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  1.  

    Can anyone give some suggestions for destinations for a honeymoon? I've been giving the impossible responsibility of finding the ultimate destination for us but I could use some suggestions from others. We want to do something warm and relaxing. We are considering the Seychelles or the Maldives, but frankly I'm not sure what the pros and cons are of each. So any help would be much appreciated.

    We're also open to other suggestions, so any recommendations will do. Thank you!

  2.  

    just back from Thailand - Four Seasons Tented Camp was wonderful, and we met a young honeymooning couple there that also thought it fantastic.

    i'm also a big fan of the four seasons in Langkawi (Malaysia). i had a wonderfully romantic week there back in May and think you would enjoy it also.

    Thanks from: creed
  3.  

    My sister and brother-in-law visited the Maldives and had nothing but praise to offer. They said it was the perfect location if you are seeking privacy, relaxation, indulgence and splendid vistas.

    Thanks from: creed
  4.  

    Look into Monte Carlo- perhaps a bit busier than other destinations mentioned, but it doesn't get too much more romantic then their beautiful beaches and starry nights. :)

  5.  

    Have you thought about Belize? Look at the Matachica or Hamanasi. Both have honeymoon packages. Plenty of luxury and relaxation and great diving.

  6.  

    Depends on your travel style.

    Do you want surf, sand, & carefree days? Or....
    Explore a city, restaurants & nightlife? Or....
    Trekking the wilderness with active pursuits? Or...
    Visiting historical sites & "roughing it"?...

    1: French Polynesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Caribbean
    2: Florence, Barcelona, Bangkok, Tokyo, Tel Aviv
    3: Patagonia, Australian Outback, New Zealand
    4: Peru, Mongolia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa

    FYI: We (with much joy) chose Bora Bora for our Honeymoon. No regrets whatsoever.

  7.  

    Two words: Costa Rica

    Why? Beautiful, tropical, plenty to see & do (rainforests, pyramids, snorkling, shopping). If you're traveling from the US, its easy to get to. They have an incredibly romantic place to stay within a jungle (Pacuare Lodge), that is, unless you're the Plaza Hotel type, but then again, if you were, you probably wouldn't be asking about a destination honeymoon spot.

  8.  

    St Lucia - Sandals. It's full of honeymooners.

  9.  

    Not to be a total snob, but I think anyone who wants to go to a Sandals resort should be asking for advice on TripAdvisor — not Extravigator.

    If you weren't already aware...Extravigator is for Travelers, not Tourists!

  10.  

    I am very disappointed at some of the rude comments being passed along on this blog. While I quite agree that the point of this site is for discerning travelers to share insights, it would seem that those who are of a more extravigant lifestyle would be able to treat one another at a minimum, with some civility, and not insults.

    That being said, I did several months of research before embarking on my honeymoon (in 2005) and the best advice I can give is that the stress and rigors of a wedding can be overwhelming for any couple, and at least a portion of the honeymoon should be set aside to reconnect with eachother, enjoy one another and just relax. While I chose to be a beach bum for two solid weeks, that length of relaxation may not be for everyone. But if you load your trip with lots of sights and events and pre-planned obligations, you may be just extending the hectic pace of your wedding into a hectic trip thereafter.

    My husband and I, now thoroughly enjoying our toddler, look back on our honeymoon as a rare opportunity ... one we would love to recreate somed day. Use your opportunity wisely!!

  11.  

    I completely agree and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Though I'm not sure it has anything to with who has a more extravagant lifestyle. Believe me, some of the most romantic honeymoons in the world can be had for under $50 a day if you are creative with your plans.

    Let me just say that suggesting that someone would be better off using TripAdvisor was not meant to be an insult. TripAdvisor is the world's largest social network for travel. It's incredibly useful, and I check it all the time — as do millions of other travelers. But, suggesting Sandals (which is "full of honeymooners") to someone who is looking into the Seychelles or the Maldives — which is known for its unique and very private properties — isn't very helpful in my book. It has nothing to do with money. It's more about the creativity of the plans than anything else.

    Once again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone. But, I don't believe I ever brought the issue of money into this conversation. If I was just plane rude, then I'm sorry.

  12.  

    Travelista, yes that was a rude comment. Basically, if you think someone's post isn't up to snuff, you probably should just ignore it because someone else may get ideas from it. St. Lucia's is lovely. The "honeymooner" who posted originally was open to all suggestions. It's good that you said sorry but consider self editing because critiquing other's posts of not worthy enough to be on Extravigator is very ungracious.

  13.  

    It is hard giving advice to people you don't know; everyone likes different things. Without more info about what YOU want, people's advice here is likely to be more about what they like.

    As for the Maldives and the Seychelles, they are both beach-centric but otherwise quite different.

    The Maldives is a bunch of very small islands so the resorts there tend to be more private. Often, the resort IS the island. Of course, this also means there's not as much (or anything) to do besides resort and water activities.

    The Seychelles is really touristy, mostly with European visitors. It is also more green. There are few hikes you can take, and a bit in the way of shopping, besides the more beach-bound stuff. There are some nice resorts, but in general, the Maldives has the more stylish and interesting options.

    Of the two, I think the Maldives **easily** has the better scuba, snorkeling and beaches. One place there I really like, and that would be great for a honeymoon, is the Soneva Gili.

    Feel free to ask questions. Hope that helps.

  14.  

    What about the Spanish Islands? Ibiza or Mallorca or the Canary Islands, just needs a little research.

    As said before it depends what you want, but these islands have nightlife noise and peaceful havens.

  15.  

    Or how about South Africa? Still very affordable given the pound's current slump and absolutely stunning. Masses of honeymoon options across SA, Botswana and Zambia.

  16.  

