12 Adventurous Yet Romantic Honeymoon Destinations To Consider
As a lover of all things travel, I knew I didn't want to honeymoon somewhere expected like Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas.
While the Caribbean can be a beautiful place for a vacation, I wanted to go somewhere a little more adventurous and a little further than a 2 hour flight from my hometown in South Florida.
As a pandemic bride, I still haven't decided on a honeymoon destination. We've postponed our honeymoon indefinitely, so we can make sure it's safe for both us and the local populations of the country we choose to visit.
So, of course, with an unending amount of time to plan my dream honeymoon, I'm absolutely stuck on where to go, but here's a list of all the contenders!
1.
Greece is a popular honeymoon destination, with Santorini and Mykonos being some fan favorites. But Milos is a small romantic island filled with gorgeous hotels that cater more towards couples than party crowds or friend groups.
Milos is best known for the famous Sarakiniko Beach with white volcanic rock formations that look like the moon. With dozens of gorgeous beaches scattering the island's coast, there's no shortage of romantic seaside spots.
I'm obsessed with these private pool suites in Milos. They're extremely romantic and the hotel is also adults-only (sorry, kids!)
White Coast Pool Suites is a newer hotel in Milos where each room comes with it's own private pool — cue me with the star eyes emoji. But beyond the pools, I just want to watch the stunning sunset views overlooking the sea, enjoy their restaurant with a well-considered menu, and relax in the serenity of: no kids allowed. 😏
2.
I was in Vietnam right before the pandemic shut everything down. Since my trip got cut short, I thought my honeymoon would be the perfect opportunity to finish the trip, while adding on some nicer hotels and excursions that weren't in my original budget.
Vietnam is a surprising country in its landscape's diversity. The country boasts beautiful sand beaches, foggy mountain towns, lush waterfalls, and bustling cities. There's so much good food, plenty of outdoor activities, and an excess of beach resorts.
If I were to choose Vietnam for my honeymoon, we'd plan to travel from north to south. First visiting the mountains of Sapa Valley, the hectic city of Hanoi, and joining a small cruise around Ha Long Bay. Then we'd travel south visiting places like Hue, Hoi An, and Dalat. After a few days in Ho Chi Minh, we'd end our trip on the beautiful island of Phu Quoc.
Of course I scoured the internet for overwater bungalows. And I found these in Phu Quoc, Vietnam for less than $100 per night!
Two words: Overwater bungalow! Maldives who?!
Okay, so this might not be anything like the vibes in the Maldives. We won't be hurrying down a waterslide leading from our bedroom into the ocean, but we can live without it.
Instead, the vibes are much more lowkey. Think relaxing retreat, pastel sunsets, and loads of starfish. We can hang out in our overwater bungalow, visit waterfalls, go for a hike, enjoy the busy night markets, and eat some fresh caught seafood.
Oh, and did I mention these overwater bungalows start as low as $79 per night? (Yes, you read that right!) For less than a roundtrip ticket on Spirit Airlines, we can stay in an overwater bungalow at Naomi Resort. They list their overwater bungalows as chalets, so that's what to look for when booking!
3.
Malta has been growing in popularity with tourists in recent years, but when the country was one of the first in Europe to open up for travel, the islands gained even more popularity among summer holiday goers.
I've always been in love with the beaches in the mediterranean, so any excuse to go back is a good one for me. Malta is a small set of islands just south of Sicily. It's best known for its clear waters, the sparkling Blue Lagoon, and temples older than the pyramids.
It's predominantly a beach vacation, but there's plenty for history lovers as well.
I'm also into all the regal palace vibes, so I considered staying this 17th-century chateaux.
I love to feel transported back in time and also feel royal, so Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux is the perfect place! I love that it has some old palace vibes, which is due to the fact that it's still the same structure from the 17th-century!
The views are glorious, and it's so unique compared to the many other hotels in Malta. It has a pool, and some rooms even have a hot tub on the terrace with incredible views overlooking the countryside.
4.
Okay, so the Philippines is without a doubt my favorite place I've ever been. There are so many beautiful islands to explore, the food is SO GOOD (the mangos are literally incredible, I will never be able to eat a mango in the U.S. again because they are trash in comparison), and the people are so friendly.
While the Philippines might not be most people's first thought when they're planning their honeymoon, let me tell you why it's at the top of my list.
Whether we choose to visit Palawan, Boracay, Coron or Siargao, we'll undoubtedly be met with clear blue water, white sand beaches, stunning lagoons and caves, plenty of snorkeling spots, and probably some sea turtles. The sunsets in the Philippines are almost always magical. There are loads of waterfalls, and lots of opportunities to go hiking or canyoning.
Since there are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, there are always going to be some that are better than others for tourism, with Palawan and Boracay being the most popular.
And of course I considered renting out a private island, because dreams really do come true.
