Forbes' Top Luxury Honeymoons
We already saw the recommendations from Bride.com for their top five honeymoon destinations, released just in time for the upcoming late spring/summer wedding season. According to Forbes magazine, eighty percent of weddings are followed by a trip for the newlywed couple, who spend a total of $8.6 billion annually on them and an average of $4,400 per couple. People are traveling further afield on these vacations, intending to make the trip into the event of a lifetime as they set out on their newly married life.
Forbes has just selected their picks for the top luxury honeymoons. Of course, some of these picks are quite a bit more costly than the average honeymoon - we refuse to use the phrase "moneymoon" - but are well worth it. The most luxurious stays include:
Anse Chastanet on Santa Lucia is in one of the Caribbean's most breathtaking locations, with over 600-acres of lush garden, tropical flora and gorgeous beaches. Couples can do everything from scuba to shopping or nothing at all. The honeymoon package is $4,480 for a seven night stay (in June) and includes everything but wine, champagne and airfare.
Eichardt's Private Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand is at the remote, mountainous Southern tip of the country. The hotel has five suites decorated in a beautifully modern style with New Zealand accents. There are many activities available to vacationers here, and as they say on the hotel's site, "If you want to raft on it, jump out of it, ski over it, float down it, paddle up it, scale it, zoom down it or jetboat in four inches of it, Queenstown has your measure." Room rates start at $877.
Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay in Lana'i, Hawaii (the Big Island) is a beautiful, recently renovated resort. The complex is at the water's edge, and has a small beach set on a marine sanctuary that provides convenient snorkeling and the opportunity to watch sun-bathing sea turtles from the bar in the late afternoons. The hotel's restaurants are excellent, world class golfing is steps away, and the spa will ensure that guests are as relaxed as can be during their stay. The 4,000-sq. foot bayview suite runs $7,025 per night, but other rooms start at around $485.
[Sea turtle at Four Seasons photo by Nicole Weston]
