The best luxury honeymoon destination in our 2026 list is Soneva Jani in the Maldives, ahead of Cheval Blanc Randheli and North Island in the Seychelles. This list ranks ten resorts across the Maldives, Seychelles, French Polynesia, Bali, New Zealand and Mexico, plus one cruise, on privacy, villa size and setting. We replaced several entries that closed or that we could not verify.
| Rank | Resort | Where and why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soneva Jani | Maldives: 555 m2 water villa with slide |
| 2 | Cheval Blanc Randheli | Maldives: 45 to 46 villas, seaplane access |
| 3 | North Island, Seychelles | Seychelles: 11 villas |
| 4 | St. Regis Bora Bora | Largest overwater villas in the South Pacific (resort claim) |
| 5 | Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora | Otemanu suite with plunge pool |
| 6 | Huvafen Fushi | Maldives: underwater spa rooms |
| 7 | Huka Lodge | New Zealand: refurbished in 2025 |
| 8 | Amankila | Indonesia: hillside suites over the Lombok Strait |
| 9 | Azamara Quest | Cruise: Mediterranean and Atlantic routes |
| 10 | Hyatt Zilara Cancun | Mexico: adults-only, swim-up suites |
1. Soneva Jani: Maldives
The top-end villa here is the One-Bedroom Water Reserve with Slide, an overwater house of 555 square meters with a retractable roof, so a couple can watch the stars from bed. The slide drops straight into the lagoon.
We rank it first because the villas are large enough to make the honeymoon feel private, and it has stayed on the major resort shortlists for years.
2. Cheval Blanc Randheli: Maldives
This private-island resort has only about 45 villas, and each guest gets a dedicated butler, called an Ambassadeur. You arrive by seaplane from Malé.
Our placement leans on the size of the property and the staffing ratio, which is why the experience stays quiet even in peak season.
3. North Island, Seychelles: Seychelles
North Island is a private island with just 11 villas, a spot made famous when Prince William and Catherine honeymooned in the Seychelles in 2011. The resort runs a conservation program on the island.
We put it third on exclusivity alone: eleven villas is a short guest list.
4. St. Regis Bora Bora: French Polynesia
The resort markets the biggest overwater villas in the South Pacific, set on Motu Ome’e with views of Mount Otemanu across the lagoon. Butler service comes with every stay.
We count villa size here, since the honeymoon appeal is mostly about space.
5. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: French Polynesia
Its Otemanu suite measures 1,576 square feet and has a plunge pool aimed straight at Mount Otemanu. The resort sits on the same lagoon as the St. Regis, so couples choosing between them compare villa layouts more than views.
We placed it just under the St. Regis on size, though the two are close.
6. Huvafen Fushi: Maldives
The resort opened in 2004 and reopened after a renovation of all its bungalows and pavilions in 2024, with new two-bedroom ocean pavilions and beach house options. It still advertises the world’s first underwater spa treatment rooms, plus a house reef.
Our score here comes from the spa, the reef and the renovation, a reason for a repeat spot from our old list.
7. Huka Lodge, New Zealand: New Zealand
This century-old lodge on the Waikato River near Taup? reportedly unveiled a refurbishment in 2025. It topped our old list, and it still earns a place for its fishing, river walks and low-key service.
It falls to seventh because the newer Maldives and Polynesia resorts offer more privacy per couple.
8. Amankila, Bali: Indonesia
Amankila is an Aman resort on the Bali coast under Mount Agung, with suites built into the hillside and views across the Lombok Strait. It was on our old list and its pull has not changed: a quiet stretch of coast, a private beach and temple excursions.
We kept it because we found nothing to suggest the experience has slipped, though check current room availability before you plan.
9. Azamara Quest: Cruise
Our old pick was a cruise through Croatia and Montenegro on the Azamara Quest. The ship still sails in 2026, with a Barcelona to Bordeaux sailing in June and a Miami to Lisbon crossing in spring, so check the operator for Adriatic dates.
A ship is the best way to see several places on one honeymoon, but it ranks below the villas for privacy.
10. Hyatt Zilara Cancun: Mexico
This adults-only, all-inclusive resort sits on the widest stretch of beach in Cancun’s Hotel Zone and still offers swim-up suites with ocean views and private terraces.
It dropped from our old number two because the Maldives and French Polynesia now dominate honeymoon shortlists.
FAQ
What is the best luxury honeymoon destination?
In our list, Soneva Jani in the Maldives comes first, followed by Cheval Blanc Randheli and North Island in the Seychelles.
Which honeymoon resorts did you drop?
Sandals Emerald Bay closed in August 2024 for a rebuild as Beaches Exuma. Calabash Cove, Ka’ana, InterContinental Tahiti and Four Seasons Bangkok left because we could not verify their current details.
Is Hyatt Zilara Cancun still adults-only?
Hyatt’s own page lists it as an adults-only, all-inclusive resort with swim-up suites.
Where did Prince William and Catherine honeymoon?
In the Seychelles in 2011. North Island is the private resort tied to that trip.
Is a cruise a good honeymoon?
It suits couples who want to see several places in one trip, though a cruise gives less privacy than an overwater villa.
How should I choose between the Maldives and Bora Bora?
The Maldives offers larger private-island resorts and a long season, while Bora Bora has the mountain backdrop. Both rely on overwater villas.
How we put this list together
We drew on resort websites, trade reports on openings and closures, and travel reporting on villa sizes and renovations. We rank on privacy, size of accommodation and setting, and we removed any resort whose status we could not confirm. Check current rates and room types with the resort before you book.
Last updated: October 2026.
