Unique Honeymoons 2013

Unique

Honeymoons

iLUn W XE A DE

✱ 2013 Issue ✱ Top 50 honeymoon experiences – for all budgets ✱ Where to go when ✱ Pre-trip treats ✱ Hip hotels & unusual accommodation ✱ How to book ✱ Honeymoon city guides

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2013 issue UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com

£4.99

& romantic getaways

honeymoons for all budgets

Perfect escapes from £100 to £10,000!

Pocket guides

Romantic City breaks Marrakech, Hong Kong, Venice & Buenos Aires Explore

Into india Plan your ultimate exotic escape Plan

where to go when

“It wasn’t exactly conventional...”

Real honeymooners reveal all

+

✱ Super stays under £100 ✱ Top pre-trip treats ✱ Lush luggage ✱ Spa guide

Great ideas for every month

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Cover story

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Perfect Escapes Fifty incredible honeymoons – whatever your budget

Competition

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a Bob Books luxury photobook worth

£150

(see p143)

Contents Up Front

6Love The View: Hawaii

Say aloha to a truly unique honeymoon destination! We love these volcanic islands, from cloud-shrouded peaks to sweeping sands, fab surf and much more...

56

Stretching your legs...

India can seem massive for first-timers – we break this huge, exotic country into six, simple, sensual itineraries

8Confetti

Hot honeymoon destinations for 2013, lush luggage, things to do in London and advice from the Wedding Fairy – it’s all about the little flashes of inspiration!

13Where To Go When

Don’t book a thing before reading

21

Time to take off…

Plan your ’moon with our calendar

our indispensable month-by-month calendar! Find out where’s hot in December, cool in June and over-run with wildlife in March. Simply, great travel advice, no matter when you plan to go.

11

Lush luggage

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Inspiration

Planning

Honeymoons for all budgets!

3250

116How To Book

Now you’re inspired, it’s time to get started: read our top tips on how to get the best deal.

Got £100? Got £10,000? Whether you’re splashing the cash or holding tight to the purse strings, there’s a honeymoon out there for you, and we’ve hunted high and low to find the world’s best breaks.

121Get married abroad

Fancy the idea of combining the wedding and ’moon? Then we’ve the answers for your questions.

54Quick Fix: Madeira

The condensed guide to Portugal’s historical gem – the perfect place for a short-break honeymoon.

56Into India

David Abram heads off to India to seek out the six best Indian honeymoon itineraries so that you can make the most of this exotic and diverse destination.

66

Quick Fix: The Galapagos

Your 60-second guide to this extraordinary wildlife wonderland.

wasn't exactly 69“Itconventional...”

We get the lowdown from real couples taking real honeymoons – on safari, overlanding, getting cultural in Latin America and trekking in Nepal and the UK.

82Quick Fix: Indochina

The no-nonsense two-week itinerary plan to South-East Asia’s jewels.

85

Top pre-trip treats

From pre-trip treats to romantic experiences here’s how to add extra sparkle to the most special trip you’ll ever take.

A location that’s perfect for you Are you a mountain kind-of-person? Or does the ocean float your boat? Whatever landscape you dream of honeymooning in, we’ve found the ideal accommodation for you

Relax in style The ultimate spas to kick back in… made all the more sweeter after all the inevitable Big Day hectic headaches

122Honeymoon Q&A

110

Where to Stay

92Super stays under £100

The very best boutique bargains and romantic retreats for a honeymoon that won’t break the bank.

All your burning questions answered, from how to take the perfect sunset shot to where to go on a first-time safari, scoring an upgrade and going green.

honeymoons 127Combination

You want to relax, she’s a culture vulture... you’re all about the action and he wants wildlife. Whether you can’t make up your minds or looking for a bit of everything, check out these destinations that are a sure-fire recipe for romance.

desert, ocean, jungle 100Mountain,

Capture the honeymoon high up in the mountains, get doe-eyed in the desert, sleep by the sea or head deep into the jungle... we’ve found honeymoon hideaways, no matter what landscapes you love.

110

Spa Guide

Treat yourselves in one of these spas with soul from around the world. We’ve found the top treatments for couples… and also five of the best places to stay if you’re marrying a pamper-phobe.

100

77

146

Hitting the road Real honeymooners’ safari stories

Mini Guides

133Romantic City Breaks

Cut-out-and-keep guides to four of the world’s most romantic, dynamic cities.

144Final Countdown

When should you book?

Get jabs? Pack? Here’s your quick tick list.

The whole picture Taking in the view from Hong Kong island’s Peak

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upfront ✽ love the view

Hawaii

Getty

Still hot

Think Hawaii is too developed or too passé for a really unique honeymoon? Think again.