Banwa is a private island resort in Palawan. The island is the epitome of luxury, including a sparkling swimming pool, tennis court, small golf course, and all the white sand beaches.
We would have our pick of activities, from diving excursions, hiking, and snorkeling. Really anything we could dream up on a private island is possible.
They even have an organic farm and offer a private chef who can make a bespoke menu for any dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, keto, etc.)
We could book the entire island, or just one of the select few villas for a semi-private island experience.
5.
Slovenia is a very special place for my partner and I, because it's where we got engaged! We loved our time there and it was by far our favorite trip together. While Slovenia is a pretty small country (it's a little smaller than New Jersey), there is so much to do and see that a week in Slovenia wasn't even close to enough!
We know we definitely want to go back to hike the Julian Alps, as well as explore the eastern part of the country.
Since Slovenia is so tiny, it blends some of my favorite aspects of its neighboring countries. It shares the gorgeous mountains and lakes of Switzerland and Austria, the delicious food of Italy, and a sliver of the seaside towns in Croatia.
I found Slovenia to be a beautiful mix of elements from Central and Eastern Europe as well as the mediterranean.
For something more adventurous, I thought why go camping when you could go glamping?
Big Berry Glamping is a glamp site along the Kolpa River. It's a great place to immerse ourselves in nature as well as the local culture. We could spend the days relaxing on a hammock or paddling down the river in a kayak, there's plenty to enjoy in the quiet Slovenian countryside.
6.
Georgia — the country, not the state — has been at the top of my bucket list for the past few years. Then in a bout of mid-pandemic boredom, I found myself in a YouTube rabbit hole of Georgia travel vlogs.
Despite it being on my bucket list, I had no idea it was as beautiful as it is. I'd say that in a few years, it might compete with Iceland for tourists as it's the perfect destination for hiking and outdoor sports (like paragliding), but still offers resorts along the black sea in Batumi. While a flight to Georgia from the U.S. is going to cost more than a flight to Iceland, once you're there, the costs will be significantly less.
The Republic of Georgia has a lot to offer couples like beaches along the Black Sea, ski slopes in mountain towns, and a unique wine region where they still make wine according to a centuries old tradition — underground in clay vats.
The capital city of Tbilisi is super artsy and boasts a nightlife similar to Berlin. While the country is still growing to accommodate tourism, it's easily an emerging destination that I can't wait to visit soon!
I love a mountain retreat, so I was drooling over the views at Eco House Merisi.
I first heard about Eco House Merisi in some random travel corner of the internet and I immediately saved it in my Google Maps list. Here you can sleep on the edge of a mountain with a panoramic view.
Thinking of this view blanketed in fresh fallen snow is so romantic, definitely honeymoon worthy, I was about ready to book my stay right then and there, but of course the pandemic stopped me.
For less than $100 per night, I'm still leaving the page loaded in my phone's safari browser for when I can finally click book!
7.
Sicily is a beautiful island off the southwest coast of Italy. It is filled with beaches, ancient ruins, small fishing villages, and one of Europe's tallest active volcanoes, Mt. Etna.
When Sicily began welcoming tourists again, their tourism board shared amazing deals like buy two nights get one free on accommodations, free admissions to museums, free excursions and diving. This, of course, drew many people to plan vacations to Sicily, myself included.
When my partner and I first started planning our honeymoon, we had this grand idea of visiting the places our ancestors come from. For him, this meant we'd start our trip in England and Scotland, and for me, it meant we'd head to Pakistan, then Italy's mainland near Naples, and then Sicily!
The more I researched Sicily, the more excited I was for sailing the vivid blue sea, wandering around the small towns, eating so many cannolis, and admiring the incredible art and architecture.
But I also love the idea of mountains+sea at Club Med Cefalù.
When I hear the word honeymoon, I automatically think of all-inclusive resorts. And Club Med Cefalù is such a unique all-inclusive resort set upon the rocky cliffs of northern Sicily.
One of the best benefits of an all-inclusive vacation is the lack of stress. No need to plan what to do and where to go months in advance, instead we can wake up and plan as we go, we could lounge at the infinity pool, go for a hike, take a paddleboard out on the water to watch the sunset, and then enjoy dinner at the resort's restaurant.
8.
I've been wanting to visit Zanzibar, but plane tickets to Tanzania are always out of my budget. I've also always wanted to stay at the famous giraffe hotel in Kenya where you can eat breakfast with giraffes (they're my favorite animal), but flights to Kenya are also not cheap. Since Zanzibar is a small island, we wouldn't need to spend a whole week there to enjoy it. So, with that in mind we thought about splitting our honeymoon between Kenya and Tanzania so we could do both!
Zanzibar is such an interesting island destination, with experiences we can't get anywhere else. We can tour the spice orchards and taste some of the most exotic spices around. The island has a mix of Arabic, Indian, and African influence so it's really unlike so many other islands we could honeymoon at.
