A honeymoon is meant to be anything but typical — and, sure, a little bit about bragging rights. When planning the ultimate romantic vacation, it’s best to think out of the box.
Here are four romantic honeymoon accommodations that take your clients out of the traditional hotel and get them into a cave, an igloo, a tent or a tree.
Cottar’s Safari Service in Kenya
In Kenya, couples can get a touch of time travel when honeymooning with Cottar’s Safari Service. Cottar’s has been a family safari tradition since 1919, and in the last 100 years, little has changed. The current camp has been around since the 1990s and still offers a family-run experience.
While the tented camp has the modern facilities and technologies associated with luxury travel, the company is also committed to delivering a dose of the golden age of Africa. There are 10 tents, including one unique honeymoon tent, five double tents and four family suites, each with an en suite bathroom.
Historic touches include antique travel trunks, phonographs and lounging divans. The tents sit on 6,000 acres of private conservancy less than a mile from Maasai Mara National Reserve. Guests can also enjoy night game drives and cultural exchanges with indigenous communities.
www.cottars.com
Gamirasu Cave Hotel in Turkey
Set in the rocky hills of Cappadocia, Turkey, the Gamirasu Cave Hotel is a truly distinct honeymoon spot. Built out of a former Byzantine monastic retreat that dates back to the 12th century, the resort grounds are evocative of a fairy-tale village.
Gamirasu’s 35 rooms and suites are restored cave houses that camouflage into the natural curves of the Cappadocian landscape. Though careful effort has been put into maintaining the historic facade of the hotel, travelers will find delicate luxuries and high-tech touches inside.
Couples seeking a private experience will feel most at home in one of the 13 Cave Suites. Constructed out of the original cave rooms, these suites are the most intimate and unique of Gamirasu’s offerings. They are decorated with antique furniture, and special lamps and candles create mood lighting. Each Cave Suite has its own hot tub, as well as gates to the resort gardens.
www.gamirasu.com
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland
If chasing the Aurora Borealis tops the honeymoon bucket list, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland is perfect for star-crossed lovers. Approximately 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Kakslauttanen is a wintry romantic retreat with nothing but snow and sky for miles — and it’s prime territory for catching the Northern Lights.
Room types at the resort run the gamut, from glass igloos with transparent ceilings to log cabins and igloos built from actual snow. Honeymooners will especially love the Wedding Chamber, constructed from a traditional Finnish Earth lodge. The chamber has a soil roof that helps it blend into the natural landscape. This love nest is tucked away and outfitted with everything to ensure honeymooners needn’t leave — personal sauna included.
www.kakslauttanen.fi
Tree House Lodge in Costa Rica
Costa Rica isn’t new for honeymooners. The beautiful beaches, thick jungles and rich culture have been drawing romance travelers for years.
To raise the bar on the traditional Costa Rican honeymoon, consider lofty accommodations. Tree House Lodge in Punta Uva, within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, is a verdant escape for honeymooners. Here travelers will find a range of accommodations, including the Beach House, Beach Suite and Garden House.
The one to book for honeymooners is the Tree House. Built on tall stilts within a 100-year-old Sangrillo tree, the split-level abode has an upstairs with a king-size bed and a small en suite bathroom. Downstairs is a double bed, a twin bed and a kitchen. A shared bathroom on the ground level is built around the tree. The outdoor space includes a deck, a Jacuzzi, a barbecue and an outdoor shower.
Because the property is within the wildlife refuge, guests have front-row access to the protected white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Local guides in Manzanillo are available for booking hikes through the rain forest, as well.
www.costaricatreehouse.com