When it comes to enjoying the most of what Mexico’s Pacific coast has to offer, from the natural tropical beauty to some of the most incredible and romantic ocean views you’ll ever witness, no regions offer a little bit of everything quite like the Baja Peninsula and Riviera Nayarit.

An adventurer’s paradise, the former has been a popular surfing destination for decades, but it also boasts phenomenal diving and snorkeling, as well as on-land excitement for travelers of all ages. Luxury resorts and boutique hotels entice and invite guests from far and wide, but it’s the Baja beauty that always steals the show. Riviera Nayarit, of course, is home to some of the best resorts in Mexico, but it is also what is outside those Five Diamond properties that has people flocking here.

Travel remains as complicated as it was when countries began phased reopenings in recent months, and Mexico is no exception. While the country’s biggest airports are conducting thermographic temperature checks and imposing health screenings and quarantines, if necessary, the bottom line is travelers need to do their research and make the right decisions.

That’s why buyouts, while expensive, have become a fantastic alternative for people concerned with physical distancing and limited interaction with strangers. That’s on full display in these private packages offered by a pair of resorts in these spectacular settings.

Mar del Cabo

At the end of 2018, Mar del Cabo reintroduced itself to the Baja Peninsula and the world following a $4 million renovation. Offering breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez, this charming, stylish boutique hotel sits on a beautiful stretch of beach and isn’t far from the action in Cabo San Lucas. Good luck pulling yourself away from this property, though—especially when it’s all yours.

With 46 one- and two-bedroom suites, as well as two penthouses, this buyout package is a reasonable bargain at $9,960 per night. Think of that destination wedding, milestone anniversary or retirement party that was missed because of travel restrictions, and Mar del Cabo is an exceptional venue for bringing those “lost” special moments to life again. A gym, spa, pools, expansive outdoor seating spaces for large meals or complimentary cocktail parties (with a guacamole bar!), and organic, locally inspired cuisine served at the on-site Encanto Restaurant prove there’s little, if anything, this buyout doesn’t include.

Mar del Cabo and its Velas Resorts sister properties are the recipients of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s “Safe Travel” stamp for the collective hygiene program implemented for keeping guests and staff safe. In addition to routine cleaning and sanitization practices, the hotel’s staff will enforce physical distancing, check temperatures and ensure that guests to wear masks and use hand sanitizer in public areas.

W Punta de Mita

We’ve heard stories in recent months of company retreats that have taken advantage of buyout deals to serve as much-needed employee escapes. First and foremost, sign us up for that. Second, say hello to the W Punta de Mita in Riviera Nayarit, as this buyout makes this property ideal for a corporate getaway or destination wedding of anyone’s dreams.

Set on a private beach and tucked into the surrounding green rolling hills, this resort draws from the regional beauty and history for its captivating interior design. From the oceanfront Haven Suites with plunge pools to the more secluded Jungle Escape rooms, the accommodations here couldn’t possibly disappoint, and with 119 rooms to choose from (the buyout requires at least a 90-room commitment), it’s fair to say no guest will go unrewarded.

In addition to the uniquely charming and luxurious rooms, this buyout includes an astonishing variety of activities and amenities. Surf lessons, beachside ceviche-making, mezcal tasting, the Away Spa and 24/7 Fit Gym… good luck finding time to take advantage of nearby shopping and off-site exploration.

As with all Marriott properties, W Punta de Mita adheres to the “Commitment to Clean” health and safety requirements, which includes enhanced cleaning protocols, signs and shield throughout common areas to promote and enforce social distancing, and an Á la carte menu in place of the buffet breakfast, among many other things. Masks are required at all times in public settings.

The post A Pair of Mexico Resort Buyouts Offers a Blend of Authenticity and Luxury appeared first on Islands.

In the “SeinfeldVision” episode of 30 Rock, Jerry Seinfeld tells Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) about his vacation “in a country in Europe only rich people know about,” and no, it’s not Svenborgia. That throwaway joke is funny because it’s true—even when one-percenters visit the same countries and islands as us mere mortals, they do things and stay places we’ve only imagined. A sunscreen-covered Mark Zuckerberg might be paddle boarding in Hawaii, but he’s probably not rubbing elbows and sharing sand with a family of six from Poughkeepsie.

Honeymoons are a different story, though. A couple will save for years, putting off other trips and eliminating unnecessary purchases, so when the time comes to celebrate a marriage in style, there’s almost no price tag too high or destination too unrealistic. That’s when we look to celebrities for inspiration, because even though they might be springing for the best private villas or luxury yacht charters in and near Grenyarnia, there’s always an affordable alternative that still offers ordinary travelers the honeymoon of a lifetime.

If you’re planning such a getaway, loveholidays recently compiled a list of the top 10 celebrity honeymoon destinations, and it’s no surprise that these locations are almost entirely tropical. The only one that isn’t, well, it won’t shock anyone.

10) St. Barts

Pronounce it however you’d like, this Caribbean island has long been known for two things: romance and extravagance. From stylish, luxurious private villas to elegant, eco-friendly resorts, accommodations on St. Barts almost entirely focus on spoiling travelers, which is why celebrity couples like Kevin and Eniko Hart and Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have chosen it for their honeymoons.

