fiji
With accolades from Modern Bride magazine as boasting the No.1 honeymoon suite in all of Fiji, there was no skipping past the all-inclusive Namale Resort & Spa as a top pick for honeymooners. Accommodating only 44 guests at one time, and with a staff of only 140, Namale, located on Fiji’s second-largest island, Vanua Levu, is truly a paradise getaway for honeymooners—the resort even features five exclusive Honeymoon Bures situated along the ocean and providing the utmost privacy for couples. One bure, a Fijian word for “home,” is the Nanise, which sits atop a boulder and is accessed by carved-out stairs. The bure features a king-size bed, shower for two, and a jacuzzi; an interesting perk is the door that leads to a bridge where guests can cross over to another boulder with its own private deck and mini plunge pool. The bures and villas at Namale are fully air-conditioned and include complimentary WiFi, spacious closets, and a fully stocked minibar, among other standard amenities. The honeymoon bure is $1,325 per night.
Couples can enjoy a slew of outdoor activities that border on the romantic, from waterfall and rainforest hikes to snorkeling, kayaking, and guided reef and tide pool explorations. Namale’s indoor entertainment center features the Kava Bowl, a 1,200-sq.-ft. adult playground with two bowling lanes, billiards, a movie screen and air hockey; and let’s not forget to mention the 10,000-sq.-ft The Spa & Sanctuary at Namale Resort featuring four treatment rooms with either garden or ocean views. namalefiji.com
thailand
Set on Thailand’s Samui Island is the Six Senses Samui, a 20-acre intimate resort located only 15 minutes by car from Samui International Airport and offering panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand. It features only 66 private villas, some with private infinity pools. The resort’s Experiences Team can set up any outdoor adventure for guests, from boat trip excursions around Thailand’s islands to hikes and jungle drives, as well as diving trips to Ang Thong National Marine Park. All of the essentials can be found at Six Senses Samui for couples who want to stay put while on their honeymoon. The Six Senses Spa offers unique wellness therapies, body treatments and massages such as the stress-relieving Thai Healing massage; for early risers, the resort also offers morning holistic activities such as yoga and tai chi classes. Guests can also take a Thai cooking class, visit a local Thai market, or take a cultural tour of Thailand’s temples.
Accommodations range from the 1-bedroom Hideaway Villas to the Ocean Front Pool Villa with views of the gulf, a private pool and outdoor garden shower. Romantic dining options can be found throughout the property, as well, and if dining under the stars is considered an ideal romantic experience, then couples should reserve a table at the award-winning Dining on the Rock venue; for an extensive list of wines from around the globe, the resort’s Wines on the Hill offers wine tastings with the onsite sommelier. Call for rates.
sixsenses.com/resorts/samui/destination
an australian honeymoon with swain destinations
Swain Destinations specializes in a wide selection of different themed and niche tours. Your clients can choose an adventure tour through Africa or Asia; a food and wine tour discovering destinations bite by bite; or an experiential rail travel tour in Australia, Southeast Asia, China or Japan. All of these tours are fine and dandy, but in this issue it’s all about romance, so Ian Swain himself shared an ideal honeymoon itinerary in Australia, which, he says, is “the ideal experience for honeymooners. This itinerary showcases the many unique sides of Australia, including visits to the country’s most breathtaking destinations while staying at luxurious properties. It is a trip that will captivate any couple looking to indulge on their romantic getaway.” This luxurious and immersive itinerary is the 15-day Baillies Lodges Australian Luxury Defined tour (priced at $12,135), which stops in Sydney, Lord Howe Island, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kangaroo Island and Melbourne. Highlights include a stop at Lord Howe Island for a few nights enjoying its beaches and flora and fauna. Accommodations are at Capella Lodge and then it’s off to Sydney for some sightseeing; additional highlights in this itinerary include stays at the lavish Longitude 131, with its 15 pavilions set in the Australian outback, and exploring Kangaroo Island, a nature lovers’ paradise with 21 national parks and conservation area. swaindestinations.com or agent.swaindestinations.com
