The first thing to do (and the most important) is to set your budget. What can you afford comfortably to spend? Don’t over stretch yourselves, start married life with a big debt and not be able to afford another holiday for years. If you have your heart set on an expensive destination then why not ask for contributions from your guests instead of gifts? If you feel uncomfortable doing this what about asking for contributions towards activities or outings. For example towards pamper treatments like massages or outings like theme parks or air balloon ride marrakech camel riding! All depending, of course on your holiday type and destination!
So you’ve set your budget and now you can find your destination. Start by making a list of all the things that you both want from the holiday. For example do you want total relaxation, lots of activity or a bit of both? Do you want to go somewhere nearby (short-hall) or are you willing to give up some of your time travelling and go somewhere more exotic (long-hall). Think about the weather too, do you like it stinking hot or are you going to prefer it a little cooler especially if you are undertaking lots of activities.
If you are going to travel to the southern hemisphere then remember that their seasons are opposite to ours! So if you are getting married in the summer here it will be winter there and depending on the country the weather could be pretty poor. Spring or autumn honeymoons are often the best value. You might find hotels and resorts offering incentives to get your booking like a special dinner or a treatment in the spa. Look at pre-booking meals as this can help control the cost and also save you money.
A good way to experience some activity and some down time is by choosing a multi-centre holiday. Three centres is great and usually made up of a city, a beach location and high atlas morocco then another city. A favourite of mine is three nights in Honk Kong, 7 nights in Bali and 3 nights in Singapore. A holiday like this will give you lots to see and do, lots of memories and photographs and some ‘you’ time too!
Do spend some time researching your destinations so that you make the most of your time there. Make use of your local travel agent. They will often come up with destinations and activities that you might not have considered. If you are travelling to a city then your tour company will usually offer a half day city tour. Take this as it’s a really good way to get to know the geography and find out which places you would like to explore further. Other excursions can often be booked before you travel (usually saving you money) with you tour operator or direct via the internet.
To give you some ideas to start you off these are the best honeymoon destinations for 2014 as recommended by the Lonely Planet Guide.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is a historical area in the Central Anatolian region. Its valley, canyon, hills and unusual rock formations were created as a result of the eroding rains and winds over thousands of years on the level, lava-covered plain located between the volcanic mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan Its troglodyte dwellings carved out of the rock and cities dug out into underground present an otherworldly appearance. You can explore on foot or by car but the best way is to go out before dawn for a magical balloon ride or to watch the sunset by climbing Uchisar Castle the tallest of the rock formations.
Brazil
The world cup will bring many visitors this year but there are other areas to visit. The Lonely Planet recommends the area around Paraty, on the coast between Rio and St Paulo. It is remote, sparsely populated and has a beautiful pristine coastline.
Marrakech, morocco ski resort
Thought of as one of the most romantic cities on earth with its seductive charms, Arabian spices, rose petals, lantern light and Gwana music. Its many boutique hotels will give you a luxurious base from which you can explore the city and the region. A trip to the Atlas Mountains is a must.
St lucia
White sand and crashing waves from a besutiful turquoise sea with views as expected in the Caribean! St Lucia also boasts beautiful forests and Unesco protected mountains. The island also has many adventure opportunities including climbing, snorkelling and scuba diving.
Andalucia, Spain
Think olive groves and long lunches in the sun followed by a lazy siesta and evenings of Flamenco, the dance of love and passion. The wild mountains outside Seville provide a perfect setting for picnics and there are many beautiful boutique hotels in Seville.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is probably the most seductive island, with its technicolour sunsets and fragrant jasmine. Every visitor is greeted with a smile and it’s a place for indulgent spa treatments like couples massages. The island is renowned for its arts including traditional dance, sculpture, painting and music.
California, USA
Majestic cliffs with their drama and power, moody fog and awesome waves. Apart from the sea there are the national parks with their giant redwoods, hiking trails and great restaurants. There are some great places to visit like Yosemite, the Sierra Nevada and Disneyland and cities such as San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. All this giving you fantastic variety!
Queenstown, New Zealand
This is the place for the adrenalin junkies, it’s the birthplace of the bungee jump and well as providing activities such as jet boating, zorbing, paragliding, hiking and skiing. There are some great new mountain bike trails opening in 2014. For something more leisurely take a helicopter ride and enjoy the sophisticated food and wine available.
Colchagua Valley, Chile
This is Chile’s main grape-producing region and is unpopulated and absolutely beautiful. As well as wine tasting you can enjoy hiking, biking and horse riding. There also are old colonial towns to explore at a leisurely pace! A great way to see the area is to rent a car in Santiago – about two hours’ drive away and visit some of the wineries. Pichilemu on the ocean is worth a visit with its pretty town and fishing boats.
Dunton morocco hot air balloons Springs, Colorado, USA.
A chance to escape from modern life in this restored mining ghost town, recreating the romantic idea of an American frontier town. The simple life of fishing, hiking, and riding are like taking a step back in time but staff are ready to cater for your every whim. If you fancy it you can also try ‘glamping’ with luxury tents along the river.
Where ever you decide to go and whatever you decide to do don’t forget to tell your tour operator and resort that you are on your honeymoon as there are a lot of little extras that they can arrange for you to make your holiday even more special.
The special day needs it’s extra touch, so contact Marion Frances for that extra special photography!