Whether you dream far-flung or close to home, the best honeymoons are about discovery -- new cultures, new people, new foods, new experiences.
The entry point to those discoveries is often a luxury hotel -- in many cases, a new opening provides a gateway to a place which was previously inaccessible. (Would you really travel to Bhutan without a good place to stay?) Not to mention, you can lean on the skilled staff to help you craft the perfect once-in-a-lifetime itinerary and indulge in luxurious amenities (spa treatments, chef-led restaurants, butler service, etc.) when you want some relaxing downtime.
May these forthcoming honeymoon-worthy hotel openings inspire you to make countless new discoveries on your post-nuptial getaway.
1. The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland
Nearly every person who travels to Iceland makes time for a soak in the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a naturally forming geothermal pool surrounded by 800-year-old lava fields. This blue-hued hot spring is not only an Instagram-must, but it also supposedly has healing properties (the average 100-degree waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur).
When the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland debuts in late-spring, couples will be able to stay overnight for the first time. The 62 suites open on to a private section of the lagoon, offering 24/7 access to the water (grab a complimentary Icelandic beer from the minibar before you dip in), plus other amenities like a subterranean spa and a high-end New Nordic restaurant, serving seven-course tasting menus at the chef's table.
2. COMO Uma Canggu, Bali
The Indonesian island of Bali has no shortage of gorgeous beachfront destinations. But the less-traveled area of Canggu will quickly ascend on travelers' short-lists when COMO Uma Canggu opens this month.
Unlike party-centric Seminyak and resort-filled Nusa Dua, Canggu is known for its soft volcanic sand and rippable surf breaks. COMO Shambhala Retreat, the on-site wellness center, has everything from daily fitness classes to relaxing spa treatments and healing holistic therapies.
3. Silversands Grenada
The small Caribbean island of Grenada has, by and large, gone unnoticed among honeymooners. That will change when Silversands Grenada opens next month on prized Grand Anse Beach.
With 44 minimalist-chic rooms, two restaurants, a beach club with a resident DJ, and the longest pool in the Caribbean (nearly 330 feet!), this resort delivers all the amenities that couples want. Not to mention the "Spice Island" is outside the Atlantic hurricane belt (no risk of canceled trips), and is filled with local purveyors -- nutmeg factories, cocoa plantations, organic farms -- that allow you to explore the island's food culture.
4. Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
This private-island resort -- located five degrees south of the equator -- just underwent a major renovation, making it more exclusive than ever before. To get there, you'll have to take a 35-minute flight from Mahé, the capital of the Seychelles, to the outer rim of the of archipelago. But once you check into your beach suite with a private pool (just one of 40 on the island) and sink your toes in the sand on the nearly 9 miles of pristine white-sand beaches, all that hassle just washes away.
5. The Bodrum EDITION, Turkey
When it opens mid-year, the Bodrum EDITION will deliver a new level of luxury to the "Mykonos of Turkey." Located on the western tip of the Bodrum peninsula, the 99 guest rooms, suites, and villas will all have views of the Aegean Sea. Plan a day at the state-of-the art spa -- the Turkish Hammam promises to be a destination unto itself. If you're more of the see-and-be-seen types, book a private cabana on a jetty at the exclusive beach club before dinner at the waterfront grill and a turn on the dance floor at the on-site nightclub.
6. Six Senses Fiji
The South Pacific Archipelago of Fiji is having a moment. That's largely due to the forthcoming April opening of this five-star resort on Malolo Island, a secluded paradise with just 26 spacious pool villas (plus private residences), surrounded by crystal clear waters and white-sand beaches.
Whether you're a master diver or looking to get PADI certified on your honeymoon, Six Senses is located near some of the world's best soft coral reefs. (You can even help the on-site conservationists with their reef resortation programs.) Afterward, go for a memorable meal at the wine cellar or the tasting table, serving incomparably fresh South Pacific cuisine (the island has its own organic gardens).
7. Rosewood Baha Mar, Bahamas
The megaresort complex of Baha Mar is the hottest new development in the Caribbean (with a $4.2-billion price tag). While it's composed of three different resorts, the forthcoming Rosewood Baha Mar promises to be the most luxe. Post up in your residential-style room before testing your luck at the 100,000 square-foot casino, playing a round on the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, getting massages at the ESPA spa, or dining at one of 20 different restaurants and bars. We promise nowhere else in the Caribbean will you eat sushi as delicious as at Katsuya by Starck Baha Mar.
8. Six Senses Bhutan
Bhutan is one of the most buzzed-about destinations for 2018, largely because of the hotly anticipated five new lodges from luxury resort brand Six Senses. Set to open by year-end, Six Senses Bhutan will offer guests an in-depth look at this Himalayan country's natural scenery on a lodge-to-lodge trek that takes guests from Paro to Bumthang, followed by Gangtey, Punakha, and Thimphu. With just 82 suites spread across the lodges, couples are guaranteed an intimate experience in this colorful Kingdom, often called the "Happiest Place on Earth."
In case you missed it:
Travel Update: Where You Can Still Honeymoon in the Caribbean