wicker. Every one of the 176 suites and villas has silk robes, Wi-Fi, double sinks, espresso machines, a minibar that’s refreshed daily and 24-hour room service. Put it all together, and you feel like a lord or lady, albeit a modern one.
The accommodations include a wide range of choices: e.g. Junior Suites, Honeymoon Suites with private pools, Oceanfront Villas and Island Suites, each with a little causeway connecting the suite to a tiny private island where couples can play castaway. Sanctuary has five swimming pools (one is saltwater), five restaurants (four are a la carte) with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, four bars/lounges, a fitness center and spa, daily activities and night-time entertainment (including a piano bar and a disco), boat rentals and a kids’ camp that will keep children away from honeymooners. Guests can play golf at two of the best courses in the Western Hemisphere: two Jack Nicklaus layouts, including the legendary Punta Espada.
Where should honeymooners stay? The Island Suites are tempting (from $567, all-inclusive); just one caveat: The little islands have no beaches. Each Honeymoon Suite (from $702 per night) comes with a substantial private pool, and beachfront Junior Suites start at $441 and the largerOcean Villas start at $567.
Cruise ships that call on the Dominican Republic: Seabourn Odyssey, Star Flyer, MSC Musica, Costa Magica, Costa Mediterranea and four Carnival ships
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Dominican Republic travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Mexico offers such lush settings it would be remiss for us not to mention a property surrounded by abundant greenery such as Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa del Carmen — there’s a beach, too! Here, newlyweds can bike through the resort’s lush jungle, take a wilderness path that leads through the jungle past a series of cenotes, explore the mangrove forest, or take a tranquil boat ride through a winding river. They can also observe birds, turtles, deer and iguanas, and even plant a tree as part of the destination’s conservation efforts … oh, and they can also frolic in the water park with its 17 slides, splash areas and fountains. The ocean, too, beckons, with snorkeling trips, deep-sea fishing excursions, parasailing and catamarans.
After a day filled with active pursuits, couples will want to hide away in a private retreat at the resort’s Select Club Adults Only section, which is tucked away in a quiet jungle area of the resort and offers an exclusive pool and jacuzzi. The resort’s honeymoon package is complimentary to newlyweds who mention that they are booking the resort for their honeymoon. They’ll receive a bottle of sparkling wine; fruit basket; chocolate-covered strawberries; special decoration in the room; two “Just Married” T-shirts; dinner in a restaurant; and breakfast in bed. Other romantic offerings at the resort include spending the afternoon together in the spa’s hydrotherapy area or the Temazcal; enjoying a nighttime Mayan show; or having a private dinner on the beach in a gazebo or on a deck surrounded by the jungle.
Cruise ships: Playa del Carmen has a shallow reef so nearly all ships dock at Cozumel and passengers ferry over. See the ships that call on Cozumel.
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Playa del Carmen travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Le Blanc Spa Resort — which won the TripAdvisor 2015 Travelers' Choice award as #2 all-inclusive resort in the world — knows how to cater to newlyweds: It’s adults-only, it’s got a Royale Honeymoon Suite with a double whirlpool made for romantic interludes, and it’s got a few honeymoon packages to choose from … oh, and there’s that gorgeous setting in Cancun on white-sand beaches along the Caribbean Sea.
The property, part of the Palace Resorts portfolio, knows how to do all-inclusive, too — there’s a sprinkling of fine dining restaurants; a spa with 19 treatment rooms, including couples’ suites; yoga and Pilates classes; poolside snuggling and the opportunity to take in the sights while touring the destination. The aforementioned honeymoon suite rates start at $344 a night, and those couples who present proof of marriage within the past year and book a minimum 4-night stay can opt for a complimentary honeymoon package, too, which includes a mini honeymoon cake; bottle of sparkling wine; romantic candlelight dinner; two honeymoon T-shirts; breakfast in bed; guaranteed turndown service; and late check-out until 6 pm.
Newlyweds can up the ante (way up) and go for the Ultra Deluxe package, which includes a Holistic Spa package — 25-minute body scrub, 50-minute holistic massage and 25-minute refresher facial; large flower arrangement; king bed guaranteed; chocolate-covered strawberries; keepsake bathrobes and slippers; in-room aromatherapy with fragrance menu; intimate candlelit rose petal bath in Jacuzzi; mini honeymoon cake; in-room romantic dinner; and tour. The rate is $850 per night for an Ultra Deluxe suite; a couple of other less-expensive options are also available.
