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Your honeymoon should be your ultimate dream vacation. It may be the most luxurious holiday you will ever take and if there was a time in your life to live it up this is certainly it. We at Weddingbells have the good fortune of checking out some of the most incredible destinations in the world—all in the name of research of course—and have put together a primer on some of our favourite luxury properties. We’ve got something for every type of honeymooner, from a private Bahamian island resort to an incredible Relais & Chateaux in the Irish countryside. Time to start planning (and packing!)

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213805 For Old World Opulence: <a href="http://www.ballyfin.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Ballyfin Demense</a>, Ireland A luxurious Irish country escape—can you think of anything more romantic? The moment you enter the gates of Ballyfin Demense, you are swept away from the modern world and ensconced in a bygone era rich in tradition and romance. Located in County Laois, 90 minutes from Dublin, Ballyfin is a grand Irish regency mansion built as a private residence in 1820. It was restored to its original grandeur in 2011, opening as a 20-bedroom five-star country house hotel. Stepping through the doors of the house, it’s hard to know where to look first. Details are rich, historic and jaw-dropping at every turn. The state rooms, glimmering, grand and brimming with ancestral portraits and magnificent furnishings, are still wonderfully comfortable and intimate. Every guest room is unique, all decorated and designed in the spirit of the original house. Each is spacious, but for a splurge we recommend booking a suite or junior suite—we love the front-of-house rooms with lake views! Food is a particular passion at Ballyfin and everything served is either grown in-house or locally-sourced. Dinner hour is a delight—we strongly recommend Ballyfin’s tasting menus, which deliver the best of everything in a five- or eight-course meal. The grounds of Ballyfin are as beautiful as the house itself. There are 614 acres to explore, which you can do on foot, horse, bicycle or horse-and-carriage ride. On the property you will find acres of wildflowers, hidden waterfalls, a grotto, a medieval-style tower and walled gardens. For additional adventures, you can try archery, clay-pigeon shooting, falconry and fishing. A picnic lunch on-property is also a must and there are many stunning locations to choose from, including a cozy picnic house built expressly for those days when the Irish weather is a little temperamental. Many incredible things make Ballyfin magical, but perhaps the biggest is the delightful staff, who go the distance to make your stay the most memorable holiday of your life. Isn’t that exactly what you want your honeymoon to be? Photography courtesy of <a href="http://www.ballyfin.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Ballyfin Demense</a>. Ireland bucket list honeymoon spots - ireland https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-ballyfin-ireland-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-ballyfin-ireland.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-ballyfin-ireland.jpg 1200 790 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-stays-ballyfin-ireland/ dream-honeymoon-stays-ballyfin-ireland 0 0

213808 For Total Rejuvenation: <a href="http://www.rancholapuerta.com/" target="_blank">Rancho La Puerta</a>, Tecate, Mexico Reconnect post-nups by retreating to this 3,000-acre paradise outside Tecate, Mexico, 90 minutes from San Diego, California. From its humble beginnings 75 years ago, Rancho La Puerta has reinvented itself into a luxe destination spa/fitness resort removed from the outside world. Furnished with Mexican decor, the 83 unique casitas (many over 1,000 square feet, each with terrace) are scattered amid lush landscaping bestowing relaxing privacy. Repeatedly voted a top destination spa in the world (its sister property was number one), RLP has hosted Oprah, Kate Winslet and Madonna. Started by Edmond and Deborah Szekely as a wellness campsite, it’s still family-owned by Deborah, 95, the “mother of the modern spa movement.” RLP’s philosophy involves hourly body/mind/spirit programs daily for all levels of fitness and interest with encouragement to move at your own pace. Hikes on various trails of sacred Mt. Kuchumaa range from moderate to strenuous. Multiple exercise pavilions also offer dozens of extraordinary classes, from cardio, weightlifting and spin workouts to yoga, Pilates and stretch sessions. Weekly, specialists demonstrate realignment and healing therapies (i.e. Egoscue, meditation) and top experts enrich your mind with afternoon and evening courses, including artists and lecturers. Or, if you simply want to relax, you can spend your days in tranquil poolside repose under breathtaking views and wafting aromas of sage. When it comes to food, gourmet meals are created with produce from RLP’s stunning organic garden and their La Cocina Que Canta culinary centre offers guests hands-on cooking classes with the week’s guest chef. Finish your honeymoon rejuvenation with world-class treatments from the two on-site spas—we love the Five Elements: Fire therapy. Photography courtesy of <a href="http://www.rancholapuerta.com/" target="_blank">Rancho La Puerta</a>. Tecate, Mexico bucket list honeymoon spots - tecate, mexico https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-rancho-la-puerta-mexico-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-rancho-la-puerta-mexico.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-rancho-la-puerta-mexico.jpg 1200 800 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-stays-rancho-la-puerta-mexico/ dream-honeymoon-stays-rancho-la-puerta-mexico 0 0

