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World’s most romantic islands
By Christine Ciarmello, Travel + Leisure
(CNN) — When you want to get away from it all, set your course for these romantic islands, as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers.
Bora-Bora seduces couples with visions of overwater bungalows above a turquoise lagoon. But that’s not all: The island offers coral reefs and, should you need backup, the St. Regis romance concierge (duties have included spelling “Marry Me” in coconut husks on the beach).
The Tahitian island has certainly captured the hearts of Travel + Leisure readers, who voted Bora-Bora the No. 1 island for romance, a new category in this year’s World’s Best Awards survey. Spin the globe, and you’re bound to land by one of the top romantic islands.
From the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, they share the powerful ingredient of fantasy. There’s nothing like escaping to an island with your loved one to bring out starry eyes in the most jaded traveler. Discover the getaway escape that’s right for you two castaways among these top islands for romance.
1. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
What could be more seductive than an overwater bungalow above a turquoise lagoon? That’s the essence of Bora-Bora, a geographically blessed sliver of French Polynesia. At its heart lies the jagged peak of Mount Otemanu; on its fringes, tiny motus (islets) and a coral reef with a swirl of colorful marine life.
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Room to Book: Villas 103 to 110 at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort have private decks with whirlpools and outdoor showers.
Table for Two: Order the poisson cru (a local take on ceviche) at the sand-floored Bora Kaina Hut.
Don’t Miss: A private snorkeling trip with Diveasy Bora Bora, whose divemasters get you up close and personal with moray eels and giant manta rays.
2. Capri, Italy
Known for its limestone cliffs and waterfront villas, this 4-square-mile speck in the Tyrrhenian Sea fully embraces the concept of la dolce vita. (For proof, look to the afternoon crowds stretched out on the rocks and sipping Prosecco at the glamorous La Fontelina beach club.)
A funicular railway whisks visitors from the main port to the boutique-lined streets of Capri town; privacy-seekers keep heading upward by foot or bus to the quieter village of Anacapri. There, stroll through the gardens of the 19th-century Villa San Michele with only ivy-covered statues for company.
Room to Book: No. 2 at J. K. Place Capri for a roomy terrace and dreamlike water views.
Table for Two: Sign up for a cooking lesson at the agriturismoTerraMMare, where you’ll make, and then dine on, traditional island recipes.
Don’t Miss: The nightly passeggiata, when well-heeled Italians glide through the streets at sunset before settling in at a bar on the piazza to watch the action unfold.
3. Santorini, Greece
If there were ever a place that could get by on its looks, it would be Santorini. Whitewashed cave houses framed by bougainvillea and backed by blue-domed churches spill down the rim of an ancient volcanic crater; at sunset, the Sea of Crete is bathed in a rosy glow.
Yet as compelling as the scenery may be, Santorini’s true appeal lies in its wealth of diversions: extraordinary wines, black (or red or white) beaches and archaeological sites from the prehistoric era.
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Room to Book: The Perivolas Suite at Perivolas hotel, whose cliffside terrace seems to hover at the crater’s edge.
Table for Two: Order the flaky pastry-wrapped saganaki (traditional fried cheese) with fig jam at Assyrtico Wine Restaurant, a buzzy newcomer.
Don’t Miss: The richly preserved Bronze Age settlement of Akrotíri, sometimes referred to as the “Minoan Pompeii,” which reopened last spring.
4. Kauai, Hawaii
It’s the oldest of Hawaii’s eight main islands — and arguably the most dramatic, with scenery that ranges from wind-eroded mountains and red-walled canyons to primeval rainforest and photo-ready waterfalls.
Room to Book: No. 808 at the St. Regis Princeville Resort for unobstructed views of Hanalei Bay.
Table for Two: Share a succession of small plates (slow-braised short ribs; honeycomb with goat cheese) at the laid-back, open-air Bar Acuda in Hanalei.
Don’t Miss: A six-hour hike with Chuck Blay of Kauai Nature Tours; you’ll learn the myths of every fruit and flower along the way.
