Can anybody suggest a great honeymoon destination or hotel?

[Mimi3]

Hi, any suggestions for the perfect honeymoon destination (June/July - for 1 week)? As we didn´t have a proper honeymoon when we got married we´re thinking of going away without children (for first time in 7 years!!), have been saving up and want somewhere exclusive, quiet, relaxing (with spa, etc.), a bit of tennis, maybe some yoga, a little sightseeing as well, somewhere tropical and peaceful. A beautiful, romantic setting, and (dare I say it) not too many children (so as not to miss our own!!) We´ve had a few problems recently in our marriage, which we´re now working at, so would really like it to be something special. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!?

The Maldives! It's been some time since dh and I went, but I would love to go back - without the kids!

Check the time of year, though - June / july is 'winter' in S Hemisphere, so it could be cloudy / rainy.

Antigua - absolutely brilliant here

Really quiet but loads to do. There is also the other side of the island jolly beach - we didnt stay here but went for one day and it was really nice too - again LOADS to do

We intend on returning there one day!

To avoid children as much as possible - go in June. Assuming you're flying from the UK, I wouldn't advise longhaul if you're only going for one week which narrows the scope somewhat. How about Sardinia or Corsica?

Honestly??? I'll let you into a secret

Go into an airtours / going places travel agent or whatever they are called now and ask about the island formally known as 'Fesdu Island' in The Maldives.

It has everything you have asked for, it's worth going just for a week despite the 12 hour flight (many people just go for the week). No kids, beautiful, beautiful island, very tropical, very peaceful. It its now a health spa resort. You'll honestly never want to go anywhere else again. When we went there were several people there who had been every year for 15 years+! It is a very special place, no hotel just little huts spread around the island. Food is wonderful too - 2nd honeymooners got private candlelit meal on the beach when we went as did we on 1st honeymoon! You can hire a neighbouring island for yourselves for 24 hours if you like, they just send the chef and waiter over by boat when you want them but tbh you don't need to bother as it is so quiet there anyway.

Weather in June / July might be a bit cloudy / rainy so check - the sea is 30C all year round and we swam with turtles, rays, sharks (friendly ones )and the most beautiful fish.

Sri Lanka will be a million types better than artificial and overpriced Maldives (stuck on a tiny island with fuck all to do and paying through the nose for the privilege).

More interestin,more varied,more life and scenery and cheaper!

Another vote for Sri Lanka

We went to the Triton Hotel, was fab!

Where was that WCL?

moondog - I would pay A HELL OF A LOT to be stuck on a tiny island away from everyone else with 'FUCK ALL' to do apart from being waited on hand and foot, fed wonderful food and drink and being able to swim, relax,sail and generally be pampered in a beautiful place.

Would you?
I'd be bored off my tits after half a day.
(But then I spent my entire childhood on such an island.Without the pampering obviously!)

don't go to the maldives any later than may. it'll rain loads. we went just at the end of the season around mid may, island called komandoo, totally amazing. only 45 villas. no kids.

maldives without hesitation.........if you can cope with being stuck on a tiny island.
Personally think the pampering is bliss, but agree not for everyone. It's all about white sand and crystal clear water and the 2 of you half naked all the time.

Amalfi coast (italy) is heaven for honeymooners but atrociously expensive. ( think fabulous food under century old trees, amazing scenic drives along the coast, charming old hotels)

Bali is perfect in June. Most hotels do honeymooners packages. True pampering AND great sightseeing. IMO, you can't beat hospitality in that part of the world.

Another vote for Sri Lanka, though avoid the Kandalama Hotel up in the Cultural Triangle. They haven't decided which side their bread is buttered on, so it's an uneasy split between chilled honeymoon couples and yobbish Italian package tourists dive-bombing each other (and everyone else) in the pool. We checked out after a day and once we were somewhere else we had a fantastic time.

Would recommend the Lighthouse Hotel in Galle without hesitation. We were there in late June and it was wonderful - mostly dry, not too hot.

There are ethical considerations about the Maldives, so if that's a concern for you perhaps have a look on Amnesty. The president used to be a close friend of Saddam's and there is some concern that the islands are run as a bit of a gulag out of sight of the tourists. I couldn't believe it when somebody who gave me a hard time about going to Burma and Laos turned around and booked a holiday in the Maldives.

I second the Almalfi coast. Won't be many kids, as many hotels won't have them due to cliff-like locations. Palazzo Sasso www.palazzosasso.com/ is one of my favourite hotels in the world in an amazing location, great amenities, and wonderful food (Michelin ** restaurant, amazing breakfast!). You won't have a 12 hour flight, and lots of things to see and do.

Can rent a boat and go to Capri for the day, visit Ischia, and the other wonderful towns along the coast.

Moondog, it is in Ahungalle:

www.aitkenspencehotels.com/triton/location.htm

Looks lovely.

no suggestions but what a lovely post! I hope you have a lovely and well-deserved time - lots of peace and quiet, time to talk and just be with each other. enjoy!

The lighthouse Hotel looks really fantastic! I would go there if I were going for a 2nd honeymoon me thinks

The pictures of The Triton don't do it jsutice BUT we went a loooooong time ago and I believe it took a battering in the Tsunami and so it could be a bit different to what I remember ambling slowly down memory lane....

PS. If going to go to a teeny weeny island would probably go to:

www.cook-islands.com/

But maybe too far?

The Amalfi coast is lovely and we spent a week on Ischia this year as well, there are lots of spas on the island as it's known for healing waters. I always think that there is something very romantic about getting on a boat and going to an island, in the UK or anywhere else, always seems much more adventurous than going by plane.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions - have a lot to think about, but have to agree with coby .. lots of peace and pampering in Maldives sounds like heaven to me after years of attending to needs of increasingly demanding kids (as much as I love them)! Amalfi coast also sounds appealing, plus shorter flight etc. although somehow seems more romantic to go on a longhaul flight (cannot cut short trip quite so easily if missing kids). Thanks again.

Corsica

or here www.biras.com/ in the British Virgin Islands

We went to Kenya for our honeymoon - possibly a little too much sight-seeing for you but it was sooooo special and memorable ... I long to go back. sighs