Honeymoon help? We’re right here

Congratulations! You’re tying the knot. But before you get yourself in a muddle organising the honeymoon give the experts a ring.

Are you getting married this year? If so, no doubt your mind is awash with venues and vows, DJs and dresses, flowers and photos… But what about the honeymoon? 

After all that hard work you deserve a well-deserved holiday. But of course, a honeymoon is not your usual holiday. It’s the first one you’ll take as a married couple. It needs to be spectacularly magical. 

A honeymoon should be the icing on your wedding cake, kick-starting your new life together in momentous style. You want it to be picture perfect.

So while you focus on the big day, why not say “I do” to your Not Just Travel agent and let the experts take care of organising your honeymoon for you? There’s nothing we love more than curating dream travel itineraries. 

Let’s sit down and have a chat and I'll put together a trip that’s a match made in heaven

These two choices are honeymoon classics for a reason. Find out why.

Maldives

Apologies to those who think these coral reef isles are honeymoon cliches, but they’re so flippin’ romantic they’re hard to beat. 

If you’re wanting your honeymoon to be totally self-indulgent and uber luxurious (and why on earth not?) and you don’t want to move too far from your sun lounger, then a honeymoon in the Maldives is spot on – cliche or not. 

Think villa on stilts poised above the turquoise Indian Ocean. Imagine looking through your glass floor to see an abundance of colourful sea life gently glide by? Feel the softest of white sand beneath your toes and indulge in the finest food and barefoot luxuries beyond your wildest dreams.

Admittedly, it’s a hard choice deciphering which island is best suited to you.

You’ve got about 100 to choose from, spread across 26 natural atolls. Each private island is honeymoon territory, but increasingly they’re trying to differentiate themselves. For example, Huvafen Fushi has gained itself a reputation for unabashed luxury, including underwater spa rooms and the region’s most extensive wine cellar. 

Meanwhile Reethi Faru proves that a Maldives’ honeymoon can be an active one too - should you so desire. Fly boarding, kite surfing and catamaran sailing keep you busy on the water, or venture below the surface on a scuba dive to see reef sharks, rays and turtles. Back on dry land, there’s yoga, badminton, volleyball and tennis to keep you active. 

For wellness and spa treatments, Kagi Maldives is making its name, offering healthy cuisine and holistic treatments in its overwater Baani Spa.

For sea life you may want to opt for InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, home to a spectacular manta ray sanctuary; go skydiving at the Maldives’ first drop zone at Ifuru Island or hit the tennis courts at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. 

New on the scene is Soneva Secret in the far-flung Makunudhoo atoll. With only 14 villas – each with a dedicated team to look after guests’ every whim – this private retreat is Soneva’s most exclusive yet. Anticipation is also high for the opening this year of the Aman Maldives, a 52-villa hotel in the Vaavu atoll. 

Whichever you choose, believe me, you cannot go wrong. 

Caribbean

Alongside soft-sand, palm-fringed beaches, the thing that all these paradise islands come with is a huge helping of Caribbean culture. 

Jamaica is renowned for its reggae and rum; on Barbados its vibrant Bajan culture is all about cricket and festivals and Grenada stands out for its cuisine - after all, it is nicknamed The Spice Island. 

Antigua has a beach for every day of the year and St Lucia is carpeted in lush forests with its Piton Mountains piercing the cloudless, blue sky. 

Remnants of a rich and colourful past can be found in the grand colonial houses that dot many of the islands. Likewise, imposing forts and canons recall the swashbuckle piratical antics that swooped across the region in days gone past. 

Exploring the islands is fun and, of course, you don’t have to stick with just one choice. How about a spot of honeymoon hopping from one island to the other? Compare pulsating Trinidad with peaceful Tobago; historic St Kitts with laid back Nevis; or combine the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. 

A honeymoon in the Caribbean can be as laid back or as active as you choose. Of course the waters are a haven for scuba divers and all manner of water sports. Many of the hotels include water sports as part of the package. 

This is particularly the case at the 17 Sandals Resorts found on eight Caribbean islands. These adult-only resorts are designed specifically with couples in mind.  Across all the resorts you’ll find Sandals’ trademarked Tranquility Soaking Tubs – oversized baths for two, often sitting outside on balconies or patios.

What’s more, couples can enjoy butler service, premium wines, world-class cuisine and sumptuous spas. 

And if you dream of staying in an over-water villa, then you can. At Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica, the over-water villas are strategically placed to form a heart shape. You’ll also find them at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica, in Sandals Grande St Lucian and Sandals St Vincent. 