5. Boracay, Philippines
Once a backpacking haven with only the most basic accommodations, this 5-mile-long island now rivals better-known Asian destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui, Thailand. A 45-minute flight from Manila brings you to either Kalibo or Caticlan, where boats connect directly to White Beach, whose powdery sand may just be the softest in the world.
Room to Book: A short tuk-tuk ride from the southern end of White Beach, Mandala Spa & Villas feels like a true retreat, with daily yoga classes and massages included in room rates, along with all the mangoes you can eat. The cliffside Pool Villa has the best vantage point over the Sulu Sea.
Table for Two: Feast on Mediterranean mezes at Kasbah (Station One, White Beach), where pillow-strewn sofas evoke North Africa on the sand.
Don’t Miss: Mandala Spa & Villas’ Hilot Trilogy, which incorporates an ancient Filipino form of massage.
6. Maldives
This remote Indian Ocean archipelago greets travelers with white-sand beaches, atolls and secluded high-end resorts that lure honeymooners and celebrities. The world’s lowest-lying nation has a close union with the sea: Where else would you find a hotel with a coral nursery and an underwater nightclub? That would be Niyama Maldives, a Per Aquum Resort. It has a restaurant reachable by boat only.
7. Maui
Peel back the tropical-paradise façade of this Hawaiian island to reveal a rich variety of landscapes: the otherworldly summit of the volcanic crater Haleakala, the sugarcane fields and farms like O’o Farm, and the 1900s cowboy town of Makawao, with horses trotting down the back roads.
For the ultimate tucked-away-ness, the eastern town of Hana at the edge of a rainforest is like falling back in time — and after a day out exploring, you two can retreat to luxe Travaasa Hana Maui, a special place that emphasizes the culture and tradition of Hawaii, from the indigenous patterns used in textiles to ukulele and hula lessons.
8. Moorea,Tahiti
The less-visited sister island of Bora-Bora offers an intoxicating blend of rugged jungle interior, blue lagoons and scents of tiare, pamplemousse and vanilla that swirl in the air. It’s believed that author James Michener’s Bali Hai in Tales of the South Pacific was inspired by the island.
To get the lay of the land, drive up Magic Mountain, and you’ll see Opunohu and Cook’s bays sparkle below. The Tahitians are typically friendly and open — and can point you to the wild, coconut-strewn beach where Mutiny on the Bounty was filmed.
9. Vieques, Puerto Rico
The secret is definitely out about Vieques, which promises the key ingredients for romance, among them, a slew of pristine coves and beaches and a languid pace. Portions of the island are designated a National Wildlife refuge — protecting sea turtles, lagoons and mangroves — and the island’s famous bioluminescent bay is filled with microscopic organisms that flash bright blue and illuminate the water.
The eco mindset here carries through at the intimate Hix Island House, which opened its solar-powered six-room Casa Solaris in the past year, built by Canadian-born architect John Hix.
10. Bali
Bali’s been at the apex of the romance circuit for decades, if not centuries, with couples drawn to the mist-shrouded temples, mountainous landscapes, Balinese art and world-famous friendliness of the locals.
The island got a recent boost (as if it needed it) from the success of “Eat, Pray, Love,” whose film crew chose the white-sand Padang-Padang beach as backdrop. Just a short drive away from here is the new Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran, with a saltwater lagoon pool.
Travelwise: The dual sides of destination wedding etiquette
By Suemedha Sood, BBC
There is any number of reasons for having a destination wedding.
Maybe you’ve always dreamt of getting married on an Indonesian beach or in a French chateau. Maybe you want to keep your wedding small and get your honeymoon started early. Or maybe a significant chunk of your family lives abroad. Whether your reasons are romantic or logistic, throwing a destination wedding comes with an etiquette all its own. To help avoid any social faux pas, we scoured the internet for answers to some of the most common questions about destination weddings – from the perspective of both those hosting and those attending.
