Top 10 Celebrity Honeymoon Hotels

The travel website TripAdvisor® recently  announced its list of the top ten celebrity honeymoon hotels, as identified by TripAdvisor editors. When it comes to celebrating their weddings, celebrities spare no expense in selecting the perfect accommodations that are rated highly for romance, privacy and top-notch service, according to a TripAdvisor press release about the list of top ten celebrity hotels. The travel website reports that 86 percent of the travelers who visited the top ten celebrity honeymoon hotels for a romantic getaway also rated the resort’s atmosphere highly for romance, while 93 percent were wowed by the exceptional customer service.

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
Ranked #2 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – Average nightly rate: $704 – $1,120
Known for its outstanding service, it’s no surprise that celebrity couples have selected the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii as a honeymoon destination. Featuring immaculate grounds including a calm water beach and five unique pools, travelers rave about the resort’s low-key elegance and thoughtful touches like chilled towels, beachside Evian spritzes and sunglass cleaning. “Stunning, amazing, beautiful – adjectives don’t do this place justice. It was absolutely agonizing to leave such a wonderful property,” shared one TripAdvisor traveler.

2. Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman; Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
Ranked #2 in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico – Average nightly rate: $629 – $1,187
Old world Mexican charm and luxurious amenities set the stage for romance at this amazing resort, known for its posh clientele. Located thirty minutes from Cabo San Lucas in historic San Jose del Cabo, the hotel boasts an actual “department of romance,” a team of dedicated employees who specialize in setting the mood with in-room couple’s massages, private candlelit dinners and aromatherapy turndown services. “If you are looking for a romantic, intimate experience of a lifetime, don’t give it a second thought,” said one TripAdvisor traveler.

3. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

, French Polynesia, is one of TripAdvisor's top 10 honeymoon hotels

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
Ranked #3 in Bora Bora, French Polynesia – Average nightly rate: $808 – $1,189
Featuring spacious bungalows over dazzling turquoise water, this retreat’s far-flung location and commitment to privacy make it a perfect hideaway for celebrity couples. While the resort was also the location for the movie “Couples Retreat,” TripAdvisor travelers note that it’s actually far more romantic and tranquil than the film suggests. “The island is so quiet and serene and it feels like we were the only two people there,” noted one TripAdvisor traveler after their honeymoon.

4. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Jimbaran, Bali

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman
Ranked #4 in Jimbaran, Bali – Average nightly rate: $608 – $939

Famous honeymooners are drawn to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay for the fantastic ocean views and unobtrusive service. With spacious villas boasting a private deck and plunge pool, the property offers ample opportunities to spend quality time alone as newlyweds, in addition to fantastic local music, Balinese massages and cooking lessons to round out their vacation experience. “The guest room is a complete sanctuary where in-room dining is a luxury, not a convenience!” commented one TripAdvisor traveler.

5. One&Only Reethi Rah, North Male Atoll, Maldives

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Fergie and Josh Duhamel
Ranked #11 in North Male Atoll, Maldives – Average nightly rate: $864 – $1,285

Posh yet peaceful, the One&Only Reethi Rah offers the ultimate relaxation getaway for superstar newlyweds. Offering both beachside and overwater villas with private infinity pools, travelers enjoy the property’s pristine white sand beaches, lush flora and fauna, and millions of glittering stars in the sky each evening. “The feeling when we arrived was that of living on a deserted island (with a butler and every extravagance one could want),” said one TripAdvisor traveler.

6. Cap Juluca, West End, Anguilla

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: David Arquette and Courteney Cox
Ranked #3 in West End, Anguilla – Average nightly rate: $500 – $701

Open and breezy with views overlooking Anguilla’s crystal clear water, celebrity couples are attracted to Cap Juluca for its stunning beaches featuring soft white sand and dreamy sunsets. Travelers seeking a lazy day with their special someone will also appreciate the cozy beachside sun loungers and unexpected romantic touches from the resort staff. “One day, we came off the beach to find our bathtub filled with bubbles galore and rose petals floating on top…heaven,” shared one TripAdvisor traveler.

