WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS SHORT-HAUL HONEYMOONS DESTINATIONS Short and sweet


Honeymooners wanting to stay short-haul? Laura French looks into the options


@laurafrench121 T


he Indian Ocean might be stealing the show on the honeymooner front right


now, but clients don’t have to go long-haul to sip pina coladas on white-sand shores and splash around in curacao-coloured waters. The Med still has its fair share of pearls


for newlyweds looking to sprawl out on sunloungers, while for those after something a little different, there are mountains to climb, ice fields to glimpse and culture-rich cities to browse. Here are some of our top picks.


◗ BEST FOR LUXURY: SANTORINI Santorini is the stuff of dreams for those who want quintessential romance, and cream of the crop is Grace, an all-white, minimalist boutique perched on a cliff overlooking the caldera. It’s Kuoni’s top pick thanks to a generous honeymoon deal – which includes an in-room champagne breakfast, four- course set menu and sunset cocktail and canapes – and a plethora of other romantic lures, ranging from sailing trips to helicopter transfers, in-room spa treatments to drinks at the rooftop champagne bar. But the highlight is The Villa, a 400sq metre luxury suite boasting its own spa, pool and gazebo, and postcard-perfect views over the surroundings; think sparkling stretch of cobalt blue by day, burning golden sunsets by eve. Book it: Kuoni offers seven nights in a Honeymoon Suite with Plunge Pool from £3,149 per person, including breakfast, British Airways flights from Heathrow and transfers in May 2019. The honeymoon offer is valid from


April 15 to October 31, for stays of five nights or more. kuoni.co.uk Or try: Couples more into Crete? Lauren Ross, product and commercial manager for Simply Luxury by Travel 2, recommends Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites, set above the Gulf of Mirabello and a stone’s throw from legendary island Spinalonga. “It’s a family-run boutique hotel offering the highest standards of privacy and service, and it’s perfect for honeymooners looking to recover from the wedding preparations,” she says.


◗ BEST FOR VALUE: TURKEY For couples wanting to make decent savings without sacrificing on luxury, look to Turkey. Tui Sensatori Resort Barut Fethiye is a good option, with adult-only as well as family- friendly zones, several swim-up rooms, 14 bars and restaurants and romantic options including a candlelit dinner under the stars. It’s all set on the Turquoise Coast, making it ideal for those looking to fly and flop, and for couples after added exclusivity there’s The Residence, a new adult-only section promising butlers, free-standing bathtubs and wow- factor upgrades when it opens in May. Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive costs from £685 per person, based on two sharing with transfers and flights from Gatwick on May 5, 2019. tui.co.uk Or try: ‘Island of Love’ Cyprus knows a thing or two about romance, and it needn’t


6 December 2018travelweekly.co.uk59


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