Cruise ships: Cancun has a shallow reef so nearly all ships dock at Cozumel and passengers ferry over. See the ships that call on Cozumel.
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Cancun travel guide. See photos of the venue.
The Yucatan Peninsula and Riviera Maya is one of Mexico’s most captivating destinations. Here, ancient cultures mingles with a vast natural playground that showcases both jungles and beaches. Within this tropical destination, the adults-only Royal Suites Yucatan by Palladium — located in an exclusive area within the Grand Palladium Resorts of Playa del Carmen — offers couples a VIP getaway coupled with unlimited access to its neighboring resorts. With nine thematic restaurants as well as buffet dining options, and 26 bars throughout the resort complex, there’s an array of places to sit down and get a bite to eat or sip on a cocktail, and Royal Suites guests have exclusive access to one buffet-style restaurant, an a la carte restaurant, and two bars. They also have butler service and 24-hour room service. The resort’s Royal Junior Suite, which overlooks the garden and features a 2-person whirlpool on the balcony, has rates starting at $324 per night that throws in a complimentary Segway ride.
Cruise ships: Playa del Carmen has a shallow reef so nearly all ships dock at Cozumel and passengers ferry over. See the ships that call on Cozumel.
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Playa del Carmen travel guide. See photos of the venue.
The adults-only Casa Velas, located in Puerto Vallarta, is delightful, and it's just brimming with bougainvillea — there’s a profusion of these flowers around every corner in this sprawling resort. There are several room categories, although we love the ones with their own private immersion pool on the terrace. If you want intimacy with a bit of pampering, we recommend the Grand Class Suites, although for pure indulgence, the Governor Suite overlooks the golf course and the pool. The decor is pure Mexican hacienda and the service is top of the line, but what will captivate honeymooners is the hotel’s culinary feast.
Puerto Vallarta offers a host of restaurants you'll want to try out, but you should spend at least one night dining at the resort's four-diamond Emiliano: The shrimp burrito and the fountain of seafood are scrumptious. Although the hotel is not located beachside, you can take the shuttle to the Ocean Club, where you can hang out by the pool, whirlpool or on the beach (cabanas are available). Of course, there are also golf privileges at Marina Vallarta Golf Club and an onsite spa. The resort is currently offering a Spa package that includes a private dinner on the beach; a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries in-suite upon arrival; transportation from/to airport; guaranteed upgrade to a Master Suite; and a 50-minute massage per person. Rates start at $272 a night and reservations of more than three nights automatically receive 20% off any spa treatment.
Cruise ships that call on Puerto Vallarta: Celebrity Infinity, Crystal Serenity, Crown Princess, Grand Princess, Ruby Princess, Veendam, Jewel of the Seas, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Star, Disney Wonder
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See our Puerto Vallarta travel guide. See photos of the venue.
10Let’s not beat around the bush here: Capella Ixtapa and Ixtapa, the destination itself, are dreamy. That languid fisherman village vibe that emanates throughout Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa’s sister town, is intoxicating. But back to Capella Ixtapa, where honeymooning couples can spend lots of time snuggling up to each other looking out over the Pacific Ocean. It features five one-bedroom penthouses and an intimate number of oceanview guest rooms — only 54 (that undoubtedly means more personal attention).
Other delights you'll have access to at this resort, which is part of the Mexico Boutique Hotels portfolio, include a world-class marina; three restaurants, one of which serves Old World Mexico cuisine; a cliff-side spa with an outdoor treatment facility; horseback riding; cooking classes; and village excursions. The resort offers the three-night Capella Romance package that includes daily American breakfast for two; round-trip transportation from/to the airport; welcome romantic amenity; dinner for two with a bottle of wine; champagne and strawberries in-suite upon arrival; couple’s massage; and lunch in the spa as well as spa cocktails pre-massage. Rates start at $530 a night through Sept. 30.
Cruise ships that call on Ixtapa: Silver Whisper, Azamara Quest
For more info: Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements. See photos of the venue.
This information originally appeared at Recommend magazine.
