Four getaways for honeymooners – Philly.com

After you’ve tied the knot, escape somewhere unexpected. Paris? No, too cliche. Hawaii? Undeniably beautiful, but not exactly groundbreaking. Cancun? Best avoid it; too many memories of those youthful spring-break indiscretions. But never fear. We’ve compiled a quartet of canoodle-worthy getaways that will have your honey over the moon.

Istanbul: Culture

Straddling two continents – Europe and Asia – this exotic metropolis on the Bosphorus strikes an ever-shifting balance between East and West, old and new. The skyline is punctuated by minarets rising high above the treetops, while blocky modern mid-rises in shades of ocher and umber tumble down the hillsides. On the streets, men push heavy carts by hand, winding among long lines of cars.

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Chic hotels have sprung up along the waterfront, but time stands still within the architectural wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapi Palace. (New husbands, try not to look too wistful when you tour the Topkapi’s ornately tiled harem rooms. Brides, it’s best not to compare your wedding ring with the Kasikci Diamond, an 86-karat, pear-shaped gem in the palace treasury.) You’ll find more affordable mementos in the bustling Grand Bazaar, a sultan’s trove of Turkish rugs, stained-glass lamps, gold and silver jewelry, hookahs, and hand-painted ceramics.

If you’re not bothered by the “ball-and-chain” metaphor, you can begin your lifetime sentence together at the Old Town’s neoclassic jail, which was converted into the 65-room Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet in 1996 ( www.fourseasons.com/istanbul; rooms from $665). Alternatively, ensconce yourselves in the sleek luxury of the five-star Swissotel The Bosphorus or the adjacent Swissotel Living, with 63 designer apartments, complete with kitchen – perfect for newlyweds who want a cozy night in. Located on 65 acres of gardens on the European banks of the Bosphorus, a 15-minute drive from the historical peninsula, both properties feature a pool and share an Amrita spa ( www.swissotel.com/hotels/istanbul, rooms from $321; www.swissotelliving.com, rooms from $577).

via Four getaways for honeymooners – Philly.com.

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