7. San Ysidro Ranch, A Rosewood Resort, Santa Barbara, California

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez; John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy; Danny Moder and Julia Roberts
Ranked #5 in Santa Barbara, California – Average nightly rate: $495 – $1,150

A fantastic mix of beautiful scenery, privacy and superb service has attracted a litany of famous faces to the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California over the years. Private cottages, including the Kennedy Cottage, the location of the couple’s 1953 honeymoon, exude understated luxury and romance with antique furnishings and fragrant outdoor gardens. “The San Ysidro Ranch is a great place for couples to go for a romantic get-away. All rooms are very private. You are really in your own little house with a private patio that includes your own spa and outdoor shower,” noted one TripAdvisor traveler.

8. Fregate Island Private, Fregate Island, Seychelles

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt; Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
Ranked #1 in Fregate Island, Seychelles – Average nightly rate: $3,029

Known for catering to every whim, celebrity honeymooners can escape the stresses of daily life at one of Fregate Island Private’s 16 villas, which come with a personal butler, private pool, Jacuzzi and large terrace. While not all celebrity marriages pass the test of time, travelers are still drawn to the island’s seven beaches, a cliff-top spa and numerous trails for observing giant sea turtles, geckos and exotic birds in their natural habitat. “If you like unique experiences, extreme luxury and are willing to let the island try its magic on you, you will not be disappointed,” recommended one TripAdvisor traveler.

9. Parrot Cay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner; Eva Longoria and Tony Parker; Jerry Seinfeld and Jessica Sklar; Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
Ranked #21 in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – Average nightly rate: $620 – $1,370

Described as sophisticated yet earthy by TripAdvisor travelers, Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos has hosted a number of celebrity weddings and honeymoons. Celebrated as a destination for relaxation and rejuvenation, couples can spend the day soaking up the sun on its unspoiled beaches, feasting on healthy gourmet cuisine and getting pampered in the world-class spa. “The perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. You can see why every ‘A Lister’ in the world chooses this resort,” commented one TripAdvisor traveler.

10. El Careyes Beach Resort, Jalisco, Careyes, Mexico

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Seal and Heidi Klum
Ranked #1 in Careyes, Mexico – Average nightly rate: $264

Tucked between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, the El Careyes Beach Resort is a hidden gem that attracts famous newlyweds in search of romance and seclusion. Perfect for couples who enjoy a mix of lounging on the beach and recreation, the resort offers activities including kayaking, whale watching, and horseback riding. “The most beautiful thing to experience at El Careyes would be the sunset–it really is jaw dropping. The whole resort becomes amber and golden specks of sunlight reflect off the waters that shimmer off the walls,” described one TripAdvisor traveler.
“Travelers in search of an opulent romantic getaway can take a page from the celebrity honeymoon playbook,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Even without an A-list budget, gorgeous accommodations with outstanding service and superstar perks can be found if travelers research and plan ahead.”

Choosing Honeymoon Location

Choosing Honeymoon Accommodation

            For many people, the issue of where to stay consumes a large part of their honeymoon planning. Choosing a destination is a great first step, but afterwards there will inevitably be a few options for exactly where you should stay. Your decision should of course be based on what you and your brand new spouse can best afford, but here’s a quick rundown of a few accommodation types to give you an idea of what to expect.
1.      Hotel room. This is basically what you’ll find at almost every hotel; a simple room, with a couch, bed, and often a window facing outside. For me, this ranges from a B&B with three rooms to a skyscraper in the middle of New York City. Standards vary hugely between rooms, often even in the same hotel, especially in bigger hotels. These are generally a fairly cheap and middle of the road way to go, but it’s worth investigating the quality and rates of the rooms before booking. You don’t want to end up in the lowest quality room if you could have had an upgrade for £10 a night – but similarly, you don’t want to pay extra for an upgrade if you’re not really getting much for it or don’t plan on spending a huge amount of time in the room.
2.      Villa. These are among the most common honeymoon accommodation choices simply because what they offer seems superlative for a holiday designed for peace, quiet, and romance. Villas are usually set apart from one another and tend to be better designed for privacy. You are much less likely to hear your neighbour’s television blaring throughout the night and you don’t have to worry that they in turn will hear every word you utter. Many, especially on the beach, also have their own sundecks and even plunge pools, which have their own obvious appeal. Some resorts with villas will be all-inclusive, especially on remote islands and beaches, but others will be in the thick of everything.
3.      Self-catering apartments and cottages. These are especially popular, it seems to me, throughout the UK and Europe. It’s always easy to find a nearby supermarket and cooking for yourself is generally cheaper than springing for meals out every night and day. You’ll find that you can afford more if you budget less for food – so that cute timber-framed cottage becomes a more viable honeymoon option. And it can be romantic to cook dinner together and enjoy something you could never afford in a restaurant, while still going out sometimes.

