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JANUARY 2014 PAGE 17
WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS SPECIAL
Table with a view
M
The whole of the Moon
any couples are still choosing a fly-and-flop fortnight for their honeymoon, with a focus on excellent beaches, good weather and romantic extras. The basics remain unchanged. Forget Unesco sites; it's all about beaches, good weather and romantic sunsets. Many modern honeymoons are no longer just about spending two weeks in the sun. With the average age of newlyweds now over 30, couples are looking for something more exciting.
DUAL MOON.
Many traditional honeymoons are no longer about staying in one resort. Favourite combina-
tions include the Maldives and Dubai, and Kenya and Mauritius.
MINI MOON
the most famous derivative of honeymoon, is for those who can't spare the time or money for a two-week honeymoon. The phenomenon took off at the start of the credit crunch, when many chose a shorter trip after their ceremony and then saved up to take a longer break when they could afford it. With the average cost of a wedding now ÂŁ23,000, it is little wonder that the trend continues. There's no reason a minimoon can't be as glamorous or indulgent as a traditional honeymoon. The trick is to partner a great location with a short
travelling time, such as Venice or Paris. Since the recession more honeymooners are going for European destinations. It is not necessarily a budgetary thing , the average spend on a honeymoon hasn't really changed, it's about not wanting to fly too far or be jet-lagged. Couples short of time or newly-weds who have blown their budget on their wedding and need to save before taking a longer, more luxurious trip.
FAMILYMOON
With many couples now marrying later in life, children are often already on the scene, while second-timers are increasingly choosing to marry abroad, with a
small party in tow to join the celebrations. Ideal "familymoon" destinations are somewhere safe, with good beaches, family-friendly activities, good-value food and chic accommodation for the couple. There are also those who honeymooning with siblings or friends, which is
becoming big business.
ADVENTURE MOON for honey-
mooners who want to walk the Great Wall of China or visit the orangutans in Borneo, or canoe down the Amazon. Adventuremoons don't automatically mean a lack of luxury, although accommodation is more likely to be local and bou-
tique, rather than five-star chain hotels. Holiday companies have noticed a trend for honeymooners looking for destinations which are luxurious yet culturally exciting.
HELPMOON
Ideal for couples who want an exciting experience, but also feel they want to give something back while they're there. This doesn't necessarily mean two weeks' digging a well in an African village; a more popular approach is to add on a few days' volunteering to a more traditional honeymoon. In Argentina, couples can help at a community project in Buenos Aires for a few days before heading off to explore the
Pampas. The feedback organisers get is that honeymooning this way creates longer-lasting memories and allows for a deeper understanding of local life.
MAXIMOON A
consequence of couples marrying later in life has been the rise of the longer honeymoon, with people extending their holiday into a six-week work sabbatical, or even leaving their jobs and taking a gap year. They are choosing to visit several places, or try something they've always wanted to do, such as travelling through South America or taking a round-the-world journey.