Are You Looking for an Affordable Maldives Honeymoon Package?

Are You Looking for an Affordable Maldives Honeymoon Package?

Is your dream wedding about bringing your friends and family together, all on a 5,000 acre estate? In the heart of rural Suffolk, Wilderness Reserve is a new approach to wedding venues, with your own private estate where you can completely relax and come together for your big celebration. With rolling green parkland as far as you can see, the estate comprises of the manor house, coach house, traditional farmhouses and rustic yet luxurious cottages offering up to 50 bedrooms, just over two hours from central London.

First glimpsed from the serpentine drive with views of the lake and wildflowers, Sibton Park is your own stately home. With a civil ceremonies license for up to 250 people, beautiful Orangery and marquee, it’s a unique alternative for truly bespoke weddings. 

WORLD’S ONLY LUXURY INCLUDED HONEYMOON

A 5-Star Luxury Included® honeymoon at Sandals Resorts is as close to perfect as you’ll find. Pristine beaches. Exotic islands. Decadently romantic suites, many with private pools and butlers. Endless land and water sports, including scuba diving* and golf. 5-Star Global Gourmet™ dining at up to 16 outstanding restaurants. Unlimited premium spirits and Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks wine served 24/7. Plus beach parties and authentic “island” entertainment. It’s all included, all unlimited, all the time. So take a closer look at Sandals and discover the perfect honeymoon for two people in love.

*Free for certified divers. 2 dives per day. AMandatory caddies at cost.

MORE QUALITY INCLUSIONS THAN ANY OTHER RESORTS ON THE PLANET.

COME IN-STORE TO SEE OUR SANDALS SPECIALISTS

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT SANDALS.CO.UK/STORE

ALTERNATIVELY, CALL 0800 012 1878

VISIT SANDALS.CO.UK • SEE YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT 

Thomas Cook

HONEYMOONS

MADE EASIER

WITH THE GIFT OF TRAVEL

Plan the honeymoon of your dreams with our Gift of Travel service.

• Register with us at thomascook.com/gift-cards

• Share your page with your friends and family so they can contribute to your honeymoon gift fund

• Choose one of our incredible destinations: take a look online or pop to your local store for inspiration and expert advice

• Already decided? That’s no problem; just book your honeymoon with us now, then take your Gift Card along to your local travel shop and we’ll refund you the total amount you receive, up to 14 days after you return home

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Terms and conditions apply, see our website for details. Thomas Cook Gift of Travel service is provided by SVM Global Ltd on behalf of Thomas Cook, a trading name of TCCT Retail Ltd. 

Travel

‘First stop? This Maldivian paradise. Arriving here was totally mind-blowing. We ate breakfasts of fresh fruit, orange juice and pastries, surrounded by the topaz sea.’

‘We spent most of our time in our villa, hanging out on the balcony. This is where we looked through our wedding photos for the first time; it was such a special moment.’

‘The idea was to visit places neither of us had ever been. Seeing the iconic over-water villas in the Indian Ocean for the first time was so exciting!’

I loved the bikes – a fab way to get around the island. Here, we were on the way to the beach to watch the sunset. The feeling of salty wind on your face and sun on your skin is unbeatable.’

‘This For Love & Lemons dress was so perfect for the Maldives. A real “throw-on-and-leave- the-room” kind of dress. Their pieces are so beautiful and easy to wear. I had lots like this in my honeymoon wardrobe.’

‘A little secret for you all: I was petrified of getting in the water because of the sharks (even though the experts told us they were totally harmless!).^® Anthony was worried, too… but we did it. Such a great experience!’

Camila CamlgaVe^BI Brides exclusive access| to her trip-of-a-^U| lifetime. From kickingl back in the MaldiveşjU and dressing up^Hlfl in Dubai to a shoW-H stopping safari in HU Zimbabwe, the fashion! and lifestyle influence^ (and her husband,! A nthony) did it all.

One blogged

‘Optional island style: bare feet. Here, we were heading off on a cruise to spot dolphins.’ ,

‘Our favourite day? Spending time on a private island – literally just the two of us – with a picnic and ice¬cold rose. We felt so utterly free.’

