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They have spent much of their courtship discovering new destinations together, and they’re both extremely well-travelled, so it makes sense that Harry and Meghan have put a lot of thought into their honeymoon— somewhere they can relax in private after their big wedding day on May 19. Here are some of the contenders for their first romantic holiday as husband and wife.
North Island, Seychelles
Harry and his brother are close, and there’s no doubt William would have had a word in his ear that North Island in the glorious Seychelles is the perfect honeymoon destination. It’s where Wills and Kate spent their first days as husband and wife. Why did they love it? The island—30 kilometres from Mahé—is completely private, away from the prying eyes of the public. You arrive by helicopter and enter a paradise where staff—who outnumber guests by two-to-one—tend to all your needs,. The villas have private plunge pools and four-poster-beds. George Clooney and his wife Amal also spent their honeymoon here.
Cempedak Island, Indonesia
You can’t get much more of a private escape than this. Cempedak is a 17-hectare private island 9km off the east coast of Bintan. It’s ringed with white sandy beaches and studded with magnificent white granite boulders, as well as the endangered pangolin and a family of sea otters. There’s also a rainforest filled with a diverse population of local birds, including hornbills. The gorgeous bamboo-lined beach villas feature private infinity plunge pools that look out to the ocean.
Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Nevis
The calm waters in this West Indies paradise was where Princess Diana took Harry for an extended holiday in 1993, so Harry holds Montpelier Plantation and Beach close to his heart. The prince returned for a visit in 2016. So will he return there in 2018? It’s a huge possibility. “As it is one of the most romantic islands in the world, we are quietly confident that Nevis’s guaranteed privacy will attract the royal newlyweds,” Nevis Tourism Authority CEO Greg Phillip has said.
Nkwichi, Malawi
It’s been widely predicted that Meghan and Harry might choose a luxury lodge stay in Namibia for their honeymoon, given they have holidayed in nearby Botswana twice. But we’re predicting they’ll dodge the awaiting media in Namibia and go directly to Malawi. Harry recently visited Malawi when he helped African Parks with one of the biggest elephant translocations in conservation history, and became enamored with the country. It’s likely the newlyweds would stay at 5-star luxury lodge Nkwichi, which is dedicated to conserving the pristine lakeshore upon which it is situated upon. Harry and Meghan would no doubt like that Nkwichi engages with the local Nyanja people in their development and helps preserve and enhance their colourful culture.
Qualia, Australia
Harry and Meghan have received a formal invitation from Steven Ciobo, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, to spend their honeymoon here. “Australia would be honoured to welcome Prince Harry and Ms Markle to celebrate some small part of their wedding with us in Australia,” says Ciobo.“Our tourism operators, and the nation, would welcome them with open arms.”Some suggestions include Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island and Queensland’s Lizard Island. Our pick? Qualia on Hamilton Island would be a good match. It’s classy, well-designed and private, yet casual, and features some of the freshest cuisine in our land.
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