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Top 10 unusual honeymoon hotels

Chuck the off-the-shelf packages and check out our top 10 unusual honeymoon hotels. These are places that go above and beyond – in style, creativity, and care for honeymooners looking for a little bit of luxury. They’re also deeply invested in their communities, which is why we’re not exaggerating when we say we think they’re some of the most best honeymoon hotels in the world.

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Top 10 unusual honeymoon hotels

Fancy staying somewhere a little different on your honeymoon? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve hand-picked some of our most brilliantly original honeymoon hotels. You won’t find gated beach resorts and one-size-fits-all accommodation packages here, but truly boutique hotels, organic farm estates and wilderness campsites run by our local experts who love to share their love of their homes – and create the honeymoon of your dreams while they’re at it. Keep reading to discover our top 10 unusual honeymoon hotels.

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1. Rainforest cabins on Tobago’s Castara Bay

No need to set an alarm – birdsong and the wash of waves rouse honeymooners at these beach apartments perched above Castara Bay. It’s a fitting welcome to a hotel where following the rhythm of daily life is encouraged. Wander down to the beach to see what the boats have brought into the fishing co-op; it’ll probably end up on the hotel’s restaurant menu – or sizzling on your own balcony barbecue. Other options include joining ornithologist Newton George on a hunt for hummingbirds and yoga classes backed by the sounds of the rainforest and sea.

Our top trip: Tobago beach hotel
See all our trips: Holidays by the beach
Read more: Tobago travel guide

2. Chic villas on an organic estate on legendary Ithaca

Are there many places more romantic than Ithaca – the yearned-for home of Odysseus? Find out for yourself by honeymooning at an organic country estate on this near-mythical Greek island. Bougainvillea-draped self catering villas are set amongst Mediterranean herb gardens – along with a coffee shop, dining terraces, massage pavilions, hammocks and an infinity pool from which to admire the turquoise Ionian Sea. We recommend ordering the food hampers packed with goodies like marinaded barbecue cuts and olive oil grown on-site.

Our top trip: Luxury Greek island accommodation
See all our trips: Self catering villas with a pool
Read more: Ithaca travel guide

3. Luxury kasbah in the Atlas Mountains

Lantern-lit rooms, rose-red walls and rug-adorned terraces all add to the air of romance at this kasbah run in partnership with the neighbouring Berber (Amazigh) community. When you’re done sipping mint tea and admiring the heart-skipping views of the Atlas Mountains from the pool, you can sign up to guided hikes with local guides – and even trek up Mount Toubkal. Marrakech is just a 1.5-hour drive away, so do say yes to the option of adding a few days here. The city glitters with luxury riads that welcome honeymooners with mosaicked pools and four-poster beds.

Our top trip: Luxury kasbah in the Atlas Mountains
See all our trips: Morocco tailor made holidays
Read more: Staying at Kasbah du Toubkal

4. Off-grid Andalucian cortijo

Up in the hills of the Altiplano de Granada, there lies a sunny yellow Cortijo – an Andalucian villa surrounded by wild olive and almond groves, and that’s powered by solar energy. Spend your days by the pool or take your pick from the hotel’s activity menu, from flamenco lessons and horse riding to kayaking and walking. Evenings, meanwhile, are for stargazing. This is the ideal spot for making a wish on a shooting star and marvelling at the ethereal sweep of the Milky Way.

Our top trip: Rural villa in Andalucia
See all our trips: Off-grid accommodation
Read more: Rural accommodation in Andalucia

5. Boutique beach hotel in the Maldives

Forget the resort islands most honeymooners flee to – this eight-room hotel on the island of Fulhadhoo is more our idea of luxury. Some rooms come with flowering gardens, others with al fresco shower rooms, and all with turquoise, cream and tropical wood décor made by local artisans. An infinity pool, mini spa and restaurant also chill beneath the palms; book in advance for a private lobster dinner or cooking lessons. Real care for the community threads through everything here – from the weekly come-one-come-all food festival to the hospitality programme for local people seeking careers in tourism.

Our top trip: Luxury boutique hotel in the Maldives
See all our trips: Luxury beach hotels and villas
Read more: Keeping things local in the Maldives

6. Volcanic-stone finca in Lanzarote

The village of Tiagua looks a little like someone tossed a handful of sugar-cube houses over black volcanic plains. This bright white self catering finca fits right into the picture, first built 200 years ago and restored using traditional Canarian methods and materials. A few mod cons have been sprinkled in along the way, including a shared solar-heated swimming pool and a fully kitted out kitchen. It’s a serene corner of Lanzarote; that said, sandy beaches and surf schools are only a 10-minute drive away.

Our top trip: Self catering apartments in the Canary Islands
See all our trips: Canary Islands unusual accommodation
Read more: Alternative accommodation in the Canary Islands

7. Wilderness cabins with a floating sauna in Sweden

Who says honeymoons are just for summer? Swap sandy beaches for snowy wilderness at these luxury honeymoon cabins in Arctic Sweden. Log fires and cosy Nordic furnishings warm up the rooms, while the picture windows remind you that the wilderness – and Northern Lights displays – are never far away. An ice-bound river sauna tops things off in classic Swedish style, along with a pick of activities steered by local guides, from husky sledding to foraging.

Our top trip: Luxury honeymoon cabin in Sweden
See all our trips: Sweden winter holidays
Read more: Sweden travel guide

8. Rescued & restored cottages in Crete

The villagers of Vamos are on a mission to preserve rural life, saving empty cottages and transforming them into holiday homes that give back to the community. At this hotel, paths thread through jasmine and lavender gardens to cottages restored to their full honeyed-stone glory. The new and old ways share space – such as the old chapel and a pool squeezed between silvery olive trees. The village centre is less than a 10-minute walk away, where the Vamos Preservation Society runs a coffee shop and taverna, and a bakery comes stocked with suitcase-friendly souvenirs like Cretan ceramics and honey.

Our top trip: Western Crete cottages
See all our trips: Villas with a pool holidays
Read more: Crete travel guide

9. Ultra-modern glamping pods in the Welsh Borders

These gorgeous Bauhaus-esque glamping pods are straight out of a design mag, carved from responsibly harvested local larch wood and red cedar. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Wye Valley – though perhaps best seen from the hot tub on the private deck. Little local luxuries decorate the pods too, from the artwork on the walls to the handmade soaps and food hampers. It’s all wrapped in fruit orchards and bluebell woods carefully managed to welcome nesting hedgehogs, bats and birds.

Our top trip: Glamping pods in Hereford
See all our trips: Accommodation only holidays
Read more: England travel guide

10. Luxury stargazing tents in the Masai Mara

TIME magazine named this safari camp in the Kenyan savannah one of the best places to stay in the world. And with the option of snoozing in luxury tents with retractable roofs for in-bed stargazing, who can argue? In true safari style, location is key. This is a place where you can sip a sundowner on a terrace opposite a waterhole where elephants and zebras also pop by for an evening drink. The camp has long worked closely with the local Maasai, including working with residents to help create the Naboisho Conservancy on which it sits – and ensuring it’s fully owned by the community.

Our top trip: Masai Mara luxury safari camp
See all our trips: Luxury safaris
Read more: Luxury safaris travel guide