Your North East Wedding - May/June 2020 (Issue 38)

It’s going to be a tough year for the travel industry, but now is the perfect time to plan your dream honeymoon for 2021 and beyond. Here are our hot travel tips and product picks… News PARADISE FOUND The new Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa is the latest addition to the Emerald Collection. Located on the Ra Atoll in the northern Maldives, honeymooners will be wowed by its spectacular design and deluxe all-inclusive offering. Following its opening, the resort is excited to launch a romantic honeymoon package. Highlights include a memorable beach dinner on the shores of the resort’s crystal-clear lagoon as well as a complimentary couple’s massage at the Emerald Spa, before enjoying the Indonesian-style pool, steam bath, sauna and Jacuzzi. There’s so much to do: water sports, guided snorkelling tours, boat excursions to discover turtles, manta rays, dolphins and even whale sharks – what more could you ask for? Visit www.emerald-maldives.com TOTAL LUXURY We had to put Villa Kasika on your honeymoon radar. On the island of Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay, between the island of Phuket and Krabi on the Thai mainland, it’s a real brag- factor destination. You can stay in a beautiful treehouse-style villa with open-air rooms, private plunge pool, amazing views, a spa and direct access to the private beach. Known for its dramatic landscape, including limestone cliffs, lush and rich rainforests and little islands within it, Phang Nga Bay is an idyllic post-wedding destination. Find it on www.oliverstravels.com HONEYMOON LA DOLCE VITA With celebrities such as Emily Blunt and John Legend tying the knot in Lake Como, it has made the spotlight shine even brighter on this incredible setting. The prestigious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is located on the shore in Bellagio and has welcomed guests such as John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Clark Gable and Al Pacino. Renowned for its elegance, the Villa is surrounded by flower-filled gardens that slope down to the water’s edge, making it the perfect setting for a post-wedding getaway, and its honeymoon package is fit for such a romantic setting. Newlyweds can indulge in Michelin-starred dining, a Villa Serbelloni Spa treatment, a romantic tour of lake Como by private motorboat and entrance to the breathtaking gardens of Villa Melzi. For a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, couples can book the Imperial Suite; the largest hotel suite in the region, it comes with a personal butler and exclusive gifts. Head to www.villaserbelloni.com Greece is the word Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki, northern Greece, is set to revolutionise honeymoons in 2020 with its award-winning luxury all-inclusive concept. The property will offer a tailored honeymoon experience for couples staying in the Deluxe Collection suites. The thoughtful touches include visits to wineries, an intimate candlelit dinner on the beach, a turn- down service with rose petals and chocolates and a couple’s spa treatment. The Deluxe Concierge will take care of all your holiday preferences and even organise a bottle of champagne on arrival and a MINI to explore local hidden gems. Find out more at www.ikosresorts.com 82