One serious Insta-envy ‘moon

@camilacarril camilacarril.com 

Posing on sun loungers! I love this Rae Feather bag – they personalise each clutch with your name. Tip: if you’re in Dubai but staying at a different hotel, you can still experience the One&Only – they have private rooms by the pool.’

‘This was one of my favourite outfits from the whole trip. Dubai is a glamorous place, so I enjoyed dressing up there. This dress and handbag are both Fendi. I adore the cream- and-peach colour combo.’

‘It’s SO hot in Dubai that, really, the best thing to do is hunker down in your hotel, which is exactly what we did! This was their immaculate beach, where you could flop onto day beds or even have a go at kayaking and paddle boarding.’

‘One of the best things about the property is that, every 15 minutes, they have a boat that takes you to their sister hotel, One&Only Royal Mirage, so you can eat at their restaurants, too. We loved Eauzone, where your dinner table floats above water.’

‘Here we are, about to go on our first game drive! To begin with, we saw wildebeest and giraffes, but our brilliant tracker, Mavuto (pictured), soon spotted lions drinking at a watering hole, so we paused near there for a sundowner. As the lions departed, a herd of 10 elephants appeared for their evening drink. It was magical.’

‘On our way from Johannesburg to the camp in Zimbabwe. Both Anthony and I were nervous about climbing into this teeny, tiny six-seater plane… but as soon as we took off and saw the incredible views of the bush beneath us, we forgot all about our nerves!’

‘One evening, we got back to camp and the staff surprised us with a private dinner on the balcony of our suite. There was Champagne (of course), plus an outdoor bed set up so we could sleep under the stars! They’d even run a bubble bath with petals scattered over it. It was so romantic.’

‘Hanging out in the spacious communal area. It’s basically an outdoor living room with lots of squashy day beds and a spectacular wooden terrace jutting out onto the lake. With powerful binoculars, you can spot animals from here – we saw deer grazing while we were having afternoon tea.’

To enter, and for the full terms and conditions, visit bridesmagazine. co. uk and answer the simple question. The closing date is 25th January 2018

Experts in luxury travel, Destinology is one of the UK’s leading tour operators, offering holidays to destinations across Europe and worldwide. Every trip is unique; tailor-made by a destination expert, from a hand-picked selection of luxe hotels and resorts.

www.bridesmagazine.couk

BRIDES HAS TEAMED UP WITH JA RESORTS & HOTELS AND DESTINOLOGY TO BRING YOU THIS SUPER-LUXE HONEYMOON IN THE MALDIVES AT JA MANAFARU.

The lucky winners will experience seven nights in a gorgeous Beach Bungalow with private pool – these secluded rooms are nestled among the resort’s tropical greenery and just a few steps to that picture-postcard white sand beach of your dreams.

It’s a foodie paradise at this resort: the signature restaurant White Orchid is located in an over-water bungalow so you can try exquisite Asian-fusion cuisine (think crispy prawn tempura) while enjoying to-die-for views. Ocean Grill on the beach is the place to head to for fresher-than-fresh seafood (go for the sublime local lobster) or sample the truffle pizza at Italian-inspired Andiamo Bistro. As part of this sensational prize, the winners will be treated to a romantic dinner for two at the Cellar restaurant. Feast on

delicious dishes paired with prestigious wines by the island’s sommelier.

A sunset boat cruise is also included where you’ll sail over crystal-clear water watching the sky turn fiery red and spotting pods of playful spinner dolphins.

You can do as little as you like here – from flopping on the pristine beach or sipping a cocktail at the glorious Horizon Lounge to the more active watersports or even join in a Maldivian cooking class.

To complete the full relaxation experience, don’t miss a visit to the wonderful Calm Spa, which specialises in bespoke treatments that have been developed specially for the hotel including Ayurvedic therapies and healing rituals. Find your inner bliss with a complimentary traditional Maldivian massage each during your stay.

