There’s just something about Agent 007 that makes people want to follow in his footsteps. When Ian Fleming fell in love with and purchased 15 acres of Jamaican paradise that was once home to a donkey racetrack, and then built his dream villa GoldenEye, he not only created the headquarters for penning his James Bond adventures, but he also inspired many other writers and dream-chasing wanderers to use Oracabessa Bay as their own muse. Even today, those travelers who simply want to don a tuxedo and sip martinis can enjoy exclusive Bond packages at hotels that have been featured in the ultimate super spy’s films.

But owning a piece of Bond history that the original 007 lived in for many years? That’s something very few people can do. In fact, you can probably count them on one hand. And now, one very lucky movie buff—or simply someone seeking an incredible home with stunning views—can purchase this villa. 

The price? $33.87 million. That might leave you shaken and stirred, but this property is far more than a movie prop.

Aside from its cinematic value, Villa Le Roc Fleuri is a five-bedroom, five-bath villa packed with amenities and features that would outshine most luxury resorts. Set on a hillside and surrounded by thousands of square yards of renovated, terraced gardens, this property boasts an indoor swimming pool and outdoor saltwater pool, as well as a gym and fitness room. 

The legendary actor originally purchased the villa in 1975, around the time of his marriage to his wife and painter, Micheline Roquebrune, but Connery had been familiar with the property since 1962, when it was featured in Dr. No, followed by From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever. Connery and Roquebrune lived here until the late 1980s, before they eventually moved permanently to the island of New Providence in the Bahamas.

Despite their absence, people in the region reportedly still refer to it as “Sean Connery’s house.”

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If there’s a perfect time to be spontaneous, it’s right now. Indulge your bon-vivant daydreams and just go — to the Mediterranean this fall. Visiting the Med in the shoulder season (September, October and early November) has plenty of advantages, from fewer crowds and cheaper hotel prices to comfortable temperatures for touring and great end-of-summer ingredients in local restaurants. Here’s why autumn is the perfect time to plan a trip to Italy, Spain, southern France or islands such as Sicily, Capri, Elba, Malta and Mallorca.

There are fewer cruise ships

Related: 8 Best Islands for Fall Foliage

You can sightsee without looking like you’ve run a marathon

Gardens and vineyards are still producing delicious ingredients

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Europe is home to some of the world’s most-celebrated seas – the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Aegean – and its cultural mosaic makes it a top choice for beach-lovers looking to mix sun, fun, art, history and nightlife.

Windsurf in the morning, visit ancient ruins in the afternoon, and shop for the season’s hottest beachwear before enjoying sunset cocktails and partying until dawn. All this sound ideal? Read on for our list of the 9 best beach vacations in Europe.

Mykonos, Greece

Few places do charm and decadence better than Mykonos. This sunny Greek island’s calling cards are almost-anything-goes beaches (expect plenty of skin), Instagram-worthy Cycladic architecture (whitewashed buildings with brightly hued shutters and cascading flower boxes), 16th-century windmills (a must-see at sunset) and legendary discos and dance clubs in Mykonos Town.

As for the beaches, check out Ornos Bay for pretty views and excellent windsurfing, chic Psarou for celebrity spotting and Paradise and Super Paradise for hedonistic sun-worshipping and dancing until sunrise or one of the best beach vacations in Europe.

Mallorca, Spain

This beautiful Mediterranean oasis, the largest of the Balearic Islands located off the east coast of Spain, is a hot spot for northern Europeans who flock here in summer to enjoy long days of sunshine and fresh air. Once you get beyond the urban sprawl of the capital, Palma, mountainous, bay-fringed Mallorca delivers some of the region’s most amazing azure water and soft-sand beaches (there are more than 250) for one of the best European beach vacations.

The view from the water is pretty incredible, too: centuries-old hilltop villages constructed of golden stone backed by peaceful olive groves and vineyards.

Hvar, Croatia

In between swimming, sunning and windsurfing, visitors to this summer-resort island, located in the Adriatic off of Croatia’s coast near Split, can tour a 13th-century fortress and cathedral, go wine-tasting (if you haven’t tried Croatian wine, this is a must) and, in June and July, inhale the heavenly aroma of lavender, which grows in abundance here.

Hvar’s beaches are known for their intense, scenic beauty, as many are set in serene bays surrounded by cliffs and pine forests. Tempting options include Dubovica, Zavala and Ivan Dolac.

Ibiza, Spain

It helps to be young to enjoy the 24/7 frenzy that is Ibiza, the wildest isle in the Mediterranean, thanks to its world-famous clubs blasting dance music. Should you be awake when the sun’s shining, top activities on Ibiza, which is also one of Spain’s Balearic Islands, include music festivals, beach-going (Cala D’Hort has a view of the distinctive Es Vedra rock formation) and scuba-diving, since visibility here is superb at one of the best European beach destinations.

Siciliy, Italy

If you’re a fan of old-school destinations – scenic, slow-paced and filled with tradition – you can’t go wrong with Sicily. This Italian island, the largest in the Mediterranean, is home to stunning beaches, yummy treats (such as ricotta-filled cannoli and meat-filled rice balls called arancini (both invented here)) and ancient Greek and Roman ruins dating back several millennia.

Sicily also boasts Europe’s most active volcano: Mount Etna. Book a beach resort for maximum access to sun and sand, or stay in charming hilltop Taormina, and day-trip to beaches, such as Isola Bella or Giardini Naxos.

The Algarve, Portugal

The hot Iberian sun shines along the southern coast of Portugal 300 days a year. In summer, the region receives very little rain, so it’s no surprise that the Algarve ranks among the top beach destinations in Europe.

It’s also incredibly pretty and quite affordable, with a variety of hotels, rental apartments and homes located in cities and villages stretching from Sagres in the east to Villa Real in the west. In between are more than 150 beaches, with Praia da Falésia near Albufeira, Praia da Camilo near Lagos and Praia da Marinha near Lagoa, featuring photogenic limestone cliffs.

