I’m in the midst of planning a destination wedding in Italy and now that it’s all booked, my thoughts are finally turning to our honeymoon. I’ve trawled lists of the best honeymoon destinations in the world but I wanted some advice from people in the know – so I thought who better to ask than fellow travel bloggers who are enjoying wedded bliss? Where did they, the experts go on their honeymoons?
A honeymoon is the most romantic and often luxurious holiday of your life. Traditionally, it’s a time to unwind with your new husband or wife, when you take some time after the wedding to escape from your families, jobs and day-to-day life with its boring bills, washing-up and work woes. It’s usually a once in a lifetime trip and one that you’ll remember forever. It’s important to get it right, but some of us struggle to choose where to go!
So, where do people who get paid to travel and give advice choose to go on their own honeymoons? I asked 11 seasoned travellers to share their honeymoon stories here, to give me inspiration for my own first overseas adventure as man and wife.
11 Travel bloggers share their own romantic honeymoon destinations
These travel experts seriously delivered on the honeymoon inspiration! Their first trip as married couples range from intrepid adventures to more conventional indulgent escapes. No matter what style of trip you feel suits you as a couple best, you’ll get plenty of honeymoon ideas here!
1. A luxury honeymoon in the Maldives
Rai from A Rai of Light
Few honeymoon destinations in the world can compare to the beauty and romance of the Maldives, with its tropical islands surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters and fine white sand.
We chose Kurumba Maldives for the main part of our honeymoon and it didn’t disappoint. Apart from its beautiful scenery, the seclusion afforded by the private island only added to its romance and appeal. Plus, unrivalled levels of hospitality meant we never had to lift a finger.
What’s great about honeymooning in the Maldives is that throughout the year, the tropical climate and fresh ocean breeze almost always guarantee sunshine and wonderful weather. This, together with the ocean a stone’s throw away from the room added to the honeymoon experience. Two weeks there wasn’t enough!
2. A wildlife honeymoon in Zambia and Malawi
Chris from More Life In Your Days
For our honeymoon, we spent a month travelling around Zambia and Malawi. It wasn’t your typical honeymoon of fancy hotels and lazing on the beach. We packed our first few weeks as a married couple full of adventure.
The highlight was probably a multi-day canoe safari along the River Zambezi. Because the canoe is so quiet, you can get pretty close to the animals in the wild and they are not disturbed by your presence. By day we paddled along the river past elephants, crocodiles, hippos and various other species, and at night we wild camped on small islands in the river (the safest place apparently).
We also took visited Victoria Falls (we stayed at Olgas The Italian Corner in Livingstone), did some white water rafting and also more traditional jeep safaris where we were able to get a close look at big cats like lions and leopards. In Malawi, we hiked in the Mulanje Mountains and managed a couple of days relaxing by Lake Malawi at the end of our trip.
3. A road trip honeymoon in New Zealand
Amanda from A Dangerous Business Travel Blog
My husband and I went on an adventurous honeymoon to New Zealand, driving around the country for two weeks in a campervan. This may not seem like the most romantic honeymoon option, but the van was cosy and saving some money on hotels meant that we were able to do some other cool things to celebrate our marriage.
Some unique things we did on our New Zealand honeymoon included going to an evening banquet dinner at the Hobbiton movie set, tandem bungee jumping in Queenstown, sleeping in a tree house on the Banks Peninsula, and soaking in a romantic hot tub with mountain views at the Onsen Hot Pools.
This type of adventurous and moderately active honeymoon was the perfect fit for us; we like to explore and do things when we travel together (we’re not really a “lie on the beach for 5 days” type of couple), and our campervan honeymoon around New Zealand gave us lots of opportunity to have new adventures together. We’re already talking about going back to New Zealand for our 5th wedding anniversary!
4. An Italian honeymoon in Ravello, Italy
Elizabeth from Anchored Adventure Blog
One week before my honeymoon in Ravello, Italy, my family and I watched the critically acclaimed movie, Wonder Woman. “Holy moly, that’s beautiful” and “look how pretty the water is” were whispered back and forth. My now-husband and I were squealing with excitement because many of the scenes were filmed in the Amalfi Coast – specifically Ravello!
