Honeymoons are back, with couples booking bucket-list breaks that put wellbeing front and centre. RSVP to these destinations, where relaxation meets romance
01 InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
What: Pure paradise with unbeatable personal touches
Where: Raa Atoll, Maldives How much: Prices start at £5,200 per week for a one-bedroom, Lagoon Pool villa; ihg.com/ intercontinental
Who: Jess Bantleman, social media editor
The Maldives is the honeymoon destination. What makes this resort stand out?
It’s true that snogging couples aren’t a rare species in these parts. But the collection of 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks in the Indian Ocean have become synonymous with honeymoons for a reason – they’re breathtaking. And if you’re booking a blow-the-budget break – or travelling on the dime of your wedding guests – there are few places on earth that better meet the postnuptial brief of picturesque privacy. But with an estimated 160 resorts to pick from in the Maldives, finding The One can feel harder than navigating the politics of a hen do. Located on the southern tip of Raa Atoll and a 40-minute seaplane from the capital Malé (a bucket-list experience in itself ) is the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. And from tailoring the snack selections in your room to your taste to having your favourite drink waiting at the bar for you come sunset, these guys have thought of everything.
Go on…
From the moment you arrive, you’re treated like an A-lister – an experience that extends to the privacy you’re afforded. The villas feel almost cocooned by the ocean, and it makes for an exclusive experience. But while you could spend your honeymoon holed up together, there’s plenty to do besides. The house reef – much like the house white – can be enjoyed at any time of day, and with a Unesco World Biosphere on the doorstep, you can expect to do your morning breaststroke alongside manta rays, turtles and sharks. Equipment for kayaking, paddleboarding and windsurfing is complimentary, and group and private snorkelling lessons are available to those who wish to see the rich marine life lurking beneath the turquoise waters. But nothing screams ‘honeymoon’ quite like a sunset cruise. Setting off just before the sun sinks below the horizon – complete with champagne and canapes – the InterContinental’s offering is about as honeymoony as it gets (in a good way).
Tell me about the spa...
With massage beds looking out on to the crystal-clear water, you’ll struggle to find a better view than the one you’ll have in the awardwinning Avi spa. But it’s the extensive treatment menu that puts this resort’s wellness offering head and
