The honeymoon marks the end of wedding planning and the beginning of an exciting phase of your life. It also gives you a chance to create lifelong memories with your partner. As important as it is to decompress and wind down, the definition of a relaxing vacation can be different for everyone. Some enjoy urban escapades as a couple, others want to lounge around the beach with drinks in hand, and others make the most of their time when they luxuriate in a top-tier resort. We don’t mean to scare you but to choose the perfect honeymoon destination is the most important step to creating the vacation of your lifetime!
Below, find 10 tips/ discussions/ steps/ questions (whatever you may want to call them) to zero in on your honeymoon destination.
Step 1: Briefly research the type of honeymoon locations
My best tip to choose the perfect honeymoon destination is to briefly see what other people are doing. Research the best honeymoon destinations on Google, Pinterest, and Instagram. You will find reviews of the locations on Reddit and TripAdvisor. This way you will get a general idea of what’s popular, useful planning tips, and what a relaxing honeymoon vacation entails.
The plan here is to get acquainted with the idea of honeymoon planning and not get absorbed with it. You don’t have to decide anything right now, but just get a general idea of things. This will push your mind to think about the topic in a direction where you feel good and inspired. And that’s always a good place to start.
Step 2: Visualise your perfect honeymoon – together
What’s your idea of a perfect vacation? Some couples want to sit on the beach, eat at restaurants, and kick back with some relaxing massages. If that’s your idea of a rejuvenating trip, then an all-inclusive resort ticks off all those points. Certain other couples like to be in the middle of nowhere and love the idea of a cruise honeymoon. Another style is adventurous where a couple explores an exciting destination like Cappadocia in Turkey or Petra in Jordan. Active couples would love gorgeous hiking trails and those who love a city adventure with a touch of history will love popular European capital cities like Rome, Dublin, or Paris!
Take a day out for honeymoon planning and ask each other questions that can help you visualize what a perfect trip means to you. If you & your partner are not on the same page, some destinations can tick off both. For example, Italy has Dolomites for mountain lovers and Capri for beach lovers. There are cities in Mexico that have great historic ruins and others that have great beaches so you can hop from one destination to another. You can always devise a plan later, right now decide on what vacation style entices you the most.
Step 3: Set a budget
Plan your honeymoon budget early. Some couples combine it with their wedding budget, but if you haven’t yet set aside funds for your post-wedding getaway, now is the time. Establishing a budget first allows you to narrow down the many destinations available while setting realistic expectations and avoiding overspending.
For instance, an all-inclusive resort may offer excellent value and a romantic atmosphere, depending on the destination you choose. If a hotel is out of your budget, consider short-term rental options like Airbnb or Vrbo for a cozy stay. If wedding expenses consume most of your funds, a mini-moon right after the wedding can help you celebrate without financial strain while saving for a dream destination honeymoon later.
Step 4: Set a timing and duration
With your budget in mind, consider how long you want your honeymoon to last. Do you envision a brief mini-moon—a short, intimate getaway right after the wedding—or are you planning an extended adventure that allows you to fully explore your destination? Knowing your ideal duration will help you narrow down your options and focus on locations that match your available time and interests.
Deciding on the length of your honeymoon is crucial because it sets the pace for your trip. A shorter mini-moon can serve as a delightful taste of romance while leaving room for a longer, more immersive experience later. Conversely, an extended honeymoon offers the chance to delve deeper into local culture, activities, and relaxation. By determining the duration upfront, you can align your travel plans with your dream experiences, ensuring a perfect start to your new life together.
Step 5: Consider distance
You’ve saved the exotic jungle adventures of Borneo or the mystical temples of Bali in your honeymoon inspiration only to find out that it takes a day of traveling to reach there! Not to mention the added costs of travel and the exertion if you’re planning to leave right after the wedding. Distance will play a major role in your effort to choose the perfect honeymoon destination, especially for couples who are short on time or just don’t love to spend on longer hours of travel.
The good thing is USA has plenty of options for your honeymoon style. Florida has great beaches, Montana has adventure, and Napa has some great food. If you’re not from the US, finding a destination in your country or a neighboring one can give you some exciting options for your honeymoon. For example, anyone from the UK can consider the Foreo Islands for a unique and adventurous honeymoon in the lap of nature. Traveling in the country also saves you from VISA applications, currency changes, and other international formalities that can feel draining after planning the wedding.