213810 For Rustic Luxury: <a href="http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/" target="_blank">Lake Placid Lodge</a>, Lake Placid, New York Located inside the sprawling Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Lake Placid (home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics) is the perfect getaway for outdoor lovers, equally stunning in both winter and summer. Lake Placid’s beautiful Adirondack Mountains, lakes and hiking trails beg to be explored, as does the town’s quaint main street, which looks like a darling alpine village and is packed with amazing boutiques and restos. For your honeymoon stay in this wilderness paradise, Whiteface Lodge is a must. Built in a wooded, ultra-private location off Lake Placid’s main roadway, this Arts-and-Crafts-style lodge is simply breathtaking. Timber beams and panelling prevail throughout, as do Tiffany-style lamps and rustic touches creating a luxe camp feel. There are 94 guest suites in-house; all are spacious and beautifully appointed with fireplaces and handcrafted furniture. The lodge’s Kanu restaurant not only boasts an outstanding menu of locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients but the room itself (finished in hand-hewn log beams) will take your breath away with its dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, mile-high ceilings and two granite fireplaces. The space is popular for weddings and is just one of the many unforgettable elements of the lodge that had Vogue swooning, naming it one of their top venues in the world to host a winter wedding. Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/" target="_blank">Lake Placid Lodge</a>. Lake Placid, New York bucket list honeymoon spots - lake placid, new york https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-lake-placid-lodge-new-york-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-lake-placid-lodge-new-york.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-lake-placid-lodge-new-york.jpg 1200 947 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-stays-lake-placid-lodge-new-york/ dream-honeymoon-stays-lake-placid-lodge-new-york 0 0

213815 For Big City Hustle: <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/losangeles/" target="_blank">Four Seasons Los Angeles</a>, California The glamour of L.A. makes it an incredibly fabulous honeymoon escape. With weather that is pretty much perfect 365 days of the year, you are guaranteed to have an amazing stay and enjoy everything from shopping Rodeo Drive to dining al fresco at the famed Ivy resto where you will likely see more than a few famous faces. Another private sweet spot you might bump into celebs is the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, which is one of the city’s most exclusive and romantic stays. Nestled into a quiet residential area in Beverly Hills, the hotel is at once luxe and understated. Rooms are airy and light, many boasting spectacular views of the iconic Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Hills. The outdoor saline pool is the centrepiece of the tropically-landscaped fourth, which also has amazing elevated city views. Enjoy breakfast or lunch on the terrace, then head to the ultra-Zen Four Seasons spa for a signature treatment like the Salt & Pepper Body Scrub or Honey Dream immune-boosting therapy. Evening dining at Culina is a must, which features classic Italian with a twist—Esquire named it one of L.A.’s best eats. A very cool experience you can have at the Four Seasons is the Suite California Getaway, which involves a session with photo service Flytographer. The company will snap gorgeous shots of you and your new hubby in iconic locations around L.A.— can you imagine a better honeymoon keepsake?! Photography courtesy of <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/losangeles/" target="_blank">Four Seasons Los Angeles</a>. Los Angeles bucket list honeymoon spots - los angeles https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-four-seasons-los-angeles.jpg-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-four-seasons-los-angeles.jpg.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-stays-four-seasons-los-angeles.jpg.jpg 854 1200 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-stays-four-seasons-los-angeles-jpg/ dream-honeymoon-stays-four-seasons-los-angeles-jpg 0 0

