Recommend June 2012 - (Page 68)

once-in-a-lifetime HONEYMOONS continued from page 66 Jean. Surrounded by a coral reef, Eden Rock was the ﬁrst hotel to be built on the island and long ago set the standard for luxury getaways, with the likes of Howard Hughes and Greta Garbo starting the wave that made St. Barth’s a household name among the privileged. Today, the resort continues to one-up its competition by serving up top accommodations and amenities. For starters, the resort has a gallery with ongoing individual and group exhibitions most of the year, and an artist in residence available for painting lessons. The resort’s Beach Team is around to provide assistance with beach gear or cool fruit for a healthy nibble. After a day of snorkeling and paddle boarding, or a sail on one of the resort’s luxury boats, they can arrange for a massage right on the beach. Cottages, beach rooms and suites are as spectacular as the landscape around the hotel, with terraces and sweeping views. Classically elegant, they’re infused with lots of Caribbean ﬂair and distinct touches; the Greta Garbo Suite, for instance, is inspired by 1930s Hollywood. And for clients who want to take it a step further, there’s the Villa Rockstar, which comes with its own cars in the garage and music studio; they can even record their own souvenir soundtrack to take home using the same mixing console that John Lennon used when he recorded “Imagine.” Rates at Eden Rock start at $667 per night. Contact: (855) 333-6762; edenrockhotel.com lights and unspoiled beaches that are part of the marine conservation area that surrounds the island. The Cotton House has made a name for itself in this exclusive spot, with a West Indian-style plantation estate of just 17 rooms, suites and cottages all with panoramic views. Many of these also have private plunge pools and all offer complimentary unpacking and pressing service upon arrival. Romantic adventures abound here, starting with a day of quiet time by the shore, as the hotel sits directly on the beach. Couples can also arrange for an intimate picnic or horseback riding on the beach, or spend the day paddle boarding, Hobie Cat sailing or scuba diving. The Cotton House can also put together a sailing or boating trip to nearby islands in the Grenadines or point them to great nature trails. After a day of cavorting under the sun, honeymooners can take advantage of the hotel’s spa or hole up in their bright, cool, comfort-ﬁlled suite with DVDs or pre-programmed iPods they can request at the reception desk. The Cotton House Honeymoon package, good with a 7-night minimum stay, comes with daily breakfast (in-room if preferred), a daily 3-course dinner, a 60-minute massage pp, snorkeling equipment for use during guests’ stay and a day’s use of a motorized buggy—otherwise known as a “mule”—to explore the island. The package starts at $781 per night. Contact: cottonhouse.net scrub island resort, spa & marina, bvi As far as carefree, joy-ﬁlled jaunts go, you can’t get much better than the BVI. The islands’ bouncy, untouched ambiance is an obvious choice for many. One of the latest resorts to entice honeymooners here is Scrub Island, which welcomes them with plenty of “us” time—whether at sea, the spa or the relaxing privacy of their own room. Just a 10-minute boat ride from Tortola, Scrub Island has 50 rooms and suites and seven villas, plus lots of beach options for those wanting to snorkel or lounge; the aptly named Honeymoon Beach, accessible only by kayak, allows for extra privacy. A private sail, an excursion to the nearby island of Anegada or exploration of the many coves and bays nearby are always an easy feat thanks to the full-service marina steps away. Couples might want to rent a car for the day to discover the sights of Tortola. Fishing aﬁcionados will never come back emptyhanded when trying their luck in these waters. And of course, you can’t leave the BVI without visiting some of the most famous beach bars in the world, including Bomba’s Shack in Tortola. Scrub Island’s 7-night Private Island Honeymoon package includes upgraded accommodations to an oceanview 1-bedroom suite, daily breakfast and dinner, champagne upon arrival, a couple’s massage and private continental breakfast at the spa, a snorkeling excursion and unlimited ferry access to and from Trellis Bay—and clients can purchase additional nights if they wish to stay longer. Priced at $5,400. Contact: (877) 890-7444; scrubisland.com rosewood tucker’s point, bermuda Escaping to Bermuda for a honeymoon gets even better when you end up at Rosewood Tucker’s Point and take in an eyeful of the Atlantic Ocean, the landscaped gardens and views of Harrington Sound and Castle Harbour. Just-married lovebirds will love the indoors here as much as their surroundings, as accommodations are heavy on plush comfort; suites are outﬁtted with wet bars, deep-soaking tubs, private balconies and ﬁreplaces. For added romance, couples can pencil in a candlelit dinner at the Wine Room in the resort’s The Point restaurant or book a pampering session at the spa. Couples have quite a few choices for fun here—options include croquet, scooter and bike rides and a round of golf or two at the 18-hole, par 70 Tucker’s Point Golf Course. The latter is part of the Tucker’s Point Golf, Tennis & Beach Club; clients may sign up for lessons with PGA professionals, get a refresher tennis session or just enjoy Bermuda’s largest private beach and the resort’s freshwater swimming pools. The resort is also home to the Dive and Watersports Centre, which provides a wealth of choices for enjoying days al fresco; they can give clients access to a ﬂoating cabana or motor boat, put together a sailing lesson or arrange a diving excursion so they can explore Bermuda’s underwater caves and coral reefs. The resort’s More Rosewood package lets guests staying for ﬁve nights to enjoy two additional nights for free. Rates start at $720 per night. Contact: (888) ROSEWOOD; rosewoodhotels.com ■ Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Private Islands Sizzle (November 2011) recommend.com the cotton house, mustique The 1,400-acre island of Mustique, long a favorite haunt of royals and glitzy types, is still largely untamed, with many unpaved roads, no trafﬁc 68 june 2012 http://www.edenrockhotel.com http://www.cottonhouse.net http://www.scrubisland.com http://www.rosewoodhotels.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Artisans of Leisure
Romance on Land & Sea
Out of Africa Come Romantic Retreats
Starry-Eyed Bliss in Exotic Surroundings
Enchanting Nuptials American-Style
Honeymoons that Stir the Soul
Latin American Gems Play to the Heart
Brazil Travel Planner
Fairy Tale Honeymoons in Europe
Island Weddings Pump Up the Volume
Once-in-a-Lifetime Honeymoons
Destination Wedding Powerhouses
Fancy-Filled Mexican Weddings
'Mooning in Mexico

Recommend June 2012