TOP 10 Honeymoon Destinations for 2023 | Plan Today

#1 The Maldives

If you picture yourself lounging in hammocks in your over-water villa as your butler delivers you a martini via boat, the Maldives is the place to be.

Every year, Maldives resorts outdo each other with increasingly lavish and romantic experiences - candlelit meals for two on your private sandbank, rambling wooden apartments on stilts out to sea, accessible only by boat. The only tough decision will be deciding which island is best for you. Almost all of them provide the type of dreamy, laid-back luxury vacation suitable for a honeymoon, surrounded by the bluest of blue landscape that never, ever dulls.

Best time to go: between November and April.
 

TOP hotels in the Maldives

• Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives. Some Maldivian islands only have natural beaches along one coast, while the sea has worn away the other. Not in this case. Finolhu seems to be a comet speeding through the skies, with a 1.2-mile platinum sandbank as its tail. Finolhu (together with Kanuhura and The Residence at Dhigurah) would be towards the top (because of the abundance of sand) if resorts were evaluated merely on their beaches. The aquatic life is equally impressive. Within the hotel's orbit are dozens of spectacular dive sites, including caverns haunted by barracuda, multicolored gardens of hard-tree coral, and the Hanifaru cleaning station, where hundreds of manta rays gather to be preened by small blue wrasse.
  
  The hotel is almost as vibrant, having reopened in November 2020 under new management and with a unique appearance. The Seventies design was abandoned in favor of a color mood board, with 125 villas outfitted in electric blue, sherbet yellow, or lime green. The Ibiza-in-the-Indian-Ocean feel remains; rent a Rock Star Villa with its big disco ball and cocktail bar for the whole experience. The food at the five restaurants is acceptable but not spectacular; the premium all-inclusive option is notably good value, including everything from wagyu steak at Japanese restaurant Kanusan to post-workout protein smoothies at the Milk Lab café and Taittinger Champagne from the bar.

• Gili Lankanfushi Maldives. When this location in the North Malé atoll was established a little over 20 years ago (initially under the wing of sustainability hero Soneva), Malé's international airport was little more than a tin hut, postcards were the primary form of contact, and most islands lacked regular electricity. x. The sand pancakes that surrounded the capital were nearly as remote as travelers could go. o. Gili Lankanfushi is now considered easily accessible (a 20-minute speedboat trip), yachts and seaplanes crisscross the water and sky from dawn to night, and the neighboring islands have street lights and a Coca-Cola factor. But don't worry, certain things never change.
  
  This hotel is still located in one of the country's most stunning lagoons, a vision of spacious white beaches, shape-shifting sandbanks, and seas that dance from peacock green to sapphire blue. All the houses here are built on stilts over the ocean, leaving the island untouched and the beaches fully displayed. So when a fire destroyed the resort in 2019, it provided a chance for regeneration. Organic lotions and reef-safe sunscreen are available in the bathrooms. Embrace the Robinson Crusoe feel in one of the boat-shaped Robinson Crusoe villas, set out on the lagoon's edge, reachable by a short pontoon, where you may lie on your rooftop terrace tracing the spine of Scorpio across the night sky.

• The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Vommuli's retro-futuristic design was possibly influenced by The Jetsons. It is a massive docking station for flying saucers, which is extraordinary given that it is entirely constructed of wood. The interiors also have a Space Age flavor, with modular ceiling lighting that mimic chemical diagrams and transparent bathtub surfaces lighted from underneath. Even though the house reef is excellent, there are enough diversions on dry land to keep you busy for weeks. Cargo, a street-food bazaar in a ship's container - as if it had simply washed up on shore and been taken over by stranded Michelin-starred hawkers - is the most endearing of the half-dozen great eateries.
  
  The John Jacob Astor Estate, named after the man who founded the original St Regis hotel in New York, is the largest of the 77 villas and the largest in the Maldives. He'd have to like Vommuli. The butlers, the grand staircase, the painting in the bar, and the Champagne sabrage ceremony are all distinctive St Regis features. Even a Bloody Mary riff called the Island Mary is served in a seashell. If sophisticated drinks served in unusual glasses aren't your thing, check out the wine list. It contains, among other things, a 1775 Madeira. Then, at half past five, uncork wine on The Whale Bar's west-facing deck and settle back for one of the Maldives' transcendentally magnificent sunsets.