Here’s a duo of destinations that are stepping into the limelight of late 

Japan

It seems that everyone is talking about visiting Japan these days and placing it firmly on their bucket list – and for good reason. 

It’s a country of fascinating contradictions. On the one hand it’s steeped in centuries-old tradition and on the other it’s at the cutting edge of fashion and technology. Renowned for its impossibly crammed trains, Japan also has infinite swaths of stunning countryside

Sitting on the eastern edge of Asia, Japan is actually an archipelago comprising four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. However, there are also nearly 4,000 smaller islands. 

For us Brits it’s a country that ‘feels’ different. The cultural idiosyncrasies, the lifestyle, the food, the language… it’s all one big adventure and it’s incredible how many experiences you can have in just one holiday. 

Just a smooth bullet train journey away from the dense, neon-lit streets of Tokyo lies the Japanese Alps bathed in clean, fresh air. Meanwhile, one minute you can be visiting Buddhist temples and the next lazing on one of Okinawa’s pristine, alabaster white beaches.

Travel in Japan is made simple thanks to an efficient and fast network of trains and buses. 
Chances are you’ll start your adventure in Tokyo amongst the skyscrapers, temples and shrines. The lakes surrounding picture perfect Mount Fuji are a nearby welcome respite from the city and stops on your itinerary might include the charming towns of Tsumago, Takayama, Kanazawa and renowned Hiroshima. 

A stay in Kyoto, the ancient capital and cultural heart of Japan, is a must. Be sure to explore the Gion quarter. If you’re lucky you may spot a mysterious geisha girl walk past wearing her pristine and beautiful kimono. 

Throughout your tour you’ll experience the serenity of zen gardens, the rituals of tea ceremonies, the raucous spectacle of sumo wrestling, perhaps the hit of a sip of sake and a smorgasbord of culinary, regional delights. From the freshest of sushi to delicious teppanyaki and warming Ramen broths, each region boasts its own specialities. The street food is fantastic, but then again Tokyo alone boasts over 200 Michelin starred restaurants.

If you want to incorporate a few beach days into your honeymoon, no problem. Head to Okinawa and the southern islands where pure white sand bliss awaits.

Many people choose to visit Japan during cherry blossom season. Normally springing to life from late March, for six weeks the sakura tress erupt into spectacular blooms of beautiful pink flowers. One of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom spots is Yoshino, where more than 30,000 sakura trees carpet the Kii Mountains casting pink hues across the hiking trails of this Unesco World Heritage Site.

Lombok

If you were inspired by the recent Race Across the World, then the Indonesian paradise island of Lombok may way have sparked your interest. 

Sitting serenely in the shadows of its popular Balinese sister and westerly neighbour, Lombok is only really starting to dip its toe in the tourist scene. Hence, its powdery white and volcanic black beaches are often empty, and away from the coast there are thick rainforests and tranquil rice paddies to explore. 

So that it can keep it that way, while also welcoming visitors, Lombok is taking a sustainable approach. Hence, a honeymoon to Lombok is about exploring – and conserving – the island’s natural beauty, engaging with locals and their customs.

Good news, at just 50 miles from north to south, and 31 miles west to east, nowhere is too far. Driving may be a tad hairy and public transport limited, but taxis and private drivers are easy to find and super cheap. The more adventurous might want to hire a moped.

The island is fringed with glorious white sand beaches framed by forested mountain slopes and coconut palms. Be sure to visit Pink Beach where, as the name suggests, it’s coral sand shifts in colour from white to gold, and then to pink. Surfers will be in their element riding the waves from the beaches to the south. 

In land lies Mount Rinjani. Take a trek along its jungle-clad slopes passing tiered rice fields and dipping into the cascading Tiu Kelep or Sendang Gile waterfalls to cool off.

Take time to visit the island’s largest Hindu temple, Pura Mera, composed of 33 shrines and three towering multi-tiered temples.

Further adventures lie off the coast in the waters around the Gili Islands. Often called the Maldives of Southeast Asia, the diving and snorkelling reveals some truly exotic and colourful marine life. 

And where to stay? One of the undisputed favourites for honeymooners is the luxurious Oberoi Beach Resort. This five-star haven is nestled within lush gardens and overlooks Medana Bay. Check into one of its spacious villas and you’ll have your own private pool, personalised butler service and restaurants where romance is high on the menu.

You don’t have to go too far to have a honeymoon that ticks all the boxes.

Santorini

There are so many Greek islands you can choose from. But one of my all-time faves for honeymooners is picture-perfect Santorini.

Many would say that the sky-splitting sunsets in Santorini are among the best in the world. The island itself sits within a sunken caldera, creating spellbinding views. Plus, couple this with its iconic whitewashed houses with their dazzling bright-blue domed roofs and Santorini really is a view to behold. 