Ravello is one of the 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast. It’s unique in that it sits 265 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Because it’s a bit more difficult to reach than nearby Amalfi or Positano, Ravello is quiet and quaint. The ambiance makes for the perfect Italian honeymoon spot!
Couples should stay at one of the luxurious hotel villas for the exclusive pool access (and stunning views). Don’t miss out on the scenic hiking, which takes you through lemon groves and terraced vineyards. In the evenings, indulge in the exquisite Italian cuisine – there’s no shortage of fantastic restaurants and trattorias in Ravello. Finally, watch the sunset over the water each night with a bottle of prosecco in hand. Is there anything more romantic than that?
5. A spa honeymoon in Baden-Baden, Germany
Carol from Wandering Carol
The first stop on our month-long honeymoon in Europe was Baden-Baden, a glamorous spa town in Germany. Impossibly romantic to look at, Baden-Baden is a very grand town that was once the European hot spot for wealthy aristocrats, who used to gather here to bathe and drink the healing thermal water, stroll through the leafy parks, see and be seen at the elegant Kurhaus and gamble in the casino.
We spent eight days wallowing in happiness at the historic Brenners Park Hotel & Spa, which had long been the luxury hotel of my dreams, and soaking out the stress of planning a wedding in the two well-known bathhouses, Caracalla and Friedrichsbad, which are fed by Baden-Baden’s thermal springs.
I’m not sure what my husband expected out of a German spa experience, but probably the all-nude bathing circuit of Friedrichsbad wasn’t it. At least we went on one of the segregated sex days, but even I, spa lover that I am, was surprised to find that the main pool was nonetheless co-ed. While I wouldn’t have passed up this iconic bathing experience for anything, it wasn’t a hardship to move on to the more casual Caracalla baths or to the very ritzy Brenners Park Hotel spa.
6. A safari honeymoon in Botswana
Kat from Wandering Bird Adventures
After our wedding at the top of Victoria Falls (which was AMAZING!) we headed to Botswana and Chobe National Park for our mini-moon. There are many places to visit in Africa for incredible safaris, but pick Botswana if you want to see elephants. They were EVERYWHERE and I could (and did!) watch them for hours. It was amazing to see them interacting as a herd, helping the little ones cross the river and feed.
My absolute favourite part of the holiday was the river cruise, where we spent 3 hours slowly exploring the Chobe River. We saw elephants, of course, but also alligators, hippos, giraffes, zebras, vultures and many more! We also went on a jeep safari, where we got closer to the elephants than I would have believed possible. The sheer size of them was breathtaking.
We spent 3 nights at the Chobe Game Lodge, which has the most spectacular views of the river below and included all activities. It’s a beautiful location and the staff were amazing – so polite and keen to ensure you have everything you need.
7. A wedding and honeymoon combined in Bahamas
Jenn and Ed from Coleman Concierge
We spent our blogger honeymoon at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau Bahamas. We choose the property because it was a worry-free all-inclusive resort that offered water sports and outdoor recreation included in the package. We learned to dive on our honeymoon, and a two-tank dive was included every day.
Not only did we spend our honeymoon at Sandals, we got married there as well. They offer a free wedding if you stay there for a week or more. It was the most romantic, stress-free wedding you could imagine. We even booked our wedding guests on a snorkeling tour that was included in their day-pass.
There are several restaurants to choose from at the Royal Bahamian, but the most romantic was the white glove dinner at Discovery Island. They ferry you across Delaport Bay to their private island. Your dinner is divine, only topped by the views of Nassau sparkling like diamonds across the water.
We left the resort a couple of times to explore Nassau including a day trip to Atlantis on Paradise Island, shopping at the straw market, and climbing the Queen’s Staircase at Fort Fincastle.
8. A city-hopping honeymoon in Northern Europe
Stephanie from History FanGirl
For our honeymoon we decided to do a huge dash around northern Europe. Coming from the United States, we spent twelve days on the trip. We started with four days in Copenhagen, then spent three days in Amsterdam, and then we ended our trip with three days in Brussels.
In Copenhagen, we stayed at Ibsens Hotel, which was a funky boutique hotel with an amazing brunch spread. Our favorite romantic activity was spending an evening in Tivoli. The festive lights and carnival games added a youthful element that we really enjoyed.
