Koh Samui Retreat - Honeymoon Inspiration

W retreat Koh Samui, is an hour flight south of Bangkok, but it’s light years away from the bustle of Thailand’s capital. The very zen hotel on this secluded island is also very sleek and modern. The lobby overlooks a stunning infinity pool in which seating lounges float. The whole landscape seems to be connected to the see. Imagine you two sitting there sipping on a freezing drink (or warm tea if you wish) and enjoying this genius design and beautiful scenery.

The retreat has 75 spacious private villas, all of which have a large plunge pool with views of the ocean or hillside greenery and an outdoor shower. In addition to all of this you can go snorkeling in the morning, take a bike and go on a picnic in the afternoon, and escape for a mid-night squid-fishing trip.

The final and incredible highlight is Whatever/Whenever Service,  you can request whatever you want and have it whenever you want it: "We’ll make your special moment magical and transform your dreams into reality. Whatever you want. Whenever you want it (as long as it’s legal).”

Remarkable, we say. 

Images courtest of W Hotels

London Honeymoon Guide - Escapes 4/4

Our final section of the London Honeymoon Guide covers escapes. These hotel are not really in London, but they’re close and worth the short journey! *WinkWink*

THE SCARLET

The Scarlet is an eco-friendly boutique hotel with beautiful minimal architecture and stunning views of Cornwall. An ideal place to stay and indulge all your sense with spa treatments, sounds of crashing waves, stunning scenery, and delicious food.

LUCKNAM PARK

Lucknam  Park Hotel is infamous for it’s scenic location, delicious food, and equestrian school. It is the place for you if you’re looking for classic British luxury and sports. 

London Honeymoon Guide - Hotels 1/4

London Honeymoon Guide - Dining 2/4

London Honeymoon Guide - Shopping 3/4

The Turban

Revived fashion styles or items are always interesting because they become more than merely pretty objects, they represent a point in history and tell a story, they're time capsules. The recently revived item is the the turban. We have seen it more and more on our travels, great for casual outings and perfect for formal dinners. Keep in mind when packing for your honeymoon. 

Below are two different applications of the style.

Sotra Boutique 

 DIY Turban

Image 1 via, Image 2 via, Image 3 via
Images 4-7 courtesy of Sotra Boutique

London Honeymoon Guide - Shopping 3/4

In Part Three of our London Honeymoon Guide we reveal our selection of the coolest places to shop in London. Enjoy !

DARKROOM

Darkroom is a contemporary store with an Art Deco vibe. They sell hand-made and one-off accessories for men, women and home produced by emerging designers from around the world.

DOVER STREET MARKET

Dover Street Market is an eclectic store located in a historic building that spreads over 6 floors, with art installations functioning as its interior decoration and well-designed items as its merchandise.

HOUSE OF LIZA

“Divinely decadent”

House of Liza is not the usual dusty and random vintage store, it is a very slick and focused boutique with a fine collection of clothing from the 60’s to the 90’s. The shop owner, Goncala Velosa, is a costume designer who is interested in fashion as theatre.

LARA BOHNIC

Lara Bohnic’s store in London stock’s a wide range of the designer’s classic and iconic jewelry.

LIBERTY 

“Liberty is the chosen resort of the artistic shopper.” – Oscar Wilde

Established in 1875, Liberty is a fashion landmark weaved into London’s history. The shop’s founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, had a vision of what home wares and fashion could be, so he selected individual items from his travels around the world to be sold in his store. Liberty is still true to the founder’s vision, with a selection of exquisite items from a round the world.

T & F SLACK SHOE MAKERS

“Tim and Fiona Slack are married to each other and to their love of creating shoes.” – The Cool Hunter

The Slack couple describe their designs as modern classics with unusual combinations of colors and textures.

MAGMA BOOKSTORE

With shelves of books covering all the walls, Magma Bookstore is heaven for  art and design book lovers. They stock contemporary visual arts, fashion, photography, graphics, design, illustration, typography, advertising, art and architecture, and original t-shirts.

THE MONOCLE SHOP

If you’re a big fan of Monocle, as we are at the white connection are, you must visit The Monocle Shop in London. You will find products that reflect Monocle’s values and design aesthetics.

London Honeymoon Guide - Hotels

London Honeymoon Guide - Shopping

Set 1 via Darkroom

Set 2 via Dover Street Market

Set 3 via House of Liza

Set 4 via Lara Bohnic

Set 5 via The Style King

Set 6 via T & F Slack Shoe Makers

Set 7 via A Starred Hotel

Set 8 via The Fox is Black

London Honeymoon Guide - Dining 2/4

Part two of our London Guide is here,  Dining! We picked a few restaurants and cafes from all around London, they all provide delicious food and a unique experience.  

AUTOMAT

Automat is a relaxed American brasserie that fuses New York’s 50’s style with London’s “pleasure-seeking social appetite”. This place is famous for it’s delicious breakfast and brunch, with a wide selection of waffles, egg benedict, pancakes and fresh juices on the menu.

