Where to Honeymoon: 7 Destinations for 7 Different Types of Couples
Choosing where to honeymoon can feel almost as big as choosing where to get married. You want somewhere romantic, memorable and right for both of you. Yet the best honeymoon destinations are not the same for every couple.
Some couples want nothing but sunshine, a private pool and time together. Others want adventure, incredible food, wildlife or a packed itinerary.
So, where should you honeymoon?
The answer starts with the type of couple you are.
In this guide, we look at seven honeymoon ideas for seven different travel styles. Whether you dream of barefoot beach days, Italian food, wildlife encounters or discovering somewhere completely new, there is a destination here to help you narrow down your choices.
Where to honeymoon if you want pure relaxation
The Maldives
If your ideal honeymoon means waking up beside turquoise water and doing very little afterwards, the Maldives deserves a place at the top of your list.
This is the honeymoon for couples who want to switch off properly.
Picture stepping from your villa onto a private stretch of sand. Perhaps you spend the morning swimming, then have lunch overlooking the lagoon. In the afternoon, there is nowhere you need to be.
That feeling of having no plans can be wonderful after months of wedding planning.
The Maldives is particularly suited to couples who value privacy. Many resorts sit on their own island, creating a peaceful setting for your honeymoon.
You can choose from beachfront villas, overwater accommodation and private pools, depending on the experience you want.
There is also plenty to do when you feel like being active.
You could:
Snorkel straight from the beach
Take a sunset cruise
Book a couples spa treatment
Try scuba diving
Enjoy a private dinner by the water
Take a boat trip to explore nearby islands
The beauty of a Maldives honeymoon is that you decide how much you do.
One day might be full of snorkelling and boat trips. The next could involve nothing more than breakfast, swimming and a good book.
For couples who simply want time together, that can be exactly what a honeymoon should be.
Where to honeymoon if you are food lovers
Italy
Do you plan your holidays around restaurants?
If so, Italy could be the perfect answer to where to honeymoon.
Italy gives you the chance to combine romance with incredible food, beautiful scenery and plenty of experiences. You do not have to choose between relaxing and exploring either.
A honeymoon in Italy could take you from the canals of Venice to the vineyards of Tuscany, or from the Amalfi Coast to the historic streets of Rome.
For food-loving couples, the experiences are just as important as the destinations.
Imagine learning to make fresh pasta together in Tuscany. Perhaps you spend an afternoon tasting wine before sitting down to dinner as the sun goes down.
Or maybe you want to explore Sicily, where food, history and coastal scenery come together.
Italy also works brilliantly if you want a honeymoon with variety.
You could spend a few nights exploring a city before heading into the countryside. Then finish with several days beside the sea.
That means you can create a honeymoon that feels personal rather than following a standard itinerary.
For couples who love eating their way around a destination, Italy offers plenty of reasons to linger over every meal.
A honeymoon should give you stories to tell for years, and shared meals often become some of the best ones.
Where to honeymoon if you want adventure and wildlife
South Africa
Some couples would rather be out exploring than lying beside a pool for two weeks.
If that sounds like you, South Africa could be the answer.
A South Africa honeymoon can combine city life, dramatic scenery, wine, beaches and unforgettable wildlife experiences.
You might start in Cape Town, exploring the city and surrounding coastline. From there, you could head into the winelands before travelling onwards for a safari.
Seeing wildlife together can create some of the most memorable moments of a honeymoon.
Imagine sitting quietly in an open safari vehicle as the sun rises. Then, after a day of game drives, returning to your lodge for dinner beneath the stars.
It is a very different kind of romance.
South Africa also gives you plenty of flexibility.
You could include:
A Cape Town city stay
The Cape Winelands
A private safari lodge
The Garden Route
A beach stay
Whale watching at the right time of year
The country works particularly well for couples who do not want to spend their entire honeymoon in one resort.
You can explore during the day and slow down in the evenings.
For adventurous couples, that balance can make a honeymoon feel much more rewarding.
Where to honeymoon if you want culture and something completely different
Japan
Perhaps you have travelled to Europe and the Caribbean together already.
Now you want your honeymoon to feel completely different.
Japan could be the answer.
A honeymoon in Japan gives you an incredible mix of ancient traditions, modern cities, beautiful landscapes and exceptional food.
