Where do celebrities honeymoon?

July 5, 8:56 AMSF Honeymoon Travel ExaminerSuzie Rodriguez

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Clockwise from top left: Garner & Affleck, John & Jacqueline Kennedy, Longoria & Parker, Carey & Cannon

Ever wonder where the rich and fabulously famous go on their honeymoons? Here’s a sampling from over the years:

Windermere Island, The Bahamas: Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon spent their 2008 honeymoon in the Bahamas, where Carey owns a home on 5-mile long Windermere Island, located just off much-larger Eleuthera Island. Windermere, which has a wide and beautiful pink-sand beach running its entire length, is accessed by a guarded bridge, and entrée is limited to residents and their guests. Members of England's royal family visit the island regularly, often arriving by helicopter from one of the private airports on Eleuthera or Freeport International on Grand Bahama Island (the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, vacationed on Windermere in the early 1980s). As you can see from the photo, left, a stay here offers a strong chance of finding yourselves alone on a beautiful beach that stretches on, seemingly, to infinity.

 Parrot Cay, The Turks & Caicos Islands: Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck as well as  Eva Longoria & Tony Parker spent their respective honeymoons in the Turks & Caicos at the exclusive Parrot Cay Resort. That place appears to be a great favorite among celebs. And why not? The private villas possess heated lap pools, hot tubs, butler service, and impeccable service. The central pool sits side-by-side with a thatch-roofed bar and an Asian fusion restaurant. The luxurious spa offers Indonesian and Balinese therapists. The entire island of Parrot Cay is a haven for celebrities, actually. Bruce Willis & Emma Heming were married and honeymooned on the island, where he owns a home. Other notables who have vacationed here include Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears and Donna Karan. 

The San Ysidro Ranch, California: Since its opening way back in 1893, the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California---named “America’s Best Hotel” this year by Forbes Traveler----has been a coveted destination among celebrities and the merely wealthy. Originally part of a 1769 land grant bestowed by the King of Spain, the Ranch’s idyllic setting, personalized service, and guarding of guest privacy has attracted luminaries over the years like Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis. Honeymooners, too, of course. John and Jacqueline Kennedy spent their 1953 honeymoon here. More recently, Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony and Julia Roberts & Danny Moder honeymooned at San Ysidro.

 Arizona: Of course, it doesn’t have to be all about luxury with celebrities. Twentieth-century cinema superstars Clark Gable & Carol Lombard spent their 1939 wedding night in the extremely modest 1902 adobe Oatman Hotel in Oatman, Arizona, on Historic Route 66. They often returned to the hotel in the ensuing years. Their “honeymoon suite” has been preserved as it was, and it could be yours for a night or two. As compelling as the suite is, though (in a reverse snobbery sort of way), it competes for attention with the hotel’s live-in ghost. “Oatie,” as he’s known, is believed to be the spirit of a 19th century alcoholic Irish gold-miner who died in an alley behind the hotel. Sorry, no Internet URL for the Oatman Hotel; you’ll have to try the old-fashioned way to book a room: (928) 768-4408.

It's worth mentioning that the entire Gable/Lombard honeymoon at the Oatman Hotel---a long-held, widely-accepted belief that's gotten much publicity for years---may be a hoax. According to a reputable website devoted to Lombard, the couple married in Arizona and returned to Hollywood the same day. Check it out.

To learn where Tiger & Elin, Ashton & Demi, Tom & Katie, Salma & Francois-Henri, Heidi & Seal and other celebs have honeymooned, check out Fun Couples: Where Celebrities Honeymoon.

© Suzanne Rodriguez 2009