Tell us what you want
Our thoughtful experts are ready with ideas, inspiration and advice for your next journey.
With most couples tying the knot in summer, we’ve always believed that Europe makes for a perfect honeymoon destination, because the continent is at her finest, and it means avoiding long flights to other parts of the world. If you’re getting married soon and came to the same conclusion then congratulations, but now comes the difficult bit – where to take a luxury honeymoon in Europe? Well, as shameless Italophiles we’re not sure you can go too far wrong with anywhere in the affectionately named Lo Stivale (The Boot), but might we suggest somewhere particularly special? Sardinia.
While there are bits of this beautiful island that are unquestionably better for families (namely the south west), a luxury honeymoon in Sardinia works a treat. Perché? Because this is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, let alone the Mediterranean, and home to some of the finest luxury hotels in Italy.
The centre of your honeymoon action is most likely to be the Costa Smeralda, a stretch of coastline that may well claim to be the most perfectly pretty anywhere in the Mediterranean. The visionary Aga Khan bought this slice of heaven lock, stock and barrel back in the 60s and built a string of luxury hotels and villas with the emphasis on all construction being in harmony with the beautiful surroundings. The result is a startling example of how sensitive development can and should work.
As a result, the Costa Smeralda has been a magnet for the superrich (and their superyachts) ever since, so when not staring lovingly into your beloved's eyes you can, instead, ogle some of the most astonishing boats imaginable in the likes of Porto Cervo. This is also somewhere to take to the water yourself, and we can arrange boat rental so you can explore the fabled Maddalena Islands, home to turquoise water that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.
When not exploring the coastline by boat, we can recommend the best places to eat exceptional seafood and drink under-rated Sardinian wines, and the best secret beaches in Sardinia.
For a change of scene, and if you can tear yourself away from the coast, the mountainous interior of the island makes for a lovely contrasting experience, with life operating at a deliciously lazy pace in the foothills of the dramatic peaks that run down the centre of the island. While there are no properties to match the luxury hotels on the Costa Smeralda we know a couple of charming boltholes that would make an already romantic trip even better.
