Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Wedding Wednesdays: 2017 Honeymoon Hot Spots!

Happy #WeddingWednesday! If you got hit with the blizzard like us, we're sure you're also dreaming of warmer weather. And if you're currently planning your wedding and honeymoon, a vacation somewhere hot may be right around the corner! Shake the winter blues and check out these beautiful beaches and grand adventures for the perfect getaway. Stay warm honeymooners!

If you're going to: Australia
Ningaloo Coast

Ningaloo honeymoon idea

Why go: The Great Barrier Reef gets all the hype, but the Ningaloo Reef on the northwest coast is equally spectacular.

When to go: April to September are prime times to visit. Whale shark swim experiences are available April to July and humpback whale swims from August to October.

If you're going to: Africa
Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Skeleton Coast, Namibia honeymoon idea

Why go: One of the world’s most dramatic stretches of coast is home to ancient valleys, dune fields and shipwrecks. Despite the extreme landscape, it’s also startlingly life filled and offers one-of-a-kind safaris.

When to go: Namibia is a true year-round destination. December through March is hot, but also green and full of wildlife.

Where to go: Conservation-minded outfitter Wilderness Safaris boasts some of the top guides in Africa and operates the eight-tent, fly-in, fly-out Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. You may be blissfully isolated from civilization, but the camp still provides top-shelf cocktails around the campfire, toasty throws in addition to cozy duvets and springbok filet for dinner. Did we mention, every scene is Instagram-worthy?

Best for: Couples who have already been to Africa or who are looking for a fresh take on the classic safari.

If you're going to: Asia
Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Raja Ampat honeymoon idea

Why go: Bypass Bali in favor of Raja Ampat. Nestled deep in an archipelago of uninhabited islands, you’ll find some of the best diving in the world here. A quaint and exciting getaway!

When to go: October through April is the dry season, and it also brings an abundance of manta rays.

Where to stay: Misool Eco Resort is surrounded by its protected 300,000 acre Misool Marine Park, teeming with ocean life (from $2,400 per person for a seven-night stay, all-inclusive). Choose from water cottages or spacious villas, and spend days snorkeling, at the spa or touring local villages. Feel good knowing your stay benefits the local community and the resort’s marine conservation programs. Be treated to a Romantic Beach Castaway Experience. The staff at Misool will drop you at a private beach with lounge chairs, an umbrella and a cooler full of snacks and drinks.

Best for: Diving enthusiasts. Don your snorkel gear and swim with baby black tip reef sharks in the waters just off the resort.

If you're going to: North America
Maui, Hawaii

Wai’anapanapa State Park, Maui honeymoon ideas

Why go: Maui is the best of all worlds! You’ll find a surfer vibe on the North Shore, amazing resorts and a place that makes you feel like you’re in another era in Hana.

When to go: During shoulder seasons is best—April through May and September through November—you’ll find more affordable rates, fewer crowds and idyllic weather.

Where to stay: Skip the tourist-filled big resorts of Maui’s South Coast and experience the island like a local on the North Shore. The Inn at Mama’s is set on a secluded beach shaded by coconut palms and puts you steps from the island’s celebrated restaurant Mama’s Fish House and a five-minute drive from the hippie-chic town of Paia.

If you're going to: South America
Torres Del Paine, Chile

EcoCamp, Chile

Why go: Unparalleled trekking through a changing landscape of glacial lakes and jagged mountains is just outside your door. So many beautiful honeymoon photo opps!

When to go: November through March is best, but shoulder months April, September and October have lower rates.

Where to stay: EcoCamp offers sustainable digs in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. Guests sleep in geodesic dome-shaped structures modeled after ancient Kaweskar tribe dwellings. Stunning! Ceiling windows let you fall asleep while stargazing, and private terraces offer a romantic spot to watch the sunset. Honestly, nothing sweeter. Guests gather for meals, like king crab cannelloni and patasca (a typical Altiplano stew) in an enormous dining dome each evening. Request a dome with heat unless you prefer to snuggle.

Best for: Eco-conscious travelers; glampers; hikers; yogis; outdoor lovers...count us in!

Worth the splurge: Visit one of Patagonia’s largest ranches and spend a day horseback riding with local baqueanos (cowboys). You’ll ride past small villages, spot condor nests and hear about the region’s legendary stories over a picnic lunch.

If you're going to: The Caribbean
Anguilla

Anguilla honeymoon idea

Why go: The combination of incredible restaurants and gorgeous beaches make this one of the Caribbean’s top destinations.

When to go: May through August are the best months to visit.

Where to stay: An 18-month remodel by Auberge Resorts brought the famed Malliouhana hotel back to its 1950s glamour, just in time for your honeymoon! The rooms, suites and a cliffside restaurant were redone and a 15,000-square-foot spa was added. One thing that hasn’t changed is the dream location. Perched atop a bluff above three of the island’s top beaches—Meads Bay, Bobbing Cove and Turtle Cove—the hotel is ideally situated for snorkeling, sunning and sunsets. Every honeymoon requires the quintessential sunset photo, and the Sunset Bar at Malliouhana is the precise place to snap that image—with mojitos in hand, of course.

Romantic moment: Book a candlelit, private dinner with a dedicated waiter and guitarist under one of the recently refreshed pool cabanas overlooking the ocean. Then, indulge in gourmet s’mores around the fire pit for dessert accompanied by an aged rum tasting. Cap your night off with a latenight dip in the two-tier pool.

If you're going to: The Mediterranean
Puglia

Puglia

Why go: Puglia has always had James Bond–worthy beaches, beautiful architecture and ancient ruins. But the recently booming food scene on this remote heel of Italy’s boot has the region primed to be the next Tuscany. And we're hungry for both adventure and the local cuisine!

When to go: A temperate climate makes Puglia a year-round destination. Though it’s too cold to swim, October through April are great months for exploring inland charms.

Where to stay: Masseria Le Carrube, a working farmhouse in the town of Ostuni, has been transformed into a more rustic sister property of Puglia’s top hotel Borgo Egnazia. A spectacular stay for newlyweds! Don’t miss a meal at its vegetarian restaurant Le Carrube. If you enjoy architecture, we recommend exploring Valle D’Itria and checking out the village’s cylindrical houses with beehive-shaped roofs!

Snow? What snow? We're dreaming of Chile and Hawaii getaways for sure! Get inspired by these hot spots and devour the details of planning your honeymoon today!

No comments:

Post a Comment