Crete, Greece

As Greek Isles beaches go, Crete has some of the best. But Greece’s largest island is also its most geologically diverse, so beaches here range from sweeping and tranquil to compact and crowded.

For the former, head to Balos Lagoon near Kissamos on the west coast or Elafonisi Beach, also in Western Crete, with its pink sand. For the latter, there’s Vai Beach near Sitia in the northeast, which is backed by Europe’s largest natural palm grove, and Matala Beach on the south coast, where you can follow your swim with a seafood lunch at a local taverna.

Cornwall, England

There are hundreds of beaches along this rugged peninsula on the Atlantic in Southwest England, some ideal for surfing, others for beachcombing and others for seaside shopping and dining. It’s all incredibly wild and moody, the kind of setting that’s equally inspiring artists and adventure-lovers.

For pure visual delight, it’s hard to beat the beaches around St. Ives, especially Porthmeor, while Kynance Cove seduces at first sight with its unblemished natural beauty. Add in fishing villages, like Mevagissey and Polperro, and you’ll discover how Cornwall charms visitors with a raw authenticity that’s becoming ever harder to find these days.

Sardinia, Italy

On this vast Italian island, the second-largest in the Mediterranean, it’s possible to be a jetsetter or a backpacker: Step back in time while strolling tiny villages or channel the 21st century while sunning on a modern mega-yacht; visit ancient temples, or enjoy the latest youth-enhancing spa treatment.

Long celebrated for its talcum-soft beaches and clear aquamarine water, Sardinia’s alluring Costa Smeralda has been a summer hot spot since the mid-1960s. Yet the island also has a harsh interior landscape that has shaped the local mindset and cuisine (fava beans, sheep’s milk cheese and lamb with artichokes compete with seafood and pasta on many menus). But it’s Sardinia’s coastal beauty that has made it envied the world over.

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That said, some are just a bit more memorable and much more photogenic than others. A few are world-famous (featured in songs, movies and even a diet) while other are unsung gems. What unites them? That feeling of awe you get when you kick off your flip-flops, throw down your beach towel and think, “Now this is paradise.”

Here is our list of the 20 best and most famous beaches around the world.

Camps Bay Beach – Cape Town, South Africa

For sheer drama, it’s hard to beat this wide arc of sand located on the Atlantic just seven minutes from Cape Town. Backed by the craggy Twelve Apostles mountain range, Camps Bay is popular with the young, beautiful and successful who swim, surf, sip and shop (there’s also a palm-lined promenade), especially on weekends and throughout the peak season from November to January.

Enjoying a sundowner cocktail here is a must, as west-facing restaurants and bars offer superb views.

Horseshoe Bay Beach – Bermuda

Walking along Bermuda’s famous crescent-shaped Horseshoe Bay Beach, or even on the clifftop trails above it, is a sightseeing must. Named for the shape of its inviting bay, this scenic beach in Southampton parish is perfect for lazy sunning or playful splashing (you can rent towels, boogie boards and snorkel gear).

During Bermuda’s cooler months (November to March), Horseshoe Bay remains popular, as visitors snap photos of its pale-pink sand and grab a cocktail and snacks at the on-site café. One caveat: Expect crowds when cruise ships are in port.

Makena Beach – Maui, Hawaii

Sometimes driving a bit further down the road is worth it. And, on Maui, that means passing by Kihei and Wailea Beaches, where resort developments are abundant, and heading to Makena State Park, instead.

Nicknamed Big Beach, this super-photogenic, 1½-mile stretch of golden sand is South Maui’s largest and offers great views of Kahoolawe Island and the Molokini Crater. The unpredictable shore break can be dangerous, however, so you’ll need to heed the posted warnings at the lifeguard stations before deciding to swim. And when the surf is way up, pack a picnic, sit back, and watch the expert boogie boarders at play.

Ipanema Beach – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro boasts a pair of famous beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana, but it’s the former — celebrated in the sexy 1960s Bossa nova hit, The Girl from Ipanema — that captivates visitors with its breathtaking views. The sand is pale gold, and the landmark, emerald peaks you’ll find yourself gazing at for hours are known as “Two Brothers.”

Brazilians love to show off their toned bodies, so expect skimpy swimwear and lot of tanned lines. Be sure to leave wallets and valuables safely in your hotel: Despite their beauty, Rio’s beaches are known to be frequented by petty thieves.

Pampelonne Beach – Saint-Tropez, France

Beach clubs, big yachts and beautiful bodies (from Brigitte Bardot to David Beckham) are all synonymous with Saint-Tropez’s most famous beach. The beach was put on the map by Bardot and her director husband Roger Vadim in the 1955 film And God Created Woman.

Everything you’d expect to find on the French Riviera, from striped umbrellas and chaises to skimpy bikinis (tops are optional), are here in abundance, as are odes to excess, such as convertible sports cars, designer sunglasses and champagne on ice. If your wallet can handle it, go ahead and soak up some “joie de vivre.”

Trunk Bay Beach – St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Being able to wade into blissfully warm water, pull on your mask and find, and snorkel — really snorkel amid abundant coral and technicolor fish — is a big draw for any beach. The fact that this coconut palm-lined strand on low-key St. John ranks among the most beautiful (and most photographed) island beaches in the Caribbean is a bonus.

As part of Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay Beach offers access to a 225-yard underwater snorkeling trail (gear rentals are available), but plan for an early-morning visit, if you’re seeking tranquility. This beach is popular with cruise-ship passengers from neighboring St. Thomas.

Whitehaven Beach – Queensland, Australia

When Oprah Winfrey and Aussie chef Curtis Stone threw a beach barbecue during her 2011 Ultimate Australian Adventure, they did so on this sweeping, 4½-mile stretch of white silica sand in Queensland’s Whitsunday islands. It’s accessible solely by boat, seaplane or helicopter, so the approach is part of the experience.

