Candlelit Swoons & Honeymoons

From your whitewashed, blue-domed house high above the Aegean Sea, the sunsets are spectacular. Santorini is the quintessential Greek island combining classic architecture, art and food with romantic settings worthy of Bogart and Bacall.

Go horseback riding along the volcanic coastline, catch a catamaran dinner cruise, enjoy wine tastings with tapas, visit secluded black sand beaches, and stroll the narrow winding streets of Emporio with its charming cafes and fragrant bougainvillea. 

The art scene is up close, showcasing galleries that in many cases are also artists’ studios, allowing conversation and interaction involving sculpture, ceramics and paint. 

The Akrotiri Lighthouse on Santorini’s southwestern tip combines the two colors most prominent on the island, dazzling white and azure blue. Climb the stone steps for as-far-as-the-eye-can-see views.

Just for fun, head to Fira, Santorini’s capital built into jagged cliffs overlooking the Aegean. Historic churches, intriguing museums and vibrant nightspots await.

Stay in a Jacuzzi-equipped suite at the Kokkinos Villas Santorini. Seaview terraces come with sun-loungers and parasols.

Phuket, Thailand 

This mountainous island in southern Thailand boasts legendary food venues, miles of gorgeous beaches and rich cultural heritage. 

Phuket (poo-KET) soothes the senses with breathtaking vistas and delightful topography complemented by the fascination of Old Phuket Town, a diverse walkable conglomeration of brightly-painted Chinese, Indian, European and Muslim museums, shops, boutique hotels and restaurants.

Guides are anxious to show you James Bond Island, a rocky pinnacle featured in the flick The Man with the Golden Gun. Nearby, the small village of Koh Panyee juts out into the sea, built on stilts and guarded by a huge rock monolith.

The island has its own cultural theme park, the 30-acre Phuket FantaSea, spotlighting the island’s multi-level history through technology and special effects. If you love the nightlife, check out Koh Phi Phi at Tonsai Beach.

Stay at Amanpuri on Phuket’s west coast. The plush hotel presents visitors with 40 polished teakwood pavilions accompanied by spacious bathrooms that are more like spas.

Just east of the dateline in the Pacific Ocean, the 15-isle Cook Islands sport a strong Polynesian culture flavored by white sand beaches, palm trees, clear waters and a surprising array of marine animals. 

Shop for black pearl jewelry, dazzling sarongs, woven hats and finely-made quilts known locally as tivaevae.

The real star of the show, though, is the Pacific. Caves on several islands are ripe for explorers to discover their ancient limestone coral formations. Cruise to One Foot Island where green turtles, giant clams, clownfish and large trevally swim the warm waters.

Stay down on the beach in one of the Pacific Resort’s bungalows at Aitutaki. Wide verandas are adorned with colorful local artwork.

Every chocolate bar sold worldwide contains ten percent Ivorian cocoa. At farms where the beans are raised, chocolate lovers see first-hand the transition from bean to bar.

Sandwiched along the Atlantic between Liberia, Guinea and Ghana where Africa makes a left turn, the Cote d’Ivoire is still decidedly French. The Ivory Coast’s name is a salute to the country’s robust trade in elephant tusks during the 17th century.

The Caribbean has nothing on the Cote in terms of wide, sandy beaches, ranging in color from gold to white. Many are fringed with swaying coconut palms. 

Primates, mongoose and pygmy hippos populate Tai National Park over on the border with Liberia. In the center of the country, the massive Basilica Notre Dame de la Paix lays claim to having the most stained glass in the world, nearly 80,000 square feet.

A stunning bridge connects two parts of Abidjan along the coast, the nation’s largest urban center, affording walkers outstanding city views and colorful evening light shows.

Stay at the Hotel Tiama in the heart of Abidjan. Book a poolside suite and enjoy the hotel’s specialty, breakfast in bed.

Two hundred miles east of Valencia, Spain, in the gorgeous waters of the Mediterranean Sea, lie the four enchanting Balearic Islands, long time a refuge for Europeans seeking the sun, beaches and a simpler lifestyle. The largest city is Palma.

Bellver Castle dating back to the 14th century adorns a prominent hillside; the magnificent Palma Cathedral, built in 1229, stands watch over the sea and entices with views from the bell tower; and right next door is the official residence of the ruling Spanish family, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. The architecture is resplendent stone Gothic with a touch of Moorish. 

Down along the waterfront, the narrow streets and alleys of Old Town (Casco Antiguo) lead to parks and squares. Along the way are eclectic shops, cozy taverns, extraordinary restaurants and art galleries.

Stay at the adults-only Hotel Can Cera in the historic center of Palma, once a 17th century palace and now filled with antiques and high-design features. Relax on the rooftop terrace, enjoy the spa and then take in the vermuteria-style eatery where vermouth is the order of the day.