Unique Honeymoons Spring/Summer 2012 sampler

HoneymoonsUnique

The Wanderlust guide to your trip of a lifetime

unforgettable experiences

from serengeti sundowners to mountain highs30

✱ best boutique hotels ✱ where to sleep in a treehouse

✱ sydney, rio & venice city Guides

island idyllsmauritius, st lucia, borneo & beyond

Relax

safari!the most romantic african adventures

Explore

where to go whenyour essential trip planning calendar

Plan

Plus

Win a tailor-Made honeyMoon worth £5,000!

nEW

MAGAZin

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£7.99spring/summer 2012 uniquehoneymoonideas.com

4 | Unique Honeymoons

Contents6 Perfect View

The hottest honeymoon destination for 2012: why we think Burma is one of the top spots for discerning couples who want to get away from the crowds

8 You Went Where?Who honeymooned in a tent at

Everest Base Camp? And who just took the train to Hampshire (corgi in tow...)? Pick up some tips from these famous couples

13 Where To Go WhenDon’t book a thing before reading our

indispensable month-by-month calendar! Find out where’s hot in December, cool in June and over-run with wildlife in March.

Simply, great travel advice, no matter when you plan to go

UP FRONT

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Cover story

WIN a fabulous honeymoon from Journey Latin America, worth £5,000 (see p114)

Competitions

Sail away!Chose your favourite from our Top 30 Honeymoon Experiences (or do them all...)

ContentsThe hottest honeymoon destination for

2012: why we think Burma is one of the top spots for discerning couples who want to

Everest Base Camp? And who just took the train to Hampshire (corgi in tow...)? Pick up some tips from these famous couples

indispensable month-by-month calendar! Find out where’s hot in December, cool in June and over-run with wildlife in March.

UP FRONT

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Gone Rome-ingSophie Ellis Bextor went Italian. Kate and Wills chose the Seychelles – but what about Gran? And where would the world’s greatest living explorer head? Follow famous ‘mooners on p8

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Unique Honeymoons | 5

INSPIRATION PLANNING

WHERE TO STAY

MINI GUIDES

30BorneoOne couple, a whole lot

of compromises: fi nd out how our pair decided on wild Malaysia – and if they made the right choice...

38 Quick Fix: PeruThe condensed guide to the

hottest Latin American honeymoon

40 Top 30 Honeymoon Experiences

25-PAGE SPECIAL! From hot air balloons to vintage convertibles, from being blessed by monks to bagging the best balcony in Paris (for under £100), we’ve searched out the ultimate honeymoon extras

70 Quick Fix: The CaymansThe no-nonsense two-week

itinerary plan for this Caribbean paradise

72 Super SafarisWhere to see the most animals,

fi nd the best lodges and drink the best sundowners: we help plan your Africa trip

80 Quick Fix: BaliThe compact guide to exploring the

lush Indonesian isle

82 Idyllic IslandsFind sun, sand – and something

diff erent: an alternative look at six classic honeymoon isles

90 Quick Fix: JordanYour 60-second guide to an

Arabian Nights-style honeymoon

92 Top For 2The very best boutique hotels and

lovely lodges, especially for couples

102 Ice HotelSpend a night in a fairytale:

Sweden’s IceHotel is the place to cuddle up, snowmobile and see the northern lights

106 I Want To Stay In...Ditch dull hotels! From castles

to caves, we’ve selected the world’s quirkiest – and most romantic – sleeps

116 Mini-MoonsNo time for a long trip? Take a

mini-moon! We’ve got 24 inspirational ideas for time-poor newly-weds, whether you want a quick adventure or pure romance

126 How To BookNow you’re inspired, it’s time

to get started: read our top tips on how to get the best deal

130 Breaks For All Budgets

Got £100? Got £10,000? Whether you’re princes or paupers there’s a honeymoon out there for you

138 Honeymoon HealthDon’t let jetlag or Delhi Belly ruin

your trip: read our essential health advice

141 Ask The ExpertsCan couples get free upgrades?

Where should gay newly-weds go? And can you have a green-moon? Five industry insiders give their advice

146 Review: PhotobooksThe best products on the market

for displaying your honeymoon memories

149 HoneymoonCity Guides

Cut-out-and-keep guides to four of the world’s most romantic, dynamic cities: Rio, Sydney, Bangkok and Venice.