213809 For A Private Paradise: <a href="http://www.kamalame.com/" target="_blank">Kamalame Cay Private Resort & Residences</a>, Bahamas Kamalame Cay is a 96-acre private island resort situated adjacent to the island of Andros. Getting to this sliver of paradise is half the fun—fly into Nassau and board a seaplane to arrive on Kamalame’s beach, where staff is waiting to settle you into your oceanfront cottage. There are no cars on the island and all the rooms and suites (19 total) come with a golf cart to explore the resort’s winding paths, tropical foliage and white sand beaches. The casual chic vibe of Kamalame Cay is best described as “barefoot luxury.” Owners David Hew and Michael King have made the relaxed style of Kamalame Cay their passion project. All the cottages are individually decorated, featuring soothing pastel palettes, soaker tubs, blowing curtains and unbelievable ocean views. Enjoy the sunrise from your bed or take in the sea breeze through the coconut trees by watching the day unfold from your balcony, beach lounger or hammock. A breakfast basket with fresh coffee, baked goods and just-squeezed orange juice is delivered daily to your door. At Kamalame you can literally do everything or nothing at all—activities include kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, cycling and tennis. A couple’s massage in the Overwater Spa is a must, where you can relax and watch tropical fish swim by through the glass floor. Cocktails at the Tiki Bar are a daily imperative and the on-island dining is simply superb. Seasonal meals of contemporary Caribbean cuisine are served every day at the Great House. This romantic and deserted island is literally a honeymoon fantasy come true—you will be planning your anniversary visit before you’ve left for the mainland. Photography courtesy of <a href="http://www.kamalame.com/" target="_blank">Kamalame Cay Private Resort & Residences</a>. Bahamas bucket list honeymoon spots - bahamas https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-styas.kamalame-cay-bahamas-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-styas.kamalame-cay-bahamas.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dream-honeymoon-styas.kamalame-cay-bahamas.jpg 1200 801 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-styas-kamalame-cay-bahamas/ dream-honeymoon-styas-kamalame-cay-bahamas 0 0

216816 For a Chic Cabin Retreat: <a href="http://www.glendorn.com/" target="_blank">The Lodge at Glendorn</a>, Pennsylvania Winter, spring, summer or fall, the intimate Lodge at Glendorn in northern Pennsylvania offers honeymooners a quaint, luxurious retreat no matter the season. Bordering the Allegheny Mountains, this Relais & Chateaux property is situated over 1,500 acres and comes with 16 unique accommodations from lodge rooms to secluded cabins equipped with kitchens. For the ultimate honeymoon splurge, consider booking the Roost cabin, conveniently located near the main lodge but tucked behind a few maple trees giving you lots of privacy. Also included in the Roost is a private master bedroom with his and hers bathrooms and a cozy-yet-chic living room with a fireplace. Bonus: the Lodge at Glendorn is dog-friendly, so you can bring your pooch with you! Activities abound at the Lodge, from exploring the property via hiking trails to skeet-shooting, fly-fishing and cooking classes with the executive chef (you can even catch and cook your own dinner!) For a romantic day out, head to one of the nearby lakes for an outdoor picnic, where you can row or paddleboat at your convenience. Also a must on the itinerary list is the Lodge’s Jeep tour–a 60-minute ride with an experienced driver to take you throughout the entire property. If outdoor activities aren't your cup of tea, we suggest heading over to the Lodge’s on-site spa, and treating yourself to one of their customized facials or massages. For dining options, room service is available but we recommend dining at the Lodge for breakfast and dinner. The menu changes daily depending on what's in-season. Photography courtesy of <a href="https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/united-states/glendorn-bradford" target="_blank">Relais & Chateaux</a>. Glendorn_Lodge_Pennsylvania_honeymoon_ bucket list honeymoon spots - pennsylvania https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Glendorn_Lodge_Pennsylvania_honeymoon_-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Glendorn_Lodge_Pennsylvania_honeymoon_.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Glendorn_Lodge_Pennsylvania_honeymoon_.jpg 1200 798 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/glendorn_lodge_pennsylvania_honeymoon_/ glendorn_lodge_pennsylvania_honeymoon_ 0 0

214973 For a Sunny Upscale Escape: <a href="http://www.atlantisbahamas.com/" target="_blank">The Cove Atlantis</a>, Bahamas Looking for a sunny destination for your honeymoon? Consider The Cove Atlantis in the Bahamas. Not only is it a short three-hour flight from Toronto, but this dream vacation really has something to offer every type of honeymooner. Amenities include: high-end eats (we suggest booking a table at Nobu in advance as this place gets reserved quickly), shopping, water parks complete with thrilling slides and a lazy river, an underground aquarium, a club, a casino, spa and lots of daybeds near the beach and pool. Treat yourselves with a suite at The Cove, which is close to the adults-only pool and a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of the hotel’s main area. You don’t have to head far for gaming–The Cain at the Cove boasts an on-site casino as well as cabanas that can be rented by the day and give you access to both the beach and the pool. Photography courtesy of <a href="http://www.atlantisbahamas.com/" target="_blank">Atlantis</a>. Bahamas bucket list honeymoon spots - bahamas https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dream-honeymoon-atlantis-bahamas-105x105.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dream-honeymoon-atlantis-bahamas.jpg https://weddingbells.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dream-honeymoon-atlantis-bahamas.jpg 1000 700 [] https://weddingbells.ca/travel/honeymoons/bucket-list-honeymoon-spots/slide/dream-honeymoon-atlantis-bahamas/ dream-honeymoon-atlantis-bahamas 0 0