If you were going on honeymoon in September, where would you go?

[Hausa]

Ideally with warm sandy beaches, decent nightlife and good food. Anywhere in the world, money not really a factor.

Where would you personally go and why?

[TheMoonIsPink]

I'd go to The Seychelles and stay in the Four Seasons Mahe then FS Desroches
Or Soneva Gili in the Maldives
Or Hotel Santa Catarina on the Amalfi coast with a couple of nights on Capri
I rate the Caribbean and Mayan coast but it's the wrong time of year.

[ClementineFeatherstone]

Multi-centre USA. USA has everything

[AdriannaP]

Maldives is ok in September, but there is no nightlife on most islands. A few bars at most.

[NeedleNoodle3]

Is Thailand the right weather? I haven’t been but I imagine the there’s good nightlife and you could stay in a couple of destinations.
I loved Mauritius, I went in November but the place I went to was quite windy so I couldn’t do the water sports I enjoy every day. I think you have to do your research for Mauritius. It’s beautiful though and lots of good day trips are available.

[mocktail]

(Disclaimer: I haven't actually been there but it was on our list for honeymoon)

[mocktail]

How about Madagascar? Right time to visit, amazing beaches.

[Phos]

@Hausa

I wouldn't call it an objection so much as I found the whole place really underwhelming. The beaches were ok, the hotels we stayed in were lovely to be fair but I found Sanur and Kuta just didn't really inspire me as towns. I can't put my finger on it but left me with no desire to return. Perhaps some areas are nicer, Seminyak sounds like it might be ok.

[sanityisamyth]

[quote Hausa]@sanityisamyth Christ, why?! Do they live somewhere fabulous?[/quote]

Yorkshire! It's a lovely house, but definitely not what I expected. Staying with your dad and step mum for a week!!

[StampOnTheGround]

We quickly realised September wasn't a great month weather wise in the Caribbean and others. We did Singapore then Bali/Lombok and loved it, super cheap for villas with private pools so I would definitely recommend that!

[Stopyourhavering64]

@Flatandhappy

Most people who turn up their noses at Bali are thinking of the Kuta area which historically attracted a lot of Aussies looking for a cheap sand and Bintang (local beer) holiday. You could pretty much identify on the plane who was heading for Kuta 😁 There are lots of beautiful places on the island and the people are wonderful but tbh I would go to Lombok or the Gilli islands for beautiful beaches (unless you want to surf). We are heading to Bali in a couple of weeks and by all account the tourist industry has been decimated over the past few years and I have seen places that look practically deserted - we have been sending money to keep people we know afloat. At this stage it may not fall into the dream holiday category although hopefully it will again.

My dd has been living and working on Bali (in Canngu) since last September and says the number of tourists has soared in last fortnight and is as busy as when she first visited 3 years ago. All the beach bars are v busy and traffic is chaotic again and apartment rental prices have also increased to meet demand
Having said that she adores living there ( the food is amazing)and she has explored extensively since moving there , learnt to surf! and has been to the outlying Gili islands on several occasions which are most definitely worth a visit or an early morning boat trip to see Dolphins
We're hoping to visit her, but unfortunately can't manage until next year -Our wedding anniversary is September and we're going to the Maldives again the weather is still considered v good then as weather is extremely localised and can be sunny on 1 island and raining 10 mins later as it can be anywhere in the tropics

[VaVaVoombangabang]

If you need any info on Sri Lanka I can help if it takes your fancy, I live here.

[Hausa]

@Flatandhappy Excellent firsthand knowledge. Thank you!

[Hausa]

@sanityisamyth Christ, why?! Do they live somewhere fabulous?

[sanityisamyth]

Just don't go where I went for my honeymoon ...

My parents' house ...

Seriously. That's where my (now ex-) husband thought would be a really good place to go ...

[Flatandhappy]

Most people who turn up their noses at Bali are thinking of the Kuta area which historically attracted a lot of Aussies looking for a cheap sand and Bintang (local beer) holiday. You could pretty much identify on the plane who was heading for Kuta 😁 There are lots of beautiful places on the island and the people are wonderful but tbh I would go to Lombok or the Gilli islands for beautiful beaches (unless you want to surf). We are heading to Bali in a couple of weeks and by all account the tourist industry has been decimated over the past few years and I have seen places that look practically deserted - we have been sending money to keep people we know afloat. At this stage it may not fall into the dream holiday category although hopefully it will again.