Particularly famous is the village of Oia – where you’ll see those blue domes decorate its cliffside. It’s a huddle of cave houses, dazzling white residences, steep staircases, winding streets and churches.

For captivating sunset views, take your seat in a taverna in Oia or in the villages of Fira, Firostefani or Imerovigli. Nature’s daily show starts first from Imerovigli, the highest edge of the caldera where you’ll also find the Virgin Mary Maltesa Church to complete the romantic setting.

Be sure to sample the local wine, best tasted on a tour of Santorini’s many vineyards. And historians shouldn’t miss out on a trip to Akrotiri, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Aegean. 

I highly recommend you also soak in the views from a different perspective when you glide around the island on a catamaran cruise. 

Santorini has its fair share of boutique hotels and villas that honeymooners will love. If you’re looking for luxury with a label, then the internationally revered Nobu name might fit. The traditional Cycladic architecture of the Nobu Hotel Santorini sits perfectly poised on a cliffside offering up magical Aegean views and serving up, as expected, world-famous dishes and the freshest of seafood from the hotel’s own Nobu restaurant.

The Grace Santorini is another top choice. From the clifftop terrace of this five-star retreat in Imerovigli, you’ll kickstart every day with a five-course Champagne breakfast – it is your honeymoon after all! 

Italy

If you want a slice of the dolce vita then Italy awaits. 

There are so many reasons why Italy is one of Europe’s most alluring destinations. The world-renowned art, the lavish Baroque and Roman architecture, the vineyard-clad countryside, the glistening lakes, the gregarious Italian culture and, of course, the food. 

Italy is bulging with Unesco World Heritage Sites – at 60, it is the country with the highest number. 
In its iconic cities, like Rome, Florence or Venice, not to mention its Tuscan delights of San Gimignano, Siena and Montepulciano, it seems there’s a photo opportunity at every single turn. 

And don’t miss out on the delights of southern Italy. On the Amalfi coast, picture-perfect Positano is a must – beware the hills here (you’ve been warned!). 

And on the opposite coast, traditional Puglia awaits. This region is relatively untouched and is possibly less dramatic in size. Yet, it scores on charm. Don’t miss the trio of delightful villages: Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino. 

Alberobello is particularly famous for it ‘Trulli’ houses, ensuring its spot on the Unesco list.

Meanwhile, the island of Sicily – that’s the actual football itself on the map – pulls in the visitors, all coming to walk the streets of upmarket Taormina or marvel at the grand Piazza Duomo in Otigia.

And let’s not forget the Emerald island of beach-fringed Sardinia and upmarket Capri in the Bay of Naples, both of which have their distinct Italian island charms. 

So where to stay? Italy is adorned with historic hotels, charming farm stays, vineyard villas; converted palaces and coastal retreats.

If you happen to choose to honeymoon beside Lake Como then you can’t go too wrong by checking into the preposterously grand Villa d’Este. Apparently this is where Elizabeth Taylor came to hide out at the start of her affair with Richard Burton.

Combining two destinations in the one honeymoon gives you the best of both worlds.

South Africa and Mauritius

It’s a classic combo. 

There’s so much to see in the Rainbow Nation. After a few days of exploring its infamous V&A Waterfront and scaling to the top of its iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town is the perfect starting point from which to start your tour.

Before you set off, be sure to take the boat out to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison. The trip to see his very cell serves as a compelling reminder of apartheid’s brutality. 

Then hit the road and hire a car. First stop: Cape Point, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans collide; tour the vineyards of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch to sample South Africa’s favourite wines and then set off along the country’s famous Garden Route. 

Perhaps you might spot a whale from the shore in Hermanus as you make your way to the unmissable town of Knysna. Take a canoe out on the river and keep an eye out for the flashes of a kingfisher. Plettenberg Bay in my opinion is one of the most impressive beaches in the country. 

En route you’ll stay in some beautiful guest houses, farms and lodges, while in Cape Town one of my top picks is Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. In the heart of the city, this luxury hotel combines old-Hollywood glamour with colonial grandeur. 

Now it’s off for some R’n’R on the tropical island of Mauritius. Here, pure white-sand beaches beckon, while an array of adrenaline-pumping pursuits await inland, from zip-lining through the trees to abseiling down a waterfall in the Black River Gorges National Park.

The island’s capital Port-Louis is also well worth a visit, if only for its markets and sizzling spicy street food.

In my opinion, among the best hotels are the Beachcomber Resorts. You’ve got eight to choose from. Right up there for honeymooners is the all-suite Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa. I suggest you check into one of its Beachfront Suites which comes with its own plunge pool.

