Honeymoon ideas
By Jane Anderson, editor of 101 honeymoon ideas
Looking for honeymoon ideas? During my 20 years as a honeymoon writer and Travel Editor at You & Your Wedding magazine, I have inspected and stayed at hundreds of hotels around the world. Here, I select some of my favourite places - and the travel company I recommend. So rather than spend hours searching the internet, you can quickly find the travel options that best suit you.
You can explore my full selection at 101 honeymoon ideas. You’ll also find a fun interactive quiz to discover the best honeymoon destinations for you, and lots of useful advice for brides and grooms. If you want a quick getaway, check out my mini moon ideas.
Caribbean honeymoon ideas
Barbados is a favourite Caribbean honeymoon destination, and with good cause. I recommend The Atlantis, a chic boutique beach hotel is on the rugged and beautiful Atlantic coast. Combine it with a few nights at Little Good Harbour. One of the best hotels on Barbados is Coral Reef Club. Have a look at the rooms, cottages and suites.
St Barths in the French Caribbean is a chic, beautiful little island with some superb hotels, none better than Eden Rock. Another outstanding island is St Lucia, which combines great beaches with lush countryside, fishing villages and friendly locals. The place to stay is Anse Chastanet which is set on the island’s loveliest bay and has spectacular rooms.
I love the Bahamas, particularly island-hopping in the Out Islands. This can be great value combining Pineapple Fields with the Coral Sands Hotel. Or you can experience all-out luxury at Sandals Emerald Bay in the Bahamas where all the suites overlook the sea and you have your own personal butler. If you enjoy diving, head for the Cayman Islands. Take a look at these diving honeymoons.
Dominican Republic is among the most under-rated Caribbean islands, now easily reached with new British Airways flights to Punta Cana. I recommended Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana, an adults-only resort set on an amazing white sand beach. Check out the junior suites, suites and villas.
Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island costs a small fortune to rent out, but it also holds Celebration Weeks which are ideal for honeymooners and much more affordable. Other hotels I particularly recommend include Jamaica Inn on the north coast of Jamaica and The Inn at English Harbour in Antigua.
Grenada is a stunning island. Honeymooners should check out the romantic and quirky Mount Hartman Bay Estate. Or escape to Young Island, your own private slice of paradise in the Grenadines.
Indian Ocean honeymoon ideas
Few destinations are as drop-dead gorgeous as the Maldives - every bit as beautiful as they look in the brochures. I recommend Huvafen Fushi, a barefoot luxury island resort where each villas its own private plunge pool, and round-the-clock butler. Also check out the new Alila Villas Hadahaa in the far south, far from the busier islands of the north. You can also combine the Maldives with Sri Lanka in a superb two-centre honeymoon.
The Seychelles are not as popular as the Maldives, but equally breathtaking with more variety between the various islands. There are a number of good-value hotel options including Constance Ephélia Resort, Coco de Mer and Black Parrot Suites. Or splash out on some luxury, perhaps combining Banyan Tree Seychelles with a stay on Denis Private Island.
Mauritius has some outstanding hotels for honeymooners. I recommend the very affordable Veranda Paul et Virginie and Trou aux Biches on one of the island’s best beaches.
Honeymoon ideas in Africa
There are few places more romantic than Africa for a honeymoon - the vast skies and endless vistas, the thrill of the game drive, the dreamy white sand beaches.
For first-timers to Africa, it’s hard to beat Kenya. Take a five star Masai Safari followed by lazy days at the Serena Beach Hotel & Spa in Mombasa. If you want to push the boat out, have a look at Sir Richard Branson’s Ulusaba Private Game Reserve. It’s about as good as you can get.
One of the best two-centre combinations is Zanzibar and Tanzania: a superb wildlife safari experience followed by some of the world’s best beaches. My favourite places to stay include Selous Safari Camp, Fumba Beach Lodge and Unguja Lodge.
Another knockout combination is South Africa and Mauritius. Check out a great selection of safari and beach honeymoons.
North Africa and the Middle East
Oman is one of the most beguiling of destinations, offering a romantic slice of old Arabia combined with superb hotels, white sand beaches and beautiful rugged countryside to explore. Check out this 9-night honeymoon.