160 Final CountdownWhen should you book?

Get jabs? Pack? Here’s your quick tick list

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On a highStay somewhere extra special on your honeymoon – from treehouses in Canada to palaces in India, lighthouses in Ireland, beach-huts in Sri Lanka and a very unusual fi re truck... See p106

A good excuse to cuddle...Lights dancing across the sky, snow-ladden forests, rooms that shimmer like Christmas – Sweden’s IceHotel is the place for a most magical moonSee p102

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WHERETO GOWHEN

WHEREWHEREWHERE

UPFRONT ✽ CALENDAR

Your 12 month guide to the world’s

best honeymoon destinations

WHEREWHERE

guide to the world’s

»

Head online for more destination

information, trip details and

imagination-fi ring fun – as well

as our exclusive Honeymoon

Finder web tool. Head online for more destination



as our exclusive Honeymoon HONEYMOON

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UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com

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January

Also try... Belize (for sun and diving) • Vienna (waltz season runs Jan-Mar) • Northern territory, Australia

Costa Rica > It’s dry season in this Central American wildlife wonderland, but everything remains lush from recent rains, which end in November. You may still get damp in the jungles – but reserves such as Tortuguero and Corcovado (teeming with birds, monkeys and more) are worth a dousing. Dry off on the Nicoya Peninsula’s beaches and by rumbling Arenal volcano.

New ZealaNd > The austral summer means playtime in NZ – average daily highs of 22-24°C make the outdoor adventures on offer (tramping, rafting, biking, bungying...) even more fun. Plus, flowers are blooming in the southern Alps and sperm whales easily spottable off Kaikoura.

Isle of Islay, Scotland > Embrace the bracing winter on the beautiful Queen of the Hebrides. The Gulf Stream warms the air a touch, but if you’re feeling parky after a day bird watching, quaff some of the finest whisky on a distillery tour.

South Serengeti, Tanzania > The Great Migration of wildebeest and other ungulates is a year-round affair, but Jan-March is calving season across the Serengeti’s southern plains: here, over 500,000 calves will be born. Base yourself near Ndutu to see the herds move between the Serengeti and the wildlife-profuse Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

jamaica > January temperatures average 27°C in this cultured Caribbean paradise. Locals swarm the streets for funky music festivals, but if the sweaty jiving becomes too much, head to the Blue Mountains: atmospherically cloud-shrouded and distinctly cooler for fine hikes.

AntArcticA

F ollow a white winter wedding with a trip to the White Continent, the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime destination. Antarctica is only visitable November-

March: while November offers spectacular ice formations, December and January are warmer (hovering around 0°C) and brighter, with 24-hour daylight. Now is when you’ll see vast penguin colonies at their most raucous (the chicks hatch in the new year and demand to be fed) and seal pups on South Georgia – many cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula include this wild South Atlantic isle, a highly recommended detour. Whale sightings pick up later in the month, peaking February-March.

Most ships leave from Ushuaia, in the far south of Argentina. Vessels range from the very big, which are more stable in rough seas, to smaller 50-passenger boats, which will allow you to spend more time ashore. Cruises generally range from eight to 12 nights. Pick your trip based on the boat’s itinerary (does it visit the best wildlife sites?) and facilities – some offer kayak excursions, art classes, trekking and even scuba diving.

The northern hemisphere freezes, making it peak time for skiing, sledding and snow hotels. Meanwhile, southern destinations like New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa are in high summer, the Caribbean is warm and dry, the Pacific wet and humid, and Antarctica (right now reaching a balmy 2°C) on top form.

