Sloth, they say, is one of the seven deadly sins. But, right now, just weeks shy of your wedding day, after months of having your dance card filled to bursting with pre-wedding parties and pampering preparations, you dream of dilatory dilly-dallying. It isn’t as if your life wasn’t bustling enough before you got engaged. Then, you sped like a demon through long workdays, rushed to the gym, bulleted to social outings — and all the while stayed connected, thanks to technology. You thought that verve fueled you and your betrothed, too. You had envisioned a high-energy honeymoon — a bike ride through Europe or hiking with the gorillas in Africa. But truth be told, you’re all tuckered out. What appeals now is lassitude: long afternoons in a hammock, a butler to attend to your whims, Wi-Fi that doesn’t work. In praise of loafing and idle play, we’ve collected a breezy list of carefree getaways for overtired couples that crave a languid holiday. From snoozy trips to jaunts that require only a modicum of effort, we offer you places that propose repose.
Snooze, Don’t Lose
Sleep-deprived brides and grooms get cantankerous. That’s no way to start a honeymoon. Begin your trip to anywhere with an overnight stay at Ritz-Carlton Dallas (conveniently located near DFW, from which you can fly to most anywhere). There, indulge in the hotel’s cosseting Good Night’s Suite package, designed to promote serious shut eye — just what you need after that whirligig of a successful wedding. Under direction of a sleep therapist, couples begin with an aromatherapy bath and herbal tea. A peaceful body massage, followed by coached meditation leads to blissful power naps, snuggled in warm duvets. The next morning, you’ll be ready to take on the world. ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/dallas
Soak and Wallow
Submerge your cares away at Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains near Telluride. With cabins and teepees, this swanky resort redefines “glamping,” occupying the old bones of an abandoned 19th-century mining town. Spread across 1,600-plus private acres of wilderness area, the resort offers plenty to do, but those disinclined to exertion will want to bathe the days away immersed in any of five (sulphur free) mineral hot springs — each containing a trace of naturally-occurring, relaxation-assuring, lithium. Opt for Well House, an exquisite cabin, which pipes the healing water directly into its deep soaking tub. You may never leave the premises. duntonhotsprings.com
Be Swayed
At The Cove, on the Bahamian isle of Eleuthera, just a swift 45-minute fight from southern Florida, stressed honeymooners can take their anxiety down a few notches when they partake of the resort’s latest culinary experience, “Hammock Happy Hour.” Across forty tropical acres, abundant hand-woven hammocks hang between trees, ensuring newlyweds occasionally stop to ponder the clouds above. Choose a swinging bed and prepare to be served from an array of specialty cocktails and light bites. An Eden of blue water vistas and fragrant gardens serve as backdrop to the sun’s colorful drop into the sea at dusk, and a staff-delivered “happy hour kit” gives guests info on the art of decompressing in a hammock. thecoveeleuthera.com.
Spa Slumber
Amid the glories of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, Big Cedar Lodge promises active travelers a world of diversions. But just-marrieds in need of quietude can check into the award-winning wilderness resort’s opulent Spa Cottage to ensure a less vigorous honeymoon experience. Connected by a bridge to the 18,000-square-foot spa, crowning a babbling brook, the well-appointed suite evokes the spirit of a tree house. Indulge in a treatment (or ten), then stroll a few steps over the bridge to literally sleep in the spa. Once rested, the couple can attempt to paddle a canoe around Table Rock Lake, picnic in tow. bigcedar.com
Fireside Ease
You won’t have to fan the flames at Carneros Resort and Spa, where a butler keeps your fire pit burning and your outdoor bathtub for two warm and suffused in bubbles in the signature Harvest Cottages and suites. One of California wine country’s most stunning and cosseting sanctuaries, Carneros comprises a coterie of cozily chic cottages, ideal for napping after wine tasting. Uniquely located at the verge of both Sonoma and Napa, the resort sits a few minutes from both Sonoma’s famous main plaza and Napa (town) proper. That means you can explore two wine areas without much effort at all. Set amongst vineyards, the resort also has more than 10 vineyards that lie just steps away. carnerosresort.com
Tuk-tuk Treat
Sri Lanka’s a long way to travel to relax. But, your knocked-out villa that hovers on a ridge above the Indian Ocean at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort makes the trip worth your while. On a less trammeled corner of the island nation, wedged between a sugary beach and a coconut plantation, this highly-touted, luxury hotel relishes its goal to be a gateway to tranquility. While exploring Sri Lanka’s elephant reserves, surf-worthy waves, Buddhist temples and buzzing towns shouldn’t be missed, spend a few days in princely indolence being catered to by your thoughtful villa host, who will bring you libations to sip by your private pool, unpack your suitcases and chauffeur you by tuk-tuk throughout the sprawling grounds. tangalle.anantara.com