In Amsterdam, we chose to stay in an Airbnb, however, I would choose something slightly more romantic canal-side Singel Hotel. We used this portion of our honeymoon to enjoy some of Amsterdam’s Coffee Shop scene, but you must go on a boat ride on Amsterdam’s canals as well.. It was an incredibly fun way to spend a few days right after dealing with the stress of a wedding!
By the time we got to Brussels, we were exhausted. Which was perfect, since Brussels is a wonderful city to enjoy the atmosphere and craft beer. We spent a lazy few days enjoying the city’s architecture and museums without feeling pressure to do much of anything beyond enjoying ourselves!
9. A desert island honeymoon in Seychelles
Sima from The Curious Pixie
Spending four nights on Denis Private Island in the Seychelles was a dream come true. It’s probably the closest anyone will get to staying on their own desert island for their honeymoon.
The idyllic paradise is the second most northerly island in the Seychelles and fully committed to nature and wildlife conservation. A tropical hideaway where you truly feel like you’re a thousand miles away from anywhere. The 375 acres of this privately-owned coral island are fringed by coconut palms, brilliant white sand beaches and coral reefs shimmering in the Indian Ocean. You’re promised tranquility and privacy, with only 25 individual secluded cottages dotted around the island.
There is no signal for your mobile phone when you arrive. No in-room internet. No cable television. This is where you unplug from digital distraction and instead reconnect with your loved ones. Think Robinson Crusoe with an injection of barefoot luxury. Spend your days enjoying superb diving, port-fishing, or snorkelling in a sea turtle sanctuary. Or, book a relaxing spa treatment and indulge in traditional Seychellois cuisine. They have delicious fresh local seafood, vegetables from the island’s own garden, plus they make their own cheese!
10. A bucket list honeymoon in Peru
Rosie from Flying Fluskey
Together, as a couple, we had ticked off six of the new seven wonders of the world. To mark our next step we decided to venture to South America and visit the last, Machu Picchu, for our honeymoon. We travelled through Peru, along the “Gringo Trail” that passes from Lima to Cusco for two weeks. There wasn’t a lot of luxury (we had just had a wedding). Instead, we splashed out on one incredibly unique experience.
In Peru’s Sacred Valley there is a peculiar rock formation 300 metres up on the valley wall. These crystalline structures are actually pods that have been constructed and hung from the rock face. We booked to climb up to, and sleep in one of these Skylodges. Halfway up the imposing wall, we were completely out of breath and pretty sure we had made a poor choice. However, reaching the roof of the pod, taking in the epic view the magic of the Sacred Valley took our breath away in a whole other way.
Inside our capsule our delicious dinner was served and we settled into the most comfortable bed we encountered in Peru. The clear plastic roof revealed the whole night sky and we stargazed until we drifted off to sleep. To cap it all off, we got to zip wire all the way down again. It was a wonderful way to spend a night.
11. An all-inclusive honeymoon in Negril, Jamaica
Michele from A Taste of Travel
Located on Jamaica’s western coast, Negril is the quintessential Caribbean honeymoon beach destination. Blessed with soft white sand, calm waters and swaying coconut palms, it was our first choice for a week-long honeymoon. We opted for an all-inclusive, beachfront resort: the Hotel Riu Palace Tropical Bay which overlooks Bloody Bay on the Caribbean coast.
This contemporary resort features several deluxe oceanfront suites and we were lucky to received a complementary honeymooners upgrade at check-in so were thrilled to discover a panoramic view from virtually everywhere in our suite. The room was really an escape from the ordinary with its platform king-size bed, living room, fully-stocked mini-bar, room service and an ensuite with jacuzzi tub.
In addition to the fantastic on-site live entertainment nightly, there were many things to do at the resort during the day, from dance classes to aerobics to beach volleyball. One of the most memorable off-site activities was a catamaran cruise to Rick’s Cafe in Negril, a popular spot for watching the spectacular Caribbean sunsets and witnessing the performances by intrepid cliff jumpers who leap from the top of the rocks into the water.
So, which of these romanic honeymoon ideas appeals to you most? My fiancé and I have got some serious budget planning to do if we want ours to be as unforgettable as any of these real-life examples! If you had a honeymoon that was slightly unusual compared to most, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
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