Tokyo offers a fast-paced start, with restaurants, neighbourhoods and experiences around every corner.
Then you can slow the pace in Kyoto, where temples, gardens and traditional streets create a very different atmosphere.
You could also include a stay in a traditional ryokan, where the accommodation becomes part of the experience.
For couples who love discovering somewhere new, Japan gives you plenty to talk about and explore together.
Food is another major part of the experience.
From sushi and ramen to regional specialities and carefully prepared traditional dishes, there is something new to try throughout your trip.
The seasons can also completely change the feel of a Japan honeymoon.
Spring brings cherry blossom, while autumn brings colourful foliage. Winter can offer snowy scenery and opportunities to experience Japan's famous hot springs.
This is a honeymoon for curious couples.
If you want to come home with photographs, stories and experiences that feel very different from everyday life, Japan is worth considering.
Where to honeymoon if you want classic romance
Santorini, Greece
Some couples have always pictured their honeymoon overlooking the Aegean Sea.
If that is you, Santorini offers the classic romantic setting.
Whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches and sunsets over the caldera have made the island a favourite for couples.
Yet there is more to a Santorini honeymoon than taking photographs at sunset.
You can explore the island by boat, visit wineries, wander through historic villages or spend slow afternoons beside the pool.
The island is also a good choice if you want your honeymoon to feel romantic without planning a packed itinerary.
Start the day with breakfast overlooking the sea. Spend the afternoon exploring. Then find somewhere special for dinner as the light changes across the caldera.
It is easy to see why couples choose the Greek islands for honeymoon trips.
You can also combine Santorini with another Greek island if you want more variety.
For example, you might pair romantic Santorini with a quieter island where you can spend several days relaxing by the sea.
That gives you the best of both worlds.
If your honeymoon vision includes sunshine, sea views and long dinners for two, Santorini is an obvious contender.
Where to honeymoon if you want beaches but also plenty to do
Mauritius
What if you cannot decide between a relaxing beach honeymoon and an active one?
Mauritius could solve that problem.
The island offers beautiful beaches and luxurious resorts, but there is much more to discover away from your hotel.
You can spend one day doing absolutely nothing, then fill the next with sightseeing, water sports or exploring the island.
That flexibility makes Mauritius particularly appealing to couples who have different ideas about the perfect honeymoon.
Perhaps one of you wants to relax while the other wants to explore.
You do not have to choose.
Depending on your interests, you could:
Explore the island by car
Visit local markets
Take a catamaran trip
Try snorkelling
Enjoy a spa day
Visit botanical gardens
Discover the island's food and culture
Spend a day on the beach
Mauritius also works well for couples who want a luxury honeymoon without feeling restricted to their resort.
There is a sense of discovery alongside the relaxation.
You can have the lazy beach days you imagined, while still having plenty of reasons to leave the hotel.
For couples who want choice, Mauritius is a strong honeymoon destination to consider.
Where to honeymoon if you want nature and adventure
Costa Rica
If your perfect honeymoon involves rainforests, wildlife and getting out into nature, look at Costa Rica.
This is a destination for couples who want to do more than relax.
You could wake up surrounded by rainforest, spend the day looking for wildlife and finish beside a pool with views of the landscape.
Costa Rica is known for its incredible natural environments, from tropical forests to volcanoes and beaches.
It also gives you the chance to combine different areas within one trip.
You might spend part of your honeymoon exploring inland before heading towards the coast for some well-earned beach time.
Wildlife is another major draw.
Depending on where you travel, you may spot monkeys, sloths, colourful birds and other native species.
For couples who enjoy being outdoors, the experiences can be the highlight of the trip.
You could try ziplining through the forest, take a guided nature walk or explore by boat.
Then you can slow things down with a few days beside the Pacific or Caribbean coast.
Costa Rica is ideal if you want your honeymoon to feel adventurous without giving up those romantic moments together.
Where to honeymoon if you want luxury, beaches and variety
The Seychelles
If you are searching for honeymoon destinations that combine beautiful beaches with privacy and a sense of escape, consider the Seychelles.
The islands offer a slower pace, spectacular beaches and plenty of opportunities to spend time together.
