Find our top recommendations and most popular honeymoon destinations

By Jane Anderson, Editor of 101 Honeymoons

You’ve said ‘I do’ to marriage; now the pressure is on to find the honeymoon that lives up to all expectations. Often billed as the most important holiday of your lives, it’s a decision you want to get right.

Here, Jane Anderson reveals the top 10 honeymoon destinations. These are the most popular destinations with our readers, along with Jane’s own personal recommendations.

If you know your wedding date and want inspiration please select a month.

1. Maldives

This Indian Ocean archipelago is like nowhere else on earth – making it the perfect choice for a once in a lifetime honeymoon. Its 26 natural ring like atolls are renowned for their powder white sand beaches and jade seas. For honeymooners there’s the allure of being castaway in paradise, but more than that, increasingly sophisticated resorts have become irresistibly romantic and indulgent with everything from underwater clubs to 24-hour spas – two of the highlights at the brand new NIYAMA which opened in October 2011. Huvafen Fushi is another Maldivian epitome of barefoot chic, but there’s a new slant to the Maldives that’s making it even more attractive to couples – the rise of the all-inclusive making it an incredibly affordable honeymoon given its remoteness and high standards. Meeru Island Resort offers four-star all-inclusive quality at three-star rates. The new Constance Moofushi has cool contemporary touches and the option to go all-inclusive. As a honeymooner in search of the exotic, the Maldives is a no-brainer. And although weddings are still not legal here for UK couples, a two-centre honeymoon is popular: you tie the knot in Sri Lanka and honeymoon in the Maldives.

2. Caribbean

Highly accessible with guaranteed sunshine, the Caribbean offers amazing all-inclusive deals, boutique one-offs and special treatment for newlyweds. It’s an obvious choice for a winter honeymoon but also great value in spring and summer. There’s so much variety here, it’s hard to choose from the culturally rich streets of Cuba to the sybaritic Out Islands of the Bahamas. Many UK honeymooners opt for St Lucia, Barbados or Jamaica but there are many other islands that offer unexpected dimensions for couples such as the culture and rainforests of the Dominican Republic. Blow the budget one-offs like Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Laluna in Grenada and castaway five-stars like Young Island in the Grenadines are once in a lifetime experiences. The Caribbean provides many options for two and even three-centre honeymoons, island hopping and cruising. It’s also one of the easiest places on earth for UK couples to tie the knot overseas.

3. Greece

Greece has enjoyed something of a renaissance over recent years in terms of stylish accommodation. Add to that its accessibility and the natural beauty of its mainland and islands, and you have a strong honeymoon contender, especially in times of recession. The dramatic island of Santorini comes top of many honeymoon wish lists with slick boutique hideaways like Carpe Diem. As long as you’re not after a winter honeymoon, Greece makes the need for long-haul redundant. There are plenty of low key island hideaways like Sea Horse Cottage on Alonissos where couples can step back in time and totally distress after the wedding.

4. Italy

There’s no denying that Italy is a reliably romantic choice for honeymooners. Few could argue with a honeymoon on the Amalfi coast with its iconic towns and villages including Maiori, Minori, Ravello and Sorrento. The island of Capri is one of the most sought after places in the world and certainly demands a healthy budget to check into a fabulous hotel like the Capri Palace Hotel & Spa, beloved of celebrities. However, it rises to the special occasion a honeymoon demands and newlyweds are treated especially well. Puglia has long been dubbed the new Tuscany which may or may not ring true, but it has its fabulous charms with stunning masserias and sandy beaches with laid back beach clubs. Venice remains another iconic city of romance with some of the world’s best hotels or honeymooners can choose to go off the beaten track to some of Italy’s more undiscovered regions such as Chianti and Le Marche or even take a cycling tour of the regions. Other options include the beaches of Sardinia and a three-centre tour of Rome, Florence and Siena.

