To ask for honeymoon advice

[spiritofadventure]

DP and I are getting married in a few months and had originally decided to go to Zakynthos, Greece for our honeymoon for 1 week, then changed our minds to 10 days in Mexico.

We were talking last night and have now decided that we both quite fancy a longer honeymoon, so are thinking of 1 month somewhere.

I've always fancied a west coast USA road trip, DP would like to go to Australia - but we're still undecided and looking for other options to consider.

So...if you had 1 month and +/- 10k for a once in a lifetime honeymoon, where would you go?

We did 3 weeks in South Africa in April and had a fantastic time.

I've done Australia for a month twice with nice stopovers and lovely hotels. Also hired a campervan both times and both trips came in under £5k so it's easily done.

All the suggestions sound fantastic!

I'm kind of in love with the idea of South Africa and Mauritius ❤

Cape Town is suffering a severe drought at the moment, if things don’t improve hotels will be forced to close.

If I had a month I’d choose somewhere I could do 2 weeks sightseeing/activities/cultural stuff.

Then a 2 week luxury beach/sex break to fully relax before heading back to the real world.

And to the person who said “butlins and save 8k” - who the fuck would spend £2k on Butlins?!? Is that what is costs???

Japan! I went there for two weeks on honeymoon, based in Osaka, weekend trip to Tokyo and the rest of the time zipping around on the train for daytrips to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Hiroshima, lake Biwa.

There's so much to see! We did temples, shrines, hiking, zorbing on lake biwa, visiting potteries, kendo lesson, shopping, eating, eating, eating.

You could be there for cherry blossom season if it's a spring honeymoon, maybe tag on a trip to tropical Okinawa islands?!

South America, you could stay in fantastic places on that budget. I did four weeks in Peru, nicely, for about £3k.

Brazil- you could see so much- and DO - so much in a month.

I personally wouldn't do US at the moment, we've had some wonderful holidays doing California road trips etc but not giving the US a single traveller cent whilst Trump is in power

Well... California (and most of the west coast) resists and fights most of what Trump is doing, so if anything now's the time to visit to support them.

I'd consider a month-long West Coast US trip. You could go to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon (spend at least two days there - especially if you have a head for heights), go up to Yellowstone, travel across to Seattle, then down the coast via Oregon, Napa wine region, down through SF, down through Big Sur and Monterey, zip through LA then on to San Diego, then collapse on a beach in Baja to recover.

Can you tell I'm planning our summer holiday for next year?

13k for a month that is a huge amount for 2 people ! I would spend 3k on holiday and 10k on house deposit.

Yes @JenniferL90, my friend recently spent £2,300 on a week at Butlins.

@spiritofadventure I second the West side of Canada

Hawaii! You've time to do a few islands, they're all so different and it's just a spectacularly beautiful place with loads to see and do.

Why is it that on mumsnet when someone says 'I have x amount to spend on this' do people think that's it's appropriate to tell them it's too much and to spend it on something else? One assumes OP understands she could spend the money on other things. Maybe she is a millionaire who doesn't need to think about that. Maybe she has saved really hard for this trip. She hasn't asked an opinion about the budget so why give it?

You're going to spend the week shagging. Save the money for when you grow out of that and enjoy the week shagging at a cheaper destination.

Want to blow the budget... New Zealand or Australia. Your money would go further in Thailand, Malaysia. However, with a good budget you could visit several countries in a month. Perhaps Sri Lanka and Maldives.

We did a 3 week tour of America, total cost including spending money was around your budget.

We did Philadelphia and New York, before flying to Las Vegas for a few days and then hiring a car to tour around California. Every part of the trip was amazing, totally worth it!

Japan! I went there for two weeks on honeymoon, based in Osaka, weekend trip to Tokyo and the rest of the time zipping around on the train for daytrips to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Hiroshima, lake Biwa.

This would be my choice actually. Would so so so much love to do this.

I've always though of maldives/seychelles etc a bit tacky and common for honeymoons. Personally I'd go to Italy or France if it's a summer wedding

Road trip
Across the states - week cruise at the end

Rather than just Mexico, take in some of Central America too. Costa Rica would be amazing at that time of year. If you fancy scuba diving you could head to the Honduran Bay Islands or Little Corn Island in Nicaragua. Fabulous!

I am going to the Seychelles for a week + South Africa for 2 weeks and half as well as 2 days in Mozambique in May/June for a grand total of a bit over a 1000€ per person (including a 1 day safary in the National Park Kruger).

The return flights for Seychelles + South Africa were dirt cheap at 465€ in total per person with the accomodation in the Seychelles being the most expensive thing booked at a bit over 200€ for two for the week. And the rest is mostly Airbnbs all throughout South Africa which are all pretty cheap (though look very nice!). The only thing in the price not included is food + transportation (except internal flights from Joburg to Cape Town and back that are already booked) but we plan on mostly taking the public coach services to travel long distance which are also very cheap.

Obviously at this price we aren't staying at any Hilton hotel but with your budget you could probably do a very good upgrade of this trip as I saw you had an interest in going to South Africa and I think the Seychelles would give you that "honeymoon-feel".

We got the flight on Air Seychelles and last time I checked (mind you a few weeks ago now) they still had flights at the same price as the ones we booked it for so you may want to check that out!

California is fabulous.

Hmmm

We did a West coast road trip and probably spent your budget and more in 3 weeks.

It all depends on whether you want to be able to do anything you want, stay anywhere or whether you're happy to economise.

The South Africa suggestion sounds great!

We travelled for three weeks in 2016. Started in New York then L.A. then caught a cruise going from L.A. to Fort Lauderdale calling in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, through the Panama Canal, Aruba and Columbia. Would definitely recommend!