If you’re tying the knot next year, you may have already realised that one of the best part of planning any wedding is planning the honeymoon for afterwards! Unlike any other holiday you’ve ever taken, your honeymoon will be your ultimate trip away especially after all the excitements of planning and having a wedding, so make it count and make sure it’s one holiday that you and your new husband will never, ever forget!
By Amy Croffey
New York City, USA
If you spend five minutes in the Big Apple you will easily fall in love and see why there is no place like it on the planet. Of course, there is plenty to do and see here and if you want amazing stores for great shopping, dining and world-class culture then this city is the one for you. Must-sees are the typcial tourist hot-spots, like the Empire State Building and Chrysler Buildings, the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Centre, Times Square, the Bronx Zoo, Staten Island Ferry and the Brooklyn Bridge. However if you’d like something more off the beaten track, then there are plenty of neighbourhoods to explore, another restaurant to try, another Broadway show or museum to see, another cultural performance or sporting event. Since it’s so easy to get wrecked from all of the walking around and carrying all those shoppping bags, book yourself into a cosy hotel, like the luxurious 4* Fitzpatrick`s Grand Central, Manhattan. It’s within walking distance of Theatre District and plenty of must-see attractions!
Best time to visit: It depends on the type of weather you are looking for. In New York, the winter is cold, icy and snowy. Spring time is wet, summer is hot and humid and autumn is generally mild and dry.
For more on honeymooning in NYC and a stay in Fitzpatrick`s Grand Central, visit ClassicResorts.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Rome, Italy
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” – this motto will definitely be one to stick when you visit this beautiful city! See the spectacular ancient structures or visit the arts of Michelangelo and da Vinci. If you are sticking to the art trails, you must visit the Borghese Gallery and the Palazzo Barberini Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica. Explore the seven hills, join an audience with the Pope at the Vatican, visit the Colosseum, stop for an espresso by the Spanish Steps, visit the gardens of the Villa Borghese or enjoy a freshly baked pizza! There’s just so much to do and see, you’ll find it hard to cram it all in.
Best time to visit: In spring, late March to the end of May and in autumn, September through November are the best times to visit for the most comfortable climates, even though it rains a good bit in October.
For more honeymoons in Rome see CurraghTravel.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Cancun, Mexico
Honeymooning in Cancun will put you in one of the most desirable regions on earth, surrounded by spectacular white sandy beaches on the Yucatán Peninsula – you can’t get much more romantic that that! It’s also the place to be if you’re looking for water sports. You can go scuba diving and snorkelling around the gorgeous coral reef and the thousands of shipwrecks that various storms have deposited just offshore, or spend a day surfing or swimming with dolphins and manta rays. If you need a bit of relaxation, especially after all that wedding planning, just lie in the warm sunshine. At the end of the day, you have to check out Cancun’s unforgettable sunsets before heading downtown for great food. If you and your other half like to party, then Cancun is considered on par with Las Vegas!
Best time to visit Cancun: It has an average annual temperature of 26°C, but there are two different weather seasons to watch out for. The wet and warmer season is from May to October and the dry and cooler season is from November to April.
Stay in the Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun with double Jacuzzis, Swiss spa showers, abundant pampering, and breathtaking views. For more on this and honeymoons in Cancun, see ClassicResorts.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Spain
Spain is best known for its amazing beaches, flamenco dancers and bullfighters. But beyond these clichés you can find vast green mountains for trekking, hiking, abseiling or simply, just viewing. Check out Sierra Nevada, which is known as Europe’s most southerly ski resort for alternatives to the summer sun. Castles and towns full of culture that are just waiting to be explored can be found across the country. If you really want to relax and enjoy this country, then visit Menorca with beautiful, serene beaches and some tiny port towns. And just one thing that we love to do just as much as the Spaniards is eating, drinking and being merry, so enjoy the fresh tapas and paella and wash it all down with some local wines and sangria!
Best time to visit: There is never really a bad season to visit Spain because there is always something to do. But if it’s heat you are looking for, then spring to autumn is your best bet.
For a place to stay while on honeymoon in Spain check out NewbridgeTravel.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Phuket, Thailand
Phuket is a beautiful island that will show you the most amazing blue lagoons and pink sunsets and allow you to go elephant trekking – a must-do in Thailand. Phuket has some fantastic sandy, white beaches! Head for Rawai at the southern tip to catch a longtail boat to head to visit the other islands. Go diving, canoeing, snorkelling, windsurfing and sailing with your new other-half for a romantic day out. Inland, forested hills, mountains and cliffs wait to be hiking and explored. We’d advise avoiding Patong if you hate the idea of chain hotels, loud bars and noisy nightclubs! The 4* Amari Coral Beach Resort in Phuket is beautiful location to stay in.
