What is the dream honeymoon? Depends who’s dreaming, so here’s a look at dream honeymoons at six romantic Caribbean properties. Unless otherwise stated, rates quoted are for one week during June 2019 and include taxes and fees.
Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant, The Bahamas
The new 3-night Romance Package at Graycliff, a Holy Grail of gastronomy and history, includes a welcome bottle of Champagne with Graycliff chocolates, a wine-making experience, an interactive demonstration by Graycliff Restaurant’s chef followed by a 3-course meal, a chocolate-and-spirits tasting, a casual dinner at Piazza, and a 4-course Chef’s Tasting Dinner. Celebrants also revel in Graycliff’s antique-filled rooms and art-tile pool, as well as Nassau’s shops, beaches, and landmarks.
On departure day the couple gets a copy of “Graycliff: 300 years of Grand Bahamian Luxury” and complimentary entry to the Graycliff Airport lounge for a glass of wine, an entrée, and WiFi. Rates for this package start at $2,615 for a 3-night stay; $2,900 for
a suite.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
“It starts with VIP check-in to a Rock Royalty Caribbean Sand Suite and a personal assistant who explains room inclusions such as aromatherapy, the pillow menu, ironing services, the espresso machine, Bluetooth-enabled radio, and the upgraded room service menu,” says Carilis Felipe, director of weddings North America, AIC Hotel Group. The newlyweds will also find a mini-honeymoon cake, sparkling wine, and a spa tub at the foot of the bed. Other inclusions are breakfast in bed and use of the Rock Royalty areas at the beach and pool. The personal assistant can bring them a guitar, too; this is, after all, the Hard Rock. A 7-day stay at this level includes an $1,800 resort credit, so the newlyweds can party at the ORO Night Club or enjoy other extras. It also includes unlimited a la carte dining, 24-hour room service, top-shelf liquor, plenty of music and fun, and late check-out. (Note that a 20 percent service fee applies to resort credit items.) Rates for this Rock Royalty Caribbean Sand Suite honeymoon start at $4,230. P.S. Colin Cowie, who designs weddings for Hard Rock, can also offer honeymoon add-ons.
Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia
Famous for its three-walled suites and frequently named the best resort in the Caribbean, Jade Mountain offers honeymooners a Total Romance package including accommodations, transfers, meals, most drinks, tours of a plantation and the volcano and mineral baths, plus in-room drinks, tennis, watersports, a snorkeling cruise, a resort scuba course for beginners or two dives for certified divers, a bottle of Champagne, a massage, a half-day jungle biking tour, T-shirts, and a $500 credit toward a return visit.
The Lovers’ Early Bird promotion features a seventh night free, so the all-inclusive week in June would cost about $11,500 in a Sky Jacuzzi Suite, $14,500 in a Star Sanctuary, and $23,150 in a Galaxy Sanctuary.
La Suite Villa, Martinique
This Bohemian-chic boutique hotel rests upon a hill overlooking the town of Les Trois-Ilets, with its beach, bars, shops, restaurants, and ferry to Fort-de-France. It’s also well-positioned for driving to the capital, Jardin de Balata, Pompei-like Saint-Pierre, and world-class rhum distilleries. The hotel is chock-a-block with paintings, sculpture, dishware, and even bathtubs that make for a pure escape, as honeymoons should be. Open-air Zandoli restaurant serves superb French-Creole fusion. Although Martinique is tailor-made for exploring, it does have a peaceful, lazy-afternoons pool.
Honeymooners should spring for a Terrace Suite, with a bed whose occupants have a fine view of the bay and, in the evenings, the twinkling lights encircling the water. The view from the hot tub on the terrace defines romance, too, so what could better? A 1-bedroom in a detached villa. It, too, has a hot tub on its terrace for decompressing from the wedding. Terrace Suites cost $3,290 per week; a 1-bedroom villa, $3,690, plus a $28 tax upon check-in. Honeymooners who stay five nights also get one dinner, a bottle of Champagne, and a gift at check-out.
Paradisus Palma Real, Dominican Republic
“To kick off a true ‘blow-out’ honeymoon, the couple would be greeted with an in-room bottle of sparkling wine and a plate of fruit,” says Claribel de los Santos, regional romance sales manager. “Other inclusions are a breakfast in-bed topped off with mimosas and a private 3-course dinner under the stars accompanied by intimate music, after which the couple will find a bottle of Champagne in their room, rose petals across the bed, and a bubble bath. They’ll also get a 50-minute couple’s tension-release massage.” It should be added that Palma Real has a stunning, palapa-roofed spa with a garden.
At Paradisus Palma Real, seven nights plus the above mentioned extras, part of the $820 Passion Package, would start at approximately $3,150. A recommendation: Upgrade to Royal Service; after all, this is a honeymoon.
Sandals Royal Barbados
The newest member of the Sandals brand, Sandals Royal Barbados offers not just the usual Luxury Included romantic offerings (candlelit dinners, couple’s massages at
Red Lane Spa, etc.) but some firsts for a Sandals, such as a rooftop bar and infinity
pool, a bowling alley, a men’s barber shop, and three new restaurants: American Tavern
(for casual dining in an industrial, modern setting), Asian-fusion Chi, and Butch’s Steak and Seafood, which goes a step beyond Butch’s Chophouse.
Honeymooners should spring for one of the Love Nest Suites. They come in various styles (beachfront, swim-out, ground-floor, top floor), but all have 24/7 butler service, large balconies with soaking tubs, design-magazine decor, and a romantic vibe. Rates start at $964, and the free Honeymoon Package includes a welcome bottle of sparkling wine, fresh flowers, turndowns with flower petals, a breakfast in bed, and a honeymoon gift registry.
Contact Information
Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant: graycliff.com
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana: allinagents.com
Jade Mountain: jademountain.com
La Suite Villa: la-suite-villa.com
Paradisus Palma Real: melia.com
Sandals Royal Barbados: taportal.sandals.com/landing