Tips for the happy couple:
Who pays for what?
The travel agency and website DestinationWeddings.com points out that guests should not be expected to pay for any events they are invited to as part of the wedding – the ceremony, the reception, group activities, rehearsal dinners, etc. Everything else is their responsibility – airfare, accommodations, salon appointments, etc. To cut down on guests’ costs, search for group travel deals and offer options for vacation rentals, such as beach houses and villas that sleep multiple people.
When should we send invitations and what do they need to include?
Try to announce the date of your destination wedding as far in advance as possible – at least eight months before, advises the wedding planning website The Knot. Online “save-the-dates” and invitations are becoming more commonplace, as are wedding websites, which can include information about the ceremony, reception and any other events you invite your guests to.
Can we invite folks to local, pre-wedding events who we can’t invite to the wedding?
If you are not inviting certain people to the wedding, it is bad form to invite them to you engagement/bachelor/bachelorette parties or bridal shower, said Elise Mac Adam, author of the book Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between. “The exceptions to this policy are very specific, for instance, office bridal showers where co-workers aren’t going to be invited to the wedding,” shetold About.com.
What about friends and family who can’t attend?
Some couples who throw destination weddings are surprised when very close friends or family members are unable to attend. Be prepared for this and do not let your feelings get hurt. Instead, Brides Magazine suggests hosting a hometown reception after the main event to accommodate anyone who cannot make it to the wedding. Consider keeping your destination wedding small, allowing room in your budget to make a second celebration feasible. If you do this, Mac Adam stresses the importance of making two separate guest lists, even if there is overlap between them, to ensure that neither event becomes massive (and massively expensive).
What about registering for gifts?
Martha Stewart Weddings declares that it is not tacky to register for giftswhen having a destination wedding, as long as your registry includes low-priced items. But also don’t forget how much money your guests arealready spending to come to your wedding – “[T]hat’s a huge gift in itself”, wedding planner Brenda Babcock said.
After the wedding festivities are over, how do we gently let guests know that our honeymoon has started?
While it is generally understood that the newly married couple needs some time alone after the wedding events have concluded, you can also expect that some guests may wish to stay in town to enjoy the rest of their vacation. So Brides Magazine recommends taking this opportunity toexplore a new part of the country or city that you are in. If you had been taking advantage of a resort package, Brides points out that some hotel chains will give you the same deals for any of their locations. Otherwise, you can choose to stay somewhere cheaper, saving yourself some money after the big day.
Tips for guests:
How to save yourself some dollars
Going to a destination wedding is expensive. You often have to take off work, buy a plane ticket and book a hotel room, not to mention any additional money you may need to spend on a suit, dress or gift. If the wedding you are attending is being held at a resort or hotel, do not feel obligated to stay there. You can usually find cheaper accommodations elsewhere – especially if you split rooms with friends. Also, as per usual, check sites like Kayak, Priceline, and Hipmunk for deals on airfare and hotels (and for packages that let you book both together for lower rates).
How to get a vacation out of it
The key to making a destination wedding worth your while is to pair it with a vacation. Luckily, most weddings take place over the weekend, so even if you have limited time off, you can have a few days to yourself. Do not feel obligated to attend every wedding-related event you are invited to. If you would rather use the days before the wedding to travel, do that.
What to wear
If the wedding invitation or website does not specify, the lifestyle network TLC says, men can never go wrong with “a tailored shirt, tie, slacks and a sport coat”, and women can never go wrong with a suit or “a dress that hits somewhere between mid-calf and six or so inches above the knee”. Generally speaking, TLC adds, an outdoor wedding in hot weather tends to indicate less dressy attire. If the ceremony or reception is very formal (think black tie) or very casual (think flip flops), the invitation should make a note of that.
Travelwise is a BBC Travel column that goes behind the travel stories to answer common questions, satisfy uncommon curiosities and uncover some of the mystery surrounding travel. If you have a burning travel question, contact Travelwise.