1. Stay on a Private Island
You don’t have to be Johnny Depp and buy your own island to experience an uber-exclusive vacation. Simply stay at one of the growing number of private-island resorts. The 3,200-acre Laucala Island Resort in Fiji has rainforest landscapes and seaside horseback riding. At Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas, where Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban have stayed, experience a dinner for two on the beach, lit only by candles and tiki torches.
2. The New Cruise
River cruises have all the conveniences of an ocean cruise (maximum sightseeing with minimal effort) but with a serious cool factor—and smoother sailing. Viking River Cruises takes travelers on all-inclusive trips in Europe, Asia and Egypt, and just added 18 brand-new vessels to its fleet. On its eight-day cruise through France’s Bordeaux region, you can blend your own cognac, hunt for truffles, harvest oysters and toast each other with (of course!) a lovely Bordeaux.
3. Hire a Butler
At Paradisus Resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, choose the royal service and you’re given a cell phone to call your own personal Jeeves if you need anything, from a dinner reservation to a bubble bath. Request the butler elite suites at a Sandals Resort in the Caribbean and your British-trained butler will unpack and repack for you and stock your fridge with your favorite beverages.
4. Learn Something Together
“Taking a class gives you a chance to connect over shared experiences,” says Tetsuji Yamazaki, general manager of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, which offers ukulele and hula lessons. Resorts worldwide are doing the same. At Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the British Virgin Islands, learn to sail or race through the Offshore Sailing School. At the Castello Di Casole Resort in Tuscany, practice your Italian, cook authentic recipes or create a work of art to bring home.
5. Take Two ‘Moons
No time to plan a big trip (let alone pack for it)? Take a mini-vacation that’s a drive or short flight away and plan a more ambitious one for after you’ve recovered from the wedding.