9) Hawaii

This seems a little low for such a popular destination, but rest assured that Hawaii is the No. 1 holiday choice for celebrities including Katy Perry, Oprah and Beyoncé, and that last one is all that really matters to most of us.

When it comes to high-profile romance, though, Hawaii is hardly chopped liver. Dwayne Johnson and his wife, Lauren Hashian, celebrated their 2019 wedding with a low-profile honeymoon on Kauai, while Chris Pratt forgot the sunscreen for his Lanai honeymoon with Katherine Schwarzenegger.

8) Bali

With incredible views, stunning natural beauty and iconic landmarks, Bali is a legendary destination for couples seeking luxury, romance and arguably the best yoga classes in the world. After popping the question in Hawaii and getting married in Connecticut, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson escaped to Bali for their honeymoon in 2014, almost following in the footsteps of Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, who got hitched in Hawaii before celebrating in Bali. Either way, Hawaii-to-Bali is a trend we can get behind.

7) Punta Mita

The original celebrity Simpson sister, Jessica, and her husband, former NFL tight end Eric Johnson, celebrated their honeymoon in Punta Mita, and who could blame them? This very exclusive resort community offers one of the best vacation experiences in Mexico.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Just ask Kim Kardashian, who loves this location so much that when she was rumored to be bored with her Ireland honeymoon with Kanye West, she quickly shot down those reports and… immediately scheduled a second honeymoon in Punta Mita.

6) Turks and Caicos

Already a favorite getaway spot for Drake, and of course once the home of Prince’s legendary purple driveway, Turks and Caicos has become one of the Caribbean’s best honeymoon destinations thanks to several very high-profile couples. Most recently, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello introduced the world to Parrot Cay Resort, and they followed in the footsteps of couples like Tony Parker and Eva Longoria and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.

If couples are looking for privacy and elegance, as well as beach villas that they’ll want to live in for eternity, the Ambergris Cay private island resort would be a fantastic choice.

5) Seychelles

We always say, “If it’s good enough for a royal couple, then it’s good enough for you,” and that definitely goes for the Seychelles islands. And sure, this was the honeymoon choice of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but in this case the royalty we speak of is George and Amal Clooney. This Indian Ocean paradise was also the pick for NBA legend Dwyane Wade and model/actress Gabrielle Union, so the power couple rankings are off the charts.

4) Paris

The only non-tropical destination to make the list, the City of Love obviously makes perfect sense. Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk, Anne Hathaway and Adam Shulman, Lily Allen and Sam Cooper—celebrity couples know what to expect from the home of romance, and you should, too.

One way to get the best and most of the region’s culture and history, as well as a fix of the water and beaches, is a European river cruise. See the Eiffel Tower from the Seine and cut out the crowds, while scoring amazing honeymoon selfies.

3) Bahamas

After a star-studded New Orleans wedding, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian spent their honeymoon at the private island Kamalame Cay Resort, which is located right next to the Andros Great Barrier Reef. Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber wed and honeymooned on Nassau Paradise Island, choosing the Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, as their accommodations. Josh Duhamel and Fergie also called the Ocean Club their honeymoon home, and Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz stayed at the Stella Maris Resort Club for their big romantic getaway.

What these celebrities know is that the islands of the Bahamas are packed with secluded, even private properties, like Cuvee’s Royal Island, that offer romantic experiences like none other. Now, their secret is out.

2) Bora Bora

The top two destinations shouldn’t surprise anyone, as they’ve inspired one of the most important travel questions we’ve ever posed. Overwater bungalows aside, Bora Bora is one of the world’s most beloved honeymoon locations because it feels like it exists on another planet. Resorts like Conrad Bora Bora Nui and Le Méridien Bora Bora provide romantic experiences unlike anything us mere mortals have ever experienced, and even celebrities can’t get enough of the unparalleled pampering and privacy.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter, Meghan Trainor and Daryl Sabara, Christina Applegate and Johnathan Schaech—so many celebrity couples have chosen Bora Bora for their best moments, and we don’t need to spend too much time on their Instagram accounts to know why.

1) The Maldives

It’s worth pointing out that Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union just might be the royal couple of honeymoons. Saying they honeymooned in Seychelles is misleading, because their actual post-wedding vacation included multiple stops, beginning in the Maldives, continuing in Africa’s Serengeti and concluding in Seychelles. So, thanks to this couple’s spirit of exploration and dedication to romance, the Maldives tops the list of honeymoon destinations for celebrities.

But we don’t need a basketball legend and superstar actress to tell us what we already know—unparalleled romance can be found in the Maldives. Josh Duhamel and Fergie knew this, too, as their honeymoon started in the Bahamas and continued at the One & Only Reethi Rah. Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner chose the Maldives, as did Katy Perry and Russell Brand, Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (which feels like a lifetime ago).

Best of all, the islands of the Maldives are home to amazing hotels and resorts that, while mostly in the ultra-luxurious category, are still well within the budgets of anyone seeking the honeymoon of a lifetime.

The post The 10 Most Popular Honeymoon Destinations for Celebrities appeared first on Islands.