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#2 Amalfi Coast

Closer to home, yet with an ethereal appeal, Italy's Amalfi Coast is widely regarded as one of the world's most stunning coasts, known for its chocolate box towns, white-washed villages, and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. There isn't a single site on the Amalfi Coast that isn't a photo opportunity. Still, the Amalfi Coast offers much more than its biscuit-hued beaches and secret coastal caves.

This romantic neighborhood has a slower pace of life and effortless charm that will lull even the most stressed-out newlyweds (table planning can do that to any pair) into a pervasive serenity. With woods, mountains, little fishing towns, and plenty of opportunities for island hopping, it's easy to understand how this stress-free place makes the list of top honeymoon destinations. During your trip, take a vintage open-top vehicle along the 50km stretch of road between Salerno and clifftop Sorrento, weaving through magnificent mansions, terraced vineyards, and cliffside lemon gardens for maximum romanticism.

Best time to go: either May or September.

TOP hotels in Amalfi Coast

• Monastero Santa Rosa. This old monastery from the 17th century dominates the coastline about a kilometer from Amalfi. It's the newest glitzy hotel to open on this stretch of shore (Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene were checking in as we arrived), with stunning terraced grounds and a swimming pool that appears to float between sea and sky. The new-look Monastero has emerged after more than ten years of restoration work, with stunning, incredibly soft, delightful-to-walk-on Jerusalem-marble flooring and 20 fabulous, if austere, bedrooms. Some have terraces, but they are equipped with a combination of custom-made furniture and 19th-century antiques purchased by the American owner.
  
  The gardens have several peaceful areas, but the spa will be the main draw. Perhaps a little excessive for this region, but it's spectacular, with natural light, stained glass, an ice cave, and exquisite Santa Maria Novella items. The chef prepares exquisite delicacies like potato and nettle gnocchi with scampi.

• Belmond Villa Margherita. A solitary property located on a wonderfully prime hillside area behind the orange trees at Belmond Hotel Caruso. The access to the villa is via a cobblestone, no-through route to the left of the hotel's main entrance for full solitude. It may be hired as a whole or divided into two suites that are complimentary but outfitted differently. Large windows frame cascading plantations of Amalfi lemons clinging to steep, rugged terraces of limestone, pastel-colored settlements down the coast, and the broad azure sweep of the Mediterranean in both suites.

• Le Sirenuse. John Steinbeck stayed here when it was the Marchesi Sersale's vacation residence in 1953. It is now more refined, run by Swiss-trained Antonio Sersale and his wife Carla, and packed with the family's beautiful antiques and paintings. The 59 guestrooms include handcrafted Vietri-tiled floors and soaring ceilings, and the pool terrace boasts the greatest bay views; the Champagne & Oyster Bar is a popular aperitivo destination the romantic La Sponda restaurant serves scallops with artichokes. A spa and a vintage Riva motorboat are also available.

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#3 Costa Rica

This nation is legendary for its steamy cloud forests, stunning surf beaches, and multicolored animals. Peninsula Papagayo is the place to go for those wishing to indulge. 

Consider it your own Costa Rican paradise, with 21 powder-soft beaches, eight miles of stunning sea cliffs, and 600 square miles of protected rainforest and mangroves to explore. There's also a staff of skilled naturalists to assist visitors in organizing outings into the countryside, such as canoeing among bioluminescent plankton or mountain biking through jungle paths. But, of course, this is quickly followed by some poolside severe cabana time - you don't want to work up too much of a sweat.

Best time to go: January or February

TOP hotels in Costa Rica

• Finca Rosa Blanca. Wildlife thrives in the highlands despite being only a short drive from the international airport and the major city. Since its inception as a private property, Finca Rosa Blanca has been adjacent to a coffee plantation practicing sustainable agriculture for three decades. The objective here in the Central Valley has always been to promote conservation and tree planting over its 30 organic acres. The benefits of this responsible agriculture taste incredibly delicious at the farm-to-table restaurant. Take advantage of the guided tour, which includes a coffee-tasting session on the patio.

• Kura Boutique Hotel. Warning: beautiful pool views that fade into the horizon will have you clicking sunset photos to the point of becoming anti-social. Now that we've cleared things up let's be clear: the oohing and ahhing at this beautiful open-air getaway doesn't stop there. Step out of one of the dramatic eight suites at daybreak to hear a theatrical morning chorus of howler monkeys. As eyes are pulled across the continuous tropical jungle down to the Pacific Coast, that vista is quite breathtaking. Kura, which means jaguar in the Boruca language, is the creation of a Costa Rican architect and biologist power couple.
  