Step 6: Look into the weather & travel season
The time of the year you plan to honeymoon can greatly influence your choice of destination. If you are contemplating August and want to visit Hawaii, then it’s the peak hurricane season and not safe to travel. Similarly, Bali’s wet season runs from November to March and a trip during that time won’t be pleasant. Weather will play a crucial role in narrowing down your destinations, so decide on the time of the year you want to go on a honeymoon before you start researching the destinations.
Just like the weather, check the travel season during your desired month of travel. If the destination is experiencing peak travel season, the prices of everything increase, which is not good for anyone on a budget. See which destinations are experiencing shoulder season during that time and see if you find anything you like.
Step 7: Research
After you know your budget, your honeymoon style, the season, and the distance you want to travel, begin the research for possible honeymoon destinations. You don’t necessarily have to research the places together. In fact, researching for destinations separately can bring some cool ideas because everyone likes to use different platforms.
Google is a great place to start, and so are Pinterest, Reddit, and Instagram. On Pinterest, type the necessary keywords like “honeymoon destinations in May” – like how you would type in Google. Reddit threads on specific destinations are a great place to start and Instagram also uses targeted keywords to give you inspiration on a specific idea.
Step 8: Ask for recommendations
This is the time to ask for recommendations because you’ve great clarity on what you want for yourself. Taking recommendations before asking yourself important questions like your personal vacation style, budget, and ideal duration will only confuse you with the variety of options. You can take ideas from your friends, family, and colleagues (since it’s not a very personal aspect, more people from your workplace are open to help!).
Some of them will have ideas, advice, and hotel recommendations that will blow your mind and make the work so much easier. Because of their personal experience in the place, they might also have helpful contacts that can make the planning easier. Just see if the budget and time of the year are the same as you want, otherwise, you’d get excited about a place that you can’t afford or is just not feasible to travel to during your time block.
Step 9: Narrow down the list to 3 to 4 destinations
Based on your honeymoon style, research, and recommendations, narrow down your list to 3 to 4 destinations and pick whatever fits the best. Even if a place is a little beyond the budget, keep it in the final list of destinations. You might find a way to make it more affordable. For example, if Amalfi in summer is on your list, then choosing hotels in less popular towns like Cetara and Praiano, cooking some meals in your Airbnb, and taking public transport can make a huge difference in your trip cost.
Once you’ve narrowed down your destination list, research what each place offers. What makes it stand out? Does it have unique amenities, great scenery, or activities you want? Are there package deals or lower shoulder-season rates? Checking reviews and traveler experiences can help you decide
Step 10: Pick one (or multiple) & plan an itinerary
It’s time to make the decision. Don’t agonize over the details (where to stay, eat, enjoy, etc.), do the task ahead of you first. Based on your budget and time, select a location that’s best for you. If you’re confused between two location styles or locations, then pick both, maybe you can hop countries. It sounds tiring, but when chosen wisely, it’s not.
For example, you can pick Greece & Switzerland and enjoy both gorgeous ocean views and scenic mountain escapes. Multiple cities in Greece (like Santorini, Thessaloniki, and Athens) offer flights to Switzerland’s coveted destinations like Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. Similarly, if you’re traveling to a Southeast Asian country like Bali or Thailand, you can take a few days in common stopover countries like Seoul or Tokyo. A combination of urban foray and jungle adventures sounded unlikely till now, didn’t it?
The key is to plan a stay at a place for 3 to 4 days at least, or you will burn out from traveling around. Start by narrowing down the places for the itinerary, and then research the hotels, activities, and restaurants in the selected locations. Build some downtime in the itinerary so you can relax, rejuvenate, and connect with your spouse.
In Conclusion:
There can be a lot of pressure to make your honeymoon the best trip of your life. And just like the idea of the ‘perfect wedding’ can lead to more anxiety than happiness, similarly, the idea of the ‘best trip ever’ can double the stress of honeymoon planning. Instead, let it be the celebration of your love and marriage, and enjoy each part of it. Just pick a destination (this guide will help to choose the perfect honeymoon destination!) and an itinerary that fits your personal preferences and you’re good to go!