THE GREAT ESCAPE
Your Honeymoon is one of the most important and memory-rich trips you’ll ever take. There are so many amazing options, so how does one choose where to spend this most special time?
To save you time and frustration in an endless web search, we put together a top-shelf array of trips for those traveling from the Los Angeles area. Our expertise in planning and executing your seamless honeymoon experience is a phone call or email away, as each can be custom-planned around your personal needs and itinerary by expert travel consultant, Stefanie Behrens, at ALTOUR Los Angeles. Stefanie’s connections add amazing value to each property, such as complimentary breakfast, room upgrade and spa credit. Her insights and resourcefulness fill out details of your trip, unimaginable until you personally experience it!
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London, Brown’s Hotel/Bath, Royal Crescent
Visiting the best of the UK is a convenient yet cultural option. With a 10-hour non-stop flight from LAX, you can be enjoying a pint at the local pub before you know it. You may enjoy the newest 5-star hotels, including Rosewood London and Corinthia, but don’t forget our old favorites like Brown’s Hotel, a property that combines quintessential British culture with a sleek and contemporary sophistication.
A short train ride will whisk you away to the scene of a Jane Austen novel. We recommend taking the train to Bath and enjoying the tranquility of The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. Luxuriate in Roman Baths, natural hot springs or a morning hike up to the Bath Skyline with its amazing views of the entire city. Afterwards, indulge in a sumptuous Afternoon Tea, pampering in the Spa & Bath House, and AA 3 Rosette dining in The Dower House Restaurant.
Paris/South of France
Paris is the city of love, so of course it is a perfect honey-moon destination! Another easy 11-hour nonstop flight from LA will begin your romantic journey to France.
After being closed for over a year, Hotel Plaza Athenee reopened last fall with tremendous expectations and they have since exceeded each one. Alluring décor, elegant suites, a spa inspired by Christian Dior and impeccable service make the entire hotel experience the epitome of Parisian romance.
After you shop, and you are ready to give those new Christian Louboutins a rest, continue to Chateau St. Martin and Spa. Guests can fly from Paris to Nice and their beautiful Chateau is just 30 minutes away, nestled between Nice and Cannes. Relish wine tastings in a cellar carved into rock, Spa Saint Martin Sisley with its outside gazebo massages, yoga sessions in 32 acres of gardens, private helicopter tours over the Mediterranean and fine dining.
Buenos Aires/Uruguay
One of my favorite parts of planning a vacation is pairing two completely different types of trips into one itinerary. A pairing to consider for a sexy honeymoon destination would be Argentina and Uruguay.
Buenos Aires, the city of clean air, is a testament to the life well-lived. The perfect hotel in which to immerse yourself in the art, history and culture of the region is Faena Hotel, Buenos Aires. The entire hotel is like something from a fairy tale: rich, red velvet textures, fresh flowers, ornate pieces of art, white marble bathrooms and pool.
A private dinner in Faena’s intimate La Cava wine cellar surrounded by a collection of over 4,000 bottles of exceptional Argentinian vintages just might lead you to try the Tango, a dance of love celebrated every night with the exclusive Roja Tango performance, located in the hotel’s private Cabaret.
The second portion of your journey takes you to a ranch, Estancia Vik, Uruguay. Relax while lunching at La Susana on the beach and horseback riding or strolling throughout the peaceful grounds.
Travel Tips!
Faena Buenos Aires
Delta has great connections via Atlanta to Buenos Aires; it’s a
13-hour flight so Business Class is best. From the Buenos Aires
Ezeiza International airport it’s an hour drive to the hotel. Private transfers are the preferred hotel transportation.
Vik Estancia/Uruguay
Departing from the Buenos Aires Jorge Newbury (city airport) you can take a very quick flight to Punta Del Este in under an hour, then a short 30-minute drive to the Resort.
Hawaii/Maui
Maui is a natural honeymoon destination: short non-stop flight from L.A., beautiful beaches and scenery, great surf and sunrise bike rides down a mountain. My new favorite for honeymoon couples is Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort with its seven oceanfront vil- las offering expansive views and adorned with furnishings inspired by the island’s natural beauty. The villa’s residential feel is perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying unobstructed sunsets from the patio’s private heated plunge pool with the one you love.
‘Awili Spa & Salon is breathtaking with an apothecary lounge, ocean view, couple suites and pedicure stations. Sit with an apothecary consultant before your treatment to blend your own oil, mask or scrub using indigenous Hawaiian elements.
Mexico/Zihuatanejo
La Casa Que Canta, easily accessible with weekly non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Zihuatanejo, is beautiful and laid back, with a strong emphasis on Mexican art and history. Only 25 suites, each with large terraces and 11 with private pools, makes your stay more intimate. Relax in a beautiful infinity-edged fresh water pool with stunning views of Zihuatanejo Bay, or a fresh ocean salt water pool sitting right below on top of the rocks. With only 500 people in this lovely small town, you’ll be welcomed by the local culture and customs.