  What makes green-travel enthusiasts swoon is how eco-conscious the behind-the-scenes methods are when it comes to the 5R pillars of sustainability - reducing waste, reusing, repurposing, and recycling whenever feasible - not to mention our buddy, rot. It helps that Kura offers ceviches, tacos, and salads, so leftovers are kept to a minimum, but when it comes to organic waste, an intelligent Japanese Takakura composting system produces a fertilizer that explains why everything at Kura just feels extra cheerful.

• Lapa Rios Lodge. The scarlet macaws that frequent the sky above these 17 thatched, stilts bungalows inspired the name Lapa. Lapa Rios, which overlooks the Golfo Dulce, is notably beloved for being the first eco-lodge of its kind in a country that has long been the greenest of tourist destinations. The new Pacuare Lodge owners upgraded this reserve in this lowland tropical rainforest along the Pacific coast. It is still a loyal member of the conservation-focused nonprofit organization, the Long Run, demonstrating its devotion to nature.

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#4 The Caribbean

Beaches all across the world are likened to the Caribbean, but they are quite different from it. The sea is a clear light blue, and you can see your toes twitching on the shell-pink sand, angelfish flashing around your ankles. The sun sets quickly in the evening, illuminating the sky in fiery pink, orange, and red.

Of course, none of this is a surprise, and nothing busts the newlywed bubble like a sunset buffet with a dozen other couples.

To avoid the throng, seek the Caribbean's quieter parts - the rustic, rum-shack Caribbean that's mellow down but still rough around the edges. Alternatively, you may visit one of its exclusive private islands, where the beaches are right out of Treasure Island, and you can wander the deserted shoreline.

Best time to go: from December to April.

TOP hotels in the Caribbean

• Cobblers Cove. Alan and Lady Elizabeth Godsal were forerunners. When the couple bought a home on the Caribbean coast in 1968, intending to turn it into a hotel, they had no idea that the color they chose for the property would become today's trendiest tint. Cobblers Cove, now managed by their son Hugh and his wife Sam, is replete with millennial-pink touches, from the vintage, candy-cane-striped pool umbrellas to the Forties-style main structure known as The Great House, where afternoon tea is served. The setup, which is positioned on a narrow strip of golden beach, is understated.
  
  The site is small (two-story cottages flank The Great House in a broad U-shape facing the sea) with 40 beds, but it is furnished charmingly like a tropical country club. Little kitchenettes filled with Barbadian chocolate, plantain chips, and beer are cheerfully decorated with pastel designs. They exude a retro atmosphere owing to the abundance of genuine Seventies island-made rattan furniture. And the hotel's new style, with materials inspired by the fronds and ferns in the lush gardens outside, is the result of a five-year renovation spearheaded by interiors specialist Lulu Lytle of Soane Britain. Despite the era when people no longer dress up for dinner, guests here still dress up to eat lemon blinis and mahi-mahi caught by Dennis 'Barker' Bovell.

• Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Little Dix Bay debuted in 1964 with a magnificent three-day gala for New York's elite. Laurance Rockefeller (grandson of oil magnate John D Rockefeller) was the host. In establishing this hideaway, he aimed to emulate the simplicity of a beachcomber lifestyle. As an early conservationist, he envisioned the hotel blending unobtrusively with the surroundings, allowing nature to take center stage. After a £140 million renovation following Hurricane Irma, that concept remains unbroken - despite including every mod-con and a fleet of boats for easy access to neighboring islets and uninhabited beaches. While celebrity visitors continue to arrive, the laid-back atmosphere is a far cry from the glamour of Barbados.
  
  The catamaran ride from Tortola airport reveals the broad bay where hawksbill turtles eat, the half-mile of powder sands, and the gardens with 80 rooms distributed around. The beach is always only a few steps away. But the Pavilion, with its pitched conical roofs that have endured every hurricane for the past 57 years, is the property's heart. In addition to the coppery bar and the 107 rums on display, two of the three restaurants are located here. This is where Rockefeller's basic philosophy is most tastily articulated in fruit from Little Dix's farm and other local delicacies conjured into Caribbean curries and seafood pots. As far as eco-chic hospitality pioneers go, this grande dame hasn't lost her flair.

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#5 Greece

There's something enthralling about Greece and the Greek islands. The natural beauty, the rich history and mythology, the scrubby wilderness fragrant with wildflowers, the exquisite contrast of blue and white. That much light! Little whitewashed church domes and fishermen's huts carved into the rock sparkle. And the incredible blue of the sea and skies during the long, scorching summers that seem to endure the whole year.