This can be a particularly good choice if you want luxury without feeling as though your entire honeymoon revolves around one resort.
You can explore different islands, take boat trips and discover quieter beaches.
There is also plenty of scope for simply enjoying your surroundings.
A morning swim can turn into a long lunch. A boat trip can become a sunset experience. A quiet afternoon can easily become your favourite part of the trip.
The Seychelles works especially well for couples who want romance without a rigid schedule.
You can make the trip as relaxed or active as you like.
Snorkelling, sailing and nature experiences can fill your days if you want to explore.
Or you can simply find a beautiful spot, settle in and enjoy being together.
For couples who want a luxurious beach honeymoon with a little more privacy, the Seychelles is one to consider.
Which honeymoon destination is right for you?
There is no single answer to where to honeymoon.
The best destination depends on what you want your first trip as a married couple to feel like.
If you are still undecided, start with these questions:
Do you want to relax or explore?
How important is food to your trip?
Do you want beaches, mountains, cities or wildlife?
Would you prefer one resort or a multi-stop itinerary?
Do you want luxury throughout your trip?
How long do you want to travel for?
What time of year are you getting married?
How important is sunshine?
Do you want to spend most of your time together or meet other travellers?
What experiences would you love to tell people about when you get home?
Your answers can quickly narrow down the options.
For example, if you want pure relaxation, the Maldives may be your starting point.
If food is your love language, Italy could be the better match.
For wildlife and adventure, South Africa or Costa Rica could be ideal.
If you want culture and something completely different, Japan could win.
For classic romance, Santorini is hard to ignore.
And if you want beaches with plenty of opportunities to explore, Mauritius or the Seychelles could be worth considering.
The right honeymoon is not necessarily the destination everyone else chooses. It is the one that feels like you.
Your honeymoon should feel like the beginning of your story, not a copy of someone else’s.
How to choose between honeymoon destinations
If you have narrowed your choices down to two or three destinations, look beyond the photographs.
Think about the practical side of the trip too.
Consider the time of year
Weather can make a huge difference to your honeymoon experience.
Your wedding month does not automatically mean every destination will have ideal weather.
Check the climate, rainfall and typical conditions before making your final decision.
Think about the journey
A long journey can be worth it for the right destination.
Still, think about how much time you have available.
If you only have ten days, spending a large part of the trip travelling may not suit you.
With three weeks available, a longer journey or multi-stop honeymoon could make more sense.
Think about what you want to remember
Ask yourselves what you would regret not doing.
Would you regret missing a safari?
Would you regret not having time to relax?
Would you love to learn about a new culture together?
These questions can be more useful than simply searching for the most popular honeymoon destination.
Think about your budget
Your honeymoon budget needs to cover more than flights and accommodation.
Consider transfers, excursions, meals and the experiences you really want to include.
A destination can look affordable at first, but the overall cost may be very different once everything is added.
This is where tailoring the trip around your priorities can make a real difference.
Your honeymoon should be about the two of you
Searching for honeymoon destinations can quickly become overwhelming.
There are beautiful beaches everywhere. There are luxury hotels in countless countries. There are endless lists telling you where you should go.
Yet you do not need to visit the destination that appears most often on social media.
You need somewhere that suits how you travel together.
Maybe that means a private villa in the Maldives.
Maybe it is a road trip through Italy with incredible meals along the way.
Perhaps it is a safari in South Africa, temples in Japan or rainforest adventures in Costa Rica.
Your ideal honeymoon destination is out there. The trick is working out what you actually want from it.
If you are considering your options, start with the experience rather than the destination.
Ask yourselves one simple question.
What do we want our honeymoon to feel like?
Once you know that, choosing where to honeymoon becomes much easier.
Rebecca Jane Travel is an Independent Travel Consultant with Jamie Wake Travel and has access to a wide range of suppliers and tour operators. I offer a personal travel service and can tailor holidays to suit individual needs.
A an Independent Travel Consultant with Jamie Wake Travel I benefit from membership of Protected Trust Services and Jamie Wake Travel’s ATOL Licence.
All tailor-made holidays include Supplier Failure Insurance and Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance.
If you are ready to find out whether cruising could be right for you, get in touch with Rebecca Jane Travel.
07368 931424
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