Honeymoon & Newlywed Hotels

The right honeymoon hotel lets you spend your holiday as you both imagine it: with long days by the pool, exploring a city, or hiking followed by a visit to the spa. This collection brings together 5-star hotels for time away as a couple. Star ratings alone, though, tell you little about privacy or atmosphere. Location, the specific room category and the minimum age matter most when choosing. Start by agreeing on what matters to you both, then use that to narrow down the selection above.

What do you want from a honeymoon hotel?

Before you start looking, each write down three things you would like and compare your lists. Do you want to spend most of your time at the hotel? Eat somewhere different every evening? Or simply have a few days after the wedding with nothing scheduled? Then decide together which features are essential and which you can do without. This helps you avoid letting an impressive pool photo decide for you when being a short walk from town would actually matter more.

Check the minimum age carefully. Age limits in this selection range from 12 to 18. Here, adults-only does not always mean that every guest must be at least 18. If that matters to you, browse the adults-only hotels for guests aged 18 and over. Even a minimum age of 18 tells you nothing about poolside music, evening events or quiet rooms. Check these separately.

Which regions suit your honeymoon plans?

Mallorca: a city stay, thermal waters or sea views

For a honeymoon in Mallorca, start by deciding between Palma and somewhere outside the city. Hotel Can Cera occupies a historic mansion in Palma, with views across the city from its roof terrace. It could suit you if you picture your honeymoon combining city strolls with time at the hotel. The minimum age is 18.

Fontsanta Hotel Thermal & Spa in Campos focuses on mineral-rich thermal waters and welcomes guests aged 16 and over. Pleta de Mar in Capdepera, meanwhile, offers suites with sea views and a terrace on Mallorca's north-east coast, with a minimum age of 18. As you weigh up these different options, think about how you would like to spend a typical day on holiday. Find more islands and destinations in the overview of adults-only hotels in Spain.

The Canary Islands and Greek islands: take a closer look at the location

For a honeymoon in the Canary Islands, Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa is one option. Set by the marina in Puerto Calero, it combines an extensive spa with several gourmet restaurants. It could suit you if food and relaxation are a large part of your plans. Still, check which services are included in your particular stay and how you will get to the places you want to visit.

In Crete, Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa in Analipsi offers overwater-style bungalows and several restaurants. In Mykonos, hotels in this selection are spread across locations including Mykonos Town, Agios Stefanos and Elia Beach. So look beyond the island's name: mark the places you want to visit on a map and check the routes from each hotel.

In Santorini, Canaves Oia Suites in Oia combines private infinity pools with caldera views. Pay attention both to your chosen suite and to the age limit: the hotel welcomes guests aged 13 and over. If you have not yet settled on an island, browse the overview of adults-only hotels in Greece for more options.

Tyrol and Germany: a different pace for your honeymoon

If you would like to combine hiking with spa time, consider Tyrol. MalisGarten Green Spa Hotel in Zell am Ziller offers walking trails, a spa with a sauna and steam room, and cooking that makes use of herbs. The minimum age is 16. Leave some free time in your plans so your honeymoon does not become a packed schedule of activities.

To explore options in Germany, browse the adults-only hotels in Germany page. Herrenhaus Borghorst in Osdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, has a character of its own: a Baroque manor house serving regional specialities in its restaurant, with a minimum age of 18. Even if you are travelling within your own country, check the full door-to-door journey before deciding how long to stay.

How can you tell whether a room really offers privacy?

Book the specific room category that meets your needs. A hotel with private pools may not have one for every room. An in-room hot tub, a shared infinity pool and your own outdoor pool also serve different purposes. If a private pool is essential for your honeymoon, browse the hotels with private pools for couples, then read the individual room descriptions carefully.

Look beyond the water in the photos and study the surroundings: where are other terraces, windows and public paths? Ask if you cannot tell whether the space is overlooked. Also confirm whether the pool is exclusively for your use, whether it is heated and whether access is limited to certain hours. A lovely view does not answer these questions.

The same applies to peace and quiet in your room. Ask where it is in relation to the restaurant, bar, lift and event spaces. If you want early nights or long lie-ins, say so clearly when enquiring. You can find more advice in the magazine article Adults-only hotels: what privacy really means — and why most hotels get it wrong.

How should you plan meals, spa visits and travel dates?

Choose your meal plan around your itinerary. Breakfast only leaves your evenings open. Half board may suit you if you like returning to the hotel after a day out. If a hotel has several restaurants, check in advance which you can use, whether you need reservations and which will be open. A long restaurant list alone tells you little about what dinner will involve.

If relaxation is your main reason for travelling, also browse the Wellness & Spa category. Ask your preferred hotel about the treatments that interest you and whether you can book appointments together. Reserve the things that matter to you and leave free time in between. You do not need a special activity planned for every day.

Choose your travel dates around what you actually want to do: swim in the sea, have breakfast outdoors, hike or spend plenty of time in the spa. Check pool and restaurant opening dates, as well as transport connections, for your planned stay. Do not rely on summer photos or assume that travelling outside school holidays automatically means peace and quiet. If quiet is particularly important to you, ask about events scheduled during your stay.

What should you check before booking?

Go through your shortlist together. A hotel should meet your main wishes without you having to talk yourselves into overlooking unanswered questions. Use this checklist to base your booking on clear answers:

• Age limit: Does the minimum age match the kind of stay you have in mind?
• Room: Are the view, terrace and pool you want included in your chosen category?
• Privacy: Have you checked the room's location and whether it is overlooked?
• Journey: Do your arrival time, transfer and check-in fit together?
• Meals: Do you know which meals and restaurants are included in your booking?
• Spa: Are your preferred treatments available and booked if necessary?
• Travel dates: Will the facilities that matter to you be open during your stay?
• Terms: Have you checked cancellation and booking amendment policies, along with any honeymoon extras?

Mention that you are on your honeymoon when booking and ask about any extras available. But only count on an upgrade, special decorations or dinner for two once the hotel has confirmed them. What matters most is that you will enjoy the stay you have booked, even without any surprises.