8 Mind-Blowing Honeymoon Destinations

Oahu

Honeymoon and Hawaii are virtually synonymous. Oahu is Hawaii’s third largest island, a place where you can have your fill of both city and country life. Enjoy the hustle of Honolulu and Waikiki, where you can shop ’til you drop on the world’s most cosmopolitan beach, then get back to traditional Hawaiian culture and serenity on the North Shore, home to some of the world’s best waves and surfing. The island is easy to travel by car, so no matter where you stay, you can soak up all the spectacular sights and sounds.

Where to Stay: One of the best, most beautiful resorts on Oahu is Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. More than four ears in the making, Aulani opened its doors in August 2011. Built on the leeward side of Oahu (the western shore), this eight-hectare beach resort is just 27 kilometres from the Honolulu airport and takes you just far enough away from the city that you can fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Hawaii. One step inside Aulani’s dreamy open-air lobby and you’ll feel as though you’ve been wrapped in a warm Hawaiian embrace. The resort is architecturally stunning and reflects the history of the island and the Hawaiian culture. True to Disney style, though, there is much fun to be had. Aulani has Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip, Dale and Stitch), multiple pools, a lazy river, waterslides, the Rainbow Reef for private snorkelling adventures, and beach access. There are also a variety of dining options at the resort, but the most romantic spot to enjoy your nightly meal is at AmaAma, an oceanfront restaurant boasting perfect views of the gorgeous Hawaiian sunset. Other musts at Aulani include checking out Aulani’s customized excursions and a day at the heavenly Laniwai spa—a traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi massage is essential. If you’ve been contemplating a destination wedding, Aulani is the place to do it. Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings staff can create the day of your dreams—you just tell them what you want and with a wave of their magic wand, they’ll make your wedding wishes come true.

Getting There: Flying to Hawaii can be a trek depending on what part of the country you’re coming from, but the good news is that WestJet offers service from ports all across Canada to get you to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, safe, sound and comfortably. On a year-round basis, WestJet offers non-stop service from Vancouver to Hawaii. Service is also available from Calgary and Edmonton on a seasonal basis. During the winter months (from November to April), they also offer service from Vancouver to all four of the largest islands: two times a day to Honolulu and Maui; three times a week to Kona and Kauai. “Hawaii remains one of the most popular destinations for WestJet and WestJet Vacations guests,” says Robert Palmer, manager of public relations for WestJet. “We are the only Canadian carrier with scheduled service to Honolulu, Maui, Kona and Lihue (Kauai), and each island holds its own special appeal for our guests. Whether you want to be in the middle of the action in Waikiki or explore the spectacular mountains and waterfalls of Kauai, we can take you there.” With the recent opening of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Palmer expects to see even more traffic from Canada travelling to Oahu. The wonderful thing about WestJet’s regular flights from Vancouver to Honolulu is that you can easily connect in Vancouver, from any WestJet flight across the country, and then fly straight to your destination in paradise. Sounds like a honeymoon dream come true!

Photography courtesy David Roark/Disney.