    St Lucia is, indeed, lovely. I would recommend a two-centre, with a few nights at Ladera followed by Anse Chastanet, for a jungle/beach combination.

    Incidentally, does anyone know of any good websites specifically about honeymoons?

  17.  

    The Knot's Honeymoon section probably has the most content on honeymoons.

    Thanks from: Pieter
  18.  

    In all honesty I would make a mixed trip out of it. Be a little crazy, adventurous and open-minded. After all it should be the most memorable trip of your lifetime so do it right!

    Here are my top three recommendations that I always tell my friends when they are getting ready to tie the knot.

    1). Thailand – The fact that Four Seasons offers four properties in the region makes it extremely easy to experience all sides of this wonderful country without having to stress over transport between locations, worry about luggage or the quality that you’ll receive from one resort to another. Start by staying a couple of nights at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. It is a beautiful resort in a unique setting and it will get you broken into the rainforest lifestyle. Then head up to the Four Seasons Chiang Rai tented camp. You can meander through the rainforest on the back of an elephant, dine overlooking a beautiful river and really experience all that Thailand has to offer from some of the most luxurious accommodations you’ll find. Then fly to Koh Samui for several days, soak up the tranquil atmosphere and wind down. Before going home spend a day or two in Bangkok getting a dose of city life, exploring the canal markets and finding cheesy gifts to bring back home to the sorry suckers that didn’t get to go with you.

    2). South Africa & Mauritius – Now here is a fun one. Get to Cape Town, stay over one night at a hotel downtown, walk the city, go to a jazz club, enjoy the local culture and funny accents then jump on the Africa Blue Train. The train is absolutely beautiful and sort of represents the term decadent. The dining is superb, the staff friendly and very informative and you can literally see a rare part of the world pass by from pure luxury. Once you arrive in Pretoria head over to the Singita Private Game Reserve in Mpumalanga. After a few nights here you’ll be ready to head for more serene climates. It is extremely easy and convenient to catch a flight on British Airways from Johannesburg to Mauritius which is a bit closer than the Seychelles and just as unique. The new Four Seasons is incredible and the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world.

    3). Java – Now, if you’re up for a unique experience you should definitely go to my favorite place in the world. In Java there is a hotel called Amanjiwo that sits at the base of an active volcano. The property itself is absolutely amazing, the dining is rises high above that found at a Four Seasons and the tranquility that you’ll experience is unobtainable anywhere else. The design of the hotel is really unique and you’ll enjoy spending your time exploring the grounds. In the area you can do anything from hike in the rainforest, visit local markets, soul search at an ancient monastery or even swim in a crystal clear lagoon only reachable by helicopter at the top of a tropical plateau. It is truly one of the most pristine places on the globe. I recommend staying in one of the small garden suites with a private swimming pool. They are secluded and you can really get lost. I will say if you are scared of wildlife without boundaries this is not the destination for you. The three visits I have made to Amanjiwo have always included sightings of rare and amazing wildlife. This last September I was even lucky enough to see a Tiger from my swimming pool and it was unbelievable. There are dozens of monkeys, lizards, small deer, rhino and weird amphibians and reptiles. It is very safe and fun but can be shocking if you are not aware of the local habitat.

    Hope this helps although I assume you have already enjoyed a wonderful honeymoon since your post is over a year old. Ciao

  19.  

    You can't go wrong with an Amanresort.

  20.  

    Sri Lanka. Virtually unknown to Americans, beloved by the Brits. You can go from tea plantations to Adams Peak to gorgeous beaches within two hours. Amazing and reasonable hotels (e.g., Kandalama)or Amanresorts.

  21.  

    I think it depends what kind of a couple goes on honeymoon. Not everybody is satisfied with Thailand, New York or whatever.

  22.  

    This is a great website for luxury adventure inspiration: http://www.luxury-honeymoons.com - Having visited Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives - I would recommend each... my fave hotels are: Le Tousserok, North Island and Coco Island respectively... BUT I would combine with Africa (Mauritius and the Seychelles) or India (Maldives) - to enrich my experience with some culture and wildlife and have a few exciting stories to tell my friend about on my return! Bragging about my private pool and butler doesn't score many points with my group of friends! ;)

  23.  

    The brief is a little open but picking up on the 'warm and relaxing' request I would add the British Virgin Islands into the mix. We filmed there recently for travelguru.tv and I was really impressed - definitely up there on my pick of romantic beach destinations. Stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and no crowds. The hotels are all very inidividual so it depends what you are looking for in terms of facilities... For a larger resort Peter Island is hard to beat (excellent management there too which really shows in the service etc). For something smaller and more intimate the newly refurbished Frenchmans on Tortola is really lovely. A Stay and Sail package with a few nights at the hotel and then time on a luxury crewed catamaran would be my dream combo.

  24.  

    Nice suggestion, Cathy. Here's the British Virgin Islands video she referred to at travelguru.tv.

  25.  

    It may seem a usual suggestion, but Australia is a good candidate. You can try Queensland as there are many outdoor activities there if you want something different. Brisbane in particular would be a lively site for your honeymoon.

  26.  

    For me a honeymoon is the trip of your life... so it has to be exceptional. If you choose a destination and an hotel listed everywhere, in every Tour operator's brochure... nothing is really exceptional!!!
    Your honeymoon have to be a real WOW experience. If you select Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Bahamas... all these places are nice, but you will probably go back there later.
    Try to be more creative, a good travel advisor is able to organize your honeymoon in a different way.
    A mixt with a lovely beach and few days of uniques experiences tailored made.
    Feel free to contact me if you need some ideas, some true "WOW" honeymoon.
    Bernard

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  27.  

    This page some a few interesting honeymoon ideas

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