Not everyone can enjoy a honeymoon to Fiji, the Maldives, or another far-flung honeymoon destination that requires significant time off work and a lot of cash. That’s where minimoons come in. An abbreviated version of the post-nuptial trip, minimoons are usually a bit closer to home, perhaps less expensive, and not quite as long. Yet it still offers the opportunity to celebrate your love together in a dreamy location. These options are some of the best minimoon hotels to consider.
Post Ranch Inn - Big Sur, California
Overlooking the Pacific along the Big Sur coast, Post Ranch Inn is one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, ideal for a minimoon with opportunities for romance throughout. Enjoy a couple’s massage at the award-winning spa, a candlelit dinner at the exclusive Sierra Mar restaurant, swimming in clifftop pools, and incredible stargazing. While there are a variety of room options, the Pacific Suite offers ocean views from every vantage point in the room and includes floor-to-ceiling windows that can be opened to enjoy the fresh salty sea air and a luxurious tiled bath for two.
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas - La Ribera, Mexico
Cabo is within easy reach of many U.S. cities. Just a short drive from Los Cabos International Airport is the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas. The opposite of the downtown party scene, this is a place where you can enjoy long stretches of swimmable sandy beach practically all to yourself. Located in the East Cape area along the Sea of Cortez, you’ll have access to calm turquoise waters for swimming and snorkeling among abundant marine life. Facilities include a spa with a wide range of pampering treatments and multiple pools. There’s also a golf course and a sports center with a gym and volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts. When it’s time to dine, there are five chic eateries and bars.
The Wauwinet - Nantucket, Massachusetts
One of Nantucket’s best hotels, The Wauwinet is an adults-only inn with two beaches, one on Nantucket Bay and the other on the Atlantic. It offers plenty of modern amenities, elegant antique furnishings, lush gardens, outdoor decks, and enticing pathways that lead to water views. With a remote location on the northeast end of the island, it’s ideal for romantic seclusion, providing a perfect place to relax and enjoy each other’s company. There’s a seaside spa, lots of special perks like complimentary kayaks, free coffee, tea, and baked goods in the library each morning, and a complimentary daily port and cheese hour. Accommodation is in rooms, suites, and cottages, all with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, free Wi-Fi, and ocean or garden views.
The Ranch at Rock Creek - Philipsburg, Montana
Enjoy a luxurious and romantic Montana ranch stay surrounded by the Sapphire, Pintler, and John Long Mountains at The Ranch at Rock Creek. It offers an all-inclusive experience in the wilderness with opportunities for a wide range of activities, including horseback riding, hiking, and fly fishing. A winter minimoon brings the chance to sled down the hills, snowshoe, and cross-country or downhill ski. Afterward, you might indulge in a relaxing massage followed by a delicious meal of regionally inspired fare. A variety of accommodations are offered, including villas with huge brass beds and cozy down quilts, fireplaces, kitchens, deep soaking tubs, and large screened-in porches.
The Allison Inn & Spa - Newberg, Oregon
Couples who are into wine will love a minimoon at The Allison Inn & Spa. Nestled in the heart of Willamette Valley, known for its hundreds of wineries, it provides an idyllic wine country retreat among sprawling lawns, lush gardens, and seven acres of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapevines. The renowned spa offers a menu of treatments that utilize local ingredients like berries, rose, and honey along with wine for extra-special pampering, while Jory, the on-site restaurant, serves delicious farm-to-table fare and around four dozen wines by the glass. The tranquil rooms feature bay window seats with picturesque views, gas fireplaces, and large soaking tubs. Book a suite for a balcony where you can unwind among the fresh air while enjoying the view.
Inn and Spa at Loretto - Santa Fe, New Mexico
The boutique Inn and Spa at Loretto, set within a building inspired by Taos Pueblo, is located in Santa Fe, where nature and art intersect with countless art galleries and mouthwatering cuisine. It’s just a block from popular Santa Fe Plaza, a National Historic Landmark in the style of traditional Spanish-American colonial cities that serves as the town’s gathering place and hosts many special events like the Spanish Market and Santa Fe Indian Market. The property offers complimentary walking weekend tours, a secluded garden with a fire pit, a heated pool, a spa, boutiques, and a 24-hour fitness center. The inn’s Luminaria Restaurant features seasonal, organic ingredients and the Pueblo-inspired rooms include robes and slippers, flat-screen TVs, minifridges, and coffeemakers.