Best time to visit: It’s warm all round, but from April to May and September to October are the hottest months, but the latter are also the wettest months.
For more on this venue and special offers for honeymooning in Thailand contact LeeTravel.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Algarve, Portugal
If you’re looking for something different from your honeymoon in Portugal, you can easily escape the holiday makers with a short trip to the countryside. Here you will find plenty of charm, with medieval castles, golf resorts and beautiful villages scattered around coastlines. Visit the town of Lagos for a busy nightlife and a magnificent marina area for dining and chillaxing. Of course, the sun-kissed golden beaches are one of the most enticing parts of this country, while the country’s capital Lisbon is a magical place with plenty of charm, sights to see, boutiques for you to shop until you drop, cobblestone streets and lots of hustle and bustle.
Best time to visit: April to October is the best time to go for hot weather and days spent lounging on the beach.
See Vila Vita Parc for more on honeymooning in Portugal or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Maldives
Nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean and surrounded by the clearest, bluest water (check the picture above if you don’t believe us!), the Maldives is made up of over 1,000 islands grouped together. Dazzling underwater coral gardens combine to create the perfect tropical holiday destination for scuba diving with plenty of diving schools – some ranked among the best in the world. Not cheap even at the bottom end, this is a place for a holiday of a lifetime and the islands are really for anyone looking for a unique and indulgent break complete with lazy afternoons, dreamy sunsets and candlelit meals!
Best time to visit: It’s warm all year around, but for a few extra hours of sunshine visit between December and April, between May and November it can be cloudy and a bit rainy.
Contact TravelFocus.ie for more on honeymoon breaks and special offer in the Maldives or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Rottnest Island, Australia
If you’re idea of romance includes sun, sea, adventure, skiing, surfing, history, copious amounts of relaxation and maybe even a visit to some of your Irish friends living there, then Australia is an absolute must because a honeymoon in this country is only as big as your imagination! From the Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach, to the red hot desert sunsets over Uluru, to the great and mysterious outback – there will always be something to do in this vast country wherever you find yourself! But for somewhere truly unique, visit the 11km-long, 4.5km-wide island of Rottnest. Around 19km from Fremantle, it is full of secluded tropical beaches and bays. It’s a car free island that generates its own power and water, so it will tick all the boxes if you’re also an eco-chic kind of couple.
Best time to visit: Australia is such a vast country, there’s huge weather variations between northern and southern areas, but areas like Rottnest, summers, which fall between December and February, are dry and the winters, which fall between June and August, are mild and rainy.
For a place to stay and for special offers contact LeeTravel.ie or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Cape Town, South Africa
This picturesque city in South Africa is one of the world’s most stunning locations! As amazing as the surrounding beaches and vineyards are, it’s Table Mountain that demands everyone’s attention – covering some 75% of the peninsula. The mountain is the city’s adventure hot spot – you can even sleep on it! Aside from mountain activities, there are plenty of great wildlife-spotting opportunities, from the penguins at Boulders to the antelopes, buffaloes and black rhino at Solole Game Reserve or scuba-diving with great white sharks. The region also hosts an energetic cultural scene with loads of arty galleries, and the foods and local dishes are simply to die for, especially for those who love spices!
Best time to visit: Summer temperatures in December to February are the hottest hitting around 27 degrees, but in the winter, from June to August, the temperatures are between 7 to 20 degrees Celsius.
For a place to stay while on honeymoon in Cape Town NewbridgeTravel.ie have a special offer in the 4* City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront Hotel. Also, check out EastCapeTours.com for more on honeymooning in South Africa or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Porec, Croatia
Porec is a small town in an idyllic setting on the Istrian peninsula and is often described as “the new Tuscany”. Most of the activities in the area take place in the Porec hotels or on the beach outside of town. The location of Porec also makes is a good base to visit other towns in Istria. The Villa Polesini is a beautiful venue located on the waterfront and is very popular for weddings. With seaside manicured gardens for relaxing and exquisite Istrian food, this makes it a one stop venue for your honeymoon.
If you’re thinking about honeymooning in Croatia visit Croatia-Weddings.com or for more great honeymoon destinations see our honeymoon suppliers.
Best time to visit: Croatia’s warmest weather falls between the months April to September.
Vaccines
It doesn’t sound very romantic, but for all your vaccines visit the Tropical Medical Bureau with over 20 clinics nationwide. For an exclusive WeddingsOnline reduced price consultation offer see here.
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