The Spectacular Views of the World’s Best Boutique Honeymoon Destinations

Boutique hotel expert of Mr & Mrs Smith gives us her top tips, advice and destinations.

- 3 worldwide honeymoon destinations not to miss
- 3 of the best UK mini-moon destinations
- The best route to a room upgrade

How important do you think the honeymoon is, as part of a couple’s first days of marriage?
The honeymoon is important, but I don’t think it has to be literally the day after the wedding. We had two weeks before we went on ours and I think we enjoyed it all the more because we had time to look forward to it. During the build up to the wedding, you can’t think of anything else and it all goes so quickly.
I’m a great believer that travel is an important part of life - whether it’s as part of a post-wedding relaxation or simply spending time together as a couple. It’s just a shame we don’t have an excuse to go on honeymoon every year!

La Residence, South Africa

La Residence, South Africa

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
James (my husband and co-founder of Mr & Mrs Smith) and I went to La Residence in South Africa and then on Safari in the Kruger, staying at The Royal Malewane. La Residence is an incredible property surrounded by stunning winelands and plum orchards. It’s remarkably tranquil and the natural beauty of the hotel’s surroundings bring the opulence and luxury of its interiors back down to earth - it strikes a perfect balance.

Fogo Island Inn, Canada

Fogo Island Inn, Canada

Where would you go now, if you were to choose again?
That’s such a tricky question to answer - there are so many places to choose from. Perhaps to Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, where there is the most beautiful hotel, called Southern Ocean Lodge. The whole property is sensitive to its natural environment, with views over the ocean and calming, contemporary interiors.
Or try somewhere completely remote, like Fogo Island Inn, on an an island in Newfoundland, Canada, which looks incredible… there’s a theme here! I’d also love to show my husband Argentina and Brazil, where I spent time before we knew each other. My list is pretty endless.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia

Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia

What do you look for in an ideal honeymoon destination – do you have advice for brides and grooms-to-be?
You have to match the destination and the hotel to the couple: they may even want different things themselves - she might be an adrenalin junky, unable to sit still in the sunshine for more than 20 seconds and he might be a book worm. Ensure you plan a trip that works for both of you, which might mean a balance between activities and relaxation and, dare I say it, some compromise! Think about what kinds of things you might enjoy together.

Can you give us your top 3 worldwide honeymoon destinations?

1. Italy is our best-selling honeymoon destination and it’s easy to see why - a Tuscan road trip or hotel hop along the Amalfi Coast are hard to beat for romance.

2.  Further afield, we are getting more and more requests for Sri Lanka - it has a burgeoning boutique hotel scene, and there is so much to explore inland as well as by the beach.

Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa, Brazil

3. My third option would be Brazil - for the drama of Rio and the bohemian beach life in Trancoso (where our best boutique hotel in the world – Uxua Casa – can be found). Don’t dismiss the old classics though: the Maldives is worth a look even if you are not into super-polished luxury. Soneva Fushi has a different take on these incredible islands, which will leave you feeling very Robinson Crusoe (and you will never want to leave, believe me…)

Soneva Fushi, Maldives

Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Soneva Fushi, Maldives

Can you recommend 3 mini-moon, UK-based destinations?

1. It’s a classic, but I love the south coast and there are some fantastic properties in Cornwall, like The Beach at Bude and Hotel Tresanton.

The Beach at Bude, UK

Hotel Tresanton, UK

2. Scotland is a personal favourite too, and the Pool House, in Wester Ross in the far north west, is a hidden gem.

Pool House, UK

Pool House, UK

3. Wiltshire and Somerset have some excellent pubs with rooms, like The Talbot Inn and At the Chapel, which both have excellent food.

The Talbot Inn, UK

At the Chapel, UK

At the Chapel, UK

Can you tell us about the Mr & Mrs Smith honeymoon package?
We have a team of travel experts who specialise in honeymoons, and they do a great job of matching your style and personality to the destinations and properties we have in the collection. We can put together honeymoon packages of flights and hotels for some of our best-selling destinations too, like Miami or the Maldives.

Last month we launched The Groom’s Room, to give grooms-to-be a helping hand with planning a few secret honeymoon highlights. It’s not for brides’ eyes though! Read more about The Groom's Room.

What are couples’ best chances of getting an upgrade?
Simply letting the hotel know you’re on your honeymoon should be enough to guarantee an upgrade on arrival. We also have a honeymoon promotion where if you book a honeymoon of seven nights or more with Smith, you get an automatic GoldSmith membership (which is worth £400), and that gives you upgrades with every booking, and access to a personal travel concierge who can sort everything from flights and transfers to tickets to the Uffizi.

www.mrandmrssmith.com