The sight of this slender, jungle-backed beach, along with Hill Inlet to the north, where tidal shifts create gargantuan sand art, is the definition of breathtaking.

Maya Bay Beach – Koh Phi Phi leh, Thailand

If Maya Bay looks familiar, that’s because it had a starring role in the 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. Sheltered at the end of a dramatic bay and cradled by 300-foot cliffs on the southern Thailand island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, it’s accessed via a day trip (often in a long, traditional, wooden tail boat) from neighboring Koh Phi Phi Don that includes a stop for snorkeling in surreally pale water at one of the most exotic beaches in the world.

Everyone wants to see it, so Maya Bay does get crowded. For the best photo opportunities (sans the multitudes), visit in the early morning.

South Beach – Miami, Florida

The sand is soft and white — an ideal complement to the dazzling Art Deco skyline of Miami Beach — and the aquamarine water is warm and inviting. But what truly makes South Beach special is the never-ending parade of people: models and wannabes, athletes and artists, locals and tourists.

As brilliant sunshine saturates the beach’s quirky and colorful lifeguard stands, put on a pair of dark sunglasses, and ogle the sky. You’ll spy barely-there bikinis and Speedos, brazen tattoos and more than a few bare breasts (all perfectly legal).

Shoal Bay East – Anguilla

Almost any of Anguilla’s 33 sugar-white beaches could be on this list, but Shoal Bay East tops them all because of its ability to feel both social and secluded. At its heart, this strand is lined with locally owned bars and restaurants that create a lively ambience, especially on weekends, as visitors enjoy upbeat Anguillan music, rum-laced libations, tasty seafood and barbecue and impromptu dips in the irresistibly clear-turquoise sea.

Walk the entire two miles, and you’ll round “the bend,” a wide expanse of sand that offers splendid views of boh Upper Shoal Bay and Lower Shoal Bay.

Beach Below the Ruins – Tulum, Mexico

How many beaches can claim to have a postcard-perfect view of 13th-century Mayan ruins? This one, located about 80 miles south of Cancun, can, and it’s the ideal spot to cool off after exploring the preserved structures of this ancient coastal city, among them the hulking cliff-top Castillo fortress.

There are no facilities, so wear your bathing suit under your clothes, and your reward will be gentle surf, vibrant, blue-green sea and a memorable perspective on how the Mayans relaxed more than 700 years ago.

Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece

What do you get when you mix a Greek island dotted with ancient, windswept cedar trees and tides that create hundreds of rippled white and pink sand islets surrounded by shallow aquamarine lagoons? A true natural wonder.

Set on a peninsula about 45 miles from the port of Chania on the southwestern coast of Crete, Elafonissi is accessed by wading through the sea. Visitors enjoy swimming and strolling, sunning and snacking (there are umbrellas, showers, food vendors and lifeguards on the eastern end). It’s just one of those places that’s so beyond ordinary that it almost seems like a dream.

Bondi Beach – Sydney, Australia

Before or after work, when Sydneysiders make time to play, many head to this picturesque, urban oasis just six miles from the downtown business district to swim, surf, soak up some sun and grab a flat white (like a latter but with less milk and more espresso).

The beach, which curves for more than a half mile and is backed by boutique and café-lined Campbell Parade, is also home to the famed Bondi Icebergs pool and the starting point for a scenic, coastal walk along sandstone cliffs to Bronte.

Grace Bay Beach – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

The pure-white sand and clear-turquoise water of the best-known bay on Providenciales are so sublime that dozens of resorts have opened her over the past two decades. And while that has made this curving, three-mile ribbon of sand a popular destination for travelers in search of upscale relaxation, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

Add in calm waters (thanks to a barrier reef about a mile offshore), ample watersports and chic, sea-view bars and restaurants and Grace Bay Beach — named for Grace Jane Hutchings, the wife of a Turks and Caicos commissioner in the 1930s — is just about perfect.

Anse Source d’Argent – The Seychelles

Some beaches have an aura that uniquely their own. Anse Source d’Argent, one of the most famous beaches in the Seychelles, grabs your full attention the moment you set eyes on it. Granite boulders, in swirling shapes Dr. Seuss might have imagined, and gently swaying palms jut up from soft, white sand.

Located on La Digue Island and lapped by the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean, it faces west for immaculate sunsets, making this one of the best island beaches.

Santa Monica Beach – Santa Monica, California

California’s surf culture extends along its entire coastline, but nowhere does it co-mingle with land-based activities so enjoyably as on this vibrant stretch of sand due west of Los Angeles.

With its circa-1909 pier — restored in the 1980s and now home to Pacific Park (with its solar-powered Ferris wheel) and a trapeze school — and beachfront hotels, abundant dining options and 8½-mile jogging and biking path connecting to Venice Beach, Santa Monica ranks among the country’s most entertaining urban beaches. And the sunsets are magical: searing displays of orange and magenta that seem to go on forever.

Tortuga Bay Beach – Galapagos, Ecuador

Some beaches are just perfect for sunning, and you don’t have to be a human to know that. Dozens of marine iguanas and small clusters of sea lions swim ashore to stretch out and catch some rays on this pristine act of talcum-soft sand located on the southern coast of Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos.

People can enjoy it, too, but we must walk a 1½-mile path to mingle (and pose) with these fearless creatures. You’re also likely to spy sea turtles and bright-red Sally lightfoot crabs in the surf and blue-footed boobies and frigate birds on land at one of the most exotic beaches in the world.

Lido Beach – Venice, Italy

Yes, Venice has a beach — a pretty amazing one, at that. The Lido di Venezia, open to the public and stretched out along a seven-mile sandbar facing the Adriatic Sea, is home in season (May to September) to regiments of umbrella-topped beach loungers, neat rows of wooden cabanas and the historic Hotel Excelsior dating to 1908.

Lido also hosts the annual Venice Film Festival (in early September), when A-listers arrive via sleek Riva motorboats. Anyone can cross the lagoon via local “vaporetto” (water busses) to spy on the glamorous action.

