Luxury properties that are perfect for hotel-obsessed honeymooners

What if the hotel is the destination? Newlyweds, if you’re done with all the wedding stress and looking to decompress, we get it. Itineraries are overrated anyway. Your hotel could very well be a microcosmic, luxurious abode, sans the crowds and with all the pampering, if you know where to look. After all that wedding-hustle, you know you’ve earned this. 

That’s why we’ve rounded up properties from around the world that cater to couples looking to honeymoon without the sightseeing. Wake-up calls? Not here. City tours? Hard pass. Instead, opt for a beach cabana with picnics on a private island, or perhaps a presidential tented suite with wildlife for company. 

Rome, Italy

Hassler Roma at the top of the Spanish Steps claims that it proffers the best view of the Eternal City from its famed penthouse suite. It’s also a celebrity favourite and has all the makings of quiet luxury in the hospitality sector.

Think: fine dining, bespoke offerings, pillow menus, old-school European hospitality, bespoke marble- and mosaic-laden bathrooms, and the Trevi Fountain minutes away (in case you decide to step out). Each of the 82 rooms has been individually designed too, with an old-world charm reminiscent of Rome.

Paris, France

A quintessential honeymoon pick, Paris has lots to offer beyond cafes and croissants. Hôtel Plaza Athénée, easily one of the luxury landmarks of the city with a reputation that precedes it, will spoil you silly with its dessert trolley, 18th-century French decor, silk headboards, sunken bathtubs, Michelin dining, caviar for appetisers, a Dior spa, and more.

The presidential suite here is basically equivalent to a Parisian apartment, walk-in wardrobe and all, and an ivy-clad courtyard outside. With the Eiffel Tower just a short walk away, this one’s earned its storied history.

Peloponnese, Greece

Pared-back luxury, that’s Aman for you. In Greece, Amanzoe sticks to the minimalistic brief with this sprawling property that’s an architectural masterpiece modelled on a modern-day Acropolis. The mood is zen and the surroundings comply; there’s a high chance you won’t encounter other guests if you leave your deluxe pavilion and its 12-metre pool. No check-ins and staff enquiries. However, if you request for something, it’s most likely taken care of. The staff are like elves or fairies; you never see them cast their magic yet somehow, the job gets done.

The spa too has skylit rooms and turquoise marble pools. The best part? Mini-bars, free of charge, replenished on the daily (don’t miss those grapefruit sodas). 

Shimla, India

If enchanting forests are more attuned to your idea of a romantic getaway, The Oberoi Wildflower Hall, Shimla transports you to a bygone colonial era with old-world charm with the Himalayas in the foreground. Spend your afternoons reading in the glass conservatory with views of the cedar forests, grab an aperitif at the Cavalry Bar, or indulge in a 4-course dinner at the English-style Lutyens (fireplace and everything).

Don’t miss the Himalayan rice scrub or red mud body treatment at the spa to replenish after the wedding havoc. Or, if unplanned leisure is more your thing, take a dip in the temperature-controlled swimming pool! Pine trees, private nature trails and privacy- must we say more?

Nayarit, Mexico

There’s luxury, and then there’s the Ritz-Carlton Reserve standard of luxury. Ultra-remote, with fewer pavilions and suites, these properties are built as culturally rich entities and architecturally sound; there are just nine of these reserves across the world. The service is of course, a selling point, focusing on personalisation. This particular property,—Siari Riviera Nayarit, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve—nestled between the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Pacific Ocean, takes you through lush jungles before arriving at the secluded reserve.

Nature goes wild with her canvas here, boasting golden-sand beaches, turquoise waters and black-rock mountains with surrounding emerald jungles. The oceanfront villas come with panoramic Pacific views, and personalised reserve service so you’re well taken care of. The spa-inspired bathrooms are a wellness ritual in themselves. For gourmands, Chef David Castro Hussong’s Zula brings regional fine dining to the table, with a side of local seafood. 

Gstaad, Switzerland

Gstaad, one of the most discreet Swiss holiday destinations frequented for its quiet luxury appeal rather than garish glamour, is a rarer honeymoon pick but needn’t be. Here, the three- Michelin Key The Alpina Gstaad brings contemporary five-star services to the quaint Swiss village. The portfolio comprises 56 rooms and suites atop a sunny mountainside with the Alps keeping you company.

Open in the summer and winter months, the rustic architecture remains rooted in Saanenland heritage with woodwork and hand-built fireplaces made from local stone. Couples will love the Six Senses Spa which comes with skilled practitioners and for dining, there’s always raclette or fondue at Swiss Stübli, amongst others. 

Napa Valley, California

Upscale, slow-paced and of course, romantic, Napa is a favourite amongst couples with good reason. For the romantic recluse with refined taste, it boasts family-owned boutique winreies, farm-to-table cuisine and private tastings of the highest order. With the Mayacamas and Vaca ranges playing background to it all, this is where leisure meets luxury. On that note, the 5-star Auberge du Soleil, an adults-only luxury resort, is an idyllic pick. With 3 Michelin Keys, it houses a restaurant located on a 33-acre hillside olive grove in Rutherford, California, in the heart of Napa Valley.

A piece of Provence in The Golden State, here’s where couples can book private garden suites and indulge in a seasonal harvest menu paired with in-house wines, and embark on a private tasting with a sommelier in tow. Couples will love spending the afternoon trying impressionist painting at the garden and olive grove, with a private demonstration and instruction led by a local Napa Valley artist. Follow this up with a French-inspired picnic, sampling indigenous olives, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, seasonal salads, and desserts, along with some wine, of course!

Cappadocia, Turkey

We’ve got a special one for this, Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia, Nevşehir, Turkiye is not your average brick-and-mortar property. Designed by architect Efe Aydar, it was constructed using a "kulunk-sculpted" technique in tune with the natural contours of the Cappadocia rock faces. Instead of intruding on nature’s work, it integrates the rooms beautifully with the natural flows of the volcanic tuff stone walls. The result? Guests get to pick from 46 quiet-luxury grottoes and cave suites, some even have underfloor heating systems.

The stone-clad interiors take you way back, while the modern wall art lures you back. There are also wine tastings and ceramic workshops, with the iconic hot air balloon rides minutes away. Raw yet refined, the revelry continues underground, in an expansive 6,000-square-foot underground cavern spa, Rhea, that’s carved directly into the rock. Here, couples can unwind in Turkish hammams, while nature takes care of the rest. 

Lead image: Getty Images 

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