Honeymoon destinations in July

Best honeymoon destinations in July 2012 where to go on honeymoon in July honeymoons in July

Where to go on honeymoon in July

jane small Honeymoon planning By Jane Anderson, Editor of 101 Honeymoons

July is peak wedding season when hopefully summer is truly upon us, making the UK and Europe a fabulous honeymoon choice. Think outside the box a little and there are many other wonderful short haul options such as Iceland where you can enjoy all the romance of the midnight sun.

If you’ve booked your wedding towards the beginning of July, you can escape the school holiday rush and inflated prices. But there are areas where it’s low season, such as the Caribbean with good deals to be found. July is also a great month for safari and there are always great two-centre options to explore.

UK & Ireland honeymoons in July

England’s southwest region is one of its beset romantic escapes especially when the sun starts to shine and temperatures rise. Hawke’s Point, close to St Ives is a great self-catering honeymoon option with all the golden beaches, art and surf of this Cornish town on your doorstep.

Over in Devon, pamper yourselves with great food and spa treatments at The Cary Arms. Stay there before the school holiday for peaceful sunbathing and swimming in Babbacombe Bay.

Scotland is another fabulous place to head in July when the heather’s in full bloom. Alladale Wilderness Reserve offers majestic Highland scenery and your very own bothy complete with deer antler chandeliers and 4×4 safaris.

If you feel more like taking to the open road, hire a classic car such as a vintage E-Type Jag with McKinlay Kidd and head for the Highlands. Alternatively, hire a cool camper van from Wicked Campers – a wonderfully romantic way to explore the countryside. They also have collection points in Italy, Spain, Germany and Amsterdam.

If you want something romantic, rustic and chic, I recommend you check out Sheepskin which has a beautiful collection of cottages and honeymoon retreats in Wales and Devon. I particularly like Tailor’s Cottage in Snowdonia, Tamar Cottages in Devon’s Tamar Valley and Hafod Glan Gwy on the banks of the River Wye.

Short haul honeymoons in July

The Mediterranean is in full holiday mode at this time of year and perfect if you worship the sun but want some culture too.

Head to Italy’s Amalfi coast and find a romantic villa or apartment with CV Travel from which to explore Sorrento, the island of Capri and a blow out stay at the Capri Palace Hotel, the ruins of Pompeii and the mighty Vesuvius. Or head down south to the heel of Italy – Puglia where the beach clubs are in full swing and you can stay in a self-catering trulli with Long Travel.

If you like art, head to Dubrovnik for its summer festival with hip lodgings at hotel Bellevue, the only contemporary boutique hotel in town.

Greece is another great one for sun worshippers and the island of Alonissos has romantic cottages and villas right on the beach like Sea Horse Cottage for bathing in the warm sea. Go in July and you’ll be there before the French and Italians arrive. Or head to Cyprus for dreamy stays at either the funky Almyra or the more classic Anassa.

Iceland in July experiences relatively warm weather and of course you’ll be able to experience the amazing phenomenon of the midnight sun. There are some surprisingly romantic and hip hotels to stay in such as Hotel Budir.

Love cycling? Why not take an independent cycling tour of Italy. Explore beautiful unspoilt countryside, visit vineyards and remote villages, eat at gorgeous restaurants while your luggage is transported each day from one charming hotel to the next.

Long haul honeymoons in July

If you’ve always dreamed of a safari honeymoon, July is the beginning of the world’s largest animal movement as zebra, gazelle and wildebeest migrate across the Masai Mara. Bridge & Wickers offers a fabulous range of tailor-made safari and beach honeymoons and has the know-how to put together your trip seamlessly.

Other great options in July include Botswana where the weather will be dry and the nights cool. It has some amazingly romantic luxury camps and lodges such as Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp in the Okavango Delta and Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero in Chobe National Park.

Technically it may be winter in Mauritius, but that doesn’t stop the sun from shining and if you like surfing, June through to August is the best time to go.

Zanzibar and Tanzania is another exotic two-centre option. Rainbow Tours will find you wonderful retreats like Fumba Beach Lodge and Selous Safari Camp.

Borneo is one of Southeast Asia’s few summer destinations as the best time to travel is between March and October. Audley Travel can tailormake a tour of the stunning wildlife including orang-utans and clouded leopards.

Some Asian destinations are a bit wet in July, but the east coast of Malaysia and Thailand is an exception.

Although most of Thailand is out of bounds due to the climate, the Gulf of Thailand islands on the east coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao) often enjoy great weather during May to October, with rain being an occasional event rather than a persistent nuisance. Audley Travel has pin pointed a new generation of small, luxury hotels like Rasananda, on Koh Phangan.

And then of course, there’s the Caribbean. It will be hot in July but hurricane season hasn’t begun and prices are low. This is a great time to book a luxury hideaway and take advantage of lower rates such as Anse Chastanet in St Lucia or the stylish hideaway, Laluna, on Grenada.

Another great option in the Caribbean is Cuba. Not only will you find great beaches, but a fascinating local culture, with vibrant nightlife. Drink mojitos, visit cigar factories, dance the night away at salsa clubs. The historic Hotel Saratoga is a good choice in the capital Havana for a couple of nights, while chillout beach options include the Paradisus Varadero and Melia Cayo Coco.

For something different, why not consider a volunteering honeymoon in Bali. You’ll spend a few days teaching at a school for impoverished children, while enjoying the finest luxury eco-hotels and enjoying mountain biking, rafting, trekking and surfing.

July is also a good month to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands – take a luxury small ship cruise on the MC Athala or MV Eclipse. See the full range of expedition cruises.

>> Visit our homepage for the full choice of honeymoon destinations.

Follow Jane on Twitter | Read Jane’s blog Honeychat