Matira Beach – Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The idyllic islands of French Polynesia — of which Bora Bora is the most storied — are home to thousands of beautiful beaches. But many are located on remote motus and atolls or are part of upscale resorts without public access.

Not Matira Beach, a curve of champagne-hued sand centrally located at Matira Point and offering access to the blue mosaic of Bora Bora lagoon. Sun and swim here, or take a spin on a circle-island Jet Ski tour. Then, enjoy lunch at one of Matira’s locally owned snack shacks or at the InterContinental Le Moana Resort adjacent to the beach.

Pink Sands Beach – Harbour Island, Bahamas

This Bahamian beach’s name doesn’t bend the truth one bit: The spot really boasts an amazing shade of pink sand, thanks to the rosy-hued shells of tiny sea creatures called Foraminifera. The color is amplified by a backdrop of vivid, teal water.

Flat, wide and ideal for swimming, sunning or strolling, this three-mile-long beach embodies the natural beauty of tiny Harbour Island, where bikes and golf carts are the main modes of transportation (neighboring Eleuthera is the gateway). When you’re hungry, head for a seafront eatery (Sip Sip is a fave), and order the local specialty: conch fritters.

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Most of us would be lying if we said we weren’t even a little curious to forgo the swimsuit to try nude sunbathing. Just about anywhere on the planet where you find sand and a community of free spirits, you’ll find a clothing-optional beach.

But where are the best nude beaches in the world? How can you find the famous nude beaches that have been immortalized in movies? Which are the best nude beaches for shy beginners and which are the top nude beaches for people without a care in the world? Our G-rated gallery should help push you in the right direction.

Spend the day at one of these nude beaches, and you won’t just lose the tan lines — you may even gain a cultural experience.

Elia Beach – Mykonos, Greece

The island’s longest beach, with brown-sugar sand and flat waters, is extremely popular with the LGBT crowd, with the gals favoring the left side of the beach, and gents, the right. In either direction, beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent at this low-key Eden.

Little Beach – Maui, Hawaii

Given that every beach on Maui has a distinct following — think moms, surfers, etc. — perhaps it’s not surprising that a gathering of hippies and earthy types have unofficially created this nude beach, meeting up for drum circles and fire dancing on Sunday afternoons. The rest of the week, it’s just a beach, although don’t expect solitude at this well-known hangout.

Grand Saline Beach – St. Barth

An afternoon on this secluded, couldn’t-be-more-scenic beach may feel straight out of a cologne ad: The sand is white, the waters are clear as a swimming pool, and the fit beachgoers are the picture of chic. The only downside: You’ll need a rental car or cab — don’t forget to book a return trip — to reach this outpost on the south side of St. Barth.

Cap d’Agde – France

Cap d’Agde isn’t just one of the best nude beaches in the world, it’s a naturist compound. Acceptance is a staple of this relaxed, family-friendly nudist French Mediterranean community, nicknamed “Naked City,” where you can forget about shirts and shorts while shopping, dining and dancing late into the night.

Haulover Beach – Florida

Between Miami and Fort Lauderdale lies the Sunshine state’s only legally recognized nude beach. This half-mile stretch of sand is packed with amenities, from lifeguards keeping you safe in the water, to security guards protecting against gawkers, cementing Haulover’s status as one of the top nude beaches. You’ll also find ice cream vendors and other concession stands, picnic tables, restrooms and shower facilities.

Orient Beach – St. Martin

This is perhaps the Caribbean’s most famous stretch of sand for the clothes-shunning set. It’s packed with bars and restaurants, chaise loungers and vendors on foot, making it feel like a non-stop party, albeit one where not all sun-worshipping revelers go topless. True nudists head to south bit of beach, in front of the nude resort Club Orient, known locally as “Club O.”

Guvano Beach – Cinque Terre, Italy

One of the only hidden gems on the list, this naked-friendly beach outside the village of Corniglia isn’t easy to find, but well worth the long trek, which includes a 15- to 30-minute walk through a dark tunnel. But don’t be put off — on the other side, the pebbly beach is sleepy, pristine and not overrun by tourists. In fact, you could be the only non-local.

Es Cavallet Beach – Ibiza, Spain

Of course this hedonistic isle has an official nude beach. Party people wishing to sun all their bits tend toward the middle of this largely undeveloped patch of coastline. Granted, it’s not without amenities: Restaurant El Chiringuito has you covered, serving anything-but-typical beach fare. Treat yourself to homemade lemonade, fresh juices — think apple-fennel-lime — plus full breakfasts, like eggs benedict, and lunches of flambéed mussels and gazpacho Andaluz.

Tahiti Beach – St. Tropez, France

Although cameras are anything but de rigueur at the best nude beaches, you’ll for sure want to leave it at the hotel when taking sun at this classic St. Tropez hangout, visited by models Miranda Kerr and Naomi Campbell — and their bodyguards. Celebs aside, this hideaway, accessible via unpaved road, has a vibe of nonchalance and privacy.

Lady Bay Beach – Sydney, Australia

Take a ferry from Sydney to reach this quiet cove where boulders bookend a swath of golden sand, granting further seclusion to the destination. Known locally as Lady Jane Beach, it belongs to Australia’s national parks, but no worries — nudity is perfectly legal here.

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Hillside Pool suites, Hermitage Bay | Antigua

Watching a dramatic sunset from a private plunge pool over the Caribbean Sea with your bae — that’s what honeymoon dreams are made of. The appropriately named Hillside Pool suites at Hermitage Bay are entirely cloistered, and the wraparound deck facing the water lets you take in the expansive ocean view, while the balmy air, verdant mountains and cold cocktails serve as perfect aphrodisiacs.

