Honeymoon: Honeymoon Like a Headliner

Follow in the footsteps of your favorite yesteryear movie idol or modern day television (or film star) muckamuck at one of these glitterati-tested resorts.

For Couples With a Penchant for Vintage Films:

Hotel Valley Ho
Scottsdale, Arizona

Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner had so much fun at their wedding reception at Hotel Valley Ho in 1957, they missed their honeymoon train ride to Colorado. A place all travelers will yearn to linger, the mid-century-meets-modern hideaway in downtown Scottsdale has long been a bastion for celebrity repose. Considered one of the best preserved examples of its architectural genre in the world, the hotel exudes heyday cool. With two pools, a spa, a restaurant and bars, it ensures an ideal base to explore Scottsdale and its activities—from hiking to golf to desert excursions. Book the Executive Suite, an immense lair, with a wrap around terrace on three sides, floor-to-ceiling glass, a wet bar and a soup-bowl shaped bathtub, which anchors the bedroom. Note to pet lovers: dogs are welcome, even on your honeymoon. hotelvalleyho.com

Belmond El Encanto
Santa Barbara, California

Tryst like Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who adored this heritage property, capping a hill, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. An enclave hidden amongst gardens, El Encanto has harbored any number of famous lovers looking to be sequestered from their adoring throngs. A favorite of matinee idols for decades as a weekend escape from Los Angeles, the refurbished hotel evokes enough old school glam to bring out the star in every guest. With wooden porches, cozy sitting rooms, fireplaces and capacious tubs, the rooms inspire staying indoors, but the gourmet restaurant’s view from the terrace and hotel’s charming, infinity pool draw a crowd. Choose Casita 101 for its Instagrammable vistas and cozy nooks. Venture off property to sun at the beach, explore Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail, and nosh at some culinary hot spots—such as Barbareño or The Lark. belmond.com/hotels/north-america/usa/ca/santa-barbara/belmond-el-encanto/

Badrutt’s Palace
St Moritz, Switzerland

With regular guests as sexy as Sophia Loren, as crafty as Alfred Hitchcock (who spent his honeymoon here), as chic as Audrey Hepburn and as regal as the Duke of Windsor, Badrutt’s Palace, Swiss ski country’s most legendary hotel, has stories to tell. A chateau-like structure perched in a characteristic, jet setter-swarmed village in the Alps, Badrutt’s has been the setting of untold romances, assignations, weddings, proposals and fetes. A people watcher’s fantasy land, as engaging for winter activities as warm weather fun, Badrutt’s Palace  promises the royal treatment for honeymooners. Ever-whimsical touches such as hot water bottles with messages (“If nobody keeps you warm tonight, let it be me.”) keep things unpretentious, though swank. In honor of the master, choose the Suite Hitchcock, purportedly the place where he conjured the idea for “The Birds.” badruttspalace.com

The Broadmoor
Colorado Springs Colorado

For more than a century, The Broadmoor has treated every guest as a celebrity. Jimmy Stewart honeymooned here, and newsmakers galore from Bob Hope to Jackie Gleason have wandered across the grand dame resort’s Rocky Mountain expanses. Massive, yet elegant, the legendary property encompasses 20 restaurants and cafes, not to mention a lake, swimming pool, tennis courts, two golf courses, a spa and a garage chock full of vintage Cadillacs. For just marrieds who’d rather a more intimate and outdoorsy stay, the hotel’s new Wilderness Experiences take you higher up the mountain to lodge in rustic elegance in well-appointed cabins at three diverse camps. There, you can experience, depending on the camp, fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and stars in nightly profusion. Combine a few days at the main hotel in the jaw dropping Carlton Suite, then ascend to one of the Wilderness Camps. thebroadmoor.com

Hotel de Paris
Monaco

She didn’t marry here, but as Princess extraordinaire, she lorded over this magnificent hotel in the Principality of Monaco, just a stone’s throw from Provence. By far her favorite roost, palatial Hotel de Paris, was the place Grace Kelly chose to host her 20th anniversary dinner with Prince Ranier, settling into the hotel’s historic Wine Cellars. You can do the same today — have dinner amongst the bottles, as it’s still open for private bookings. To splurge, choose the two-story, newly refurbished, Princess Grace Suite, a romantic den, which features bespoke furnishings and artwork created by top global craftsmen and artists. Peerless sea views and an al fresco jacuzzi go without saying. Camp at this gilded fortress to spend days foraying into nearby vineyards for wine tastings, hitting local beaches, and visiting tiny Mediterranean villages. montecarlosbm.com/en/en/hotel-monaco

