As trips go, a honeymoon is likely the most memorable one you’ll ever take, so there’s a lot riding on your choice of where to go and where to stay. But if you’ve already decided on a post-nuptials getaway to the Dutch Caribbean, you’re in luck. Because we’ve created a list of our favorite love nests in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba and St. Maarten, where your stay is guaranteed to be special. Here are the five best honeymoon hotels in the Dutch Caribbean. CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves Gabbadon has the story.
Harbour Village, Bonaire Start your married life cossetted in a plush room, suite or townhouse at the island’s only five-star resort, where a palm-fringed white-sand sweep is the perfect place to unwind after all those months of wedding prep. The ship-shaped Balandra restaurant is a must for al fresco dinners a deux, and the offshore islet Klein Bonaire is only a quick 15-minute (two-seater, of course!) kayak ride away.
Boardwalk Small Hotel, Aruba Set on a former coconut plantation, this intimate 14-casita hotel (hidden in plain sight at the north end of the High-Rise District) is ideal for independent couples who want to sample a taste of Aruban life as they begin theirs together. Twosomes can stroll hand-in-hand to the inn’s slice of Palm Beach (five minutes away) or try their luck by dipping into the “treasure box,” filled with the owners’ and past guests’ island suggestions, and embark on a spontaneous adventure together.
Baoase Luxury Resort, Curaçao It doesn’t get much more romantic than a swim-up room, and there are plenty of them at this resort just outside Willemstad. Twenty-three rooms, suites and villas (some with private pools and outdoor showers) are decorated in sleek Southeast Asian style, and the cozy, foliage-filled property (dramatically illuminated with candles in the evenings) further sets the mood for romance.
Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten If you’re the type of couple who believes in going big or going home, check into this 314-room resort on Oyster Bay’s splendid Dawn Beach. Spend your days lounging at the two-tier oceanfront infinity pool or having a couples massage at the Hibiscus Spa. And then, after enjoying French fare at Aura, spend your nights relaxing in those signature Heavenly Beds.
Queens Gardens Resort & Spa, Saba Set on a hillside above The Bottom, this 12-suite hideaway offers newlyweds dramatic views from in-room whirlpools; private candlelit dining in treehouse for two that overlooks the sea; and a uniquely calm and magical atmosphere you’ll remember fondly once real life kicks in.