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Post-Nuptial Destinations of the A-List
As screen legend Greta Garbo famously put it, “I want to be left alone.” Most celebrities would concur — especially when they're on their honeymoon. “The number one thing celebrities look for are secluded and private places, out of the reach of the paparazzi,” said noted wedding planner Mindy Weiss, who has organized nuptials for luminaries like Jessica Simpson, Gwen Stefani and Adam Sandler. “Often this is the first vacation they have had in a long time and they typically choose a location where they can just veg.”
Hence the popularity of the spectacularly beautiful Bora Bora, where most of the hotels are on their own private island, miles away from prying eyes. “The American GIs who were stationed here started spreading the word that Bora Bora was paradise on earth, and that really stuck,” explains Eléonore Petin, sales and marketing manager for Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, where Christina Applegate and Johnathon Schaech honeymooned.
“When Hotel Bora Bora opened in 1961, they had the first overwater bungalows in the world, and that set a benchmark for the romantic type of accommodation.”
Imagine glass panels in the floor so you can watch the fish swimming underneath — talk about aquatic theater. Petin adds that there’s an untouched and pristine quality to the lagoon. “Picture a spectacular shade of blue and green that you can’t find anywhere else, and it’s set against our beautiful mountain, Mount Otemanu, that rises out of the water.”
French Polynesia is more accessible than ever. Air Tahiti Nui flies non-stop from Los Angeles and New York. And still the islands receive just 50,000 U.S. visitors a year — fewer visitors than Hawaii receives in a 10-day span.
See our slideshow of celebrity honeymoon escapes.
Any day of the week, chances are that you’ll find a few private jets at Fiji’s Nadi airport. “Customs and immigration offer VIP services,” said Ili Matatolu, Director of the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau. “They’ll facilitate entry into the country, making it seamless so you’re whisked away to your private island getaway.”
It's not surprising that Fiji’s Turtle Island Resort attracted honeymooners Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, along with Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Yes, their marriages are no more, but they probably have fond memories of their honeymoons. After all, 100 staffers are employed at Turtle Island to indulge a maximum of 14 couples. Common duties include arranging a lobster and champagne picnic on a private beach, or organizing horseback rides to a secluded breakfast nook. “Famous guests are not swamped with fans looking for autographs; everyone is left alone in peace,” explains says Turtle Island owner, Richard Evanson. “You may have a suburban couple from Ohio dining at the community dinner table on the beach with a princess from a foreign country. All are just guests at Turtle Island.”
Some celebrity honeymooners prefer to stay closer to home. In 1953, John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned at the charming San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. In more recent years the unique resort has reportedly attracted a honeymooning Julia Roberts and Danny Moder as well as Sandra Bullock and Jesse James.
Couples stay in uniquely decorated cottage houses with artwork and antiques, as well as fireplaces made of hand-cut stone or masonry. Other unique touches like canopied beds with fine Pratesi linens, outdoor rain showers and floor-to-ceiling French doors have inspired a lot of buzz throughout Hollywood. “Celebrities are attracted to San Ysidro Ranch for the same reason as everyone: beauty, romance, privacy and incredible service,” said resort representative Tamara Fangman. More...
See our slideshow of celebrity honeymoon escapes.
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