While Waikiki, on O’ahu, is the South Pacific at its most developed, it’s easy to find a piece of paradise on these North American isles – just look a bit further afield.

Hawaii’s oldest island, Kauai, is the perfect place to hike – try the Napali Coast’s soaring cliffs (also great for whale watching) and the vast chasms of Waimea Canyon. Or walk to Pu’u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock) on luxurious Lanai.

Molokai, birthplace of hula, is the most traditional of all the islands: no building is taller than a coconut tree.

Maui is perfect for beach lovers but it’s worth rousing yourselves to visit Pi‘ilanihale Heiau (a 600-year-old Polynesian temple) and to watch dawn from the summit of a volcano at Haleakala National Park (pictured).

For a bit of everything, go large. Hawaii Island (the Big Island) isn’t just big – it’s still growing. Witness lava becoming- land in Volcanoes National Park; Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupting since 1983.

Island hopping is expensive; it’s more economical to pick one island to explore. The good news is that Hawaii is one of those rare travel gems, in that the April-June off season – when prices are lowest and crowds smallest – is actually when the weather is at its sunny best.

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upfront ✽ calendar

where to go when Find your

Honeymoon

ination for more dest Head online tails and de p tri n, io informat as well firing fun – n imaginatione Honeymoo siv clu ex r as ou ol.

Finder web to .com ymoonIdeas UniqueHone

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Your 12 month guide to the world’s best honeymoon destinations »

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August

upfront ✽ calendar

School’s out, and popular spots across Europe (Med resorts, Italian lakes) are inundated with tourists. Quiet corners can be found or you can explore further afield, to Alaska and Canada, or Pacific outposts such as Fiji and Tonga, which are dry but not yet sweltering. Indonesia’s tropical islands – like Bali – are blessed with sea breezes.

Verona, Italy > It’s worth braving the summer heat for

Verona’s Opera Festival. Played out in the city’s Roman arena, it’s a romantically candlelit affair, brimming with passionate performances. When: The Opera Festival runs Jun-Aug.

Alaska, USA > The summer is short, the snows have

melted and the brown bears are hungry.

Watch the animals pick off migrating salmon at Katmai National Park. When: Best months are Jul-Sept.

Fiji > Welcome to island paradise: cerulean lagoons, pristine sands and coconut palms characterise this archipelago of over 300 islands. Spend a few days exploring the lush interior of main island Viti Levu by 4WD before finding a romantic hideaway among the Kadavu group, where the Great Astrolabe Reef – more than 100km of underwater twisting canyons and caverns – offers superb diving. When: May-Sept is dry season, warm but less humid.

Bali

iStockphoto

I

f you were asked to describe a romantic island paradise, you’d probably describe Bali. Fine-sand beaches, waving palm trees, verdant stepped rice terraces, dramatic volcano backdrop, shoreline temples, surf, snorkelling, spas, festivals and food.

Certain places, like Kuta and its bustling nightlife, aren’t for everyone, but it’s easy enough to tailor your experience to match your desires.

Boutique luxury guesthouses and hotels abound, on black-sand beaches or on the slopes of the two prominent volcanoes, Agung and Batukau.

The cultural centre, Ubud, is a vibrant settlement set among rice

paddies, the place to see traditional craftspeople and dances, while Tenganan offers a more low-key art scene. The temples at Tanah Lot and Uluwatu cling limpet-like to wave-battered rocks, while breaks draw surfers to the coast between them.

Even if you secrete yourself away in an exclusive resort, make time to get out and explore – don a snorkel or some comfortable shoes for a hike, and meet the locals (marine or terrestrial!).

Romantip: Bali’s spa treatments are rightly renowned – indulge yourselves with a spa special for couples.

When: Dry season is May-Sept.

Canal de Bourgogne, France > Just pre-harvest, the vineyards of

Burgundy are heavy with grapes. Take a private boat cruise along the Canal de Bourgogne, from Dijon to Beaune, to float past ancient castles and fine wineries.

When: Grape harvest is Sept – get there just before; the area is lovely between May-Oct.

Mozambique > It’s the ideal time to visit the beaches of this rejuvenated east African nation. Head off-shore to the unspoilt Quirimbas Archipelago, 12 major islands where pristine sands and excellent ecolodges await. When: Dry season is Jun-Nov.

Also try... Edinburgh (for festival fun) • Slovenia (laze by Lake Bled) • Kyrgyzstan (yurts in the wilderness) UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com | 23

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top 50 breaks for all

budgets Whether you have £100 or £10,000 there’s a honeymoon out

there to suit you. Here are some of the best options, from free wild escapes to private hottubs on snowy mountain-tops...