Ocean View Penthouse suite, Esperanza | Mexico

How’s this for exclusive? A dedicated elevator delivers you to Esperanza’s ocean-view one-bedroom penthouse spa suite with vaulted thatch ceilings. But what truly makes this penthouse intoxicating is the private butler who waits on your every need. Two glasses of Taylor Fladgate 2008 late-bottled vintage port? Si, señor. An oversize sunhat for the beach? Coming right up. A cheese plate for a midday snack? Your wish is their command, which means you can spend less time worrying about the details (why leave for dinner when it can be hand-delivered to you?) and more time getting busy.

Superior Tent, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle | Thailand

Scientists have found that a couple can feel more connected by experiencing something new together. Glamp in the bamboo jungles of northern Thailand in a thatch-roof Superior tent, complete with a wooden hot tub and elephants roaming outside. At the Four Seasons’ first all-inclusive, expect the inclusions to be a step above — think nightly sundowners at Burma Bar, endless restocking of your in-room minibar and a 90-minute spa treatment of your choice. So switch off your smartphones (there’s no service anyway) and concentrate only on each other.

Orchid suite, Halekulani | Oahu, Hawaii

The spoiling begins the moment you walk into the Halekulani’s three-room Orchid suite. The property’s executive chef will meet with you to design customized meals for the duration of your honeymoon, which means all the chocolate-covered strawberries, caviar and oysters you want. As if that’s not enough, consider the unobstructed vista: Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head crater’s 761-foot rim. Got a culture itch? Honeymooning in this suite also means you’ll have access to complimentary tickets for some of the biggest arts and culture events on the island, including the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Honolulu Museum of Art.

Tamarind Villa, Parrot Cay | Turks and Caicos

COMO Parrot Cay’s remoteness — a 45-minute boat ride from Grand Turk — is part of what makes this small private island so magical. Nestled among the dunes, the two-bedroom Tamarind Villa comprises a spacious sun deck and a private sugar-white beach where you can access a 24-hour butler, private yoga sessions and custom meals. But we don’t blame you if you spend most of your stay in the canopied bed, outfitted with crisp white sheets, voile draping and direct views of the Caribbean.

Villa Rockstar, Eden Rock | St. Barths

In the master bath of Eden Rock’s outrageous Villa Rockstar, the walls, floors and ceiling are covered in white and gold tiles with muted accent lighting. It’s a cocoon-like setting for the oversize, freestanding Boffi oval stone tub, where all you’ll want to do is hunker down and practice your Kama Sutra poses. The rest of the 16,000-square foot pad features a Glen Affric whiskey bar boasting 40 varieties, a recording studio and screening room, a garage filled with luxury cars, and a private beach with room for conscious coupling.

Sophia Loren Royalty suite, MSC Divina | Sails from Miami, Florida

The iconic accent. Those coy cat eyes. The full lips. Even at 80, actress Sophia Loren exudes the same allure she embodied in her heyday. The Oscar winner’s namesake suite on the Swarovski-laden MSC Divina cruise ship, which sails from Miami to several Caribbean ports and continues to the Mediterranean, was designed by Loren herself, and the ship was named after her godmother. Rich red upholstery, black-and-white photos of Loren in lacy teddies and pinup poses, soft lighting, and a floor-to-ceiling mirror by the bed make for a most sensual stay for two on the high seas.

Extreme Wow suite, W Paris-Opera | France

Few cities are as romantic — Isla Fisher wed Sacha Baron Cohen here in 2010, and it was the kick-off site for Kimye’s wedding weekend. The nouveau W Paris – Opera’s Extreme Wow suite oozes as much sensuality as Marion Cotillard or Brigitte Bardot. Its postmodern furnishings give way to panoramas of the City of Light and the Palais Garnier opera house. Get up close and personal by one of two fireplaces — one in the bedroom next to the round bed and a second in the separate living room, where avant-garde photography by Marcel Van der Vlugt lines the rococo walls.

Duplex Penthouse suite, Gansevoort Park Avenue | New York City

Had the Fifty Shades series been set in Manhattan, surely Gansevoort Park Avenue’s Duplex Penthouse Suite — draped in black crystal chandeliers and oh-so-many shades of gray (and purple) — would have mirrored the title character’s sleek bachelor pad. The six-fixture spa bathroom flaunts black and white marble, an oversize steam shower and a freestanding whirlpool bathtub; the view of skyscrapers’ twinkling lights will inspire you to emulate Christian and Anastasia in the city that never sleeps.

Majestic Penthouse suite, Hotel Majestic Barrière | France

On the top floor of this legendary hotel in the heart of the French Riviera (très fameux for topless sunbathers, ooh là là!) is a penthouse fit for VIPs. The Majestic suite’s 36-foot-long private rooftop terrace features round deck loungers and a lap pool perched over the Bay of Cannes and La Croisette boardwalk, bustling with artisans and street performers. Hole up together with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and christen every inch of the 7,000-square-foot suite, from the two bedrooms and two bathrooms to the dining room and living room looking out to the Mediterranean.

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BORA BORA

$5,200 per couple for five nights

The best rates are in November, January, February and March. During the winter low season, it’ll cost about $4,400 to get you both there from LAX. Stay at budget beach digs like Bora Bora Eco Lodge for $160 per night.

ST. BARTH

$4,484 per couple for five nights

Winter is when the famous fly into St. Barth, so summer is best for bargains. Between June and August, budget-conscious honeymooners can bag a beachfront double room for roughly one-third of winter peak-season rates. Book far enough ahead and you’ll shell out as little as $1,140 per couple from Miami on American. Save beaucoup dollars by taking the 40-minute Great Bay Ferry across the water for $117 per person round-trip. The chic boutique Hotel Guanahani boasts several eateries par excellence, a Clarins spa, tennis courts and numerous water activities like windsurfing and snorkeling. During the summer, standard garden-view rooms run $356 per night.

MONTE CARLO, MONACO

$3,806 per couple for five nights

The glitterati arrive in the summer, and the Formula One grand prix owns spring. Find the lowest hotel rates from November to March. You’ll fly into Nice’s Côte d’Azur Airport, half an hour east along the Riviera. From NYC, Turkish Airlines can get you both there for $1,900. Once you’ve arrived, hop the shared Nice Shuttle to Monte Carlo for $60 per couple. Shack up in style at the waterfront Port Palace for $305 per night in the winter.