[VaVaVoombangabang]

Japan

Some fabulous beaches on the south islands, will be quieter after the August crowds. Some excellent places to stay as well with private onsens and some very nice Ryokans all over.

Nightlife in the larger citys can be such good fun, lots of good bars in hotels, and dont forget Karaoke but with a private room with food drinks served (last one we had had velvet seating a huge chandelier and fabulous food) not all Karaoke bars are equal! Along with the small palaces that only have seating for maybe 6 people, rustic...

Food, well everything from Michelin stared restaurants (Japan has the highest after France) to everything in-between great seafood as well.

Shopping, culture, scenery, temples, and an excellent and easy to use train system to get around (local and national). You can buy an unlimited pass to use the trains as well, I would suggest the 1st class green car! But this has to be bought outside Japan and only by foreign passport holders.

We have also hired a car up in Hokkaido (cold coming in in September) and everything was fine.

Japan offers so much to see and do, I lived there for a while and really miss it.

[Crispynoodle]

@NeedleNoodle3

Crispynoodle I did a similar holiday last week, it was fabulous.

That's great to know, my daughter and hubby will be married a year and a bit by the time they go and are really looking forward to it

[Odilla]

Agree with others that a lot of long haul beach destinations aren't really club/party towns as such. Rio de Janeiro famously is and is a lot of fun. Maybe do a two-centre trip like others have suggested? Eg if you went to Costa Rica, you could have five days in the capital and 10 on the beach? There are some beautiful beaches there with nice warm sea and the nightlife in the capital is good. It's also a very safe country.

There are other places you can have great fun in the Caribbean ofc but not necessarily as safely. And if you stay in the places where you are safe then the nightlife is not so spontaneous and exciting. But Costa Rica I think you can have both.

[AlphaAlpha]

Ibiza.
Stay www.haciendanaxamena-ibiza.com/en/gallery/

Then go to all the closing parties.

[Hausa]

@Phos

Don't bother with Bali, hideously overrated.

A lot of long haul destinations aren't really renowned for nightlife. Maybe Cancun or some parts of Thailand if it's a priority for you.

Best food and some of the best beaches I've ever been to were Malaysia (Penang/Langkawi). I can't say it's a hotbed of nightlife though I'm not really one for big nights out so maybe I missed something.

To be fair, when I say ‘nightlife’, I mean restaurants and cocktail bars, as opposed to all out clubbing. I possibly didn’t express that very well in the OP!

Would you mind if I asked your objections to Bali? It’s been getting a lot of love on this thread!

[AlwaysLatte]

We honeymooned in August around the Greek Islands and it was pretty hot so September would be lovely too.

[Hausa]

@LollyLol

Well if you want to talk about epicentres, a flight to Bangkok from London, for example, generates about 2,000,000g carbon emissions per Person. Whereas using internet/my phone generates about 8g carbon emissions per day.

You don't have to be passionate about climate change to be conscious that a long-haul vacation is a poor decision. And as time passes I hope it will become taboo, like smoking around babies or smacking your kids.

Indeed. So, as you’re so concerned, don’t fly to Bangkok from London OR use your phone/the internet. It’s not either or, you can choose not to do both.

Like I said, put your money where your mouth is.

[LollyLol]

Well if you want to talk about epicentres, a flight to Bangkok from London, for example, generates about 2,000,000g carbon emissions per Person. Whereas using internet/my phone generates about 8g carbon emissions per day.

You don't have to be passionate about climate change to be conscious that a long-haul vacation is a poor decision. And as time passes I hope it will become taboo, like smoking around babies or smacking your kids.

[Phos]

Don't bother with Bali, hideously overrated.

A lot of long haul destinations aren't really renowned for nightlife. Maybe Cancun or some parts of Thailand if it's a priority for you.

Best food and some of the best beaches I've ever been to were Malaysia (Penang/Langkawi). I can't say it's a hotbed of nightlife though I'm not really one for big nights out so maybe I missed something.

[thesnaleandthewhail]

Japan 🇯🇵