In the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech, Kasbah Tamadot is a magical oasis where you can stay in a luxury Berber tent with private pool, dine al fresco and experience a Hammam spa. Another option I recommend is The Residence Tunis, a beautiful hotel and spa on the beach in Tunisia.
Honeymoon ideas in Asia
Malaysia has some outstanding hotels. I particularly like The Datai on the paradise island of Langkawi, and private island resort of Pangkor Laut with its beautiful over-water villas. Thailand has some of the finest luxury hotels in the world, gorgeous countryside, friendly people and great food. Check out Banyan Tree Phuket which combines nicely with the Anantara Golden Triangle in Northern Thailand.
Vietnam is a constantly fascinating destination with some sexy hotels such as Nam Hai in Hoi An and the romantic Six Senses Hideaway in Ninh Van Bay. Or try this Grand Tour of Vietnam.
Bali is blissful. Spa addicts should head for the Spa Village Resort Tembok Bali. Other beautiful boutique hotels ideal for honeymooners include Uma Ubud , the glamorous Amankila and the Anantara Seminyak.
India never ceases to amaze and delight. In leafy, laid-back Kerala I recommended Malabar Escapes which has a clutch of boutique hotels including The Malabar House and Serenity. Or head north to sleep under luxury canvas at Sher Bagh on the edge of Ranthambhore National Park.
Other honeymoon ideas in India include The Serai, a luxury desert camp near Jaisalmer, Ananda in the Himalayas - a sumptuous mountain spa resort - and the Maharajas’ Express, the first pan-India luxury train.
Other great honeymoon destinations in Asia include Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan. Or try this wildlife honeymoon in Borneo.
Honeymoon ideas Europe
I think Amsterdam is a wonderful city for a honeymoon, and I recommend you stay in The Dylan and rent a couple of bikes to get about. If you’re more serious about two wheels, why not take an independent cycling tour in France, Spain, Portugal, Gozo, Austria or Switzerland. Check out this Gastronomic Barolo tour of Italy.
Talking of Italy, there are some superb hideaway hotels and restored villas in Tuscany, such as Castello del Nero, Borgo San Felice and Relais la Suvera. Or head to the gorgeous romantic island of Capri and stay at the Capri Palace Hotel & Spa. For more active couples who want to be on a beach, I recommend Forte Village in Sardinia.
Corsica is another special island with a great choice of hotels. Have a look at the contemporary Casadelmar in Porto Vecchio, the luxurious Grand Hotel de la Cala Rossa, just outside Ponte Vecchio, and the elegant Hotel la Villa in Calvi.
In the Greek islands, Santorini combines modern chic with style and romance. Best place to stay is the gorgeous Carpe Diem. In Cyprus I recommend the Almyra and Anassa hotels.
On Portugal’s Western Algarve, the Hotel Martinhal is a stylish new place to stay overlooking the beach and set within a national park. Tenerife also has some beautiful spots, none better than the lovely ABAMA Golf & Spa Resort. In Madeira, you can stay in one of several beautiful converted manor houses - known as Quintas.
Honeymoon ideas - UK and Ireland
My favourite hotels in the UK include The Cary Arms, a sophisticated hotel set above Babbacombe Bay in Devon and owned by Peter de Savary and his wife Lana. It’s a great example of modern British seaside chic.
Equally splendid is The Lugger Hotel on the coast of south Cornwall. It’s a small romantic hideaway located on the water’s edge in the little fishing village of Portloe on the beautiful Roseland Peninsular. Check out the gorgeous bedrooms.
Scotland has romance written all over it. You could hide away at Ghillie’s Rest Lodge in the Alladale Wilderness Reserve, perhaps trying some hunting, shooting and fishing. Or take a luxury honeymoon that combines a stay in Edinburgh with a drive along the Western Isles in a classic sports car.
In Ireland, I love The K Club, a golf and spa resort set in 550 acres of countryside in County Kildare within easy reach of Dublin. The hotel has its own stretch of river, beautiful gardens, gourmet dining in a choice of restaurants, superb rooms, two championship golf courses and the chic K Spa.
* For more inspiration, visit 101 honeymoon ideas