Planning to tie the knot? Along with deciding on a venue, guest list and wedding attire, you also have to consider what comes afterward: the honeymoon. Does that involve lazy days on a palm-lined beach? Or would you rather swap hiking boots for flip flops?
The good news is you don’t have to choose – the latest honeymoon trend combines the best of both. Two-pronged itineraries allow you to indulge your sense of adventure (and maybe save a bit of cash) at unique, moderately priced accommodations, and then top it off with a splurge-worthy hotel or resort.
Here are a few destinations where you can get the best of both worlds.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Spread out across 32 islands and cays in the West Indies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines offers volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests and secluded beaches – and remains a less crowded option to other Caribbean honeymoon destinations. On the main island, there’s no shortage of adventure, from hiking up La Soufrière volcano to taking a dip in Dark View Falls or ATVing along the rugged coastline. For divers and snorkellers, Tobago Cays Marine Park – a cluster of five uninhabited cays – offers a sand-bottom lagoon, coral reefs and secluded beaches and bays.
Adventurous newlyweds can take kite-surfing lessons on Union Island, staying in a shabby-chic cottage at Tenuta Chatham Bay. Then, they can unwind at a luxury property on Bequia or Canouan (or even a private island like Petit St. Vincent).
SOHO Beach House Canouan is a piece of secluded paradise along Grand Bay Beach (and the only SOHO property open to non-members) where newlyweds can enjoy a private romantic dinner on the jetty.
Iceland
While it’s not a traditional honeymoon destination, Iceland offers everything from outdoor adventure and otherworldly fire-and-ice landscapes to luxury properties inspired by Scandinavian design principles. It’s well-suited for road-tripping, where newlyweds can explore ice caves and glaciers, board a RIB boat to look for puffins or humpback whales and hike in one of the country’s national parks, such as Thingvellir, Snæfellsjökull or Vatnajökull. Iceland is also renowned for its natural hot springs, with options including Myvatn Nature Baths near Akureyri and Vök Baths in Vök. For a unique stay, newlyweds can start their adventure at Bubble Hotel Iceland, with two locations, and sleep under a sky full of stars – and maybe even the Northern Lights. Then, they can soak their sore muscles during a stay at The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, with exclusive access to the world-famous geothermal spa along with Michelin-starred dining.
Thailand
Thailand arguably has some of the best beaches in the world, but there’s a lot more to this Southeast Asian country than sand and surf. An action-packed honeymoon might include a visit to bustling night markets in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, visiting one of the country’s 40,000 Buddhist temples or hiking through dense rainforest in Khao Sok National Park. Starting out in Chiang Mai, the country’s cultural capital, newlyweds
can opt to stay in a family-run guesthouse, like BaanBooLoo Village, with its traditional Thai rooms on stilts, teak furnishings and woven Thai fabrics. From there, they can soak up the sun on one (or more) of Thailand’s many islands, ending their honeymoon on a high note in an ultra-luxe property like Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui (yes, the one where The White Lotus was filmed). There, they can even arrange an overnight luxury yacht charter with a Four Seasons chef.
Martinique
Honeymooning on the ‘Island of Flowers’ combines the romance of France with the laid-back vibe of the Caribbean. Think wine bars, boulangeries and chic boutiques, along with friendly locals, French-Creole cuisine and palm-lined beaches. Newlyweds can stay active with surfing lessons or a hike in Presqu’Île Caravelle Nature Reserve – or simply relax on the beaches of Grande Anse des Salines or Pointe Marin.
There aren’t many big-name hotel chains here; instead, newlyweds will have their choice of quaint B&Bs, small inns (called relais) with open-air kitchenettes, heritage estates and private villas. Newlyweds can kick things off with a stay in a colourful Creole cottage at Hotel Plein Soleil, then pamper themselves at the boutique Hôtel French Coco, where most suites come with a private pool that opens up onto a secluded jasmine-scented garden.
Ireland
The Emerald Isle oozes romance, from its pastoral landscapes to its dramatic coastlines. Newlyweds with a sense of adventure can explore the Wild Atlantic Way, which winds its way along Ireland’s dramatic west coast – perhaps cycling the coastline of Connemara or sea kayaking in Dingle. But adventure comes in many forms, whether taking in the lively pub scene in Dublin or visiting Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland.
Newlyweds have access to bikes, kayaks and yoga classes – and a wood-fired hot tub overlooking the ocean – at Goleen Harbour, a 38-acre eco-farm near Cork. Then, for a bit of luxury, why not stay in a castle?
There are plenty of options in Ireland, like the fairytale Ashford Castle near Galway, part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, which has been there for more than 800 years (and was once home to the Guinness family!). Here, newlyweds can experience classic pastimes such as horse riding or falconry, then book a wine tasting by candlelight in the castle’s historic wine cellars.
Costa Rica
There’s no shortage of outdoor adventure in Costa Rica, where you can zipline through the forest canopy, visit a sloth sanctuary or soak in hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano. About one-quarter of Costa Rica’s natural assets are protected in national parks, wildlife reserves and marine sanctuaries, and visitors have plenty of options for sustainable, eco-friendly stays.
Newlyweds will find themselves at eye level with birds and monkeys at Hidden Canopy Treehouses, located in the cloud forests of Monteverde, where they’ll sleep in a bed made of tree roots.
From there, the 178-acre Hacienda AltaGracia, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, offers luxe casitas – many with a private plunge pool and terrace. Here, there’s easy access to adventure (like taking a helicopter to a secluded section of the Pacuare River for white water rafting). But the resort’s pièce de résistance is the Casa de Agua spa, with a serene couple’s suite that looks out over the surrounding forest.
French Polynesia
While French Polynesia is perhaps best known for its blue lagoons and overwater bungalows on Bora Bora and Moorea, this string of more than 120 islands and atolls in the South Pacific has a lot more on offer.
On Tahiti, you can explore its lush, volcanic mountains by road bike or on a 4WD safari. Then go island-hopping: visit vanilla bean plantations on Taha’a, archaeological sites on Raiatea and waterfalls in the jungles of Moorea.
French Polynesia
For adventurous newlyweds, the atoll of Fakarava – with just 800 inhabitants – is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and considered one of the world’s best diving destinations. The Paparara Dive and Lodge is a pension that offers simple bungalows and lagoon views (plus, access to its dive lodge).
Then, couples can top it off with five-star luxury at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, with its spacious, glass-bottomed overwater villas (and a 24-hour butler at their service). Here, they’ll also find one of the top dining experiences on the island at The Lagoon, an overwater restaurant with views of Mount Otemanu, and a spa on its own private islet.
Lesley TurnerEditorial Content Writer
Lesley is a freelance writer and content strategist with a serious love for all things wedding. With a background in bridal fashion and over a decade of industry experience, she creates stylish, scroll-stopping content for Today's Bride and beyond.
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