How far away do you want to be? Hundreds of islands, each with its own individual personality, with names like gods and monsters - the Cyclades, the Ionians, Thassos, Zakinthos, and Spetses. Santorini, a honeymooner's dream, is one of the most photogenic. It is ridiculously stunning, yet because of the caldera's natural amphitheater, everyone living in the whitewashed towns that fall down its steep hillsides has an unbroken view of the volcano and the deepest blue sea. The sinking light colors the towns pink and honey-gold at sunset.

Best time to go: spring or early summer to avoid crowds.

TOP hotels in Greece

• Bill & Coo Coast. Back in 2016, Mykonian hotelier Theodosis Kakoutis collaborated with trendy Athenian architects K-Studio to transform the original Bill & Coo from an unobtrusive honeymoon retreat to a super-slick hotspot with a buzzy feel. He opened Bill & Coo Coast, a beautiful, suite-only hotel overlooking a stunning crescent of sand, a few years ago. It's a lot quieter and tranquil than its brother, built-in craggy stone, bleached wood, and cast iron, a place for A-listers to unwind rather than party. Each of the 15 exquisite bedrooms has its own patio. It is decorated in a cool, serene color scheme of light grey and powdered whites, with the odd jet-black vase for contrast.
  
  Lunchtime favorites like modest but tasty sardines on toast, slow-cooked rooster pasticada served with pasta, and truffles have been given a light, contemporary twist. Guests may take a five-minute transfer to the original property, Bill & Coo Suites & Lounge, for supper, where head chef Ntinos Fotinakis offers sophisticated tasting meals with a strong Greek emphasis on Gastronomy Project. Following a complete remodel, Beefbar Mykonos has firmly established itself as one of the greatest restaurants in Mykonos.
  
  Back by the pool at Coast, there are a few gazebos with views of the lovely Greek Orthodox church of Agios Ioannis, where black-clad widows lament on the steps and village lads whizz by on mopeds.

• Summer Senses Luxury Resort. Water is a vital feature at this hilltop house, hidden among the back lanes that snake through fields and orchards, with three enormous pools separated by a combination of bridges, waterfalls, and seascape panoramas. The atmosphere here is discerning, as is typical of the Paros hospitality scene. At the same time, the audience - and the employees - are much younger. The outside is clad in natural stone and is softened by decorative arrangements of fragrant plants and flowers. Summer Senses Luxury Resort, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is one of the largest establishments on the island, with 100 rooms and suites. Its restaurant, Hytra, is a duplicate of the Michelin-starred restaurant of the same name in Athens.

• NOŪS Santorini. Noūs, a pampering retreat with distinctive architecture and design accents that finds the perfect mix between a private refuge and a bustling base for excursions, is located in the picturesque town of Mesaria, just on the edge of the Santorini caldera. Everything seems open here, with 121 spacious apartments and bungalows nestled in extensive private gardens and the island's largest swimming pool. The color palette is inspired by Santorini's famed beaches, and the hotel's structure is reminiscent of the historic towns that previously existed here. The materials and artworks utilized throughout also allude to the island's history. East-facing bungalows and pool suites are ideal for taking in breathtaking morning views.

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#6 Bali, Indonesia

Land of dragons and pirates, a million islands, and hazy, mystical alpine stacks. Land of some of the most beautiful locations to stay in the world, with the majority of them on Bali. It almost seems unfair how many exquisite hotels Bali has and how many more are opening. That jungle-clad and inviting infinity pool is so sophisticated after all that omnipresent turquoise.

Bali is not a homogeneous island resort, regardless of how many five-star hotels are open. Instead, it's a fascinating, spiritual location that has managed to preserve its originality and tradition, as well as its pristine beaches and lush tropical scenery. And there are accommodations for all budgets, ranging from backpacker beach huts (where full-moon parties may be found) to ultra-sexy designer getaways.

Best time to go: April to September is a dry season. However, July and August are the busiest. 

TOP hotels in Bali

• Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape. There are many glamping places and simple bamboo huts in Bali. Still, none will bring you closer to nature than Banyan Tree's first Escape outpost. With their wood-clad pillars and creaking floors, the 16 villas of the hotel resemble Balinese balé pavilions 30 minutes north of Ubud. They have no barriers, just like the actual thing. Only a gauzy curtain keeps the insects out while letting in the sounds of the valley, such as the white noise of a waterfall or a chorus of crickets.
  
