Welcome to the first ever post on Honeymoon Heaven! We love travel and we love being in love, so it was only logical we start writing this blog! We’re going to share tips on booking the perfect honeymoon, let you into some secrets that’ll save you some money and inspire you with quirky ideas for honeymoon destinations that are off the beaten track. What better way to start than by sharing our 20 favourite honeymoon destinations? In this collection you’ll find sun-soaked tropical escapes, life-affirming cultural epiphanies and bucket-list-ticking adventures of a lifetime. Whatever you’ve got in mind for your honeymoon, whether it’s lazing about and basking in the warmth of your new marriage or avoiding the tourist trap and seeking out undiscovered treasures, we hope you’re inspired by our favourite 20 honeymoon hotspots. Maldives, Indian OceanIce white sands, crystal clear shallows and an abundance of 5 star resorts make The Maldives the ultimate luxury tropical getaway. An archipelago comprising thousands of pristine coral islands, The Maldives is the perfect spot to lie back and sip cocktails with your new spouse. Sleep in one of the gorgeous beach-houses and step out onto sands warmed by the ever-shining sun each morning. Your most stressful decision is to decide whether to spend the day relaxing or doing something more energetic, like the huge variety of water-sports on offer or perhaps donning some scuba gear and enjoying a spectacular underwater safari around unspoilt coral reefs. Reykjavik, IcelandThe frigid air of Iceland may not seem the most hospitable of honeymoon destinations, but once you discover what natural wonders the tiny nation has to offer you’ll soon see why its capital, Reykjavik, makes our list. If you’re an up all night kind of couple, then the Reykjavik nightlife will be right up your street – bars are open until around 4.30am at the weekends, with the party often not kicking off until after midnight. As well drinking into the early hours you’ll want to go for a soak in the mineral-rich waters of the geothermally heated Blue Lagoon and keep your eyes peeled for the spectacular Aurora Borealis. Iceland is pricey, so if you’re on a budget, a lengthy stay isn’t advised. As well as being the main destination, many couples choose to use a short stay in Reykjavik as a pit stop on their journey from the UK to the USA. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe capital city of Argentina, Buenos Aires literally means “fair winds”, making it an auspicious destination to commence your journey into married life. A sensuous city with a sultry climate and birthplace of the Tango, Buenos Aires is intoxicatingly enticing. A singular city with a character all of its own, forged in the crucible of mass immigration from all over the world for the last 150 years, Buenos Aires is recognisably European and defiantly Latin American, yet distinct from either culture. Explore the beautiful architecture, heavily influenced by settlers from Italy, Germany and Spain, and feast upon the city’s trademark steaks and wines. You can even take a trip out of town to the plains of Patagonia and sample life as one of Argentina’s answers to the cowboy – the gaucho. Kauai, HawaiiNicknamed the “Garden Isle” thanks to the lush tropical rainforest that covers much of its surface, Kauai is a paradise isle with easy access to adventure. With a dramatic mountainous interior and imposing verdant seaside cliffs, Kauai is a photographer’s dream – little wonder then that the island has featured in over seventy films and TV shows. A brief filmography includes South Pacific, Tropic Thunder, Raiders of the Ark and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. As well as trekking through Kauai’s glorious tropical wilderness and taking in the awe-inspiring scenery, there’s an abundance of other activities to enjoy, including surfing, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing, treetop zip-lining, golf, or just kicking back with a delicious cocktail! Marrakesh, MoroccoMarrakesh is one of Morocco’s largest and most important cities. A city of vibrant colours, Marrakesh is a fascinating clash of African, Arabic and European, particularly French, cultures. The old town dates back many hundreds of years and is home to exquisite Arabesque architecture and many of Marrakesh’s traditional markets, known as souks. No trip to Morocco would be complete without a trip to a souk. These bustling hives of commerce offer a bewildering array of items, from nuts, seeds and spices to traditional Muslim attire, lanterns and ornate rugs. Make sure not to pay the asking price without question – haggling is expected! There’s so much to do in this magical city that it would be impossible to list it here – needless to say, we highly recommend a visit! The Great Ocean Road, AustraliaOne of the world’s great drives, the Great Ocean Road stretches