4.Overwater bungalow. These are the new trend in honeymoons these days, or so it has seemed to me lately! More and more far-flung island resorts are investing in these types of accommodation, where you can simply slide from your deck into the ocean and back again. These bungalows do tend to be expensive, especially if you go for the exclusive one on the end of the pontoon, and most of what you’re paying for is the novelty of living above water for a week or two. If your heart isn’t set on seeing nothing but ocean from your bedroom window, you can probably get a villa that’s just as nice on the beach for less.
While there are many more types of accommodation out there, they really should fall into these basic categories. Mix them up for a bit of variety or opt for a single favourite – it’s all about what you’d like to get out of your honeymoon. All of them can be incredibly romantic, and that’s really all you want!

Honeymoon Surprise

Honeymoon Surprise: The Name Game

There are a ton of fun honeymoon ideas to help you add an element of surprise and romance to your special trip. There is one surprise in particular, called The Name Game, that starts the first night of your honeymoon and lasts every night until it’s time to pack up and head back home.
About the game:
This honeymoon surprise is kind of like a game, hence the name. What you need to play this game on your honeymoon is different lingerie outfits, or sultry undergarments for each night that you’ll be on your honeymoon. For example, if you and your husband are staying for seven nights in Hawaii, then you’ll need seven different lingerie outfits.
How to prepare & play:
About two months prior to your bachelorette party, ask your party guests if they wouldn’t mind contributing to this game by bringing a lingerie outfit as your bachelorette gift. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, then request that your maid of honor send out an email telling the girls about the game. Since they’ll most likely buy you a gift anyway, this gives them direction and specifics on what to get, which actually makes it easier for them to pick out something you’ll love. Then, after you open each gift, have your guests collectively name each outfit, and write the name on two small labels. For example, one name could be “Pure Romance.” Let the style of the outfit inspire the name.
Supplies:
Make sure to have two labels per lingerie outfit. One that goes in a bag that your hubby will pick from each night, and one that is attached to the outfit itself.
When:
You and your husband will experience these honeymoon surprises every single night of your trip. Each night, ask your husband to pick a label out of a bag and read the name out loud. Once he does this, then it’s your job to go find that outfit, and to wear it that night to bed.

How to plan honeymoon

Choosing a honeymoon destination bears some similarity to selecting
a mate. You shouldn't decide haphazardly, and what looks good on
paper isn't always so. You want the perfect getaway, but you've
learned by now that perfection is elusive--even your Prince or
Princess Charming has faults (not that you can remember any just now).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Sit down with your spouse-to-be and make a list of things that are essential (tropical setting, surfing) and what you can live without . Discuss whether you'll take off for the honeymoon immediately following the wedding or whether to postpone it a few days, weeks or longer.
2. Surf the Web and scan travel magazines for destination ideas.
3. Agree on a honeymoon that suits both of your personalities. Hedonistic hammock-dozers and lovers of la dolce vita will swoon for a beach resort in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Fiji or Tahiti. Exotic dreamers who love to scuba dive and snorkel will flip for the Seychelles and Palau. Fun-in-the-sun personalities will be drawn to resorts, where you can go from a pool to the golf course to a reggae-blaring beach bar to the spa and back to the pool again. Or fly to a cosmopolitan European city that has a great restaurant and theater scene. If a sprig of forsythia, wooded strolls and a vintage bottle of wine stirs your souls, a country inn in New England or Napa Valley has newlywed written all over it.
4. Talk about how you'll pay for the honeymoon and, if it's necessary to save up for it, how you'll go about that . Check out honeymoon registry sites such as HoneyLuna.com for more ideas and help.
5. Pick a package. A travel agent will be wired into the latest and greatest land, air and car packages, which cost less than booking accommodations, flights and car rental separately. A typical Hawaiian or Caribbean honeymoon package might include a cocktail greeting, a champagne breakfast, a dinner at the resort, and complimentary golf cart and greens fees, all for one price.
6. Put your official documents in order, including passports or visas. Purchase travel insurance, if you're not already covered by your credit card or insurance. If you are going abroad, exchange a few days' worth of currency before you leave. If you're going off the beaten path, make sure your vaccinations are up to date .
7. Pack for the honeymoon well before the wedding. There's plenty on your plate already.
8. Make arrangements for transportation to and from the airport and to have your home and pets cared for in your absence.