Hotel Cerro - San Luis Obispo, California
Located on California’s Central Coast, Hotel Cerro provides a fabulous base for touring wine country, golfing, shopping, and more, while beautiful beaches are just a short drive away. There’s plenty to love right on-site, including Spa Cerro, which offers a full range of massage treatments and options, including facials, scrubs, and wraps, along with steam baths, and fireside tea. The rooftop pool is a definite highlight, lined with cabanas and loungers for unwinding to views of the surrounding hills and countryside. Poolside service is provided too. When ready for a full meal, head to the acclaimed Brasserie SLO restaurant, which serves California coastal cuisine, or one of several other eateries. The spacious rooms come in various styles, some with ultra-luxe features like fireplaces and soaking tubs.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa - Little Torch Key, Florida
If you’re craving a tropical minimoon without leaving the U.S., Little Palm Island Resort & Spa on Little Torch Key, just 28 miles from Key West, is where you need to go. A private real-life Gilligan’s Island, to get here, you’ll have to hop on a boat or seaplane, but you’ll be far from the crowds and without the sounds of a TV, alarm clock, or phone. In fact, the only traffic you might encounter is the iguanas that saunter across a crushed-shell path. You’ll have chilled champagne to welcome you upon arrival, a white sandy beach for romantic strolls, opportunities for snorkeling among the vibrant coral reef teeming with colorful fish, a hammock for napping, and access to incredible cuisine at The Dining Room, including fresh seafood. Accommodation is in thatched roof bungalows with private furnished decks, stunning sea views, and outdoor showers.
The Kehoe House - Savannah, Georgia
For a minimoon with southern charm, head to Savannah, Georgia’s oldest city, known for its magnificent architecture and haunted experiences. By staying at The Kehoe House, you’ll be in an 1892 Renaissance Revival mansion while enjoying lots of luxury. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and offers an intimate stay in one of just 13 rooms, all with period antiques, hardwood floors, chandeliers, and modern amenities like free Wi-Fi. Most feature large verandas that overlook Columbia Square. A daily gourmet breakfast is included, and romantic packages are available with various items and experiences like horse-and-carriage rides, chocolate-covered strawberries, fresh flowers, and champagne.
Hyatt Zilara Cancun - Cancun, Mexico
The adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cancun is within easy reach of many U.S. cities and offers an unforgettable all-inclusive stay focused on pura vida, enjoying the good life. It has a spectacular beach edged by the brilliant blue of the Caribbean, a spa with a sea view, two gorgeous pools, live music, and nightly activities. Despite being an all-inclusive property, the dining options are impressive, including chef-inspired eateries. The suites are luxurious, all of which come with large balconies, some of which are swim-out.
Fairmont Empress - Victoria, BC, Canada
A National Historic Site and an icon in British Columbia’s capital city, the Fairmont Empress is a must-stop for afternoon tea, a tradition here since 1908. It also provides an impressive venue for a minimoon, being one of the most romantic destinations in the world, complete with fabulous views of Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Enjoy relaxing at the Willow Stream Spa, which hosts a sauna, steam room, and mineral pool, along with indulgent body treatments. There’s also a pool, fitness center, and outstanding dining with a menu of Pacific Northwest cuisine. The Fairmont Gold rooms are worth the splurge, with access to a private waterfront lounge that has a fire pit.
The Ahwahnee - Yosemite National Park, California
One of the best winter adventure lodges in the world, Ahwahnee Hotel is ideal for nature-loving minimooners, surrounded by towering sequoias and iconic sights like Half Dome and El Capitan in the heart of Yosemite Valley. A National Historic Landmark, it transports guests back to an era of elegance, complete with stone fireplaces and stained glass. You’ll have access to a wide range of activities every season, including hiking, climbing, biking, rafting, and fishing during the warmer months, while the winter snow is ideal for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There’s even an ice rink for romantic twirls. By booking the Presidential Suite, you’ll be in the very same room where President John F. Kennedy once stayed. It includes a parlor with a fireplace and breathtaking views of Glacier Point.
Dunton Hot Springs - Dolores, Colorado
Nestled on the site of an abandoned gold-rush site deep in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies, Dunton Hot Springs offers a secluded all-inclusive Colorado stay surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Guests stay in beautifully furnished original hand-hewn log cabins while enjoying soothing soaks in the hot springs. A historic saloon on-site serves exceptional cuisine, and rates include all meals and beverages. Various outdoor activities can be enjoyed, too, including high mountain horseback rides, world-class fly fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf & Beach Resort - Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
How about a minimoon in the Caribbean without having to break out your passport? Puerto Rico can easily be reached within a couple of hours from many east coast cities, and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa offers a relatively affordable all-inclusive resort option. There’s a private beach, three lagoon-style pools, hot tubs, two golf courses, and beachside yoga. You might take salsa lessons together, try your luck in the casino, pamper yourselves with treatments at the spa, and enjoy tasty meals with everything from upscale Italian to traditional Puerto Rican and pan-Caribbean specialties.
