£5000 Honeymoon - where would you go and why?

[paap1975]

Just that really, we're a bit stuck for ideas (ridiculous, I know)

But, if you can hit the Caribbean season, you'll get more for your money there.

Costa Rica or Mauritius...both beautiful and with loads to do . I'm sure the Maldives is stunning but a bit too obvious, but I guess everyone will be honeymooners

Is that just for flights and accommodation? How much spending money will you have. The amount of spending money you’ll need will vary greatly depending on chosen destination.

We did a 3 week 5* tour of Sri Lanka for our honeymoon for £5k. So much to see and so different depending on where you are in the island (jungles, tea country, safaris, beaches etc.) Beautiful country, tropical weather, lovely people and incredible food. Wish I could go back!

Sri Lanka

I agree with needing ideas of what you enjoy & time of year

We did the Maldives Iru fushi resort for our honeymoon. Beautiful place. Do really recommend it it is so romantic and you feel a million miles away from everything and everyone. I loved the fact you were just on this tiny island.
Having said that we have since then travelled abit more and we now prefer the Seychelles and South Africa. You can even do a twin centre of them together. A couple we met in South Africa were doing just that.
The Seychelles beaches are just out of this world. South Africa esp safari (amazing amazing amazing!) we traveled to Joberg and went to Sabi sands in Kruger. Then flew to Cape Town stayed there for a few days and the garden route. The hospitality and food is SA in particular stood out.
You have a good budget I'm sure you will find somewhere. Just shop around we got quoted daft amounts from some luxury travel operators. We end up booking most of our holidays ourselves.

Thanks for all of your input. It's been very helpful. I was all set on the Maldives but then our TA suggested Reunion and Mauritius. DH is really keen on that, but I'm not. We tend to do too much when we're on holiday and what we really need is somewhere where there isn't much to do so we can disconnect.

I had dreams of relaxing on a beach and snorkeling - now it looks like a week of climbing volcanoes then a week in a lovely full activity beach resort. I'm worried I'll be disappointed.

I realise I sound like a spoilt brat but we are never going to put this much money into a holiday again, so it really needs to be perfect.

Thanks again!

Oops, time of year is flexible, budget is exclusive of food, drink, etc

The Seychelles might be good for you both then I would look it up. It has the beautiful beaches and stunning exclusive resort. But if your DH wants to do abit more you can island hop. Which I would recommend anyway. We stayed on the main island of Mahe for the first five nights rented a car and drove around the island visiting the different beaches/ gardens. We then went to praslin (even more beautiful) where we did different boat trips to other islands like La Digue. LaDigue is stunning it has no cars you just cycle or walk around and has possibly the most beautiful beach in the world.

Maldives for 5k would be a pretty standard resort. You really need 8k+

If 5k is your max budget look at the Middle East - will get a fabulous hotel as the flights are pretty reasonably priced to get there. Also look at Bermuda. Beautiful island but again a shorter flight than the rest of the Caribbean so spend your pennies on the hotel.

You could do Far East but again the hotels are going to be standard.

Don't look at the Indian Ocean ie Mauritius, Seychelles. 5k is pointless.

That's crazy! You can definitely do five star Maldives for 5k for two. The only exceptions might be the ultra peak times like new year.

I've been three times for less than that and I'm currently looking at going for the first time with our daughter so I've been pricing it recently. We are looking at 5-6k for the three of us at five star resorts. There are more expensive islands than that but you don't have to spend more to be somewhere lovely.

@eurochick, do you have any particular resorts to recommend? The current Reunion-Mauritius is coming in at just under 10000 Euro and it's simply too much for a holiday that isn't what we wanted

We island hopped Maui, Kauai, Hawaii & Oahu with a stopover in San Francisco for our honeymoon 20 yrs ago. I found it too busy for my taste even though we hired a car and explored beyond the resort towns. (As well as a faff to get to from the UK - change planes at SF/LA).

I preferred doing my PADI (basic) in the Maldives. We went to Velidhu and stayed in a beach bungalow (spent our money on the diving). Those were the days - (cash rich, time poor and no DC!)

.

Of the islands we have visited our favourite was Lux.

We're shortly about to go on a big trip for our silver wedding anniversary. We had a lovely time chatting with a very helpful girl in a Virgin holidays travel shop. We've booked Emirates flights to Kuala Lumpur, 3 nights in the Mandarin Oriental, then 10 nights in the Andaman Hotel in Lankawi, then 2 nights in the Fairmont Hotel in Singapore, and got it for 3.6k room and breakfast in each place. We were very impressed. The only extra we needed was a cheap flight from langkawi to Singapore. I hope you find something that you love

We went to Seychelles for our 30rh wedding anniversary last September
Spent first week in Praslin ( hired a car which was brilliant as the speed limit is only 40km/ph and they drive in the left)
and second week on Mahe
The 15min transfer between the islands was on a tiny plane which gave us amazing views of the ocean
We got a great deal booking with Trailfinders as there was a great discount for it being a significant anniversary ( you'd get the same deal with it being your honeymoon), there were loads of activities at hotel and fabulous beaches ( one of the best in the world)
www.constancehotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/seychelles/lemuria/
We flew Emirates from Manchester but BA now do direct flights

What time of year?
The Maldives is gorgeous but after a week we go a bit stir crazy, even diving every day.
Mauritius is a good shout, there are some superb hotels and it's easy to go out and sightsee.

I'm a big fan of some of the smaller Caribbean islands in the Grenadines or BVIs.
These are beach/ snorkelling/ lounging ideas.

That’s madly expensive for Reunion / Mauritius! Where on earth are you planning on staying? There are lovely and very comfortable hotels in Mauritius without going to the OTT ‘One and Only’ resorts or similiar.

Reunion is utterly spectacular if you stay in the cirques, Cilaos or Salazie for a few days and walk between them, taking in Mafate to where there is no transport. There are gites. Really romantic scenery. Different landscape in the South by La Fournaise, which also has walking trails and Gites. You could do that for s few days (5 would be plenty, IMO, the beaches are not great compared to Mauritius) and maybe go to Rodrigues. Stay at Boutik Takoma in the middle of the most beautiful and quietest beach in the world. Gentle walks, explore this laid back undeveloped island!

You can fly to Mauritius for £600 pp. Book your hotel separately, and you will save loads on the package price. We go for a month every year. Anything you want to know please just ask. I wouldn't bother with Reunion. The beaches aren't as good; a lots of friends we have made live in Reunion but spend the summer in Mauritius. You could get a brilliant holiday for £3k for the two of you if you ditch the travel agents.

Well, we've just booked ourselves a week at Maafishivaru in the Maldives. Flights with Emirates. Got a great deal so it's coming in at arund €6000. Thanks to everyone for your input.

Enjoy!

A Nile cruise?