Bali, Brazil, and Bermuda Score High with Honeymooners
By Shandra Hill Smith
Whether celebrating your love with a destination wedding, honeymoon or anniversary in paradise, three magical escapes—Bermuda, Brazil and Bali—can make for memories you won’t soon forget. From breathtaking views to romantic beach strolls to bungalows that serve up plenty of seclusion, Bulgari in Bali, Nannai in Brazil and The Reefs in Bermuda offer the ultimate for the married and soon-to-be-wed alike.
Bali—Bulgari Resort
Combining a blend of traditional Balinese style with dramatic contemporary Italian design, Bulgari Resort in Bali features 59 ocean-view villas—including three two-bedroom villas.
Opened in September 2006 in Bali—one of the world’s most exclusive and exotic destinations—the resort offers unrivaled views. The property is managed by Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Jewellery chain Bvlgari debuted its luxury group in 2004 with the opening of Bulgari Hotel in Milan.
The property’s terrace features an intimate Balinese gazebo for wedding ceremonies in a setting overlooking the Indian Ocean. The upper-level lawn features a large lap pool, making for a venue for an outdoor wedding reception that accommodates up to 50 guests.
Three-bedroom villas include a large pool in the garden, separate kitchen and a studio. The Bulgari Villa is a four-bedroom unit, with two living rooms and a kitchen. The villa’s garden area includes a swimming pool and small pavilions where guests may relax in the open. Rates for a one-bedroom ocean-view villa are $1,100 USD and $5,000 USD for the Bulgari Villa.
A complete range of Balinese, Asian and European therapies are available through the oceanfront spa, where The Unforgettable Double Bulgari Royal Lulur, is included on the menu. A Bulgari Signature Experience, the treatment is performed by four therapists—two for each guest—who work in synchronized harmony to provide the service that includes a body massage rich in exotic oils and herbs. For more information on the Bulgari Resort, visit www.bulgarihotels.com
Brazil—Nannai Beach Resort
Popular with honeymooners, the Nannai Beach Resort in Brazil is a 91-room luxury resort boasting Balinese-style thatched bungalows built on stilts.
The master bungalow is a private two-story with a kitchenette, bathroom, spacious living room with home theater system, bedroom with king bed, private pool and jacuzzi with a sea view.
Located on Muro Alto Beach, nearly five miles north of the beach of Porto de Galinhas in the state of Pernambuco, the Nannai, through Georgia-based VIP Brazil, offers honeymoon packages that provide the seventh night free with a booking of six nights. The package includes a welcome drink of champagne, split of champagne in the room and flower petals on the bed.
Though not all-inclusive, the property includes full breakfast, snacks in the late afternoon and full dinner. Prices per night during low season (July 29 to December 30) for a three- to four-night minimum requirement range from $400 to $600 USD in the super deluxe bungalows and up to $950 USD in the master bungalow.
Ideal travel times weather-wise are August to November, according to representatives from, which books travel to Brazil. The company encourages African-American couples to include time during a Brazil stay for opportunities to get in touch with their culture by visiting former slave ports and other historic spots. For more information, visit www.nannai.com.br or www.VIPhoneymoon.com.
Bermuda—The Reefs
At The Reefs in Southampton, on the south shore of Bermuda, it’s just as common to find a bride and groom tying the knot as it is to find husband and wife returning for their yearly romantic escape. Overlooking pink sand beaches and turquoise waters, the intimate property nestled atop limestone cliffs proves a draw for couples.
A popular location for wedding ceremonies, The Reefs’ Caso’s Point is a private two-tiered deck built over rocks and water at the tip of the property. The deck received its new name in honor of a guest who visited the property more than 125 times.
The months of May through October are popular periods for weddings in Bermuda, located in the North Atlantic, about a two-and-a-half-hour flight from most U.S. gateway cities. October also is big for music lovers. Over four days, the Bermuda Music Festival takes place, with performances by internationally acclaimed jazz and R&B artists and Bermudian talent.
For couples tying the knot, The Reefs offers customized wedding packages and romance packages on its couple suites. A four-night stay in an ocean-view lanai room, with breakfast, afternoon tea, daily dinner and a bottle of chilled champagne upon arrival included, runs around $2,000 per couple.
Whether exchanging vows or honeymooning, the view from the balcony, combined with the sounds of rushing water and the room’s ambiance make it easy to spend hours indoors with no plans to come out anytime soon. For more information, visit www.TheReefs.com or www.bermudatourism.com