for over 150 miles along the south-eastern coast of Australia. Take in dramatic scenery along the rugged coastline route, including the 12 Apostles sea stacks, the Gibson Steps and Australia’s very own London Bridge a natural sea arch that literally “fell down” in 1990. There are also opportunities to encounter some wildlife along the way with whale watching one of the big draws. During your road trip, you’ll pass through many lesser-visited, yet charming towns and cities, including the historic Warrnambool and the surfing mecca of Torquay, which is also the eastern limit of the Great Ocean Road. Melbourne is only an hour’s drive from Torquay if you fancy visiting one of Australia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Norwegian FjordsThe peace and tranquillity of the Norwegian fjords is like nowhere else on earth. These sublime waters are flanked on either side by looming snow-capped mountains that bristle with pines, meltwater falling in shrouds though channels in the rock. The best way of experiencing the fjords is by boat. Many cruise lines offer itineraries that traverse the fjords; luxurious ships ploughing a languid course through deceptively deep waters. When you take to the shore, you’re transported to a world of Vikings, trolls and grass-roofed dwellings. If you travel far enough north, and go at the right time of year, you might be lucky enough to glimpse the magical Northern Lights. Tokyo, JapanIf you think the serene isolation of the fjords would leave you cold, how about a trip to one of the most densely populated cities on the planet? When you arrive in Tokyo you’ll feel as though you’ve travelled a hundred years in time as well as a few thousand miles! From the neon-illuminated nightlife of Shinjuku to the speedy and always punctual bullet train, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into the future. If the hustle and bustle of Tokyo all gets too much, hop on a bullet train and take in the ethereal majesty of Mount Fuji as you wander amongst the cherry blossoms. Cape Town, South AfricaCape Town is a city with everything: spectacular scenery, rich history, exciting nightlife and the opportunity to get close-up with wildlife from the penguins of the southern cape to the lions and rhinos and elephants of the savannah within a few hours’ drive of the city. Cape Town is situated under the constant gaze of the looming Table Mountain which offers breath-taking views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. While in Cape Town, make sure to visit Robben Island, which houses the penitentiary which Nelson Mandela was held for many years. The island is now a living museum memorialising the anti-Apartheid struggle and a UNESCO world heritage site. Dubai, UAEAnother city straight out of science-fiction, Dubai’s colossal towers spring from the desert sands like a concrete and steel oasis. Ultra-modern and home to some of the world’s finest restaurants, shops and hotels, Dubai is the ultimate luxury destination for a honeymoon of sheer opulence. If your idea of a perfect honeymoon is a decadent departure from everyday life where you’re treated like royalty, then Dubai is the destination for you. There’s no shortage of excitement either – for thrill-seekers there’s the chance to sand-board down Dubai’s largest sand dune, the humungous “Big Red”! Cancun, MexicoFamous as a destination for raucous spring-breakers suppressing their inhibitions, for the rest of the year Cancún is an exotic destination that’s supremely suited to couples on honeymoon. With its scorching weather, calm clear waters and pristine beaches, Cancún is the perfect spot for sun worshippers. If lazing around on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches day after day gets too repetitive, you can use Cancún as your base from which to explore the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. These vine-ensnared stone ruins date back over a thousand years, with a huge, stepped pyramid the star attraction. Paris, FranceThis list wouldn’t have been complete without the inclusion of the city of love. One of the great capitals of the world, Paris has everything a honeymooning couple could want from a destination: deliciously indulgent cuisine, romantic strolls down leafy boulevards, late night carafes of wine outside suburban cafés, as well as all the famous art, architecture and culture. The Eiffel Tower is a must-see, as are the Louvre and the Arc De Triomphe. Admire the gothic splendour of Notre Dame’s exterior before being transported away from the soundscape of city noises into the sacrosanct silence of the cathedral. Paris is the ultimate location for lovers – you’ll want to return again and again. Istanbul, TurkeyThe city where Europe and Asia meld together, Istanbul is an ancient city peopled by some of the friendliest folks on the planet. With a foot in both Europe and Asia, and having been ruled by numerous empires during its tempestuous history, Istanbul is a diverse and unique honeymoon destination. