Now that you have been pronounced man and wife, it is time to escape to a little heaven for quality time. How about spending it at some special places where celebrities honeymooned? After all, only the best will do for those who’ve earned their fortunes.

Atelier Magazine's Vandana Rana explores the most scintillating honeymoon destinations around the world in the magazine's September 2011 issue. Read on...

Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives

Maldives is the preferred choice of newlyweds when it comes to a honeymoon destination. White sand beaches fringed by beautiful coral reefs, surrounded by turquoise water, colourful marine life and an enchanting sunset make for a perfect honeymoon setting. The natural scenic beauty attracts ‘regular’ and celebrity couples alike.

The list of celebrities who enjoyed a stint at Maldives after their wedding includes the newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Williams and Catherine. The two spent their early marriage days in Maldives after tying the wedding knot this year. Hollywood celebrity couple Katy Perry and Russell Brand after taking the wedding vows at the Indian tiger sanctuary, Ranthambore, flew down to Maldives for a blissful time as well. They chose Soneva Fushi Resort for their stay. The Traveller’s World magazine awarded it the third Most Beautiful Resort Hotel, which makes the destination a hotspot.

The resort ensures romance in the air with 65 villa accommodations, each opening to a white sand beach and a picturesque view of tropical beauty. Villas have seawater swimming pools and extended bathroom gardens. The spacious rooms are furnished with wood furniture that gives decor a local touch.

The resort also offers holistic beauty and body treatments for couples. A 50-minutes special spa session soothes every muscle. After a relaxing spa therapy, the couples can indulge in some adventure including snorkelling excursions, speedboats, waterskiing, wakeboarding, hobie cat sailing, and more.

Underwater and scuba-diving sessions transport you to a divine world of marine life. Canoeing, bicycle riding, fishing trips and sports activities such as tennis and badminton keep the newlyweds busy. A cultural excursion to nearby villages helps understand the people and their lifestyle.

Food is an important part of a holiday. The resort serves delicious Mediterranean dishes and sumptuous seafood. The dishes are prepared employing healthy cooking methods and their menu changes every day, so for Tuesdays expect an Asian buffet and international BBQ on Saturday evenings.    

To make this honeymoon last forever, the resort gifts couples a commemorative photo album on departure.

Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos, Northern Caribbean 

Spread over a thousand acres of land, dipped in unspoiled natural beauty, offering luxurious spa treats, world-class services and supported by a cheerful staff, expect a lavish honeymoon here. Island Parrot Cay is one amongst the eight principal islands and more than forty smaller cays at the Turks and Caicos. Interestingly, the name of this island is inspired from its pirate past. Today, the breathtaking beauty and the privacy offered here attract a lot of celebrities. This tropical destination has been witness to Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s wedding. Couples Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz chose to spend their honeymoons at Parrot Cay too.

Here, you can either indulge in tranquillity or touch the extremes of adventure. Unwind yourself at the poolside or enjoy the white sand beaches and a swim in warm blue sea with your beloved. The hotel also offers a special spa retreat for couples. The Asian-inspired spa treatments on offer rejuvenate the mind, body and soul equally. Go for some soothing body massages and invigorating skincare with Ayurvedic techniques. 

At the same time, one could enjoy some adventure sports too. The activities include non-motorised water sports such as diving, catamaran sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling.

Staying at this island is one blissful experience in itself. The beach-facing villas and suites are designed to allow maximum amount of natural light. Simple yet elegant is the theme that runs through the resort. Balinese techniques are used to accentuate the relaxed lounging. Hampton-style houses offer a romantic walk to white sand beaches, where brides and bridegrooms can explore the natural beauty and get to know each other better. Guests can choose villas from garden-view rooms, ocean-view rooms, COMO suites and villas, one-bedroom beach houses and beach villas. The locations include ‘rocky point’, the residence and the sanctuary. These villas are owned privately and are rented out on request.