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inspiration ✽ top 50

ensconced in a Mallorcan farmhouse (below). One of the best for honeymooners is Aljup de Son Amer – a stone-clad cottage amid olive groves, just a few minutes’ walk from the local tapas bar; beautiful sandy coves (including Cala Llombards), historic villages and some of the island’s finest countryside are nearby. But there are plenty of other farmhouses to choose from. Each comes with private pool, maid service and a starter pack of essentials; however, if cooking feels like too much effort, arrange for private catering: a chef will come to your villa, serve your meal and even wash-up afterwards. As a further indulgence, book a ‘pamper by the pool’ mobile spa treatment.

Who? Mallorca Farmhouses (0845 800 8080, mallorca.co.uk) How long? 7 nights How much? Aljup de Son Amer from £607 a week (other villas from £414) plus flights When to go? Year-round; best Mar-Jun & Sept-Oct

13France

£1,000 -1,999 From just £500 per person you can honeymoon in style

iStockphoto; Icelandair; Mallorca Farmhouses; Transun; www.yurtholidayportugal.com

11Croatia What: Hvar island exploration Why we love it: Offers seclusion and indulgence on maybe the Med’s most fashionable isle The mountainous, lavenderscented island of Hvar (above) has trendy restaurants, chic bars and a charming Old Town.

But it also has quiet coves and corners, ideal for ’mooners who want to be alone. On Transun’s Hidden Hvar trip, walk amid olive groves and wildflowers, taste Croatia’s finest wines on a vineyard tour, tuck in to a seafood feast in pretty Milna and enjoy a unique private

dinner at the abandoned village of Mali Grabje as the sun sets.

Who? Transun (01865 565813, transun.co.uk) How long? 3 nights; extensions possible How much? From £1,398 per couple When? Best May-Oct

What: Luxury Champagne mini-moon Why we love it: You can toast your nuptials with premium bubbly in a classy castle Whizz by train to the rolling vineyards of north France for the most indulgent and effervescent mini-moon. From your balconied room at a five-star château in medieval

Reims (above), tour the nearby champagne houses: sip prestige cuvée at Veuve Clicquot, sneak an exclusive tour of Möet and Chandon (complete with flute of Dom Perignon), picnic among the vines and watch the Napoleonic art of sabrage (opening a bottle with a sabre) – the ultimate romantic flourish.

Who? Grape Escapes (01763 273373, grapeescapes.net) How long? 3 nights; several packages available How much? around £1,458 per couple When? Feb-Dec; best months Apr-Oct; Sept for harvest

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new york city, usa What: Big Apple mini-break Why we love it? It’s the city of When Harry Met Sally – doesn’t get more romantic, does it?

New York’s not cheap, but you can find flights from £400pp return (try skyscanner.net and kayak.co.uk; January is cheapest) and spend a mini-moon here

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Mallorca, Spain What: Mallorca farmhouse stay Why we love it: Ideal for rustic getaways with a bit of pampering If you’re looking for some rustic romance, spend a week UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com | 37

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Plan the

perfect India trip Is there anywhere more romantic than India?

From palace stays and palm-fringed beaches to vibrant bazaars and very big cats, the subcontinent has it all.

Here's how to plan the perfect two-week trip Words: David Abram

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INSPIRATION ✽ INDIA

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Stress-free, challenging, epic, exotic...

What do

Honeymooners

really want?

From fly and flop packages, to wildlife watching, tackling an adventure,

doing round the world trip or staying at home - we asked five couples...

The beach & culture couple p70 The extreme-adventure couple p72 The big trip couple p74 The safari couple p77 The honeymoon-at-home couple p79

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Inspiration ✽ ideas Inspiration ✽ uk escape

“You can find ‘special’ just

down the road...”

Who? Laura Hobbs (NHS manager) & James Hobbs (NHS manager) What? Two weeks independently hiking parts of the 1,000km National Trail that traces the UK's south-west coast Why? For remote, wild scenery and no foreign travel stress

Q

uite a few friends said to us, ‘well that doesn’t sound like a honeymoon’. But we never really considered going anywhere else. After the thought of hiking bits of the South West Coast Path occurred to us, that was it. Some people think you have to go to the ends of the earth to get that special experience, but actually you can have it just down the road.

But then, the Coast Path is special to us.

Not only is it wildly beautiful –there are turquoise seas, white sands, remote coves, even seals – we got engaged on it. We’d just reached a lighthouse on a rugged stretch in

South Devon and some sudden sunshine made me peel off my sweaty waterproofs; as I unromantically declared, “I STINK!”, I turned to find James on bended knee!

