How One Resort in Turks and Caicos Is Embracing Wellness Honeymoons

Whether your wedding is behind you or you’re still leading up to the big day, you’re likely thinking about your honeymoon—that beautiful period of time when you can set the wedding planning stress aside for good and just revel in your newlywed bliss. For the couples in search of the ultimate way to truly kick back and decompress after all the excitement of getting married, traveling to a hotel or resort that puts relaxation at the center is just the ticket.

Paradise in Turks and Caicos

A stunning resort from hospitality darling Aman, Amanyara sits on an 18,000-acre nature reserve, nestled along the shores of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. As if its jaw-dropping setting isn’t enough, the property (one of Aman's 34-property collection) has created an experience for guests that truly feels like a once-in-a-lifetime trip that, unsurprisingly, many guests return to year after year. It’s a tonic in hotel form.

It's certainly no secret that Turks and Caicos is the Caribbean paradise of every sand-and-sun-lover’s dreams, with lush vegetation, white sand beaches, and that kind of vivid blue ocean water that doesn’t look real. But not everyone realizes the magic that exists within the spacious villas at Amanyara, partly because the resort is incredibly secluded and protected. (It takes 20 minutes by car to get from the Providenciales Airport to Amanyara, half of which is spent on a  long dirt road accented by scrub brush and glimpses of the glistening ocean.) But it’s also because the property’s experience is just peaceful—after all, the word “Aman” is derived from the Sanskrit word for “peace."

The hotel staff is available at the drop of a hat while leaving plenty of space for guest privacy. Even at capacity, there is plenty of space to spread out so that no area—including the private beach—ever feels crowded. Light and airy villas (with impossibly comfortable beds) sit upon glistening ponds next to picture-perfect infinity pools, while the resort's distinct architecture emphasizes the beautiful natural surroundings. (Fair warning: You may not have any interest in leaving your villa, and if this is the case, personal chefs and wellness experts will come right to your door for the ultimate private experience.)

Where the property really shines, though, is in its unique wellness offerings. “Amanyara takes a holistic approach to wellbeing, catering both to those seeking to relax and restore body and mind, and guests wanting to enhance physical fitness,” says general manager Tom Rutherford. “[The resort's] extensive spa and fitness facilities, an array of adventure activities, meticulously considered wellness treatments, varied cuisine, and spectacular setting combine to offer guests a well-rounded rejuvenating escape,” he explains. One of the most special offerings from the resort is guest access to a rotation of wellness experts, as well as an on-site wellness manager Toby Maguire. Rutherford emphasizes that the aim is to allow couples to “leave armed with the skills to continue their personal journey to wellness once home.”

Individualizing a Wellness Experience

Of course, wellness means something different to everyone. Some may want to just sit by the beach under the sun, sipping freshly-crafted cocktails and dining on the resident chef’s (often Peruvian and Asian-inspired) menu; while others may want to take to the ocean, book snorkeling excursions, and take hikes around the island. For those looking for a wellness experience of the mind-body ilk, Maguire will lead guests through bespoke Wellness Immersions—no matter how short or long their stay is. These involve in-depth consultations followed by individually-crafted itineraries for the duration of a guest’s stay. Expertise from Amanyara’s team of therapists, nutritionists, and medical experts is applied to each personal itinerary to address everything from stress management to mindfulness and assessing fitness and dietary goals.

Amanyara’s accommodations start at $3,210 per night in a Tranquility Pavilion with additional fees for Wellness Immersion programs.

Seeking Wellness Outside a Resort Experience

Just as wellness is unique to each person, your journey to a romantic honeymoon will look different than someone else's. A wellness honeymoon simply puts an emphasis on couples unwinding together and doing things that make them feel well. And it’s not lost on us that booking a luxury resort experience may not fit every honeymooner's search for mind-and-body immersion (although we highly recommend this one for the bucket-list trip of your dreams!). Since luxury often comes with a hefty price tag, there are plenty of ways to integrate Amanyara-inspired wellness tactics into your romantic trip, whether it's a staycation or a trip to a destination a bit closer to home.

For those looking to book something more local, like a boutique hotel or an intimate Airbnb stay, these are a few of our favorite ways to decompress together:

• Unplug: Take this opportunity to put the phones and computers down in order to really focus on each other. It doesn’t have to be a no-screens-allowed rule, but couples could consider not using their cell phones during the day, or having a phones-down rule after 6 p.m. Even a week-long break from social media can do wonders—your eyes will thank you, too!
• Book Massages: You don’t have to be at a hotel or resort to find time for deep relaxation in the form of a couples’ massage. Consider booking an in-home massage therapist for the ultimate intimate experience.
• Try a Cleanse: With the help of professional guidance, whether that’s in the form of consulting a local dietician or using a delivery service, your honeymoon time is a good opportunity to refresh after months of stressful wedding planning. It doesn’t have to be complicated or restrictive. You could plan to cook meals at home and splurge on super-fresh produce and seafood, or try out a week-long reset from a company like Sakara.
• Get Outside: There’s nothing quite as therapeutic as spending time outside. Depending on where you are during your honeymoon, this could mean trying a new hike every day, seeking out beautiful bodies of water for swimming and waters ports, or trying something like forest bathing (which involves slow, mindful walks through nature).