For Couples Who Relish Modern Celebre:

Four Seasons Bora Bora
French Polynesia

If a private island retreat and over-water bungalows on a lagoon (colored a thousand hues of blue) is good enough for Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, you’ll probably love it, too. Set on Bora Bora’s surrounding coral atoll, this private isle, dotted with pandanus and coconut trees, lies in the shadow of the otherworldly volcano, Mount Otemanu. Couples can dive into the water from their back porch, have breakfast canoed to their backdoor in the morning, and watch colorful fish swim from their living room. Eat in any of four restaurants, running the gamut from Polynesian to French cuisine—including Faré Hoa Beach Bar & Grill, the all day outdoor lounge/restaurant/bar situated between the pool and lagoon. Offering typical Tahitian celebrations and symbolic weddings with fire dancers and local shamans and musicians, Four Seasons delves into the locale to spoil you. fourseasons.com/borabora

Moon Palace
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

The Bachelor’s Bob Guiney has had the chance to travel all over the world. But, when it came to planning his own honeymoon, he and new wife Jessica Canyon shacked up at all inclusive Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, a AAA Four Diamond resort. The “Guys Tell All” TODAY show star was seen strolling the property’s 17-acres of pristine sand (the longest, private beach in Ocho Rios), experimenting with the Flow Rider Double Wave Simulator, and retreating to the Awe Spa for a couple’s massage. Follow suit when you rent the very same Presidential Suite they shared, a sanctuary with ocean views, a double whirlpool tub and plenty of space. Snorkel, scuba, and enjoy Jamaica’s natural wonders, such as Dunn’s River Falls. moonpalace.com/jamaica/en-us

Borgo Egnazia
Fasano, Italy

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake wanted to give their wedding guests the gift of total escape. Their wedding at Borgo Egnazia did just that. Set in Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, on the Adriatic Coast, this transportive, destination, inspired by Puglia’s rich local tradition and architecture, spreads across acres with both villas, suites, and casette (small houses). Here, amid lemon trees, and ancient olive groves, the crystalline waters of the Adriatic gleam cobalt in the sun. Just inland, characteristic trulli houses, with their cone-shaped roofs, ensure sense of place. Burrow into a lesser known, further-flung Italy here with cooking classes, wine tastings, water sports and lazy beach days. Choose the opulent La Egnazia suite, a mecca for two with double walk-in shower, personal plunge pool and secret garden. borgoegnazia.com

Cala di Volpe
Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Be seen like Jay-Z and Beyoncé (and Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed before them) on the otherworldly Italian island of Sardinia. Built to look like an ancient Italian fishing village, exclusive Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection hotel, fringes its Mediterranean shore with stucco buildings and red rooftops. Though the location begs to be photographed and posted, the newly wedded may want to put their phones away to focus on the hotel’s signature bellinis, which echo the hue of the sunset. Lounge around the immense saltwater pool, ride the hotel’s speedboat to unwind on their private beach, or rent a car to explore the island’s picture postcard-perfect villages and backroads. Hole up in the Rooftop Penthouse Suite, a three bedroom seafront fantasy with riveting views and a plunge pool. marriott.com/hotels/travel/olblc-hotel-cala-di-volpe-a-luxury-collection-hotel-costa-smeralda/

Casa Velas
Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

Busy actors know how to fuel the fire when work schedules have kept them apart. Re-ignite your romance after stressful wedding festivities as Pretty Little Liar’s Brant Daughtery and Grey’s Anatomy’s Kim Hidalgo did recently at Casa Velas, an intimate, elegant hotel in Puerta Vallarta. All-inclusive, adults only, with the feel of a private hacienda, the hotel sits in a residential neighborhood on the edge of a golf course. Steps from the beach, it has a private ocean club, with butlers trained to serve. Opt for the more than 800 square-foot Grand Class Plus Suite, which features  a private plunge pool, personal garden, Italian marble bathroom and artwork by renowned Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamante. When not splashing in the waves or teeing off on the green, investigate the colorful Riviera Nayarit region—including a snorkeling expedition to Islas Marietas National Park. hotelcasavelas.com


Honeymoon: Honeymoon Like a Headliner

Honeymoon: Honeymoon Like a Headliner

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