We had a rather unique wedding: James is a DJ, I’m a singer-songwriter, so we planned a mini festival (‘Hobbs-fest’), which took a lot of organising. After that, we needed the honeymoon to be easy to plan; not having to face long-haul flights or jabs was important to us.

We also wanted to remember it as more than a honeymoon. Doing this – achieving something – has given us something significant to hold onto. We’re not superseasoned hikers, and didn’t start out looking for a challenge – but I think we might have set ourselves up for a future of it now.

To make this hike into a honeymoon, we stayed in some lovely places, mainly thanks to listing them as gifts on our wedding website. We loved that guests donated towards our stays in places that were meaningful to them.

We also booked luggage transfers. It took the pressure off packing – we had little time between wedding and honeymoon, so threw in a ton of stuff we probably didn’t need, and the service moved it between our B&Bs for us. We both wore our wedding shoes (James’s spats, my 4-inchhigh lacy numbers) at every opportunity. I wore my wedding jewellery lots too – a good visual reminder of the fact we were on our honeymoon.

Oh, and I made sure everyone knew we were on honeymoon! The response was «

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Take the plunge...

Plan something you’ll always remember to make your honeymoon sparkle

Experiences

Do something special together to make the memories of a lifetime

T

o make your honeymoon truly memorable, do at least one thing you’ve never done before.

“Build an itinerary of activities that are totally yours,” adds George Watts. “Invest time in this romantic adventure together – it’s literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Elevate your trip by including unique, adventurous or exclusive experiences, but don’t scare yourself witless – there’s no point booking a tandem bungee jump or shark-cage-dive if you’re both terrified of heights or toothy fish. Think about the things you’ll remember in years to come and consider your bucket list: is there something you’ve always wanted to do that you can tick off together now?

Classic extras include hot-air balloon flights (especially spectacular over African plains), a drive in a vintage convertible (with 50s-chic headscarf!) and sunset drinks somewhere special – be it on the deck of a yacht or from your own private hotspring.

If you’re energetic souls, why not climb you could even create a honeymoon giftlist an iconic mountain (maybe Tanzania’s and get your guests to purchase them for Mt Kilimanjaro or Malaysian Borneo’s you. Not only does this lessen your Mt Kinabalu). Perhaps you could learn to financial burden but it means family and dive, gallop along a deserted beach on friends feel more involved and can buy you horseback or kayak upriver in a canoe for two? experiences that mean something to both “Shared interests are at the heart of them and you. any relationship,” reckons Dan Hart Do book with a reputable operator. of tour and activities provider “You don’t want to miss out Viator (www.viator.com). because your tour wasn’t “So include any experiential financially protected,” adds tour that allows you to do Dan. “If something goes Plan exciting experiences for your honeymoon – something together, be it wrong, you want to know but don’t try to do an elephant ride in Thailand you’ll get a refund quickly.” too much: you’ll just or heli-hiking over glaciers Experiences booked as part end up stressed and exhausted! in New Zealand.” of a package with a bonded Doing something usually tour operator should be off-limits adds extra sparkle, too – it covered in the event of mishap, reminds you both that this is a special trip but tours booked separately may not be. indeed. For instance, Viator’s Sistine Chapel You could get a local to plan a whole Private Viewing lets you queue-jump at the bespoke honeymoon itinerary for you.

Vatican and offers after-hours access to Tripbod (www.tripbod.com) is a network of rooms that aren’t usually open to the public. passionate locals who can do just that, says Any experiences that are important to the company’s Jo Sheasby. “Travel agents you should be booked well in advance; can help you find great hotels and flights, but a Tripbod – who has huge amounts of first-hand information at their fingertips – will ensure you have an unforgettable experience,” adds Jo. “They can give you access to unique experiences that most people miss – incredible neighbourhood restaurants, hidden beaches and romantic hideaways.” »

Top Tip

Consider your bucket list – is there something you’ve always wanted to do that you can tick off together now?

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Inspiration ✽ extras

Getty; Expert Africa/Chris McIntyre; iStockphoto

top 9 experiences

1

Book a private pod (with champers) on the London Eye, UK Gaze over the capital’s rooftops together, in luxurious privacy. The London Eye’s ‘Cupid’s Capsule’ package (from £292) includes your own pod, a bottle of Pommery Brut Royal Champagne and a box of Hotel Chocolat Pink Champagne Truffles, served by your very own host. (www.londoneye.com)

2

Play a game of elephant polo, Jaipur, India At Dera Amer, a remote camp nestled behind the hills of Amer Fort in Rajasthan, couples can each hop on one of the camp’s two elephants for a private game of ’stick and ball’. After your hotly contested match, feed your trusty charges and retire to the veranda for sunset cocktails (www.wildfrontiers.co.uk).

