10 Exotic Couple Getaways For A Romantic Summer Honeymoon: Part 1

Give flight to your imagination as the honeymoon fever grips you hard. As every just-married pair sets out to chase the perfect holiday hotspot for their own slice of bliss, we give you a select list of hotels (along with destinations, concepts, and themes) to fashion yours in your own style. We didn’t make the list exhaustive (there’s google for that) or provide you with a checklist (we know you’re too smart for that). What we did is slot a few breath-taking locales, some cool getaway concepts, and a luxe list of dream hotels. If you still insist on the checklist, we would say: food, fun, and romance.   

We start with the list of destination spas for the ultimate post-wedding beauty, fitness, and grooming makeover. From a spa-cation in the Himalayas to a healing session with your beloved in the wilderness of Langkawi, or yoga in the old-world property in Galle, Sri Lanka—there’s much sensuality and serenity in a wellness retreat. We move on to the list of cultural sojourns for a tryst with history and heritage. From a date with a modern hotel fashioned in the manner of a palace in Rajasthan, a historical outing in Machu Picchu, to a culinary date in an eco retreat in South India, we got it all covered for modern-day princesses. Our list of nature retreats make ways for amazing facets of nature and a heady list of couple-worthy ideas. From a honeymoon aboard a floating villa in the Maldivian waters, a private island experience in Indonesia, to a forest escape in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, nature comes calling in vibrant vistas for millennials. Our final list of city hideaways take you to some of the world’s most fashionable and electrifying cities and luxury hotels. From vintage Dubai to sizzling Rio and artsy New York City, it’s all chic and cosmopolitan for winter lovebirds. What are you waiting for? Get, set, go!

1. FOUR SEASONS RESORT, LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

Sail across the Malaysian shore to land in the lap of the Geo Spa, at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, for a date with bespoke natural treatments. Give in to the expert strokes of trained therapists to soothe your wedding-weary nerves, while you discover the beauty of balancing energies with their Ilã treatments. Add style to your stay by attending yoga sessions in the open or by the poolside, visiting the adjacent salon to get princess-y nails (and couple facials), or lounging along the mile-long beach. 

2. OBEROI UDAIVILAS, UDAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

Set on the tranquil Lake Pichola, Oberoi Udaivilas is fashioned after a heritage palace. Propose to your just-married bride all over again as you chase each other through the winding walkways, rippling fountains, plush gardens, wide courtyards, and reflecting pools. Richly done rooms with private terraces and swimming pools, the luxurious Oberoi Spa, and restaurants serving traditional fare are the other attractions. 

3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BODRUM, TURKEY

Head to this secluded gem featuring two private beaches for your getaway. Picture this—you and your beloved, lying in the open and soaking the sun, while you avail modern treatments at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental. Let views of the Aegean Sea and stunning heat and water features coupled with indoor and outdoor swimming pools amp up your stay.  

4. FAIRMONT JAIPUR, JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

Let pink be the hue of your love in this fabled land of the Rajputs. Set against the Aravalli hills, Fairmont Jaipur recreates the romance of a golden era, in its modern-meets-heritage avatar. Blending traditional Rajasthani décor with modern amenities, all 245 rooms and suites are elegantly appointed to fit the modern-day prince and princess. Celebrate their fusion of Indian and Persian cuisine at the regal Zarin, while you take a ‘dip’ into Fairmont’s famous tea drinking culture at the charming Anjum, with a twist.

5. BELMOND COPACABANA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

A jewel crowning the golden sands of the Copacabana Beach, this landmark hotel offers a heady mix of Brazilian energy and Rio’s glamour. Since its Art-Deco doors opened in 1923, Belmond Copacabana Palace has played host to the world’s rich, famous, and stylish. The hotel’s unrivalled position means it is centre stage for Rio’s biggest events, including Carnival and New Year’s Eve. Soak up the sun by the magnificent pool as you shower all your attention on the new bride. Get pampered with a luxury treatment at the spa, or mingle with Brazil’s trendsetters over Caipirinhas at the bar.

6. AYADA MALDIVES, MALDIVES

Set in the relatively unexplored Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll in the south of the country—just a few kilometres above the equator—this luxury resort offers 122 spacious villas and suites with private pools, butler service, and romantic dining options. Traditional thatched-roof water-villas stand on stilts over the resort’s peaceful lagoon, while beach villas offer absolute privacy amidst tropical greenery, alongside powder-soft, palm-lined white beaches.

7. ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS, RISHIKESH, UTTARAKHAND

A ‘slice of heaven’ in the enchanting Himalayas, this luxury resort is surrounded by Sal forests and overlooks the spiritual town of Rishikesh and the Ganges. The age-old wisdom of traditional Ayurveda combined with the essence of yoga will let you glow with health. The gluten-free, low-fat diet packed with fruits and veggies, and lean proteins, will do wonders for your bodies. 

8. THE ZETTER TOWNHOUSE, MARYLEBONE, LONDON

A unique boutique hotel concept, this 24-bedroom Georgian townhouse and cocktail lounge enjoys an enviable location on Seymour Street in London’s fashionable Marylebone. Feeling more like a private residence than a conventional hotel and bar, the property features 24 bedrooms and an award-winning cocktail lounge, Seymour’s Parlour. While The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell is known to some as the home of The Zetter’s Great Aunt Wilhelmina, the Marylebone property is that of Uncle Seymour.

9. CHITWAN JUNGLE LODGE, KANHA, MADHYA PRADESH

This forest beauty is tucked away in Madhya Pradesh’s beautiful Kanha National Park. Dense vegetation set with Sal trees, whistling thorns, and local plants all around provide a natural setting for lovers. Jungle safaris, romantic escapades, long drives through the hills of Kanha, and extravagant couple dine-out facilities are cut out for a private, adventurous-yet-leisurely holiday experience.

10. HÔTEL DE CRILLON, PARIS, FRANCE

Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, offers a mix of conservation and celebration—of the spirit of Paris and French art de vivre. Stay in the Karl Lagerfeld-designed Grands Apartments paired with a private dining experience in the famed Salon Marie-Antoinette. Famous chefs, a mix of newly imagined and historical settings, and an inspired array of culinary experiences define the dining scene at Hôtel de Crillon. Enjoy brasserie cuisine and ample sweet treats.

Have you planned your romantic honeymoon yet? 

Assisted by Dishari Basu.