Where To Honeymoon In 2020

The late 2019 closure of Uluru, in Australia’s Northern Territory, was an important moment of reckoning—a line quite literally drawn in the sand qualifying the limit of cultural commodification for capital gain. The shuttering of the sacred mountain to hikers has helped refocus travelers’ attention. Now, visitors are heading further north to the country’s “top end”—a streamer of coastline between western and eastern Australia—to discover some of the most wild and remote land in the entire world. Start in state-capital Darwin, which gets its first high-end hotel, a sprawling Westin, in late 2020. Then, puddle-jump between a handful of stylish-but-simple lodges peppered across vast acres of bayou, desert, gorges, paperbark forests, and some of the most stunningly secluded beaches in the country. Aim for Davidson’s in the shadow of Mount Borradaile, a hallowed mound where generations of ancestors are buried. Some of the oldest art known to man—(think brilliant paintings)—adorn the rocks along the steeper walking paths. For an even more outdoorsy experience, guests at Cobourg Coastal Camp inhabit eco-chic tents on a bluff overlooking the sea. Days are spent plucking oysters and eating them fresh right off the beach, or shuttling across the bay on a private speedboat, stopping occasionally to catch fish for your seaside picnic later on. Finish your adventure at Bamarru Plains, a hideaway on an old ranching station that’s easily as posh as any faraway African safari lodge with unique half-tent bedrooms encased in a thin, impermeable skin keeping the comfort in and the thumping wallabies out. Photo: Felix Cesare / Getty

The original destination to sell exoticism to travelers, Morocco has become a “capital of cool,” according to Jack Ezon of Embark, instead of an outpost of otherness. “Today the North African nation is all about design, with concept stores, museums, and hotels completely embracing the theme,” he adds. And no destination boasts more property openings in 2020—discerning travelers should look no further than Ezon’s shortlist of most anticipated debuts: “The new Riad Karawan is now the most elaborate boutique stay in Fez; it’s set in a 17th century palace, and each of the seven rooms are individually done up with ancient antiques. Rabat has a new Ritz Carlton, and just outside of Tangiers, Tamouda Bay gets not just an elevated Ritz Carlton Reserve, but also a Banyan Tree, from which a day trip to the Blue City of Chefcahouen is a cinch.” We’re most excited about the debut of Palais Ronsard in Marrakech, a Relais & Chateaux property set in a ‘30s mansion—so the colonial-inspired decor is on point, too. Worth noting: Don’t write Morocco off as a mini-moon possibility; non-stop flights from New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Miami make it easier than ever to discover all that this country has in store. Photo: Hadynyah / Getty

“During the 2008 financial crisis, wealthy Greeks sold their Mykonos mansions and moved to Paros, where the land was more affordable,” explains Brooke Lavery of Local Foreigner. “Ten years later, Paros has emerged as the country's bohemian up-and-comer, with boutique hotels and homey tavernas inhabiting whitewashed villages across the island.” Think of it as the laid back version of Mykonos—all the beauty and none of the scene. Both Lavery and 84 Rooms’ Sebastian Schoellgen cite the mid-2019 opening of Parilio on Nauossa Bay as the true turning point of Paros’ appeal and esteem. “Situated on the north of the island, the 33-suite property is Kalia and Antonis Eliopoulos’ fourth hotel, and they’ve hit all the marks, using Athens-based firm Interior Design Laboratorium to sculpt the stark spaces and private pools,” Schoellgen adds. Photo: Poike / Getty

“Now that Bali is so built up and overcrowded, the island of Sumba has become the shiny new toy where an off-track, authentic Indonesian experience can still be found,” exclaims George Morgan-Grenville of Red Savannah. “Like all destinations in the spotlight, it will eventually go the same way as Bali with new resorts emerging and more already on the drawing board, so our advice is go now before it’s too late,” Morgan-Grenville continues. Both Morgan-Grenville and Lavery endorse Nihi Sumba, now famous as the site of Jennifer Lawrence’s recent honeymoon, as the go-to sport when vacationing on the upwardly trending island. “Located in front of God’s Left, one of the world’s most epic surf breaks, Nihi embodies a laid-back surfer ethos…with a few luxury trimmings,” says Lavery. “The resort’s butler-serviced villas are nearly faultless, and the compendium of on-site activities are varied enough to keep guests occupied for weeks (two words: Spa Safari!). In 2020, Nihi’s partnership with Rascal Voyages, a luxury charter company, extends the Nihi experience into the waters of the Indonesian archipelago. Board Rascal’s five-cabin Phinsi yacht to explore Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat, two of the world’s premier dive destinations,” Lavery adds. Photo: Faizzaki / Getty