Enter now to win this truly fantastic honeymoon of a lifetime! For more information about the resort, visit jaresortshotels.com and destinology.co.uk. 

for a bottle of Champag ne. Returning to your treehouse couldn’t be more tempting. With under-floor heating, a wood¬burning stove and hampers of goodies regularly refreshed, this is as close as it gets to a luxurious African safari on UK soil. Best of all, breakfast (and dinner if you choose) is delivered into a cleverly concealed hatch so you needn’t ever be disturbed. iconicluxuryhotels.com

TREEHOUSE AT CHEWTON GLEN, HAMPSHIRE

Peeping out from the treetops, these vast eco-suites are havens of smooth bleached wood, raw linens and botanical hues. Gaze out at the savannah-style surroundings from your wrap¬around terrace complete with daybeds and hot tub, take a stroll along the nearby shingle beach or head over to Chewton Glen

PALAZZO CONSIGLIA, MALTA

A converted townhouse owned by a Maltese family just a few minutes’ walk from the waterfront, this bolthole is ideal for exploring Malta’s capital. J ust a dozen rooms and a rooftop pool, it’s easy to settle in, and there’s plenty on the doorstep. Charter a yacht and take in Valletta’s harbour or head into town for a night of jazz at the Bridge Bar. Nearby restaurant, Panorama, dishes out full-flavoured Mediterranean dishes (pistachio-crusted lamb and poached local rockfish) and if you time it right (April) you can catch the annual fireworks festival – best observed from the Palazzo’s roof. palazzoconsiglia.com

BRIDES PARTNERSHIPS SAO LOURENÇO DO BARROCAL, PORTUGAL

A newly restored 19th-century farmhouse – with its own winery and spa – Sâo Lourenço do Barrocal provides a rustic-chic sunshine blast. Days are spent sipping the estate’s sparkling wine, exploring nearby orchards, vineyards and wildflower meadows, and dozing under olive trees. In the Susanne Kaufmann spa, vaulted chambers lead to fizzing hydrotherapy pools, and after the sun goes down, you can dine in the hotel’s old bull-fighting ring; cante alentejano (traditional singing from the Alentejo) playing softly in the background. On your way back to your room, be sure to glance skywards – the hotel is located in the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve.

Hotel’s plush cinema. Communal spaces are filled with modern art (spot the Tracey Emin) and there’s nowhere better to eat: Megu for Japanese and the Stübli for bubbling vats of fondue. To round things off, hands-on Asian healing is provided in the Six Senses spa, an underground warren of curvy tunnels and glistening wet rock.

thealpinagstaad.ch

ALPINA GSTAAD

Whether you ‘do’ Gstaad in winter or summer, this little Swiss town hits the jackpot. Hotels here are in a leag ue of their own, and the Alpina – one of the newer arrivals – trumps them all. Ask nicely and they’ll arrange a helicopter to take you to lunch overlooking the Glacier 3000, or a scenic tour of the Matterhorn, before returning for hot chocolate and a classic in the.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MARRAKECH

Just ten minutes from the Medina, this Moroccan pleasure palace is as tranquil as it is grand. It took Parisian design duo Gilles & Boissier three years to complete the ultra-swish interiors with Chanel colours, hand-woven rugs and Berber motifs etched in clay. Each riad-like villa is stand-alone and comes with a secluded courtyard, outdoor kitchen and open fireplace. The gardens are equally impressive with 30 different varieties of rose dotted among ancient olive trees and shoulder-high cacti. H it horizontal by the main pool and watch waiters in cricket jumpers buzz about with trays of Caesar salad and San Pellegrino – the thrills of the Red City can wait. mandarinoriental.com

FICIMORI, PLGLIA

Renting a villa might seem at odds with your typicai honeymoon notion but Ficimori is no ordinary uilla. A stand¬alone trulli set among the rolling hills of the Valle d’ltria, it’s small and perfectly formed: two breezy bedrooms, a glimmering pool and private hammam. Whitewashed walls melt into honey¬stone terraces and springy lawns; the villa’s rustic trulli cones lending an extra level of authenticity. Beaches, cobbled old towns and buzzy piazzas are all there foT the taking but if you choose to revel in isolated bliss, massage therapists and yoga instructors can be summoned at the press of a button.

thethinkingtravelleT.com

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