The Top 5 Most Decadent 'Bachelorette' Proposal Locations
This privately owned island in Fiji can be your proposal spot … for a price. (Courtesy: Vomo Island Resort)
Girl meets boy. Girl falls in love. Girl gets engaged.
Add 24 more men, eight weeks of world travel and a boat load of roses, and you’ve got yourself a season of “The Bachelorette.” Over the years we’ve seen the tears and tantrums all culminate in one over-the-top engagement in an exotic locale.
“Who proposes like that?” we always ask. You would propose like that too if ABC were footing the bill.
Here, we break down the top five proposal locations featured on the show and how you too can have a made-for-TV “Will you marry me?”
1. Fiji
The South Pacific country is home to a massive archipelago with a variety of unique high- and low-end accommodation options. J.P Rosenbaum proposed to Ashley Hebert in Season 7 at the privately owned island, Vomo Island Resort, which features 28 villas, two private residences, a luxurious spa, 5-star cuisine and a beach you can swim in from your doorstep. Rates start at a whopping $1,850 a night. If you prefer partying to pampering (or want to spend a little less), the Ratu Kini Backpackers and Dive Resort offers dorm-style lodging for $32 per person per night where you can mingle with fellow travelers at beach bonfires. Regardless of budget, scuba diving is a must here in the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.”
(Photo: Thinkstock)
2. Antigua
Once home to the British colonial naval station “Nelson’s Dockyard,” the West Indies island of Antigua is perfect for exploring rare artifacts like an 18th-century Navy graveyard…..and getting engaged. Desiree Hartsock said “yes” to Chris Siegfried on Season 9 at an age-old fort before heading back to a more modern hotel, the Verandah Resort & Spa. For $490 a night (all-inclusive), you can shack up in one of their oceanfront suites near the famous Devil’s Bridge National Park. Skip the private villas without sacrificing the views at the Catamaran Hotel, located smack dab on one of the southern coast beaches. Starting from $160 a night you get a studio-like apartment, daily cleaning and freshly caught fish from the nearby harbor.
(Courtesy: The Verandah)
3. Tahiti
Roberto Martinez may have popped the question to Ali Fedotowsky with a diamond on Season 6, but the emerald waters of Bora Bora rival any sparkler—even that one. The postcard-worthy resort, Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa, features a spa, intimate dining options and those emblematic over-water villas for around $1,000 a night. Prices in the thousands per night are the standard for this destination. The nearby Chez Nono is a rare affordable option starting at just $150 per night. You get the same breathtaking views and access to activities like shark feeding, but will call it a night in one of their no-frills beachfront villas.
(Photo: Tahiti)
4. Hawaii
Its calming crashing waves, spectacular sunsets and pristine beaches make the Big Island in Hawaii the archetypal romantic getaway. Luckily, this sumptuous destination has plenty of options available for a range of budgets. Though their relationship didn’t last (shocker!), Jillian Harris and her chosen bachelor Ed Swiderski enjoyed happier times at The Four Seasons Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu during season 5. With luxurious guest rooms starting at $645 a night, all guests enjoy private outdoor space. Guests can even take ukulele classes and learn the art of hula and lei-making at the onsite cultural center. For more of an Endless Summer experience, the Aaah the Views Bed and Breakfast is located just minutes from pristine Kohala coast beaches and has laid back accommodations where breakfast is delivered to your room daily for $179.
(Courtesy: Four Seasons)
5. Curacao
The C of the ABC islands, Curacao is still relatively less trod compared with its nearby sisters Aruba and Bonaire. It makes sense then that the ABC network would choose the hidden gem to set the stage for the finale of Emily Maynard’s season of “The Bachelorette.” The Kura Hulanda Hotel & Spa provided the perfect backdrop for the big moment when Jef Holm proposed to Emily. Rooms have features like unique hand-carved mahogany and teak beds, authentic antiques furnishings, and one-of-a-kind hand-painted walls by local artisans. They start at $319 a night. The resort’s beachside property the Kura Hulanda Beach Club also offers Caribbean-inspired rooms perched directly above the ocean.
