The best honeymoon destinations for dreaming about now
Whether you're a 2021 bride or are looking forward to the future, the best honeymoon destinations are something you want to have good knowledge of. Here are our pick of the best locations to have on your radar.
Summer honeymoon destinations
The sun-filled months of June, July and August are a beautiful time to getaway in the UK. If you’re planning a mini-moon before going long-haul later in the year or want to keep things green and clean by avoiding flights, then a summer staycation might be the ideal honeymoon for you. Romantic spots include the Isles of Scilly, a stunning archipelago with white sand beaches and palm trees (yes, really) just off the coast of Cornwall, or how about Scotland’s Outer Hebrides for blissfully deserted beaches and breathtaking scenery?
Italy’s one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world and you can’t beat it in summer, when the weather’s hot and restaurants buzzing. The Amalfi Coast is regularly voted one of the most romantic places on the planet for good reason and, although the towns can get crowded in July and August, there are still plenty of secluded hideaways around Ravello and Positano to bask on sun-drenched terraces and eat fresh pasta to your heart's content. Tuscany’s joyful in summer months: fields of sunflowers, wine-tasting al fresco in Chianti then escaping the heat in the cool galleries of Florence.
Tropical Indonesian island Bali’s another honeymoon favourite, thanks to its beautiful beaches, tranquil temples, unique hotels and lush jungle. Temperatures are consistently warm every month here (you’re not going to need to pack a jumper), but June to August is peak dry season.
It’s whale-watching time in French Polynesia, when humpbacks arrive to breed and give birth, making this a popular time to travel to the beautiful islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, which also boast some top the world’s best beaches and an enviably warm climate.
The summer months are also an ideal time to head on an African safari, with countries like Namibia and Kenya boasting long, dry days and excellent game viewing opportunities.
Autumn honeymoon destinations
If you’re a honeymoon couple looking for something more adventurous than a beach holiday, the wide open roads of the USA offer the freedom, excitement and flexibility you’re probably craving right now. From the deserted roads of the Canyonlands and coastal wonders of the Florida Keys to the rich musical heritage of the Deep South and famous Route 66, there’s so much choice. Without the stifling heat of summer and the dreary rains of winter, October is about as perfect a month as you can get for a romantic road trip of a lifetime.
Autumn’s when we should all follow the example of migrating birds and fly south to exotic Morocco in North Africa for some guaranteed sunshine. Honeymoon in a romantic riad inside the ancient Marrakech Medina, then escape the city and head to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira on the coast or camp on the edge of the Sahara Desert.
October's THE time to visit Tanzania, when the Great Migration reaches the Serengeti. Book into a mobile safari camp to witness one of the most impressive displays in nature and the chance to see lions, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard too. This dry, warm period is also when honeymoon favourite Zanzibar is at its finest, with little chance of rain on the silky sand beaches or art-filled streets of Stone Town.
A choice time to visit Indian Ocean honeymoon hot spot Mauritius, which is ringed by five-star resorts and boasts a lush, mountainous interior. Temperatures are warm and pleasant, plus you avoid the cyclone season (Jan- March).
Winter honeymoon destinations
The Maldives is often thought of as the most popular honeymoon destination in the worl, Where else can compete with such perfect white sand, incredible marine life, off-the-scale resorts and total privacy? We’d argue it’s particularly amazing in January and February, with very little rain across the 1000-plus Indian Ocean islands and the sea’s a consistent and glorious 27˚C.
There’s something extra special about jetting off to warmer climes when the UK’s dark and cold, particularly when you’re just-married, which is what makes Australia so alluring: kick off a New Year in style with celebrations in Sydney, then head for the Great Barrier Reef and dreamy Whitsunday Islands.
Captivating Vietnam has many wonders, from glorious beaches to bustling cities, but if you want something extra special book a ‘moon during Vietnamese New Year, a two-week period of festivities rich with colour, music and food. Make sure you’re in Hoi An for the first full moon to witness the town lit up by beautiful lanterns floating along the Thu Bồn River.
December and January are the best months to honeymoon in the Caribbean, with warm dry days, balmy nights and very little rain. Closer to home, the Canary Islands are surprisingly warm in winter - despite being a Spanish archipelagos, they’re close enough to West Africa to benefit from plenty of sunshine (and the five-star hotels are way more affordable off-peak).
Any time of year is good to visit the blissful Hawaiian islands, but there's something particularly delectable about all that Maui sunshine when it's cold back home. A celebrity favourite (thanks to its proximity to Los Angeles), stars like The Rock have tied the knot there.
Known for its luxury hotels, golden beaches and excellent service, Dubai’s ideal for sun-seekers thanks to year-round warm weather. However it can get really hot in summer, so best to go in autumn or winter, when temps have cooled to a perfect 25°C (77°F) average but showers are still incredibly rare. FYI, Dubai can easily be twinned with various African and Asian holiday spots to make a multi-centre trip.
Sri Lanka offers some unique and authentic experiences, ideal for adventure-seeking honeymooners. From the tea fields of Nuwarya Eliya and Buddhist temples of Kandy, to the beauty of Sigirya Rock or watching magnificent leopards in Yala National Park, there’s so much to see here during the driest months, December to March.
Spring honeymoon destinations
A dreamy time to visit Paris, where you’ll find less crowds, cheaper room rates and temperatures warm enough to share a romantic picnic on the banks of the Seine. Another European city that blooms at this time of year is Amsterdam, now reachable in four hours on Eurostar and where it’s easy to rent bikes and cycle through the surrounding tulip fields or stroll through the city’s famous flower market.
Spring is also the ideal time to fly to Japan, when Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka transform under an Instagrammable burst of cherry blossom trees and festivals and the air is less humid than summer months.
Thailand’s white sand beaches and temples are best visited from February to April, the driest, warmest time of year, with up to nine hours of blissful sunshine per day.
Consider your honeymoon, sorted.
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