DEAN STREET TOWNHOUSE RESTAURANT

Dean street restaurant reflects Soho’s vibrant and buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere. The space consists of two rooms that have a large number of tables, modernized classic interiors that are fully occupied around the clock. The menu is British, sound tracks are hand-picked, and a private art collection is on display.

THE DOCK KITCHEN

Part of an urban regeneration project, The Dock Kitchen is located in a converted Victorian Wharf building overlooking the Grand Union Canal in West London. This interesting space reflects the very sophisticated and experimental kitchen. The chef Stevie Parle is constantly developing the the restaurant's menu that has subtle Mediterranean influences.

GORDON RAMDAY AT  CLARIDGE'S

You must dine in one of Gordon Ramsay’s Restaurants when in London if you’re interested in fine dining. Wouldn’t it be great to finally try his legendary cooking? We picked the Art Deco inspired restaurant at The Claridge’s Hotel for its scrumptious modern European menu and its relaxed elegant ambience.

KAFFEINE

Tucked away in a cozy neighborhood a few minutes from Oxford Street, Kaffiene is one of London’s hidden gems. The coffee shop is a highly recommended by many publications, including the FT. They’re best known for their flat white coffee and delicious banana bread. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff is extremely friendly. This is the place for you if you would like five-star food and treatment away from the crowds.  

PIZZA EAST

Pizza East is a New York style industrial chic pizzeria, with exposed concrete columns, leathers seats and high quality delicious pizza. 

London Honeymoon Guide - Hotels


Set 1 via Haute Living  & The Itinerant Epicure
Set 2 via Dean Street Townhouse
Set 3 via London Design Guide & The Dock Kitchen 
Set 4 via Gordon Ramsay
Set 5 via Kaffeine
Set 6 via Pizza East

London Honeymoon Guide - Hotels 1/4

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” 

- Dr Samuel  Johnson

What city can we start with other than London, this multicultural booming metropolis that is a mesh of art, design, culture, and cherished personal memories? Many of us visited once, got hooked, and returned as often as possible with family or friends. Many of us studied there, and many would like to visit on a honeymoon, to weave more memories into this mesh, but there is one obvious disadvantage about a honeymoon in London, the lack of privacy. You don’t want to bump into friends and family on such a vacation. Therefore, we designed a  London guide to help you avoid the crowds and rediscover this magnificent city.

The guide will be divided into 4 sections: Hotels, Restaurants, Shops, and Escapes. 2 sections will be posted each week. We'll start with the hotels.

40 WINKS HOTEL

Owned and designed by the famous interior designer David Carter, 40 Winks is an aesthetic gem. It consists of two intricately decorated rooms that are a mixture of old and new, shabby chic and modern. The hotel has a bold romantic and sophisticated aura that will undoubtedly charm the adventurous soul.

The hotel targets visitors from the creative and fashions industries generally, but also welcomes anyone “who loves places that are different and quirky”. The hotel is located in East London, provides free Wi-Fi, and only serves breakfast.

THE BOUNDARY

The Boundary Hotel is the definition of clean, chic and sophisticated. The spacious rooms are designed with comfort in mind. They’re beautiful in their simplicity and natural light. The hotel has a health and fitness center, a bakery and a stunning rooftop where you can relax and enjoy delicious food.

ROUGH LUXE

"Half luxe, half luxury."

Rough Luxe, is an exotic tiny boutique hotel with impeccable interiors designed by Rabih Hage. The hotel has a cozy quality manifested in its old and new furniture, earthy colors, and bare walls. It also has luxurious little details such as linens, art, staff and fresh breakfast. Rough Luxe is the place for you if you're looking for privacy and a new kind of luxury.

 SOHO HOTEL

 “The most glamorous hotel in the world.”  - Tatler

Situated in the heart of the vibrant entertainment district in London, the Soho hotel is famous for it’s location, excellent services and facilities. It’s also much loved for its individually designed spacious rooms and beautiful natural light. This hotel will appeal to you if you would like to stay in an area bustling with art and culture and away from the crowded city center.

Set 1 courtesy  of  40 Winks, Set 2 courtesy of  The Boundary, 

Set 3 courtesy of Rough Luxe, Set 4 courtesy of Soho Hotel

The Greenbrier - Honeymoon Hotel

It was love at the first sight, when we first saw The Greenbrier of West Virginia. Do you blame us? We adored the bright, detailed and intricate patterns of the infamous interiors designed by the legendary Dorothy Draper. The entire estate evokes luxuries of a glamourous era. The unparalleled list of recreational activities (falconry, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, and kayaking...) sealed the deal. 

We suggest that you visit The Greenbrier if you want a break from hustle and bustle of urban life, but still want to enjoy a list of peaceful and exciting activities that allow you to spend quality time with your loved ones. We guarantee that you will fall in love with it too. 

Images via The Greenbrier,  The Epicures & Honestly, WTF?