National Geographic Traveller (UK)
LOVE SHACK
Tucked away in unforgettable locations, these honeymoon-worthy hideaways are where luxury and privacy reign supreme
The Rooster, Antiparos, Greece
This might just be the ultimate Aegean retreat. You’ll find just 16 individual cottages tucked into the dunes on a quiet beach on the tiny isle of Antiparos, a speck in the Cyclades. Inside and out melt into each other, with a freshwater pool (and outdoor shower) in each private garden, and the sea glinting in the distance. This is a wild, backto-nature kind of place — the gardens are landscaped with traditional Mediterranean scrub, the hotel is surrounded by 30 acres of untouched coastal land, and there’s even a nudist beach around the bay. Not that this is a busy beach destination; the only people you’re likely to bump into are the fishermen bringing their daily catch to the restaurant, where it’s served with a Greek salad made using produce from the hotel’s own farm. From €700 (£592). theroosterantiparos.com
RUNNERS-UP
BORGO SANTANDREA, ITALY
Slotted into a cliffside on the Amalfi Coast, right above the tiny fishing hamlet of Conca dei Marini, Borgo Santandrea offers blow-the-budget honeymoon bliss. The hotel fuses a mid-century aesthetic with an unmistakable Mediterranean feel, with and details include hand-painted, blue-and-white tiles made by local artisans. Each of the 45 rooms, along with the three restaurants and two bars, has heart-stealing sea views. Make your way (by lift, no less) to the hotel’s street-level garden terrace or private beach stashed below the cliffs. From €1,500 (£1,250). borgosantandrea.it
PALMA RIAD HOTEL, PALMA DE MALLORCA
The Majorcan capital is no stranger to sumptuous townhouse hotels, but this new, adults-only addition — arranged like a riad, encircling a pretty, palm-shaded patio with a pint-sized plunge pool and glowing lanterns — almost seems purpose-built for romantic getaways and honeymoons. Each of the 11 individually designed, seductive suites offers its own treasures in well-worn velvet, jewel-toned fringe and swirling carpets, but be sure to tear yourself away for a large coupe of cava in the Morokko Bar. From €340 (£290). palmariad.com