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Why: Honeymoon fantasies are satisfied in Cancun, the coastal resort city on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula famed for its 14-mile coastline with mega hotels, gleaming white-sand beaches, glossy shopping malls, superb regional cuisine and Vegas-style nightlife. For those craving more than beachlife, world-famous ancient Mayan ruins and jungle rainforests are also on offer.
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Honeymoon highlights: All four of the ultra-chic oceanfront Secrets resorts boast spas, state-of-the-art fitness centres, sumptuous accommodation, gourmet-style restaurants and impeccable five-star service. Choose from Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, Secrets the Vine Resort, Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun or Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun.
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See and do: To break up beach-driven days, take a daytrip to the Tulum ruins. Perched above 40-foot cliffs, this well-preserved coastal Maya site overlooks sparkling turquoise Caribbean waters and fascinates with three major structures; El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God. The beach here is one of the most beautiful along the Mayan Riviera, and perfect for taking a dip after visiting the ruins.
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Why: For paradise in the Pacific, Hawaii offers swaying palm trees, glittering turquoise water, soft golden sands and a fair amount of loud floral shirts and hula girls. Located 2000 miles to the south west of North America, the state is composed mainly of eight principal islands. Most popular are Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Lanai.
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Honeymoon highlights: The Aloha State is a magnet for newlyweds who desire together time on exotic beaches. Pack a picnic and hit the sands at a secluded spot like Waimanalo Beach Park on Oahu, Kapalua Beach or Hamoa Beach on Maui, Papohaku Beach on Molokai, or Kailua Beach Park on Kauai – the oldest of Hawaii’s islands and arguably the most dramatic.
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See and do: Hawaii delights adventure-lovers with awe-inspiring waterparks, active volcanos and lush green forests. Take a helicopter ride over West Maui, hop on-board the Waikiki trolley car for a tour of Honolulu, book a surf lesson at Waikiki Beach and trek 3,000-feet up the Haiku stairs on Oahu, also known as the Stairway to Heaven.
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Why: After visiting Mauritius in 1896, Mark Twain quoted an islander as saying: “Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius.” Synonymous with palm-fringed beaches backed by clear waters, top-flight golf courses and idyllic resorts, the so-named Paradise Island is one of the most glamorous in the southern Indian Ocean. Infuse your honeymoon with romance by spending it in Mauritius. The breath-taking beaches, stunning vistas and tranquil ambience lend themselves perfectly to romantic breaks.
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Honeymoon highlights: Continually rated as one of the most enchanting places on the planet to tie the knot, most newlyweds tend to remain holed up here for their honeymoon. Tikiti presents several luxurious resorts that surpass expectations.
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See and do: Loved-up duos should take a Captain Nemo walk on the seabed four-metres down beneath the Indian Ocean’s surface at Grand Baie, kick back on talcum-white sands at island-playground lle aux Cerfs, and cool down at Tamarind Falls. For the ultimate romantic gesture, watch the sun setting across the lagoons on a sunset cruise that includes dinner, drinks and live music.
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Why: Celebrated for their dreamlike setting, the Seychelles are 115 coral and granite islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, a few degrees south of the equator. The three most popular are Praslin, La Digue and Mahé – each offering their own slice of paradise and plenty of outdoor pursuits for active couples.
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Honeymoon highlights: Extravagance is worth every penny. This drop-dead-gorgeous nation delights with intimate boutique-style resorts, endless ribbons of glistening sugar-white sands, palm-fringed jungles and majestic granite cliffs. Most stunning is Anse Source D’Argent – the world’s most filmed and photographed beach with pale pink powdery sands, swaying palms and shallow turquoise waters.
See and do: Stroll around the Seychelles’ tiny capital Victoria with its silver-painted replica of Big Ben, bird-watch at Aride Island, and spend the afternoon hiking along one of the trails within the Morne Seychellois National Park. Nature lovers should head to Praslin’s UNESCO-listed Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, home to the towering Coco de Mer trees that bear the world’s largest nuts.
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Why: Possibly the most romantic archipelago on earth for just-marrieds, the tiny country of the Maldives is a series of around 1,200 tiny coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. For sun, sand and sea, this Robinson Crusoe-style desert-island in the middle of the Indian Ocean dazzles with decadent all-inclusive spa resorts, deserted white-sand beaches and some of the clearest water on the planet.
Honeymoon highlights: Honeymooners are besotted by the Indian Ocean’s top-ranked islands for good reason. Days are filled with poolside yoga, top-to-toe massages, snorkelling and swimming; nights are spent sailing on sunset champagne cruises and enjoying private candlelit dinners under the stars. Everything here is conducive to romance, seclusion and unrivalled luxury to delight couples in the first throes of passion.
See and do: Swim with whale sharks or manta rays, explore the country’s capital Malé, and take to the sea on board a dhoni – a traditional wooden sailboat. For an unforgettable diving experience, head to the Maldives Victory Wreck, the 110-metre long cargo ship that hit a reef and sank in 1981. The bottom of the wreckage now sits about 30 metres below the surface and is home to coral, sponges, tubastrea and large schools of fish.