5. Thailand

Thailand remains an exotic destination for UK couples and in its favour are high standards of service and relatively affordable long-haul prices. Bangkok has some of the world’s finest temples and floating markets as well as swish hotels like the Metropolitan and the Banyan Tree. Most couples either combine the capital with a trip down south to islands like Koh Phangan or Phuket or head north to the culturally rich heartlands of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai with everything from elephant treks to cookery schools. Honeymooners are generally pampered by top resorts. You may also want to consider neighbouring Cambodia and Vietnam.

6. Africa

Africa offers honeymooners so many dimensions that it makes a memorable, multi-faceted honeymoon a reality. The combination of a safari followed by a week of beach relaxation is a popular choice. A Tanzania safari and a beach stay on the Arabia-meets-Africa island of Zanzibar is a great combination. Or you can safari and sunbathe on the beach within Kenya itself. Alternatively honeymooners can explore South Africa combining Cape Town, the Wine Route and a safari. Or round off a visit here with a week in Mauritius. Northern Africa can’t be ignored. Fabulous countries like Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt all have their honeymoon gems. For a budget beach honeymoon in Africa, head to The Gambia.

7. USA

The USA presents honeymooners with so many amazing choices from the hip quarters of Manhattan to the diversity of California with everything from Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles to the snow-topped High Sierras. Find a selection of honeymoon hotels in California. From here you can fly over to Hawaii, certainly America’s most exotic destination. Florida is a good year-round sunshine option. You can stay at a fabulous luxury hotel in Palm Beach County or combine a few nights in glamorous Miami with a road trip down through the Florida Keys. The USA has the advantage of being easily accessible and both familiar and alien all in one go. It’s easy to tie the knot here too.

8. Seychelles

There’s no doubt the Seychelles had an incredible boost this year when royal couple, William and Kate spent their honeymoon on North Island. The Seychelles remains one of the world’s truly amazing natural phenomenon. The aim is to keep the environment pristine and standards high. You won’t find many all-inclusives here, but you can find charming b&bs and small hotels along with big names like Banyan Tree. For honeymooners on a healthy budget, the mind blowingly beautiful private island resorts of the likes of Fregate Island Private and Denis Private Island remain something that princes and princesses aspire to.

9. Great Britain

We’re all aware of the rise of the staycation and this is as strong as ever with honeymooners, especially those who want to avoid flying or are time poor. The glamping phenomenon has also captured the imagination of newlyweds with everything from Romany caravans to yurts and campervans taking on a new sophistication and charm with forward thinking, creative companies like Canopy & Stars and Wicked Campers leading the way. The UK self-catering honeymoon has also evolved massively over the past decade with chi-chi hideaways like those offered by Sheepskin and Rural Retreats. Or there are always Britain’s splendid country house hotels to treat you like royalty including Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa or innovative seaside hotels that combine a low key sophistication with a fabulous sense of place like The Cary Arms in Devon.

10. South America

South America is on my top ten as one to watch. Momentum is growing in terms of honeymoon interest in Brazil and Argentina that have some of the coolest hangouts in the world along with stunning natural environments from rainforest to desert. Trendy Trancoso on the Bahia coast of Brazil is a honeymoon worthy of an fashionista or you can party with the jet-set in Rio. Argentina offers fabulous value for money once you’re there and great contrasts from partying in Buenos Aires to standing atop a Patagonian glacier.

Other top honeymoon destinations

Other fabulous honeymoons that we’ve found most often capture your attention on 101honeymoons include the French island of Corsica, the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, Sri Lanka otherwise known as the teardrop of India, Malaysia and Borneo. See our homepage for fully searchable honeymoon ideas.

Industry data

Leading tour operator Kuoni reports that two thirds of UK weddings are followed by a honeymoon abroad, while one third of those marrying abroad go on to take a separate honeymoon in a new location.

Kuoni’s top 10 honeymoon destinations as of July 2011

Maldives
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Kenya
Arab Emirates
Malaysia
USA
Mauritius
Indonesia
Italy

Kuoni’s top 10 wedding abroad destinations as of July 2011

Sri Lanka
USA
Mauritius
Kenya
Thailand
St Lucia
Barbados
Italy
Arab Emirates
Australia

* If you include renewal of vows ceremonies (not a legal wedding), then Maldives would come in at number two.

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