Thailand
Another fabulous combo honeymoon is discovering the beauty of Thailand with Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and Six Senses Samui.
There is no location as coveted in the historical city of Bangkok as Mandarin Oriental’s placement on the Chao Phraya River, offering the most scenic access to Thailand’s historic treasures and popular attractions. Gaze at the stunning glow of Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), visit the sacred grounds of the Grand Palace and The Oriental Thai Cooking School, or enjoy the popular floating markets and famous Bangkok nightlife.
Relax at La Grande Dame’s The Oriental Spa where guests embark on a short boat ride to the spa, situated across the river from the hotel. Welcomed with a soothing tea, guests receive a foot cleansing ritual and private consultation allowing the therapist to custom-tailor treatment. Enjoying live jazz and cocktails at the legendary Bamboo Bar, which includes the largest collections of single malt Scotch whiskies in Thailand, as well as the famous Thaijito, is a great way to end the evening.
Next you can visit the northern tip of Samui Island and stay at Six Senses Samui. The private villa (we recommend confirming one with a personal pool!) and panoramic views of the Gulf of Thai- land make it an ideal location in which to discover yourself and your new partner while mountain-biking, morning yoga cliffside, the Samui Temple Tour, or a choice of many excursions.
Travel Tips!
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
A long flight at approximately 17 hours means Business class is most comfortable, and Delta and Cathay Pacific both have great connections to Bangkok.
Six Senses Samui Koh Samui
From Bangkok it’s an easy one-hour flight to Koh Samui and then the resort is only 3.5 miles.
California
Southern California is beautiful, but sometimes there is nothing better than driving up the Pacific Coast Highway to visit a bit further North. My boyfriend and I rented a convertible from which to enjoy the Sunnyside of Santa Barbara, wine tasting in Paso Robles, and sight-seeing at Hearst Castle while en route to Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur.
The rooms are large, fireplaces roaring, and a quaint lounge offers afternoon wine and breakfast, but my favorite feature is the pool (the clothing-optional pool), and while I don’t consider myself an exhibitionist, it felt exhilarating to enjoy nature in my birthday suit!
Our new favorite hotel in wine country is Farmhouse Inn, with the intimacy of a bed and breakfast and the service and attention to detail of a five-star hotel. Indulge in wine tasting, the Michelin star restaurant, full service spa, edible gardens, and s’mores by the fire pit.
Fiji
Laucala, a private island in Fiji, is the honeymoon of a lifetime, with its tranquility and beauty, as well as privacy. 25 villas spread out over the island with options of locations including coconut groves, atop Nawi Mountain, along the white sandy beaches or even overwater, means you can choose how much privacy you desire. Guests are able to use their own buggy to explore the island in!
Delectable dining options range from beachside BBQ to fine dining, and activities include diving, an18-hole golf course, or sailboating at sunset. In addition, the Submarine Deep Flight is part of your inclusions.
Honeymooners enjoy extra special options. We would insist that you choose the secluded villa, Peninsula, with its own private beach. Laucala can organize a sunset cruise on a sailing boat followed by a private dinner in the villa, during which a romantic bath with flower petals and champagne is prepared.
Canada
Less than 3 hours from L.A., the city of Vancouver is a melting pot of culture and identities. A walkable metropolitan area with great shops, art museums, restaurants, and nightlife can be found, yet the residents of Vancouver are equally focused on wellness and fitness.
The alluring Shangri La Hotel, Vancouver is a 119-room luxury hotel occupying the first 15 floors of a 61-story landmark building. Amenities include CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, MARKET by Jean-Georges, and heated outdoor pool with hot tub. Also enjoy Xi Shi Lounge providing it’s very own Kung Fu Tea Master, the first in North America! A 36-seat theatre can be rented, a perfect place for playing a relationship montage video during a private dinner for two.
Take a private sea plane to the West Coast of Vancouver Island to enjoy Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, a five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel, with its cozy yet impressive architecture. It is family-owned and operated, featuring custom made furniture throughout, balconies overlook- ing crashing waves, fireplaces in every room, and delicious, fresh fish. An excursion to the sexy hot springs is perfect for honeymooners.
New Zealand
Located on the banks of the Waikato River in New Zealand’s beautiful Taupo region, Huka Lodge, a favorite of Royals and celebrities for over 90 years, is an ideal place to experience the outdoors. Trout fishing, horse- back riding, golf, hunting, heli-skiing and heli-fishing, white-water rafting or trekking means you can wear everything Ralph Lauren, trade in your sexy black pumps for hiking boots, and prepare to connect with nature in the most chic and elegant way.
Wake up in your suite or private cottage before starting the day with an array of outdoor adventures before you. Enjoy candlelit dinners in the evening, in a choice of 20 indoor and outdoor locations, award-winning New Zealand wines and the option for an exclusive getaway to sister property Dolphin Island in Fiji to extend your holiday adventure.