MUSTIQUE

$4,570 per couple for five nights

This private Caribbean island is a favorite of British royals, and summer is the low season. You’ll both be able to fly there for about $2,320. The swank Cotton House will fit you in for $450 per night, including breakfast.

NEW ZEALAND

$4,200 per couple for five nights

Ski season (June through August) is high season in Queenstown. Score killer bargains in our fall (their spring). Air New Zealand has fares from LAX for as low as $3,400. Stay at the Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa for around $160 per night.

PARIS

$3,650 per couple for five nights

It’ll be cloudy and drizzly, but January and February are prime for the euro-conscious. Air France will wisk you two to CDG from JFK for $2,200. Hotel de Sers, walking distance from the Arc de Triomphe, is about $290 per night.

ASPEN

$3,295 per couple for five days

Pining for powder? Find great ski-season bargains during the windows of early December and April. But to really exploit Aspen, aim for summer or fall: Early June, late August and October. United and American Eagle are the only airlines servicing Aspen Airport year-round; United flights run around $1,250 per couple in August from New York City. In the heart of town, The Gant by Destination Hotels & Resorts gives you several ways to save. The honeymoon package comes with a complimentary room upgrade, plus discounts on both the published rate and a couples massage. Standard rooms start at $145 (early June and midweek September). — Erika Hueneke

FLORENCE

$4,183 per couple for four nights

Florence’s hotel rates plunge during the winter months — though they’re still pricy. Plan a shorter sojourn (four nights) and stay someplace with real honeymoon cred like Il Salviatino, with its sprawling gardens and hillside overlooks. It’s closed February and March, but during January, April and early May, the boutique hotel offers rooms as low as $395 per night. Winter flight fares for two people run as low as $2,545 from Chicago and $2,450 from Newark on United, Lufthansa and Swiss Air.

DUBAI

$4,328 per couple for five nights

If you can take the heat, honeymooning in the summer means shorter lines at attractions like Atlantis water park and the indoor snow park. More than 140 airlines serve Dubai International Airport, so there are bound to be bargains. Austrian Airlines can get you both from Chicago to Dubai for as little as $2,600 in the summer. You’ll feel like you’re in an Arabian kasbah at Jumeirah’s prime property, Mina A’Salam Resort at Madinat Jumeirah, a modern waterfront village laced with romantic Venetian canals and walkways. Rooms are as low as $270 per night during the summer.

MACAU

$3,470 per couple for five nights

This spot on China’s southern coast is a gaming haven second only to Vegas. Fly for as low as $2,120 for two from LAX (via Taipei) and stay at Wynn Macau for around $270 per night during the autumn low season.

The post 10 Luxury Honeymoon Destinations on a Budget appeared first on Islands.

See which honeymoon destinations made the list in 2017

Kauai, Hawaii

Joe Manganiello reportedly surprised Sofia Vergara with a giant gem during a family Christmas celebration on the Garden Isle of Kauai, Hawaii. The picture window at The St. Regis Princeville Resort suite overlooked cerulean Hanalei Bay. Honeymoons here can include a love-themed hula performance, a four-course wine-pairing dinner in a candlelit cabana, and a bespoke ocean-side spa treatment with mango butter. Explore the greenest, wettest island in the chain by horseback, take a heli-tour past waterfalls and over valleys and mountains that doubled as Jurassic Park sets, and sample local specialties like food-truck shave ice, as Vergara did.

Jamaica

Tricked-out floating party barges give Beyonce an excuse (like she needs one!) to pose in bikinis and temporary metallic tats. During 2014’s hop around the Mediterranean via megayacht, she and Jay Z touched down in the sun-splashed French town of Antibes and renewed their vows at a beach bash in Corsica. In 2013, they sailed from Spain to Sorrento’s Italian coast, causing a romantic scene in a rowboat headed for Capri’s luminescent Blue Grotto caves. Caribbean Queen Bey and her king regularly drop anchor in the Turks and Caicos, Haiti, St. Barth and Anguilla. During a Jamaica jaunt, they recharged at GoldenEye‘s Ian Fleming Villa, the home where Fleming penned 14 James Bond novels. The Oracabessa Bay estate features a dedicated cook, a butler, a private beach and an outdoor tub. Finance Jet Ski rentals and a Blue Mountain Coffee Scrub at the spa with the resort’s honeymoon registry.

Los Cabos, Mexico

Things heated up for Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello during an extended Labor Day weekend in Mexico, believed to be their first official vacation together and deemed “heaven” on her Insta. Their steamy stay at Zoetry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos (reopened in October 2015 as Casa del Mar Golf Resort & Spa) included soaking up rays poolside, indulging in cigars and jetted tubs, a private toes-in-the-sand dinner, and a couples massage on the Presidential Suite’s balcony. Nearby, Auberge’s Esperanza is another Hollywood hot spot: Think LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian, and Josh Duhamel and Fergie. Tucked between two bluffs and perched high above beaches inaccessible to the public or paparazzi, the resort offers a spacious penthouse with ocean views and a balcony for spa treatments. Stogie aficionados can enroll in a cigar-rolling seminar and sip margaritas during the A Night to Remember private beach dinner.

Dominican Republic

Casa de Campo, on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern coast in La Romana, hosted Jay Z and Beyonce not once, but twice, in 2014. The second time, they celebrated their sixth anniversary with sunset wine on their private strip of sand, as well as beach walks, scooter rides, cabana rentals and dinner at Beach Club by Le Cirque. While at the bougainvillea-swathed compound, they settled into the Punta Minitas 34 villa — also the setting for Josh Murray’s proposal to Bachelorette Andi Dorfman, Drake’s “Started from the Bottom” video, and an Instagram shoot by @badgalriri (aka Rihanna).