  While this means you're roughing it, the bed is cooled by an air conditioning system, each balé comes with its own plunge pool, and the hand-hammered copper baths make the perfect spot for soaking up the valley view after foraging for local herbs and honey with Buahan-born head chef Eka Sunarya.

• Nirjhara. Nirjhara, tucked amid the rice fields of Tabanan, a little-visited rural enclave on Bali's southwestern coast, feels like a secluded refuge for the island's elite. A fashionable group of linen-clad ex-pats, off-duty models, and high-society Indonesians on weekend jaunts from Jakarta may be found in the pool, which overlooks the hotel's rambling cascade. Between swimming sessions, they'll visit the spa for flower baths or Ayurvedic marma-point massages, attend yoga lessons in the all-bamboo riverfront shala, or take advantage of the gratis-guided bike excursions to the adjacent Tanah Lot temple.
  
  Nirjhara's accommodations include clean lines, honey-hued woods, and Indonesian textiles, ranging from villas with balconies over the river to multi-bedroom, private-pooled mansions with beautiful forest vistas. If private pools are not a must, try the Canopy Suites, stilted tree huts encircled by a palm grove and provide stunning rooftop terraces with views of the rice fields. And if Tabanan seems too remote, Canggu's buzzing clubs and eateries are only a short drive away.
  
   

• Capella Ubud. Anyone who is familiar with quirky hotel designer Bill Bensley's work understands that staying at one of his projects is never a straight-line affair. But with Capella Ubud, a luxury tented resort 20 minutes north of Ubud, he ups the kooky factor. Based on a sloped patch of jungle, he built a whimsical base camp with 22 one-bedroom suites (sprawling outdoor decks and private plunge pools), a reception desk, and a fitness center. Each takes over their own tents, inspired by tales of European explorers poking around the Indonesian archipelago in the nineteenth century.
  
  Bensley's characteristic combination of clashing patterns - ikat-pillows, antique trunks, and cowhide-upholstered sofas - and design eccentricities ranging from peek-a-boo windows in the showers to brass monkeys dotting the rooftops - is used throughout. Api Jiwa serves Indonesian omakase-style meals, while Mads Lange serves cozy lobster wontons and crab tacos from breakfast to evening. Come dusk, gather around the campfire for marshmallows, hot cocoa, and classic Indonesian films.

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#7 Mauritius

Mauritius is a vibrant Indian Ocean paradise. There's no need to be bored on this spice island; its interior climbs up into mountain ranges, where tropical forests shelter fantastic animals, and it has a vibrant coastline and marine parks to explore by boat or underwater (watersports are quite the thing here). The neighboring islands of Réunion and Rodrigues provide their own treasures - and seem off-the-beaten path even by Mauritian standards; and hundreds of tiny islets dot the coasts of three have beautiful landscapes.

It's not just about the beaches, though they're fantastic. And if that's the type of vacation you're looking for - lying on a cabana and being served cocktails on the hour, every hour - Mauritius is the place to be. Many seaside resorts here are high-octane and glamorous, but independent travelers may also discover off-the-beaten-path, more laid-back places.

Best time to go: between June and September. 

TOP hotels in Mauritius

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok. Ilôt Mangénie, its private island getaway, is a 10-minute chug from the graceful bends of Le Touessrok. Chanel sarongs provide a splash of aristocratic color to the island's earthy palette, and the fragrance of grilling lobster fills the air. The dangers are minor - snagging buttery fingers on crustacea claws and dodging the occasional sea urchin - and afternoons are spent soaking in rock pools with glasses of chilling Chateau Minuty.
  
  Back at the resort's base, it's earthily organic, with tables fashioned from petrified teak trunks and rattan woven into day beds. The plusher rooms in the Frangipani wing provide complimentary minibars. The (cheaper) Hibiscus accommodations, which walk directly onto one of the resort's six beaches, are perfect for small children and buggies (but those bothered by startling dawn sunlight should request black-out blinds). Open the bedroom doors in the morning to see red, white, and blue Pirogue vessels gliding the flat seas, fisherman exploring the depths for bream. The extravagant villas start at £20,000 per night, which includes a private beach and a crew of employees.
  
  There are also four tennis courts and two beautiful golf courses (a big draw for the Brit-centric crowd here). The pagoda-style spa appears unassuming, yet it routinely provided the most deft-handed massages we had on the island. Sit chef side at sushi restaurant Kushi for grilled red grouper with miso teriyaki, followed by a treacherous Chamarel on the rocks at the boisterous Te bar.