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InspIratIonSection one

Too many choices, too much pressure – so how do you settle on the perfect honeymoon destination? Here are some hot (and very cool) ideas...

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Shall we go to Borneo?

Good food, good prices, culture, compromise and the odd four-poster

bed... Jeremy Head’s honeymoon had many boxes to tick. But with

a little research and planning, he and his wife had the time of their lives

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INSPIRATION ✽ TOP 30

According to Japanese folklore, making love under the aurora borealis will bestow good fortunes on the resulting child. While that may be hokum (and chilly), there’s no doubting the romance of this celestial dance.

Scandinavia is a good option to see them. Board one of the Hurtigruten ferries that ply the Norwegian coast year round, and you can combine the lights with a wild winter cruise (www.hurtigruten.com).

Or try Finland: “Nellim is a tiny village by Lake Inari. At the Aurora Camp, a traditional Lapp tipi 20m from the frozen lake, you can sit on reindeer skins by a log fi re and (hopefully) watch a display,” advises Stephanie Eddy of Winter Weddings (winterweddingcompany.com).

In Sweden, you could get even closer to the action: Discover The World is launching fl ights (from Kiruna) in a nine-seater plane above the cloud cover and up close to the lights (www.discover-the-world.co.uk).

Be bewitched by the northern lights

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OTHER LIGHT SPOTS • The Dalton Highway makes Alaska’s aurora hotspots accessible – try Ester Dome for views, and Wiseman for isolation. • Stay at southern Iceland’s Hotel Rangá, run by a northern lights expert; sta� will wake you if the displays are good.

SCANDINAVIA

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INSPIRATION ✽ TOP 30

The gleam of chrome, the wind in your hair, the lure of the open road – taking off in an open-top auto adds a touch of honeymoon magic to a regular road trip.

Where to go depends on the time of year, reckons Sarah Dowding of Classic Travelling (www.classictravelling.com), which off ers holidays in classic,

vintage and sports cars. “Try the Scottish Highlands – landscapes, cosy hotels and baronial mansions – in May/June. In summer, the Alps (pictured)off er stunning scenery, quaint villages and awesome roads. New England is perfect for Sept/Oct, with beautiful autumn colours and charming inns; Vermont is

particularly pretty and the roads are near empty. South Africa’s Cape combines chic Cape Town with winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and a Big 5 safari at Sanbona or Fairy Glen. It’s great year round, but especially Sept/March.”

Planning is key. “You’ll want shortish driving days (up to

250km max), and a few two- or three-night stays, so it doesn’t feel as if you’re constantly driving or packing,” advises Sarah. “Have all the info you need on the areas you’re driving through to hand – having directions, maps and a GPS means you can make the most of your time and there’ll be fewer arguments!”

Drive a convertible

TOP TIPPack a hat. Riding in older

classic cars can be a little like that scene from Bridget

Jones’s Diary – perfect hair probably wont last; newer

cars tend to have better aerodynamics.

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WORLDWIDE

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companyTwo’sWant to stay somewhere extra special on

your honeymoon? Liz SimpSon, editor

of hip hideaways site www.i-escape.com,

has picked the boutique hotels and secluded

escapes that are top for two

Scotland The boaThouse aT ardanaiseig

It’s top for 2 because... it’s a secluded one-bed boathouse, on a sparkling lochside

This unique, glass-fronted bolthole makes a perfect honeymoon hideaway for those who want a lot of privacy, but want their luxuries close at hand too. Part of the romantic Ardanaiseig Hotel in Scotland, it sits in perfect seclusion on Loch Awe, surrounded by forests, deer, 19th-century gardens and staggering waterside views. With a mezzanine bedroom up top and a kitchen

and huge living area below, there’s all you need to escape the world for a while. And when you want a break from self-catering you can jump in your golf buggy and head to the hotel for lavish gourmet cuisine.