Punta Mita, Mexico

For Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s second honeymoon (oh, to be a celeb and afford two honeymoons!), the Wests shacked up at the as-seen-on-TV Casa Aramara, a party pad in Punta Mita, Mexico, built by Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis. Other claims to fame: Mario Lopez staged his second wedding here, and Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria and Demi Moore have lounged around its azure pool and exclusive playa. If money is no object, sample specialties by the house chefs, and take advantage of the trademarked “Anything” phone button to get fries delivered at midnight, summon the on-call masseuse or have the car brought around. Re-enact their leap of faith on zip lines at Rancho Mi Chaparrita.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello didn’t waste any time jetting off to their honeymoon at COMO Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The pair showed some skin and snapped selfies on the mile-long, white-sand beach. No doubt the couple also enjoyed their own private pool, direct beach access and round-the-clock attention from their personal butler. #Jofia isn’t the first A-List pair to steal away to this 1,000-acre private-island resort; Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner got hitched here in happier times.

Cuba

Trendsetters even in travel, Jay Z and Beyonce ventured to Cuba almost two years before President Obama softened tourism restrictions on the island in 2015. The historic Hotel Saratoga, built in 1933, was fitting for Jayoncé — the open-air colonnade has staged impromptu concerts by musical luminaries for decades. Chauffeured around on the seat back of a top-down teal vintage convertible, reminiscent of the Kennedys, they stopped to take in a guided neighborhood tour, cigar breaks, a performance by theater group La Colmenita, and dirty-dancing lessons at some of Havana’s legendary nightclubs.

Santa Barbara, California

Proving that a romantic escape doesn’t need to be far from home, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West darted up the Pacific Coast to spend a weekend at Santa Barbara’s classic San Ysidro Ranch in 2013. They booked the same 2,000-square-foot, two-bedroom stone cottage that welcomed newlyweds JFK and Jackie O in 1953, as well as Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson in 2014. Babymooners of sorts, the new parents stayed close to the room and were often seen cuddling North West and each other on the upper private deck. Venture just off property to experience Santa Barbara’s seasonal whale-watching, quiet coves for stand-up paddle boarding, and places aplenty to taste local wine.

Palm Beach, Florida

In March 2015, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello flew to Florida to visit Vergara’s relatives and stayed at Palm Beach’s huge and historic hotel, The Breakers, taking advantage of its snorkeling reef, catamaran sails, four pools, Pilates classes near the sand, and rentable bungalows with bottle service and open-sky showers. Joe and So returned to the elegant estate in the summer, walking the property’s 140 acres of Atlantic coastline and checking out some of the 80,000 square feet of event spaces. The multiple visits immediately sparked wedding-venue gossip — which was validated in November 2015 when they tied the knot in an extravagant, flower-swathed ceremony at the South Florida landmark.

Scottsdale, Arizona

After Jay Z quietly put a ring on it in 2008, he and Beyonce secreted away to Scottsdale, Arizona’s Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, a 53-acre retreat flaunting an infinity pool, 105 amenity-laden casitas and suites, and panoramas of Paradise Valley’s rock formations. Learn to rub your partner the right way with an interactive Massage 101 treatment-turned-teaching-moment at the Asian-inspired spa. Then take to the sky with Rainbow Ryders’ sunrise hot-air-balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert. Or stargaze over spoonfuls of coconut panna cotta, and take a mixology class featuring three signature drinks from the bartenders at Jade Bar.

Las Vegas

Vegas is a smorgasbord of decadent delights, from Couples Good Luck Rituals at Wynn to suites with solariums and reflecting pools at Bellagio. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello rang in the New Year in the Live Entertainment Capital with Manganiello’s Sabotage co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger and his GF, Heather Milligan. After dining on rib-eyes at Strip House (Vergara slayed in a bright-red body-con Hervé Lèger dress — a honeymoon must-pack), the foursome caught Britney Spears’ sexy Piece of Me show at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

Florence, Italy

Florence, the buzzing city on the banks of the river Arno where you can behold Michelangelo’s David, holds a lot of sentimental value for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West; it’s where they walked down the aisle and is believed to be where they conceived Nori. Have a meal of a lifetime at Enoteca Pinchiorri, which boasts three Michelin stars — and catered their Forte di Belvedere wedding reception. Sleep off your food coma on the same pillows the wedding party used at Belmond Villa San Michele, a converted 15th-century monastery outfitted with custom furniture, marble bathrooms, terraced gardens, a heated pool and a massage gazebo. Sightsee on the back of a Vespa, and learn tricks of the trade at Belmond’s cooking classes or with a guest-exclusive meet-and-greet with the family behind the world-famous Vivoli gelateria.

Ireland

The low-key Emerald Isle wasn’t obvi for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s post-hitching hideaway, but a little country calm was just what they craved after their Italian destination-wedding-week media storm. Kimye stayed in a series of landmark lodgings including Ballyfin Demesne, a 19th-century Regency estate at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Try a little role-play (it’s your honeymoon, why not?) and use the hotel’s costume closet and photographer to re-create your favorite steamy Downton Abbey scenes. Zoom through the bucolic landscape of Ballyhoura on mountain bikes, then refresh with a post-cycle picnic of freshly made tarts, apple juice and sausages, plus pints of Guinness in a local pub.

Paris

Regulars at runway shows, the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West never miss an opportunity to pick up new pieces, hang with designer friends like Valentino or stop by the Louis Vuitton Foundation museum in Paris. With fears of not fitting into your gown behind you, stuff your face with Ladurée macarons, rich hot chocolate from Angelina, and Gallic gastronomy at Michelin-starred (and star-filled) restaurant Hotel Costes, where Kim hosted her bachelorette dinner. Retire to their hotel of choice, Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris, just steps away from the Champs-Élysées and offering room personalization, an onsite movie theater for private screenings, and a first-night, heart-shaped treat created by the Picasso of patisserie, Pierre Hermé.

