Is it really worth spending all that cash on a wedding?
On one hand, yes, it's nice to have a lovely day celebrating your dedication to your loved one in front of all your family and friends.
But on the other hand, do you really want to blow your hard-earned savings on buying prosecco and dinner and canapés for people like Aunty June and Uncle Steve when you could be spending them on a fan-flipping-tastic holiday for you and your partner (without an Aunty June or an Uncle Steve in sight)?
If you are looking to splash the cash on the honeymoon rather than the wedding, then there are some truly spectacular options out there. Here's some of our faves...
Desperately in need of hot sunshine, a private pool and Instagram-worthy interiors? You are in luck - we've partnered with Mr & Mrs Smith to offer a lucky reader very stylish hotel stay! We're giving away a Get a Room! gift card worth £1500 plus an exclusive Mr & Mrs Smith Goldsmith membership worth £400.
The Wine-y One
You know what’s better than a a super-romantic holiday in South America? A super-romantic holiday in South America, fuelled by top-notch wine. Entre Cielos is located just a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires in Argentina’s top wine-producing area, Mendoza.
Entre Cielos not only has its own excellent vineyard (can attest: we did taste all the wines when sneaking in to use the pool and spa) but it also has South America’s first hammam and – in case you didn’t know – five rounds of intense steaming and exfoliating is an excellent antidote to several too many glasses of red wine from the (very) handsome bartender.
If you really want to splash out, consider staying in the nifty space pod out in the vineyard. There’s plenty of other swanky vineyards around to visit, too. Plus, that pool. Oh my.
Entre Cielos, Mendoza, Argentina. From £454.97
Photo: Via @entrecielos
The Mamma Mia One
At some point in our lives, we all watched Mamma Mia. Sure, we don’t shout about it from the rooftops but my goodness, did the white-houses-and-blue-rooftops of the Aegean seaside make an impression on us. Even more than Pierce Brosnan’s singing. Which is saying something.
Check out, then, for your honeymoon, Chromata, a hotel in Santorini, which is further south than where the film was set but much more fancy and even more aesthetically pleasing. Chromata is situated on a clifftop (obligatory cliffside infinity pool with bar obvs included) overlooking the Aegean Sea and features a spa and fitness centre. Even better, the rooms are literally caves, carved out of the cliffside. Dreamy.
Chromata, Santorini. From £169.84
Photo: Courtesy of Chromata
The Treehouse One
You’ve already heard that Sri Lanka is, like, the best country to visit in the world atm, right? Lovely locals, beautiful beaches, food so good you’ll buy an appachatty pan back home in order to fail spectacularly at recreating that hopper recipe you learned...
Make your stay in the friendliest country on earth super-duper special by staying in a treehouse. A luxury treehouse of course, but a treehouse nonetheless, on the banks of Lake Koggala. Tri Hotel has a library of wanky art books, yoga classes, private pools (skinny dipping actually encouraged) and a spa that includes a “steam cavern”, Ayurvedic massages, and flotation in a bamboo grove.
Tri Hotel, Thiththagalle, Sri Lanka. From £216.22
Photo: Via @discovernicaragua
The Eco One
If you’re after luxury with a side of altruism, the Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge in San Juan Del Sur (beaches for DAYS) in Nicaragua is a superb shout. It’s set in 4,000 acres of rainforest and responsible farmland and is committed to reforestation, environmental awareness and education, and works to defend the area against poaching and illegal logging. As is to be expected from such a place, the furniture and infrastructure was created with sustainably sourced materials and with help from local artisans.
As well as the eco credentials, Morgan's has a private beach, yoga studio overlooking the beach, horse riding, paddle-boarding, food grown on-site for the restaurant and, perhaps most importantly, coconut cocktails at Mike’s Beach Bar. Good on you, Mike. You’re the real MVP.
Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Eco-Lodge, San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. From £369.91
Photo: Courtesy of Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Eco-Lodge
The City One
If beaches and pools aren’t your thing, wait for summer and head to Stockholm for an (almost) unbearably cool city break instead. While there, you could do a lot worse than staying in Ett Hem, a spectacularly decorated townhouse hotel in Lärkstaden which, as you can probably guess from the pics, has won awards for being decorated so fantastically.
There’s a sauna, treatment room, gym, library, and a lounge with a huge fire to cosy up by. If you need any more convincing, just check out Ett Hem’s kitchen on Instagram for examples of their meals created with locally sourced ingredients, which are all served in an exquisite setting – of course. No word if handsome Mårten is available for private chef-ing if your honeymoon goes tits up.
Ett Hem, Stockholm, Sweden. From £315.36
Desperately in need of hot sunshine, a private pool and Instagram-worthy interiors? You are in luck - we've partnered with Mr & Mrs Smith to offer a lucky reader very stylish hotel stay! We're giving away a Get a Room! gift card worth £1500 plus an exclusive Mr & Mrs Smith Goldsmith membership worth £400.
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