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sofia, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque due to the hand-painted blue tiles that cover its interior. Like the souks of Marrakesh, the bazaars of Istanbul are a maelstrom of sounds, scents and colours that are an integral part of the Istanbul experience. New Orleans, USAAnother melting pot of a city, the “Big Easy” is fighting back from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and remains the favoured destination for lovers of all-night bourbon sessions, spicy creole seafood and whiskey-soaked live jazz and blues. The confluence of French, American and African cultures makes it a city unlike any other. Take a trip to the famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter and, if you time it right, participate in the party to end all parties during the city’s legendary Mardi Gras celebrations. As well as enjoying the never-ending riot of drinking, dancing and feasting, you can escape to the Louisiana bayou and take a ride on an airboat, keeping an eye out for ‘gators! Borneo, Indian OceanSee the orang-utans while you still can! Borneo is one of the world’s largest islands, renowned for its rainforests, dwellers of which include the aforementioned ginger great ape and the elusive clouded leopard. Despite the efforts of conservationists, Borneo’s forests and their endangered inhabitants are at the mercy of the palm oil industry, with vast swathes being cleared each year. If you want to experience the wonder of the ancient rainforests of Borneo in their untouched state, go sooner rather than later! Rio de Janeiro, BrazilWhen you think of Rio, images of Christ the Redeemer spring to mind, his arms outstretched, protectively looking out over the crowded towers of the city below, a city nestled between peaks lush with vegetation, a city that teeters on the brink of the grinning curves of the coastline, thin strips of yellow that form the margin between the white of the city and the sapphire waters of the Guanabara Bay. The city possesses the world’s most famous beaches – Ipanema and the Copacabana, beaches so famous they’ve been immortalised in song. Time your trip to coincide with Carnaval and you’ll get to be part of the biggest party on earth. Rio is a vast city, a city of contradictions - vast wealth and crushing poverty coexist, but as long as you stay safe, it’s one of the world’s most vibrant cities to explore. Phuket, ThailandPhuket is a tropical island located off the south-west coast of Thailand. Covered in rainforest and fringed with white sandy beaches, the crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea lapping at the shore, Phuket is one of Asia’s most popular beach holiday destinations. Scattered around the main island are hundreds of smaller islands which are readily accessible by boat. What could be more romantic than discovering your own private, sheltered cove? The island is so popular with tourists with good reason: the beaches are unsurpassed, the people friendly and the spicy Thai food truly addictive! The seas around Phuket are some of the best SCUBA diving spots on the planet. Bagan, MyanmarBordering mainland Thailand is the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Myanmar is home to Bagan, the ancient remnants of the capital city of the Kingdom of Pagan, which ruled the area for over 250 years between the 9th and 13th centuries. Over 2,000 Buddhist temples have survived the ravages of time and remain as testament to a great civilisation most in the western world have never heard of. The spires and pagodas punctuate the sky above the vast, flat plains of Bagan, producing a sunset silhouette unmatched anywhere else in the world. For the most astounding views of the ruins, take a hot air balloon ride. Cruise the CarribeanWe knew we wanted to choose a Caribbean Island to be part of this list, but couldn’t decide upon just one. Our solution: go on a cruise! You get the opulence and attentiveness of the cruise-ship experience combined with a tour around the Caribbean’s gorgeous, sun-kissed islands. Take in the varied cultures and histories of each of the islands in turn. You’ll enjoy fabulous food, refreshing cocktails and the chilled-out charm of the locals. Some itineraries even voyage across to Central and South America and giving you a taste of the tropical rainforest. Thanks for reading!Thanks for reading, we hoped you enjoyed this whistle-stop tour around our favourite honeymoon destinations! It was nigh-on impossible to whittle this list down to just 20 destinations. If you feel like we’ve made any glaring omissions or you want to eulogise about any of the places on the list, then please do so in the comments!
Honeymoon Heaven x
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