The Brando. Credit: The Brando
After the wedding bells have rung, newlyweds are left with a few feelings beyond their love for one another. The first is often a desire to get away from it all — the stress of wedding planning, the crush of friends and family and the yearning to leave the real world behind for a week or two of R&R. What better way to do just that than on a remote island, decked out with all of the amenities of a luxury hotel?
These private island escapes have everything you’d expect to find in your dream honeymoon destination — romantic suites, discreet service and, of course, fairytale settings that are perfect backdrops for starting the rest of your lives together.
The Brando
This South Pacific resort has a famous past (it was once owned by actor Marlon Brando), but it now draws some of the world’s most well-known names to its 35 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. Recent guests have included Barack and Michelle Obama and royal sister-in-law Pippa Middleton, who spent her honeymoon at the property in 2017.
This eco-friendly stay, a 20-minute flight from Papeete, Tahiti, offers the requisite white sand beaches, but also the chance to explore nearby environmental research stations or to dine on high-end cuisine from acclaimed chef Guy Martin.
Jumby Bay Island. Credit: Jumby Bay Island
Jumby Bay Island
Two miles off the coast of Antigua sits a gem so exclusive, it once famously turned away Princess Diana for fear that the paparazzi accompanying her would deter its clientele.
The 40-room property is intimate (and all-inclusive) and possesses beach cruiser bikes to easily navigate the small island, as well as a private ferry to shuttle back and forth to the mainland. The only non-hotel guests you might see are staying in the island’s rental homes and villas.
Add a little adventure to your romantic getaway by booking a slot on the weekly morning snorkeling trip to nearby Bird Island.
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Aman Sveti Stefan
For an off-the-radar honeymoon spot, look no further than the tiny Balkan nation of Montenegro, which borders Croatia. This is where you’ll find the tiny 15th-century fishing-village-turned-luxury-resort of Aman Sveti Stefan.
The 50-room hotel, open only from May through October, has rooms with original stone walls and expansive sea views as well as three restaurants, a luxuriously appointed spa, multiple pools and even a yoga pavilion. The more intimate eight-room Villa Milocer is open year-round.
Spend the day exploring Budva, a tiny town dating back to the fifth century B.C., or try a private sailboat excursion on the Adriatic Sea.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. Credit: Marriott International Inc
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Not everyone’s vision of an ideal honeymoon involves bikinis and sand. That’s part of the charm of this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Venice resort, the only property with a private island locale in the Marriott portfolio.
Tucked away on Isola delle Rose, the 266-room hotel is just 15 minutes from St. Mark’s Square and provides everything from the onsite Sapori Cooking Academy to a sparkling outdoor pool, where you can cool off after a day of sightseeing.
For an extra-secluded stay, book a suite away from the main building and ask for one with a private garden terrace.
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Kamalame Cay
Until recently, Kamalame Cay was one of the lesser-known islands of the Bahamas. After a multi-million-dollar renovation, the secluded resort began hosting celebrities and tech titans for its monthly luncheon series that often lingered well into the night.
But it isn’t all glitz and glam. The 20-year-old property is a popular place for a digital detox —rooms here don’t have TV or Wi-Fi. Instead, occupy yourself with diving or snorkeling on the world’s third largest barrier reef just offshore, schedule a treatment at the only overwater spa in the Bahamas and indulge in some of the best food in the Caribbean at the Great House.
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Gili Lankanfushi
Upon arrival at this private island resort after a 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé, you’ll leave your cares — and your sandals — at the door. A “no shoes needed” policy is just one of the many things to love about the scenic Maldives property.
Gili Lankanfushi offers up Instagram-worthy overwater bungalows, complete with cozy hammocks for a vacation selfie or, in the case of the ultra-luxe Private Reserve residence, a slide that goes directly from room to ocean.
Each accommodation comes with a Mr. (or Ms.) Friday, your personal butler and concierge, who can arrange everything from a cruise on the resort’s Riviera yacht to a private wine tasting or Ayurvedic spa treatment.
