Top 10 Honeymoon Hotels Worldwide 2006

Planning a holiday inevitably stirs up expectations: to unwind, to have fun, to make memories you can look back on fondly once you've returned to the daily grind. When it comes to honeymoons, those expectations skyrocket. The pressure is on to enjoy each moment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience to the fullest. While we can't vouch for your personal fulfillment, we can promise a selection of destinations that will get your life together off to a blissful start.

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UNITED STATES

Florida
The Setai
www.thesetai.com

With its steamy Latin vibe, Miami is one of the hottest honeymoon destinations in the U.S. Although it's always had plenty of sexy hotels, The Setai is in a league of its own. Details entice the senses: cool granite, smooth teak, shimmering silk. At the spa, take a flower petal bath inspired by the Balinese royal wedding ceremony. Or share an intimate tête-à-tête at the Champagne, Crustacean and Caviar Bar before heading off for a night of dancing in Little Havana.

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Montana
The Resort at Paws Up
www.pawsup.com

Relaxing in nature doesn't have to mean roughing it, especially if you choose to snuggle up in Tent City at this bucolic Rocky Mountain resort. Tents come with luxe linens, art on the walls and electricity. You can also celebrate your love in a historic farmhouse or former hayloft. Barbecue is paired with flights of vintage Pinot Noir, and to alleviate all the stress you accumulated planning that perfect wedding, the Après Adventure Massage for Two is a must.

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AUSTRALIA

Hayman Island
Hayman Island Resort
www.hayman.com

Rather than catching a plane to your honeymoon after the big day, why not stroll to your room following a ceremony on a coral reef? Or you might hold services at the Stella Maris Chapel, overlooking Whitsunday Passage and the neighboring islands. Intimate activities range from quiet walks in the bushland to dinner on your private balcony. If you're seeking a specific mood, penthouse accommodations are themed—Italian, Greek, Moroccan...

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BHUTAN

Paro
Amankora Paro
www.amanresorts.com

The barren drama of the landscape, combined with the serene isolation of the Eastern Himalayas, make Amankora Paro a treasure for sensualists. So few tourists come to this country each year that you'll feel as if you're pioneering together and experiencing a truly one-of-a-kind honeymoon. Savor cozy wood-paneled interiors, traditional bukhari (wood-burning) stoves and views onto impressive, snow-capped Jhomolhari Mountain.

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COSTA RICA

Guanacaste
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
www.fourseasons.com

Most lodgings in Costa Rica are exotic and inviting, but not too luxurious. For adventure-seeking couples accustomed to a high level of service, this property is ideal. In a mountainside setting that slopes down to the sea, you'll enjoy stylish bedrooms dressed in indigenous materials and spa treatments using rainforest mud from the nearby Osa Peninsula. Soothing trade winds through louvered windows make relaxing with your beloved a breeze.

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FRANCE

Paris
Hôtel du Petit Moulin
www.paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com

Hôtel du Petit Moulin reminds you that Paris, like a relationship, has many moods. Designed by Christian Lacroix, this eccentric hostelry pairs the 17th-century architecture of a former bakery with inventive design. Rustic meets Zen meets pop—turn one corner and you'll encounter a heart-shaped mirror on a passion red wall, turn another and you're face to face with a whimsical mural parodying Chagall. Any couple can check into Ritz Paris; if you pride yourselves on being unconventional, this hotel is for you.

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FRENCH POLYNESIA

Fiji
Turtle Island
www.playgroundsoftheworld.com

Welcoming only fourteen couples at one time (many of them celebs), this island hideaway provides unparalleled exclusivity. Your two-room bure is adorned with peaceful views over the Blue Lagoon, an outdoor day bed for decadent afternoon naps and absolute privacy. For a divine experience, combine night diving and a lobster dinner for two during a moonlit rendezvous on a floating pier.

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ITALY

Lake Garda
Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
www.villafeltrinelli.com

If you and your sweetie are envisioning a dream home, why not dream big? A former manor house built in 1892, the ornate, lakefront Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli will certainly give you something to aspire to. A superb restoration by haute hotelier Bob Burns ranges from the gorgeous carved wood ceilings to the garden with its olive groves and tiers of lemon trees. Planning a spring wedding? We can’t imagine a more enchanted April.

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Siena
Villa Dievole
www.dievole.it

Just outside Siena, Villa Dievole has been harvesting grapes since 1090. A rich history gives this Italian property its romantic aura; hide away in a 16th-century villa, 17th-century farmhouse or former stable. Revel in gastronomical delights at a wine cellar dinner, or slip away for some reverential time alone in the restored chapel. As you wander the woods, farmland and olive and citrus groves, you'll understand why this place was once known as Dieulele—the divine valley." (This property closes during the winter season.)

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MOROCCO

Marrakech
Dar Rhizlane

The privately owned Dar Rhizlane bills itself as a guest palace, and certainly lives up to the assertion, but on a far more intimate level than Buckingham and Versailles. Although you’re just steps from the lively Medina, you can easily hide away amid the orange trees, rose bushes, jasmine and palms. Steal a kiss beneath a wisteria-draped arch, or sip evening cocktails in the glow of the candlelit pool.