What’s nearby? The loch is a great base for activity: you can hire motorised launches or romantic rowing boats, fish for trout and pike, and swim in the summer. You can bicycle through the surrounding forest (borrow bikes at the hotel), go clay-pigeon shooting, or sit and watch the many birds, including sea eagles and various owls. If you get cabin fever (unlikely!), head into Oban, the nearest town, and visit its whisky distillery and restaurants, or take a boat to the islands of Mull, Iona, Staffa and beyond.

Bottom line: From £251 per night, room only. The hotel is 25km east of Oban, and 143km from Glasgow.

Read the review and book: www.i-escape.com/ardanaiseig/overview

‘It sits in perfect seclusion on Loch Awe,

surrounded by forests, deer and

staggering waterside views’

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wHere to stayFloating beds, private chefs, endless champagne – where you stay is about so much more than sleep with these special retreats

section two

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Namibia KuanguKuangu

It’s top for 2 because... you can be totally alone in an out-of-this world setting

This hidden retreat on the edge of the red-sanded Namib desert embraces the wild, the beautiful and the remote. It’s a glass-fronted wood-and-stone cabin for two, which is eco in the purest sense: solar powered, with

a simple rocket boiler and bathroom open to the elements. Watching dawn break over the savannah is a sight you’ll never forget, and the star-gazing is incredible – KuanguKuangu means ‘Milky Way’. to the Ovambo people. You can self-cater and keep completely to yourselves or eat at the neighbouring Barchan Dunes Lodge (a ten-minute walk away), where great food is guaranteed.

What’s nearby? There are 4,000 hectares of wilderness surrounding the cabin. Set out on foot and experience the exhilaration of finding yourself alone with no sign of habitation for miles. Or take a guided nature drive out from the lodge in a 4WD. The iconic Sossusvlei sand dunes are an easy half-day excursion away, and hot-air ballooning trips over the red desert can be arranged.

Bottom line: £96 per night, room only. The hotel is 350km from the Namibian capital Windhoek; transfers in a small plane can be arranged.

Read the review and book: www.i-escape.com/kuangukuangu/overview

2TaNzaNia Sayari Camp

It’s top for 2 because... you get a private driver for game drives

Safari doesn’t get better than this: the ultimate in game viewing and luxury accommodation set in a less-visited part of the Serengeti. The 15 spacious tents are thoroughly decadent – polished-wood floors, kingsize beds, free-standing baths for two and private terraces. Food is very good

(honeymooners will be given a ‘surprise’ private dining experience), service is exceptional, and when you head out on safari you’ll get a jeep (plus your own driver/guide).

What’s nearby? You’re probably here to watch the Great Migration: Sayari sits next to the Mara River, which each year sees millions of zebra and wildebeest crossing it on their way north through the Serengeti. From July to November a stay here will put you in the best position for witnessing this,

though it has a high density of big cats, elephants, crocodiles and hippos all year round. What’s more, wildlife wanders through the camp; you can laze in the bath and watch zebras.

Bottom line: From £596 per night, all inclusive, including transfers and game drives. The hotel is a 30-minute flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Read the review and book: www.i-escape.com/sayari-camp/overview

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where to stay ✽ for two

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Sleeping on iceSwirling light displays, snowmobile adventures, crystalline boudoirs

– snuggle up for warmth in Arctic Sweden’s sparkling ICEHOTEL

Words Rachel Fox

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Left: Huddle together under reindeer hides for warmth Right: Don gloves and hats for a chilling drink in the Icebar

where to stay ✽ ice hotel

They’re here!”

Hats and scarves were grabbed; everyone rushed outside. The sky, so inky black before, now shimmered and pulsated with curtains of green.

An awed hush fell over the 30 people on Nuolja Mountain as the aurora danced. A girl sat staring in the snow, her eyes swimming with tears. Couples hugged and kissed; my partner and I looked at each other and did the same, both rendered utterly speechless.