New Orleans

Joe Manganiello had already confessed to a reporter that Sofia Vergara was his celebrity crush when he hightailed it to New Orleans to demand a date with the Colombiana, who was there shooting Hot Pursuit (Go, Joe!). He wooed Vergara — who makes no bones about her food fanaticism — at Li’l Dizzy’s with a shared plate of the best fried chicken that side of the Mississippi. Get your sweetie some sugar at Vergara-approved bakery Sucré, then work it off with a stroll through the New Orleans Museum of Art sculpture garden. After a sunset cruise on Steamboat Natchez, put on your dancing shoes and check out the unrivaled live-music scene. Southern hospitality awaits, just as it did when Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and the Clintons roamed the gilded, muraled halls of the Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt.

The post Best Honeymoon Destinations of 2016 appeared first on Islands.

The waitress doesn’t like me. For days, I’ve tried to work up the nerve to ask someone to sit with me and share a plate of brocciu, a creamy ewe’s-milk cheese unique to Corsica. But at every turn, I find the people as stoic and rugged as their landscape. It’s the same treatment here above the port of Centuri. Yet, behind this woman’s icy facade, I think I detect some compassion. “Would you join me for a bite?” I ask. She turns away. It’s a touchy subject, cheese.

Brocciu is no run-of-the-mill foodstuff. It’s made from the milk of sheep that graze freely in highlands rich in plants like asphodel and lentisk, as well as rosemary. It’s earned a culinary stamp of approval usually reserved for fine wine. Since arriving in Corsica, I’ve eaten it in omelets and desserts. I’ve even tasted the sacred stuff in a farmhouse soup. Always alone. I’ve yet to eat it with an islander. Nobody will even talk about it.

On a quest for cheese and chat, I’d started out in Cap Corse, a mountainous peninsula that lifts a 25-mile-long finger at the French Riviera, 110 miles to the north. Each evening, I dined on mussels, duck gizzards and wild boar raised along the serried coastline. After three days, I felt pangs of loneliness. “I’ve lived here four years,” an English exile in Centuri confessed to me. “I still earn little more than a passing nod from my neighbors.” So now I drive inland, deep into brocciu territory, climbing a bowl of valleys and stone-built villages. Isolated by topography — and the fierce sense of independence that remoteness often breeds — the Balagne region feels as if it got left behind while the rest of the world marched on. Bells resound in the campanile at Sant’Antonino — population: 70. I see a cluster of wizened elders.

“Is there a brocciu maker here?” I ask. My query earns me a silent stare.

I push on to Belgodère, where narrow alleys encircle a 300-foot cliff, and call out to a black-shrouded woman scuttling through the back streets: “Is there a restaurant open, ma’am?” No answer.

It’s not me, I realize; it’s them. After enduring two millenniums of invasions by Greeks, Romans, Moors, Pisans, Genovese and French, Corsicans now have mistrust in their DNA. They take refuge in their outlawed native language, Corsu, and — yes — in cheese-making. They once protected their society from invaders; now they protect it from me.

Corsicans took to the hills to nurture their pastoral traditions. So that’s where I’m headed. Up serpentine roads. Swerving to avoid milling pigs. Slowing for seminomadic shepherds. I draw up to the ancient hamlet of Venaco.

The traffic is my first surprise. I’ve barely heard a motor in days, and yet the streets of Venaco are packed. Something special is happening. I join a line leading to tents in a stonewalled field. Could that be the aroma of asphodel wafting by? It’s chance that has led me to Venaco. But it’s destiny that decrees I arrive on day one of a country fair dedicated entirely to cheese.

The sonorous “parp” of a conch shell played like a hunting horn greets me at the entrance. Inside a large tent, bearded farmers display pork loin flavored with acorns and prizuttu, a ham cured for three years to acquire its hazelnut tang. Stalls are filled with liquors flavored by just about every nettle, root and herb that grows in the Mediterranean basin. Behind towers of red-skinned, bacteria-washed cheese, I find a lone farmer with cheer in his eyes. “Try?” he asks, indicating his pot of prized goat’s cheese cut with apple brandy. I point instead to roundels of dark, ribbed rind. A single word escapes my lips: “Brocciu!”

He stiffens a bit. I slice the brocciu’s speckled skin, and a sweet, creamy whey oozes from the cut. I take a chunk and offer him the plate, which seems to hang heavily for a moment. Will he be my brocciu date? He grabs a piece, his face breaking into a lopsided grin.

The cheese fills my mouth like thick yogurt. The farmer locks his eyes on me. His face says what I should have known all along: Brocciu is more than cheese; it’s an island on a plate.

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Roatan, Honduras

Island-wide Internet coverage is a two-year-old concept. Yet there are nonstop flights to at least four U.S. cities. “People have time for each other” is the chorus. Visit to a clinic opened by an expat known as Nurse Peggy (including available medicine): $3. Read more about Roatan, this year’s Best Island to Retire On.

Corsica, France

French living meets the Mediterranean’s most mountainous island – morning walks, two-hour lunches, excellent health care. People live a long time here because there’s no reason not to. Jug of Sciacarello wine and a wheel of sheep’s milk cheese: $20.

Penang, Malaysia

Malaysia makes it easy to get residency, plus near-mythical street food, equatorial warmth, day trips to Bangkok and Hong Kong, and friendly people. “Everyone is always ready to help you,” says resident Noeline Rose. Kuih muih bitesize desserts: 16 cents.

Panama Islands

A $1000 per month pension qualifies you for residency. Quaint Contadora, 20 minutes by air from Panama City, has “water so blue you’d swear you were in the Caribbean,” says Jessica Ramesch of International Living. Lobster and fish platter for three: $20.

Malta

Europe’s sunniest island (3,000 hours of sun per year) attracts an international crowd. “Malta buzzes year-round,” says Liz Ayley of Malta InsideOut. “It’s a social place. Don’t expect to hibernate!” Basket of giant Malta-grown strawberries in January: $3.50.

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