“Zimbabwe is in a renaissance period, and there’s a lot of new innovation,” explains Wil Smith, of Deeper Africa. “In neighboring nations, safari companies have raced to the top, trying to outdo each other with their luxury glamping efforts. And although tourism can be a force for good—both for conversation and the community—the need for air conditioning, hot showers and refrigeration could consume an embarrassing amount of petroleum-based fuel. But in Zimbabwe, the new eco-luxury model is aimed at striking a balance between impact and experiences,” Smit continues, citing Ingwe Pan Camp as a prime example of measured luxury. “It's built near a watering area that attracts wildlife to the camp, so less fuel is consumed on game drives. Electricity is provided by solar panels which is sufficient to power low-energy lights and appliances, and the entire camp is designed to be dismantled so that the land can return to its natural state in less than two years.” Teresa Sullivan of Mango Safaris endorses Zimbabwe as a destination that’s “more about adventure than top luxury, which is so refreshing in today’s safari camp scene.” Hwange Bush Camp, and Sapi Explorers Camp are her favorites. Finish your trip at the decidedly swank Chikwenya (https://wilderness-safaris.com/our-camps/camps/chikwenya) or at one of African Bush Camps’ outposts, which have helped breathe new life into the Mana Pools National Park—an area, despite its mandate, that relies on private funding to buoy its conservation efforts. Photo: Wolfgang Steiner / Getty

For decades, Japanese vacationers have sought out the sandy beaches of Hawaii for their dose of Vitamin D—they love the Aloha State so much, in fact, that it’s common to find Hawaiian themed restaurants and apparel all over Tokyo. But a recent spate of development on Okinawa is turning one of the country’s farthest-flung islands into Japan’s very own version of Hawaii. Starting this year (never mind that the Olympics are being held in Tokyo), the flow of holiday-makers will reverse as Americans head (even further) westward to bask in the warmth of the Land of the Rising Sun’s sunniest destination. Famed Waikiki hotel the Halekulani opened its doors on Okinawa’s main island, right next to Busena Marine Park. The 308 rooms (not to mention 47 suites and 5 private villas) employs an elegant “seven shades of white” motif, with decor spearheaded by noted New York firm, Champalimaud Design. Hoshino Resorts has also made inroads in the development of Okinawa, opening not one, but four properties in 2020: Hoshinoya Taketomi, a ten-minute ferry ride from Ishigaki that’s designed like a resort village with traditional elements, and Hoshinoya Okinawa, set in center of the action with breathtaking ocean views. They've also got Risonare Kohamajima and Iriomote Hotel, both on quieter islands in the archipelago’s outer orbit. Besides all the trappings of a relaxing beachside holiday, there are plenty of culturally significant sites and unique local recipes worth scouting out as well. “Until the late 1870s, the Okinawan islands were a part of the Ryukyus, a thriving independent kingdom that played a key role in trade in Asia from the 14th century onwards,” explains Alice Volkmar of InsideJapan Tours. “This unique history means that the islands have developed a rich and distinctive culture influenced by China and Southeast Asia as well as by mainland Japan.” Photo: Sean Pavone / Getty

Ski bunnies needn’t look any further than the usual suspects (we’re pretty keen on the newly opened W Aspen for an active honeymoon with a heavy dose of aprés ski), but consider the Centennial State during the other times of the year, especially as you wind your way between cozy mountains and hidden hot springs. Motor lodges, once the preferred layover spot along America’s highways, became so dreadfully unpopular that most went out of business. Then, like all trends, they started to become cool again as young hospitality entrepreneurs purchased disused inns, transforming them into destinations in their own right with mod hipster furnishings and elevated comfort food. The Colorado Rockies sport some of the best options, like LOGE Breckenridge, which opens in 2020 to join road-trippers’ favorites like Amigo Motor Lodge and Spoke and Vine Motel. Denver is also a prime candidate for an urban mini-moon—it’s small enough to get a vibe for each neighborhood, while also proffering big-city appeal and plenty of worthy eating, drinking, and sightseeing options. Base yourself at The Ramble, styled as a hybrid between a hunting lodge and speakeasy. It’s located in the RiNo district where graffiti-lined Larimer Street leads to some of the most compelling modern architecture in America; boxy geometry home to food halls, indoor markets, and co-working spaces. Add drinks at The Infinite Monkey Theorem—an urban winery—followed by a dinner of perfected New American mains at 12@Madison, and you’re off to the races. The brand new Sunday Vinyl, by James Beard Award winning Bobby Stuckey, is already the Mile High City’s hottest address, where the ambient music is chosen as carefully as the food and beverage program. Photo: DZSC / Getty