Kenya, on the other hand, boasts both savannah and lakelands. And is most visited for its safaris in the Maasai Mara Reserve. My partner is so fascinated by biology and zoology, so naturally we are both animal lovers.
And The Giraffe Manor is a fancy hotel at the very top of my wish list!
It's truly like something out of a children's book! What a dream for us to spend the day in a gorgeous hotel where giraffes just pop in to say hi and grab a snack.
We can visit the manor by booking a night's stay at the hotel, or alternatively, we could stay elsewhere and visit by booking a safari through The Safari Collection...but let's be real, we'd want to stay at the hotel!
9.
I've long considered Iceland to be the best honeymoon destination for adventurous couples! Iceland has a lot to enjoy, particularly for those who love being outdoors. We can hike to dozens of waterfalls, walk along black sand beaches, join a whale watching tour, relax in a thermal spa, and end the day marveling at the northern lights.
I've been wanting to head back to Iceland for a while now, and since my partner is not much of a beach person, the idea of cozying up in a remote Icelandic cabin seems like a good alternative.
But instead of something tropical or warm, I dream of watching the northern lights in a Buubble.
Buubble is also known as the 5 million star hotel. This clear dome is the perfect spot to sleep under the stars to watch the northern lights.
I find it to be the ultimate collision of luxury, minimalism, and adventure. Each Buubble is heated, so we'll stay nice and warm whenever we visit. All stays come with a tour included, we can choose from a tour of Iceland's Golden Circle or the South Coast. After the tour, we'd end the day in the Buubble watching the aurora dance in the skies above us. It's both magical and seemingly surreal.
10.
Thailand is one of those places where I wish I'd spent more time. I've only visited northern Thailand, so I'd love to finally visit the islands and do a proper island hopping tour.
I especially want to stay the night in Koh Phi Phi or Krabi and have the chance to swim with glowing plankton.
The islands in Thailand have some of the most iconic beaches in Southeast Asia, but there's so much more than just beaches, like delicious food, vibrant nightlife, and stunning scenery.
And thinking back to private islands, there's Cape Fahn.
The Cape Fahn Hotel lies on a small private island just north of Koh Samui. This small boutique hotel includes just 22 villas, each with their own plunge pool and sun deck.
It would be great for our honeymoon, because we'd like to enjoy a little luxury, but also want something a bit off the beaten path.
I'm pretty sure when I dream at night, this is where I am.
11.
Jordan isn't the typical white sand beach honeymoon, but it does offer beaches along the Dead Sea, as well as adventurous activities like canyoning and hiking.
Of course, a visit to Jordan wouldn't be complete without a visit to Petra, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. The temples and tombs intricately carved into sandstone cliffs are reason enough to visit Jordan.
Since I love the desert vibes, I quickly favorited Sun City Camp in Wadi Rum.
After visiting Petra, we could travel south visit the red rock desert of Wadi Rum and stay in little martian-like domes on what looks like the surface of mars — if I had to guess what Mars looks like.
Sun City Camp is a great place to connect with the earth. We could enjoy sunrise yoga (but we aren't morning people, so thankfully they also have sunset yoga), explore the desert, and spend the night stargazing. We would definitely plan to join a jeep tour during the day, go trekking, and explore the dunes. A trip to Wadi Rum is unlike anywhere else I can imagine.
12.But possibly the most ✨extra✨ honeymoon idea on my list is the luxury overnight train trip from Venice to London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
Not long ago, I discovered the Orient Express. Embarrassingly enough, it was years after the famous movie, Murder on the Orient Express came out.
I was behind the times, but genuinely had no clue the Orient Express was a real train that's still running. So, when I saw it pop up on my phone screen late one night, I realized I needed to add it to my bucket list immediately. Then I saw the price...their one night train journey was above my budget for most anything. But if a honeymoon isn't a time to go all out and spend a bunch of money on something as silly as a really cool, old train, then what is?!
And thus became the week that I was confident I would book a trip from Venice to London on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. This had nothing to do with visiting Venice or London, but was just a pipe dream to take this train journey.
Sadly, the plan was vetoed by my partner when he heard the price...yikes.
All this to say, we still have no idea where we're going for our honeymoon!
So, which one would YOU choose?
So, which one would YOU choose?
Correct Incorrect Greece
Correct Incorrect Vietnam
Correct Incorrect Malta
Correct Incorrect The Philippines
Correct Incorrect Slovenia
Correct Incorrect Georgia
Correct Incorrect Sicily
Correct Incorrect Zanzibar
Correct Incorrect Iceland
Correct Incorrect Thailand
Correct Incorrect Jordan
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So, which one would YOU choose?
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Greece
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Vietnam
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Malta
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The Philippines
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Slovenia
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Georgia
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Sicily
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Zanzibar
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Iceland
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Thailand
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Jordan
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