While Hawaii and Mexico have long been the beach honeymoon destinations du jour, couples have started to look at what the rest of the world has to offer to set them apart. A beach holiday can mean so much more than sunbathing and cocktails. With water sports, spas, seafood and spectacular scenery, your average package deals have got some serious competition.
But when there’s so much on offer, where do you start? We’ve rounded up the best breath-taking beach resorts to spend your honeymoon.
© Palm Tree Court - JA Resort & Hotels
Palm Tree Court - Dubai
Everyone knows Dubai is the place to be for beach luxury but not everyone knows about this hidden honeymoon haven, tucked away on the other side of the harbour.
The recently refurbished resort at Palm Tree Court - just one half of the JA Resorts & Hotels empire - is the desert oasis you've seen in films, right there waiting to welcome you to weeks of uninterrupted bliss.
Picture private balconies in decadent Junior Suites, deserted white sandy beaches, lush green palms, waterfalls and wooden pagodas with an atmosphere of total tranquility. From the moment you step through the gates, you'll forget the stress and realities of day-to-day life ever existed.
But don't think that means that there's nothing to do, in fact it's the total opposite. While your other half takes full advantage of the golf course and watersports over at the newly opened Watercooler area, you can unwind in the spa with over 40 luxurious treatments to help you drift into a state of bliss.
Or if you want something a little more intimate, all you have to do is call room service and choose from their deluxe 'Bath Menu' to have the whole champagne, roses and bubbles prepared for you in your very own room.
Take a swim and watch the world go by (with cocktails in hand) in your choice of four stunning swimming pools, all with beachside views, or if you're feeling perky try your hand at kayaking or SUP boot camp - the hotel are happy to arrange both!
Best of all, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to their restaurants - they have over 10 - including mouth-wateringly good sushi at White Orchid. Or take dinner onto the beach with the option for a romantic meal for two on the sand. It will be hard not to let your honeymoon days slip by like a dream.
Sugar Beach Resort - St Lucia
Breath-taking gets a whole new meaning when you see what you're getting at Sugar Beach Resort St Lucia. This is world heritage territory, meaning UNESCO protect the entire landscape so there's no wonder it hosts some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.
With 78 properties interspersed between rolling rainforest clad hillsides and white-sand beaches, a wood-hut spa nestled between lush scenery of the Pitons, it's impossible not to be open-mouthed at the sight of Sugar Beach Resort.
Choose between picturesque hillside villas or lavish bungalows inches away from the sea. With your own pool, four-poster bed and 24 hour service you'll be honeymooning in the most unique beach resort in the world.
Amanzo’e Resort - Porto Heli, Greece
If long haul flights aren't your idea of a relaxing start to your honeymoon, then you don't need to go any further than Greece to find a total gem.
The Amanzo’e resort of Porto Heli, a small coastal town on the eastern side of the Peloponnese peninsula, offers one of the last remaining insights into the magic and mystery of Ancient Greece. There may not be rainforests and water sports, but what this place offers is an atmosphere of calming class and culture that simply won’t be found anywhere else.
With 38 guest pavilions, each with your own private swimming pool, incredible views of the sea, olive groves and two dedicated members of staff, you don't need to leave your own four walls to be in complete luxury - and when you're on your honeymoon there's no better place to be.
Four Seasons - Bora Bora
If you're wondering why the Four Season's name is so iconic, look no further than The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora to understand.
Private beach huts in the middle of the crystal clear Pacific Ocean your thing? How about snorkelling with rays, turtles and tropical fish on protected coral reefs right on your 'doorstep'? Or just soaking up the sun on one of the most romantic islands in the world? Once you honeymoon here in Bora Bora, romance will never be the same again.
Honeymoon options include sunset cruises around the island, romantic breakfasts delivered by canoe and private couples' spa treatments. This is a world away from reality.
Wakaya Club & Spa - Fiji
If you really, truly want to get away from it all, book your beach honeymoon at the Wakaya Club & Spa, Fiji.
The all-inclusive private island resort in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is exactly the kind of postcard-paradise that people dream of.
You'll sleep like a princess in your choice of 10, 1,650 square-foot free-standing beachfront dark wood cottages all stunningly decorated with cathedral ceilings, four-poster beds and baths the size of a small house. You'll dine like a queen - you can order dishes made with fresh local ingredients, prepared by a kitchen which has hosted guest chefs such as the world-renowned Nobu. And when you're not sampling the fine dining you can enjoy relaxing in their beachside infinity pools all day long.
What makes this place really stand-out is the fact it is completely eco-friendly – most importantly, that means no TV or phone in your room. We’re all guilty of being hard-wired to our handsets, so if you really want to connect with your new partner without the temptation to check in on reality, this Fijian resort takes away the problem for you.
© Fiji
Got a honeymoon destination to recommend? Tweet us @sofeminineuk!