You may not have heard of this island group just yet—but watch this space closely. By the end of the 2020s, this archipelago off the coast of India is going to rival the Maldives as the next ‘it’ destination for honeymooners. Currently there are two luxury stays on Havelock Island: a link in the Taj Exotica chain sporting 54 villas perched on stilts along on Radha Nagar beach, one of the best slices of sand in South Asia, and the smaller Jalakara, with jungly surrounds and only a handful of rooms adorned in polished concrete. Plans for an international airport are slowly unfurling, and once it arrives you can expect an onslaught of new development. Until then, the islands are only accessible from mainland India via direct flight from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai—plus a 90-minute ferry ride from the runway on Port Blair to reach Havelock. These islands are remote indeed, but this is the time to explore them; the connecting flights and ferry ride tend to deter those who opt for an easy way out of destination travel, and are a great way to further winnow down the number of other tourists in the vicinity. Photo: 4FR / Getty

The high quality of service has long set St. Barths apart from other luxury destinations in the Caribbean—not to mention the slim, coolie hat-like hills that rise up around its pearlescent beaches. Following the widespread damage of the island’s properties during Hurricane Irma in 2017, it’s been a careful journey back toward recapturing that perfection as St. Barths’ legendary brands attempt to restore the luster of their resorts. And everyone’s ready to swing open the gates anew, starting with the late-2019 resurrection of Eden Rock, the island’s original high-end stay; subtle tweaks in the redesign are a throwback to the 1950s when it opened as a hangout for Hollywood types. The Cheval Blanc down on Flamands Beach is also looking better than ever as of November 2019. Le Carl Gustaf, perched above the port of Gustavia, is back on the scene under the management of the Barrière group, of Fouquet’s fame, in Paris. The Guanahani, with its signature case creole bright-box Caribbean cottage architecture, will complete its long-awaited renovation in October of 2020. Photo: Sean Pavone / Getty

In 2020, the classic luxury stay, Turtle Island (of Blue Lagoon movie fame) will inaugurate its 40-year anniversary by unveiling a complete renovation. The country’s first private-island stay offers 14 villas, ten private beaches, and plenty of space—500-acres of paradise, to be exact—to have some much-needed alone time after your wedding. Few travelers know that the property is also one of the world’s pioneers of sustainability, reintroducing 250 native species of flora, and planting over one million trees to return the realm to its original splendor. Fiji hasn’t yet ascended to the heights of ubiquitous appeal like the Maldives, St. Barths, and Tahiti, but the 300-island archipelago has plenty of space for honeymooning at the ultra-luxe Kokomo Private Island—another heavy hitter in the eco-conscious category—Six Senses Fiji, and Laucala Island. The addition of Fiji Airways’ new A350 aircraft at the beginning of 2020 now makes it even easier to reach the islands with direct links from LAX and SFO, allowing for an 8% increase in capacity for American travelers. “Fiji also combines really well with other destinations, like New Zealand. That makes for a great itinerary for couples that want to start their honeymoon on the beach and then experience some adventure,” explains Katie Frederick Jacobson of Ever After Honeymoons. Photo: Mvaligursky / Getty

An oldie but a goodie, Vermont may not get the oohs and aahs of a tropical paradise halfway around the world, but it earns our enthusiastic vote if you’re strapped for time and still want your three-night vacay to feel memorable. Twin Farms is an all-inclusive retreat in the best way possible: meals (and alcohol) and activities are yours for the choosing, that is, if you can ever manage to extricate yourself from your cabin. Each guesthouse on the sweeping property is designed in a unique style—from a “Studio” which features more modern touches (not to mention an original work by Cy Twombly) to a “Cottage,” styled like a turn-of-the-century provencal villa. Guests dine in the main farmhouse, and each meal is an exquisitely prepared parade of home-grown dishes that accentuates both the season outside and the years of experience the kitchen staff have garnered in renowned restaurants all over the planet. Lather, rinse, repeat—plus a soak in the Japanese-style furo (hot pool) or a hike around the private river and ponds—and you’ve got yourself the perfect recipe to recharge your post-wedding batteries. Photo: Sean Pavone / Getty