The light fantasticWe’d flown into Kiruna, high in Arctic Sweden, and then driven to Abisko, along a near-empty white road, the tracks of snowmobiles and dog-sleds criss-crossing the otherwise pristine landscape. This is the country’s driest spot, so has the best cloud-free conditions for northern lights viewing. Indeed, it is one of the best places in the world to witness this phenomenon.

After a dinner of reindeer and berry cheesecake, we’d layered up and headed out into the sub-zero night – in Arctic Sweden you’re most likely to see the aurora between 10pm and 11pm.

A chairlift took us up the mountain. At the top, in the café, we thawed out with hot chocolate and listened to talks on the aurora: about the different colours and the myths surrounding them – the occasional Oriental couple, believing it auspicious to conceive a baby under the aurora, has been found procreating in the snow.

The thought was madness, though I could imagine the aurora inspiring strange things. It was spectacular, every inch of sky covered with moving shapes, sometimes gently wafting but occasionally swirling as if being tugged, like curtains billowing in the wind. It was a privilege to witness.

Going to the (ice) chapelA couple of hours away, the tiny village of Jukkasjarvi – home to more sled-dogs (800) than humans (600) – has a fame belying its size, thanks to one extraordinary bit of architecture: the ICEHOTEL. Just a simple igloo when first carved in 1990 from the ice of the frozen Torne River, it has become bigger and more elaborate every year since.

The ICEHOTEL is now as much a work of art as it is accommodation. It’s built afresh each winter, and international artists are invited to design the ‘suites’ (plain Ice Rooms are available but suites are worth the

splurge). I was struck by ‘Sur Real’, a room with a pair of giant toes; ‘Chasing Penguins’ was like the interior of a submarine. ‘Paradise Apple Tree’ had ice steps leading to a bed atop an ice tree.

It was chillingly beautiful, though I confess I was a little concerned. Our first night was to be spent in one of the complex’s solid-walled ‘warm’ rooms, but the second would be in an ice suite. Would it be fairytale? Or just freezing? When it was time for the daily ‘How to sleep at -5°C’ talk, I hung off every word: don’t use water-based lotions (your face will freeze); wear a balaclava (sexy, no; essential, yes); once in the sleeping bag, do not leave it until morning!

Afterwards I settled my nerves with a cocktail in the Icebar; my Winter Mist – vodka with pear and pomegranate – was served in a glass made of ice. The bar itself was rather like a church – a chapel of drinking perhaps – and a reminder that there’s a proper Ice Chapel here. That evening we saw some guests preparing for a ceremony; I didn’t envy the chap in the kilt. But then the bride arrived, wrapped in a white down-jacket. She slipped it off to reveal a white crushed-velvet dress; except for her ice-melting smile, she looked every inch a snow queen.

Sleeping on ice

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“Words Rachel Fox

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I want to stay In a...…treehouse? Beachhouse? Opulent castle?

On your honeymoon, swap regular hotels

for something a little more special

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I want to stay in a... TREEHOUSEPlay Tarzan and Jane amid the treetops

»

WHERE TO STAY ✽ UNIQUE

1 TREEHOTEL,NR LULEÅ, SWEDENEach of these fi ve chic and contemporary treetop capsules is unique – from the Bird’s Nest to the Mirrorcube to the UFO – and all off er magnifi cent views of the Lule River.

While you’re there… Leave your eyrie for a horseback ride amid miles of pungent pine forest; in winter, try snowshoeing across the valley. The coastal city of Luleå, with its archipelago of 700-odd islands, is 100km south.From SEK3,990 (£378) pn; www.treehotel.se

2 THE CANOPY, CAIRNS HIGHLANDS, AUSTRALIA These luxurious, isolated cabins are set within 40 hectares of ancient rainforest on the banks of the Ithaca River. Handcrafted from timber and glass, they have secluded balconies and very lounge-able hammocks.

