It is probably the most important holiday of your life, and should definitely be the most romantic. The world's your oyster, and your honeymoon is the perfect time to explore it. But where are the most romantic spots to enjoy the first few days of wedded bliss? Whether it's sun, snow or a romantic city that you're after, read on for our guide to the best places to go on honeymoon.
Hot Beach Destinations
Hawaii: sun, sea, white sand beaches, the chance to look like Pamela Anderson in your white bikini and sarong… what more could you want? A holiday on the beach takes a lot of beating and Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations for honeymoons. They've looked after the happy couple so many times here, they'll know how to give you first class service. The only drawback is that you might not be the only newlyweds on the beach. But with so many islands you should be able to get away from the crowds if you try hard enough.
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Thailand: immortalised in books and spin-off films, Thailand really does have the perfect beach for everyone. With a little bit of searching you can find the idyllic spot to celebrate your newly wedded bliss. While we wouldn't condone it, of course, there's plenty of opportunities for some al fresco activities. The only word of warning is - don't go looking for the actual Beach that was used in the film (it's Maya Bay, a strip of sand on Phi Phi Le island, just to let you know). After it was plucked from obscurity to feature in the film its new-found fame means that it has become one of the most sought after destinations. You'll be more likely to encounter hordes of tourists than secluded beauty these days.
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Bali: a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons, Bali is even more popular for a renewal of vows. So if it all went a bit pear-shaped on the big day, you can do it all over again here. In the sun. Who cares that the original wedding was only a week ago?
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The Greek islands: white stone villages dripping with wisteria, warm seas, fantastic weather... And you’ve a choice of more than 2,000 islands on which to experience your own Captain Corelli moment.
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Winter Wonderlands
Prague: if you fancy the idea of stepping out of a horse and carriage and gliding across a carpet of snow to your first supper as a married couple, then Prague could be the perfect destination. The capital of the Czech Republic is a fairy tale come alive. Gothic cathedrals, Baroque palaces and a maze of cobbled streets provide the perfect backdrop for a romantic holiday. There is normally snow on the ground on Christmas day in Prague, so your chances for a white Christmas are high.
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The Ice Hotel, Sweden: if you really love winter weather, the famous Ice Hotel in Sweden is the only place worth considering. Built anew every year from blocks of ice, you can be guaranteed that the hotel room you stay in won't be quite the same ever again. But if sleeping covered up in furs and a sleeping bag for your entire honeymoon doesn't sound quite the romantic break you had in mind, you can always stay one night in the spectacular ice palace, and spend the rest of the time in the more conventional hotel attached. There's even an Ice Chapel here, in which weddings take place from Christmas to April, if you want to do the whole thing in an icy style.
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New York: make no mistake, New York in the winter time is very cold. But the bustling metropolis could be the perfect location for those with a lust for life. Carriage rides in the snow in Central Park, some of the best shopping in the world, a mind-boggling choice of restaurants as well as great boutique hotels make this the perfect destination for urbanites who don't want to leave any of their home comforts behind. With America's renowned hospitality, you won't have to do anything you don't want to, from ironing a shirt to cooking breakfast. Which means you've got all the more time to spend together.
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Romantic Cities
Paris: where better to spend your honeymoon than the city of romance? The Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Couer, wandering along the banks of the Seine, boulevards, café culture… Paris is the place for gazing into each others’ eyes as you murmur "Je t'aime." The obvious time of year to have a honeymoon in Paris is the Spring, but do remember that there will be a lot of other tourists visiting the city at the same time.
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Rome: people come from all over the world to get married in Rome, and possibly just for the pleasure of having their wedding photographs taken in front of the Colosseum. But if you prefer to avoid the queue to be photographed, then Rome could still be the perfect destination for your honeymoon. There is a wealth of things to see and do, from wandering round the Vatican with the other tourists to eating on one of the many rooftop restaurants from where you can look out at Rome's skyline and seven hills. There has been no significant modern building in the centro storico, or old town, since Mussolini's fascist buildings, which means that every time you round a corner you are greeted with a spectacular Ancient Roman edifice, or Renaissance palazzo. The city enjoys good weather from March in most years, so you should get the sun even if the UK is still having thunderstorms. One top tip: heading up the Janiculum hill to watch the sun rise over the city is one of the most romantic things it is possible to do…
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Tallinn: not just for stag night, Estonia’s beautiful capital is a great destination for a honeymoon as well. The old city is like a little toy town, perched atop a hill, even the strip bars look pretty here. It's very small, so if you don't want to be too energetic, but just spend a bit of time wandering, stopping off in endless cafés and drinking in the atmosphere, this Eastern European town could be perfect.
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Las Vegas: it might not be everyone’s idea of romance, but if you fancy a shotgun wedding, presided over by Elvis, there’s only one place in the world worth considering: Las Vegas. But even if you'd prefer to actually tie the knot with a little more decorum, following it up with a honeymoon in sin city is one sure fire way to make it memorable… Anything goes in Vegas, so let your imagination run wild. Perhaps the only point to remember is to avoid Valentine’s day, which is the busiest marrying day in town.
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Sabrina Wolfe
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated April 2009