Asian, Mediterranean and healthy COMO Shambala cuisines are the dining delights at Parrot Cay. Freshly prepared cuisines using contemporary techniques and organic ingredients make dining a sensory experience. Lotus is a relaxed poolside restaurant, which serves Caribbean-inspired lunchtime gastronomy. Other cuisines on offer include Asian, Thai and Japanese. The other terrace restaurant here serves an interesting Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian influence.

San Ysidro Ranch, Southern California  

The San Ysidro Ranch has been a favourite romantic hideaway of the who’s who of the world. This ranch was a honeymoon retreat of US president John F. Kennedy and wedding destination of Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier. The ranch is located in the Montecito foothills of Southern California’s wine country. The tranquil destination is known for its natural beauty, romantic heritage and classic luxury. Lush green gardens, a serene ocean view and picturesque mountain valley make it a perfect romantic retreat for the honeymooners world over.

The activities on offer include a year-round heated swimming pool, 17 miles of hiking trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains, biking in and around Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Mountains, day trips to local beaches, wineries and attractions in and around Santa Barbara, in-room spa services and yoga sessions. Enjoy the ultimate golf session at one of the 101 best golf courses in the West. The ranch arranges special settings for weddings, including romantic cottages or fragrant gardens.

 The ranch has accommodation of forty-one private cottages which are situated amongst tree-lined paths, hillside creeks and a breeze of flowers. The cottages and suites reflect a classic bungalow style and are furnished with modern amenities like fine linen, king-size beds, hot tubs, radient heated bathrooms, rain showers, hand-cut stone and old-world masonry fireplaces. The Kennedy Cottage, Warner Cottage, suites and cottage rooms are designed for complete privacy.

At this ranch-style resort, couples can choose from dining at the Stonehouse restaurant enjoying the ocean deck view; the Plow & Angel restaurant; or, of course, inside their rooms. Chef Jamie West serves up exotic cuisines with fresh herbs and vegetables, which are harvested from his own garden. The Stonehouse restaurant came up in the 19th century and offers a lounge and bar service with crackling fireplace and creek side views. At Plow & Angel, a warm and cosy setting welcomes the couple. Stained glass work accentuates its beauty.

Turtle Island, Fiji

A honeymoon vacation should be a private paradise for the couple with luxury at their disposal, amidst scenic beauty. Turtle Island, which is the part of Yasawa Group of Islands in Republic of Fiji, serves pretty much all of that. The romantic destination covers ancient volcanic lagoons, lush greenery, sweet-smelling flowers and some of the most immaculate beaches of the world. Celebrities like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson spent some romantic days with their partners here. The island has also been a witness to the honeymoon of Australian celebrity couple Grant Hackett and Candace Alley, and Tania and Nathan Buckley, a former Australian football player.

The island staff ensures that every moment spent here is a memorable one. Dive and snorkel with beautiful fishes, sail boats along the seashore, swim in the sky-blue ocean or simply float in the pool under the sun. A romantic walk along crystal-clear, silent beaches is a great way to spend intimate moments together, with the backdrop of a lush green jungle running along the coastline. 

Activities at Turtle Island are both water- and land-based. Water activities include scuba diving, fishing, sailing, windsurfing besides swimming and snorkelling. The sunset cruise is another enthralling experience. The cruise boat glides towards a magnificent horizon and the couple is entertained with traditional songs and dances arranged by staff. Land-based activities include horseback riding, hiking, island and garden tours. And, after all that, massage therapies are indulgent treats. The island also customises weddings; couples return home with a memory book and CD of all the happy moments they shared at the resort.

This luxury beach has been voted one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world in several rankings. The island offers private and luxurious stay in bures, villas and suites. The fourteen spacious bures are designed with a traditional and eco-friendly concept in mind. Natural light fills villas through large windows, offering picturesque views of the blue lagoon and green forest in this tropical paradise. 

Delicious cuisines are served by a team of expert staff. Dining settings can be done up according to the mood: from seaside to poolside, open-air picnics to moonlight shades. Delicacies at Turtle include yellow fin tuna, lobster, crab, sweet native fruits and more. Cuisines are prepared with freshly grown vegetables and fruits, and vintage wines from all over the world are on offer. Get set to say cheers!