A Pool overlooking the Caribbean:
Sandals Whitheouse, Jamaica
Designed with romance and pleasure in mind, couples-only
resorts are invariably placed in fabulous locations—usually a tropical
locale. Another plus: most feature all-inclusive prices. Rates vary
with the season and the luxuriousness of your room. The term
"all-inclusive" usually covers activities and sports (e.g., snorkeling, windsurfing, tennis, golf,
racquetball, archery, fitness center), meals, gratuities, alcohol,
entertainment, disco, bars, and clubs. Expect to pay extra for spa
treatments, off-site excursions, that $200 bottle of Dom Pérignon you
ordered in a devil-may-care moment, or certain pricey activities (scuba
diving, perhaps; a day-long yacht charter, definitely).
Are couples-only resorts for you? Maybe; maybe not. If you’re seeking
seclusion and quiet time together, an intimate island hotel or inn might be a
better choice. Also, if you’re light- or non-drinkers,
be aware that a hefty portion of your all-included fee subsidizes more
serious imbibers.
However, if you're set on white
sandy beaches and turquoise waters on your
honeymoon, and if you’re turned on by a limitless menu of sports,
activities, and good food—all at value pricing—the following resorts
are worth investigating. In alpha order, they are:
CAESAR'S POCONO RESORTS: For
decades, Pennsylvania's Poconos Mountains were synonymous with the
word "honeymoon," with a dozen or more over-the-top resorts catering
specifically to honeymooning couples. These days most resorts and
hotels in the mountain range cater to families, but
Caesars Pocono
Resorts continues to keep the honeymoon fantasy alive.
You'll find in-room swimming pools, hot tubs in a 7-foot-tall
champagne glass, heart-shaped Jacuzzis, and lots of all-inclusive
amenities.
»»Read a WGH article about Poconos Honeymoon Resorts
CLUB MED: Famed as the place for
swinging singles back in the 80s, Club Med
long ago moved into different terrain. Today, with 80 worldwide
resorts, the company offers five different vacation styles—Couples,
Friends, Families, Spa Resorts, Ski Resorts. Among the
Couples-oriented locations:
Martinique, Morocco, the
Bahamas,
Bora Bora, the Maldives, Provence, Brazil, Australia, and
Mauritius. You can also take a 7-day cruise aboard the company's
five-masted motor cruiser, which plies the Med and Adriatic in summer
and the
Caribbean in winter.
COUPLES RESORTS: The company has four all-inclusive,
couples-only resorts on
Jamaica: The Couples Ocho Rios, Couples Swept Away, Couples San
Souci, and Couples Negril. Couples
Resorts considers itself to be "artisanal" in its approach as
opposed to mass market, with personal service offered in luxurious
surroundings. Each property is completely unique, with every
amenity imaginable. Couples on their honeymoon start off their visit with a complimentary bottle
of sparkling wine delivered to the room, along with 30-minute His &
Her massages. You can also register your Honeymoon with the Resort so
that family and friends can treat you to part or even all of your
honeymoon.
»»More about
honeymoon registries
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EXCELLENCE RESORTS: In its four
adults-only resorts in
Mexico, Dominican Republic, and
Jamaica,
Excellence Resorts
places an emphasis on personal attention and luxury. You could opt for
a swim-up suite or a rooftop terrace; all rooms have full marble
baths, a 42" flat-screen TV, and a double shower for two. The
all-inclusive program covers gratuities and taxes, all meals and
drink, sports, and other amenities; you'll pay extra for premium
activities such as scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and private yacht
excursions.
RENDEZVOUS: Located on
St.
Lucia, the
Rendezvous—which bills itself as "a holiday created by
Romantics for Romantics"—is surrounded by gardens of orchid,
oleander, hibiscus and anthurium. Serious about its all-inclusive
price, the resort has a no-tipping policy. You can even get married
here for free—including government licenses and fees—with flowers,
wedding cake, and champagne thrown in. You can upgrade, for a fee, to a
more glamorous wedding package.
Among the all-inclusive offerings are meals in the two distinctly
different restaurants; all bar drinks; nightly entertainment; a piano
bar; catamaran cruises; dance instruction; exercise classes (from
hydro-aerobics to calisthenics); weight training; and whirlpool baths.
All rooms are air-conditioned, equipped with king-sized beds, and have
a private terrace.
SANDALS RESORTS: There are twelve
Sandals Resorts
on four Caribbean islands (Jamaica,
Antigua,
Bahamas, and
St.
Lucia). Each is unique, even when compared to others on the same
island. On Jamaica, for example, the Sandals Inn, Montego Bay, is in
the middle of the action. In contrast, mere miles away is the serenely
laid-back Sandals Negril, far from anything on a 7-mile-long white
sand beach. And Sandals White House, on the island's south side, is a
study in serenity and luxury. By the way, a stay at one Sandals resort
entitles you to full exchange privileges with others on the same
island.
In general, Sandals resorts are characterized by fragrant tropical
gardens, white sand beaches, swim-up pool bars, and a friendly staff.
Breakfast and lunch are generous buffets; dinner is full-service
candlelit dining, with food ranging from grilled fish and meat to West
Indian, Indonesian, and Oriental cuisine.
SUPERCLUBS. The Caribbean’s
SuperClubs Resorts have a consistent
reputation for high standards, with a dozen properties in
Jamaica,
Bahamas, Dominican Republic,
Curaçao, and Brazil. The Grand Lido
brand, with two resorts in Jamaica, is geared to couples—outdoor
hammocks for two tucked into out-of-the-way corners, 24-hour room
service, hidden grottos, beautifully-tended gardens, theme nights,
water sports, swimming pools, and gorgeous beaches. The Breezes
SuperClubs are fun and elegant. Two Hedonism
resorts (both on Jamaica), which SuperClubs advertises as "the world's
most notorious resort," welcome uninhibited couples and singles. All
Hedonism rooms come with Roman tubs, a see-through slide winds through the
disco, and no bathing suits are required on the beach or in the pool &
Jacuzzi.