• LUX* Grand Baie. Come to marvel at the vistas at the island's most famous hotel. Not only are the views of the azure sea breathtaking, but so are the diverse clients that flock to it. A lithe septuagenarian and her youthful, sculpted paramour pose for photos on the swings that sway over the pool at the adults-only rooftop bar. As a DJ blasts sundowner sounds, three sunbathers with dueling Dior beach bags dig into chili-flecked guacamole and margaritas. This north coast location from rapidly expanding Mauritian brand LUX* near the boat-and-bar seaside town of Grand Baie has so much to offer - some of the best gastronomy on the island, first-rate kids club, and wellness - while also bringing a hefty dose of sun-drenched high glamour fun to the island.
  
  LUX* Grand Baie towers massively above the white beaches, with architect Jean-Francois Adam deriving inspiration from the strong galleons that sculpted the panoramas of his boyhood. The hotel's focal point is a 13-foot-high ceiling supported by massive steel girders and balau wood beams. The 86 junior suites are all the same size and bright and modern, with black crittall-style doors and designer Kelly Hoppen's clean white lines. With a lot of reassuringly traditional Mauritius, this venue has overtones of Soho House and 1Rebel. Start your day with a cycle class in the monochromatic gym or a run around the rooftop athletics track, followed by a spirulina omelet or hemp seed smoothie.
  
  Afternoons are spent swimming to poolside DJ rhythms or visiting the spa for a manicure by nail expert Bastien Gonzalez. The hottest seat in the house in the evening is at Ai Kisu, where guests savor soy sauce tasting platters and the crispiest duck before going on to the nightclub next door. Only the frocks outshine the sheen on the disco balls here.

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#8 Tokyo, Japan

It is known as the capital of delicate taste. You've found Shangri-La, foodies, wine connoisseurs, design enthusiasts, and cultural vultures. There are more Michelin stars in Paris than in any other city. (Yes, Paris is second - and by a long shot.) From the all-glass Prada and Dior boutiques to Tadao Ando's minimalist-concrete retail complex, Omotesando Hills, architecture serves as art. At modest 10-seater bars, mixologists blend artisan cocktails with laser precision; sumo wrestlers scrap in stadiums; and kabuki actresses strut about theaters.

Slow-drip coffee shops, independent fashion stores, traditional tatami workshops, and eighth-generation noodle counters line the narrow back alleys. Everything was artisanal before it was chic. When that isn't enough elegance, neon-lit thoroughfares buzz with eateries serviced by robots and goat-filled cafés.

Best time to go: October and November.

TOP hotel in Tokyo

• Aman Tokyo is the absolute number one and only spectacular stay in the city.

#9 South Africa

South Africa, a famous trip to combine with one of the sleepier Indian Ocean Islands, deserves to be included on our best honeymoon destinations list on its own. 

The remainder of the nation, from the busy V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, lorded over by the flat-topped Table Mountain, to the vine-woven valleys of the Winelands, to penguin spotting at Boulders Bay, is equally as enjoyable. Many honeymooners rent a car, or even better, a private tour guide, and drive down to the Garden Route or Route 62 in the Western Cape.

Best time to go: from May to September. 

TOP hotel in South Africa

• One&Only Cape Town. The hotel is something of a historical landmark for honeymooners. One&Only Cape Town, which is located on the city's busy harbourside, is framed by the beautiful peak of Table Mountain, which provides for fairly breathtaking viewing at sunset.

#10 Comporta, Portugal

Comporta is a back-to-nature, beach-shack-style exclusive: a pristine utopia that has captivated everyone from Louboutin to Sarkozy. It's barely an hour from Lisbon on Portugal's windy west coast. Yet, an elite banking group's tight preservation regulations and guardianship have kept it immaculate and hidden. 

The unique landscape includes bright-green rice fields, aromatic cork woods, and 12 kilometers of thrillingly primal beaches with icing-sugar sand and thunderous waves. In reality, when compared to pre-fame Ibiza or St Tropez, it's a lot less glamorous - and far better for it. So take off your flip-flops for sunset dinner at a few unassuming eateries on sun-bleached boardwalks, where ice jugs of white sangria are served alongside fresh, garlic-infused mussels and coriander-spiked local arroz.

Best time to go: April to May or September to October. 

TOP hotel in Comporta

• Quinta da Comporta where bedrooms have a beach-house feel, and the spa is every honeymoon-ers dream.