Tanzania and Zanzibar

Expect a double helping of adventure with this mix. 
In Tanzania you just have to do a safari – it would be rude not to. 

Tanzania’s secret weapon is the mighty Ngorongoro Crater, home to around 30,000 animals, making it the densest concentration of wildlife on the planet.

This UNESCO world heritage site is an ancient caldera (remnants of an enormous extinct volcano) measuring a mere 16kms in diameter and 600m deep. Its grasslands, forests, swamps and soda lake is the stomping ground for the Big Five, as well as the endangered black rhino. And when the flamingos appear at Lake Magadi the air turns blushing pink. 

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Serengeti is the setting for one of the best safari experiences on Earth. Its through these rolling plains that the Great Wildlife Migration swoops. You’ll feel the ground shake as you watch a million wildebeest and zebra thunder across the landscape. Also expect to see big cats, herds of elephant, bouncing impala and hyena.

As for accommodation? You’ll struggle to forget a stay at the deluxe Klein’s Camp. This exclusive private game reserve is made up of 10 lavishly-furnished, stone cottages set into a hillside giving uninterrupted views of the Serengeti Plains. 

From bushland to beach, the next part of your honeymoon takes you to exotic Zanzibar. 

Here you’ll encounter a heady, magical concoction of Arab, Portuguese, Indian, British and Swahili influences – as is reflected in Zanzibar’s rich and diverse culinary spread. 

Scuba divers are in for a real treat all year round. Many people aren’t aware that Zanzibar is not just one island. It is actually an entire archipelago that houses over 50 islands. The main island is actually called Unguja, but it’s more commonly referred to as Zanzibar. 

As stunning as the beaches are, don’t be tempted to skip a trip to the capital city of Stone Town. 

This buzzing city is heaving with historic buildings, palaces, cathedrals, mosques and a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. As the port of trade between east and west in olden times, Zanzibar was the hub for slave trading to the Middle East. Today, it is the jewel in Tanzania’s crown.

There are a number of new opening on the island. Lux Marijani is a 82-room boutique resort on the northeast coast, while the doors of Tui’s The Mora Zanzibar have opened on Muyuni Beach.

Want to save the big honeymoon for later, yet still want to get away immediately after your wedding? Then how about these short, yet romantic getaways.

Paris

It’s the city of love, so it’s an obvious choice for your “pre-honeymoon moon”. 

Walking hand-in-hand along the banks of the Seine, with the twinkling lights of the bridges setting the scene, is a box that every couple needs to tick in my opinion. 

There’s a long list of must sees and dos in this capital: the Basilica du Sacré Coeur in the district of Montmartre for one; the Cathedral Notre-Dame for two. And then there are the many museums. See the famed Mona Lisa in Le Louvre to decide for yourself if she is smiling or not. 

And then there’s the not-so-small matter of the Eiffel Tower that just has to be scaled.

Escape the city centre for a few hours admiring the sculptured gardens and fountains of the Palace of Versailles.

A few days in this exciting city can be jam-packed. So, if you take my advice, please take time to simply savour the French atmosphere. Sit in a cafe and watch the world glamorously glide by. 

This is one trip where, particularly if you live in London, you could let the train take the strain. The Eurostar takes just over two and a half hours from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. 

Lake District

Want to stay on home ground? Then how about a few days staying on the shores of Lake Windermere? Or how about Ullswater or Coniston? 

The rolling, green scenery of Cumbria is spectacular, the mountain hikes are invigorating and the towns and villages are charming. In fact, the Lake District is the largest national park in the country and the only park in the UK with World Heritage status. 

You’ll have a vast choice of accommodation from grand manor houses to romantic log cabins and cosy cottages for two. 

Booking your honeymoon is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. But it shouldn’t be stressful. You’ve already got enough to think about organising the wedding. So let us help you make organising your honeymoon fun, stress free and, ultimately, magical. 

I have access to over 450 trusted suppliers, plus their first-hand knowledge and insider tips. This means I can find those hidden gems and tailor your honeymoon so it’s unique to you.

And the best part? my time-saving, stress-busting service won’t cost you a penny—I are paid by the travel companies.

Plus: don’t forget my Honeymoon Gift List service

Not only can I make all the travel arrangements for you, I can help you pay for it too!

After all the expense of the wedding, there may be little to spare when it comes to the honeymoon.  

With my Honeymoon Gift List service, your friends and family can contribute to your dream trip. 

Rather than buying you a toaster, your guests can donate to your honeymoon pot. What a fantastic difference that could make to you? 

Ask your Not Just Travel agent about this service.