Help me plan my honeymoon

[whatthehelldowecare]

DH and I got married last year and didn’t book our honeymoon because Covid.

We are now looking to book it but at a complete loss of what we want, so I am hoping you can all help!

Key points:

1 - We can either fly out on or around Boxing Day this year for a maximum of 14 nights, or we can go any time from April onwards next year. Equally happy with either

2 - budget is approximately £2500pp but we could stretch this to £4000pp if it is really quite special (but would prefer not to)

3 - Happy with anything between 9 and 16 nights, but would want at least 10 nights if long haul

4 - The only thing that is a hard no is a cruise and I don’t particularly fancy America. Other than that we have no preference at all, happy with Europe but equally happy to travel further afield. Holidays are typically the usual European destinations, France and Spain etc and we love Greece/Cyprus. We’ve also travelled to Jamaica and loved it there

5 - We want a sunny beach vibe, we like relaxing at a pool/beach, boat trips and the occasional excursion. We like good food and aren’t fussy, we do like to drink a bit more than normal on holiday, and would ideally like to be located close to some nice life although this is not essential if the hotel/villa is nice enough to not want to leave. I’m late 20s and DH is early 30s, this likely to be our last big holiday before we start thinking about kids (particularly if we go into next year) so do want it to be special.

6 - Not opposed to a multicentre trip however relaxation os what we want, so would want to keep moving around to a minimum

7 - We are in Scotland so ideally flying from Glasgow or Edinburgh however Manchester and London airports also fine

8 - We like the idea of a Maldives kind of trip, however worried that we’re not flash/posey enough for that and that we’d get bored/judged for being clearly out our depth. Same for any other influencer type resort

9 - happy with either all inclusive or self catering or somewhere in between, provided the price reflected the board basis (i.e would need to be much cheaper to go self catering/b&b to allow for greater spending money)

Right now on the short list is a couple of luxury resorts in Greece and a hotel in the Seychelles (which is top end of the budget). I feel like I can’t go to a travel agent without having a better idea about roughly what we want, so hoping I can get some ideas here!

Hit me with your best hotels/destinations/trip ideas please before I chuck the laptop throw the window in frustration!

We went on Safari in Kenya then flew to Tanzania for a relax after the travelling for the safaris (we travelled round Kenya doing different parks/drives but you can stay in one game park, like the Masi Mara). It was truly amazing and it was our last big trip before we settled down having children and money has gone all on them.

It isn’t exactly what you asked as getting up for the game drives wasn’t completely relaxing but it definitely was in Tanzania and we went on trips into Stonetown and Prison Island and did sea kayaking and that sort of thing so you could always miss out the safari and just do Tanzania!

We booked through an independent travel agent, she was fantastic and made it very bespoke to us even though there were two cars doing pretty much the same trip in Kenya (we paid extra for it to be just me and my husband in our car). We paid about £4000pp for the entire trip inc spending money and tips.

La Digue in Seychelles. Unbelievably beautiful, very chilled, no cars, not too fancy.

Santorini? We honeymooned there and it was amazing.

What about Bali?

St Lucia or Antigua or maybe combining both?

I think Maldives would be amazing and you definitely don't need to be an influencer type. Seychelles would also be great.

Mexico? Tulum looks great.

@Algebraicyourleg we've been looking at Tanzania, where abouts did you stay? My best friend is going on safari for her honeymoon and I wouldn't want to 'copy' her, particularly as we'd then be going just shortly before her, but it does sound amazing!

@eggsellentwork I'll need to check this out, sounds perfect! It was Mahe we'd been looking a t previously

@sunja all fab ideas! I'd love to go to Santorini but the prices seem a little steep and I've heard it's quite expensive when you're there? We holiday in Greece regularly, so I always think that's one to get round to arranging a night or two there as part of a bigger trip.

We've been looking at Bali too, as well as St Lucia. DH has been to Antigua before and while he liked it, he isn't in a hurry to go back.

On the Maldives, I just can't imagine my chubby pale ginger body fitting in with everyone else in the neighbouring over water villas

I'll also research Tulum, we weren't loving the idea of Mexico but had been looking at the main resorts, which all just seemed a little too full on for what we were looking for

We’ve just come back from 11 nights split between Maldives and Dubai. Pretty sure you can fly to Dubai from Glasgow.

We stayed at Centara Grand which was 4 star, AI. We could get an overwater beach bungalow which felt SO chilled out and private for our budget but the main resort was very chilled, family friendly and not at all “high brow”. We completely loved it!

Not sure you’d get the 5 nights in Dubai that we did for the budget but it depends on what you want to do if you need that much- we were on the go all day “seeing and doing”. If you’re more beach people spend the budget in the Maldives and maybe just stop over 1/2 nights to break the journey!

Thailand?

@whatthehelldowecare Santorini is expensive but definitely worth it!

We're off to Bali soon and we can't wait. We've planned the trip and we are really looking forward to it! Think it would be an amazing honeymoon.

I'm in a Maldives group of Facebook, it's called Maldive Holidaymakers. If you join you'll get some really amazing tips. You will see that barely anyone in there is your stereotypical Maldives insta influencer! I actually think they are a minority.

Have a look at Tago Tulum. It looks amazing!

Would also second what a pp said about Thailand. We've been and it is sensational. The best holiday we've been out and would be an incredible honeymoon!

We had our honeymoon in Jan this Yr in Mexico, Riu Palace Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen and it was fab, great food, drinks etc. It was a bit quiet in the evenings but an easy walk into the town if nighlifes more your thing. If it's your first time in Mexico I'd recommend spending a couple of days on Isla Mujeres (where we got engaged)

I second La Digue, it’s a beautiful island in the Seychelles. I been quite a few times and each time It never disappoints. We usually fly to Mahe, spend a few days there. Then travel by ferry to Preslin (another island) there you can get a ferry to La digue. Also Cerf is another lovely little island which has beautiful villas very remote and peaceful. Weather always amazing and people so friendly.

Mauritius is lovely too, maybe not quite as pretty as Seychelles, but a lovely hotel is the Maritim hotel at Balaclava all inclusive is very good, food and drinks amazing.

Sri Lanka + Maldives might be a good idea. I've been to both though different trips. In the Maldives we (girlie holiday) we stayed at Centara Ras Fushi (I think it was). Very low key and great for a few days relaxation.
Thailand, as previously mentioned could be another idea or India....Kerala or Goa.
On the other side of the world..... havent been but have heard good things about Mexico and Dominican Republic (friend raved about the pool outside their room).
In the middle bit.... Dubai (just make sure you don't just stick to the plastic bits and head over to Deira/Bur Dubai) ... there are cheaper hotels than the glitzy ones usually seen. For something more relaxing look at heading to Fujairah...nightlife isn't anything special but nice beaches etc.