While you’re there… Swim in the crater lakes of the Highlands and join a naturalist for a platypus-spotting trip. Cairns – a great base for Barrier Reef

diving – is a 90-minute drive.From A$319 (£206) pn, two-night min; www.canopytreehouses.com.au

3 CHOLE MJINI LODGE, MAFIA ISLAND, TANZANIATeetering amid the boughs of ancient baobabs, these seven thatched treehouses are havens of peace. Each one is open to the elements, but private enough (save for visiting fi refl ies) to watch the waves lapping in bed.

While you’re there… Swim with whale sharks (Nov-Apr), watch turtles hatch (Jul-Nov) and learn to dive around the Mafi a Archipelago; Zanzibar is a 45-minute Cessna fl ight north. From US$180 (£115) pppn including all food and some activities; www.cholemjini.com

4 FREE SPIRIT SPHERES, VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADAThese unusual spheres (think baubles with beds) are suspended

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from the trees by a web of rope, and rock gently as the breeze rustles through the cedars and maples. Compact but cosy, you get little kitchenettes and cool canopy views.

While you’re there… Explore charming capital Victoria and Strathcona NP, full of fi ne hiking. Horne Lake Caves and Qualicum Bay are on the doorstep; lively Nanaimo is the nearest town.From C$135 (£83) pn; www.freespiritspheres.com

5 CABANES ALS ARBRES, NR GIRONA, SPAINThese hut-hideaways nestle among Douglas fi rs and beech trees overlooking the Pyrenees. They’re rustic (no water or electricity) but warm and stylish – some have canopied beds, comfy sofas and funky furniture; they also have balconies on which you can breakfast with breathtaking views.

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While you’re there… Take to the walking and cycling trails wending through the Guilleries massif. It’s 55km to historic Girona; 95km to the bright lights of Barcelona.From €97 (£83) ; www.cabanesalsarbres.com

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Planning ✽ Take my advice

Can honeymooners get free airline upgrades?

Can you make your romantic break sustainable?

And where should gay couples go?

We asked five insiders for their top tips…

Ask the experts

Planning ✽ Take my advice

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Christoph Leonhard is General Manager of the Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui (www.amari.com/palmreef)

“Koh Samui is a great destination for a romance-fi lled honeymoon and we get lots of couples travelling here to celebrate. We also conduct weddings on the white sand of Chaweng Beach. This can be quite spontaneous, although many guests actually come here for a beach wedding.

“We try to fi nd out in advance if an arriving couple are on their honeymoon so we make sure we can pull out all the stops

– though the couple are usually glowing with happiness so it’s easy to tell.

“It’s always nice to be able to do something special for guests, particularly when they are on their honeymoon; we try to upgrade honeymooners to deluxe rooms whenever possible. For all honeymooners we off er special welcome amenities, including a heart made of rose petals on the bed.

“We can arrange for in-room champagne, candlelit dinners on the beach and romantic excursions to neighbouring islands. We can even arrange a special blessing ceremony on the beach. We’ve also

had a few interesting requests: one couple asked us to arrange for an elephant to be at their beachside vow-renewing ceremony, because they met at a zoo; another couple wanted a candlelit dinner at the top of our poolside water tower – we timed it for sunset, so they could watch the sun go down while drinking lychee mojitos.

“A massage always adds extra romance: at the Amari Palm Reef we have a great spa where couples can book a special double room so they can enjoy it together. A great romantic escape is a private picnic on the mountains, overlooking Koh Samui.”

The honeymoon hotelier“We’ve had a few interesting requests...”

PLANNING ✽ TAKE MY ADVICE

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pocket guides

HoneymoonsUniqueRomantic views, buzzing

nightlife, beaches and

boat rides... honeymoon

in these hot cities, then

explore beyond

Rio de Janeiro p151 Sydney p153

Venice p157Bangkok p155


149-158_guides_sbv4.indd 149 5/1/12 17:33:29

Unique Honeymoons Spring/Summer 2012 sampler

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Transcript of Unique Honeymoons Spring/Summer 2012 sampler