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Picnic on your own island, Tikehau, French Polynesia Sail to Tikehau Lagoon and, while you snorkel with rays in the crystal-clear waters, the captain and chef will set up a flower-strewn table on a sandy atoll – complete with jumbo prawns, fresh fish and bottles of bubbly – then make a discreet exit, leaving you to lunch alone... (www.spmhotels.com/resort/tikehau)

5

Ride the rails in secluded style, across Canada Book Deluxe Sleeper Plus Class on Via Rail’s four-day ‘Canadian’ service from Toronto to Vancouver to get the very best of berths: a spacious compartment complete with private shower, fridge, flat-screen TV (if you can tear yourself away from the views) and a cosy double bed (www.viarail.com).

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Lift off in a hot air balloon, Namib Desert, Namibia Drift up over the apricot ripples of the Namib in small wicker basket – it’s the best, and most romantic, way to appreciate the scale and grandeur of this ancient landscape. Watch dunes flow and antelope stalk, before landing in the wilderness for a champagne breakfast (www.expertafrica.com).

Make a tandem bungy jump, Queenstown, New Zealand Set your pulses racing by flinging yourself into a gorge together, with nothing but a bit of elastic for safety: the original Kawarau Bridge Bungy, just outside Queenstown, offers the option of tandem jumps. Honeymoon buzzes don’t come more white-knuckle than this (www.bungy.co.nz).

Take a private tango lesson, Buenos Aires, Argentina Book a sultry session for two with one of the finest instructors in the world’s tango capital – many specialist operators can organise lessons. Once you’ve perfected some moves, hit the city’s dancefloors or head to a tango show (Bar Sur and El Viejo Almacén are classic venues) to watch the pros in actions.

Bathe in a private hotspring, Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa, Japan Bed down at luxurious Lamp no Yado for a private piece of Japanese culture.

Many of the suites at this 14-room hideaway have their own onsen (hot spring bath), which – as the hotel is surrounded on three sides by the sea – seem to drop right into the water (www.insidejapantours.com).

Explore the seafloor by scooter, Grand Baie, Mauritius Channel a bit of Bond chic in the turquoise Indian Ocean. Non-divers (and even non-swimmers) can plunge to the seafloor in a self-drive underwater scooter for two, to zip among the coral and technicolour fishes, all the while breathing normally inside the panoramic glass dome (www.blue-safari.com).

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where to stay

Sec t t ion

wo

Whether it's a room with a view, complimentary champagne or a relaxing spa treatment, where you stay is about so much more than sleep

Romantic retreats

for under £100 Honeymoon stays that won’t break the bank? LIZ SIMPSON of hip hideaways site www.i-escape.com, has some suggestions 92 | UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com

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where to stay ✽ under £100

1

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India Hotel Shreenath Palace

Price per night: from £40 (incl breakfast and taxes)

Why here? This romantic 450-year-old

iEscape.com

2

haveli (private mansion) lies deep inside Jaisalmer’s magical and unique ‘living’ Fort.

It’s steeped in history, from the ornately carved stone and steep, winding steps, to the delicate alcoves, gorgeous archways and faded ancestors’ photos on the walls. The bigger bedrooms are pillared and balconied, adorned with beautiful old stone and wood carvings, jewel-coloured silks and velvets.

But best of all are the charming staff.

What’s nearby? Jaisalmer Fort is utterly beguiling, a maze of narrow, honey-sandstone lanes down which no cars or tuk-tuks will fit. It’s this honeyed glow that gives Jaisalmer its nickname of ‘The Golden City’, in keeping with other colour-coded Rajasthani towns like ‘The Pink City’ (Jaipur) and ‘The Blue City’ (Jodhpur). There are Jain temples, a seven-storey City Palace, and you can shop for beautiful rugs and mirrored fabrics in the town. Or why not take a jeep safari into the Khuri Sand Dunes?

When to go: High Season is October to February when it’s cooler, with no humidity or rain. If staying in February, don’t miss » the Desert Festival with its dance, camel races, folk music and turban-tying contests! www.i-escape.com/hotel-shreenath-palace

near Carcassonne, France Le Trésor Price per night: from £80 (incl tax)

Why here? This quintessentially French maison de maître sits in a gorgeous sleepy village, an hour from Carcassonne. The house’s original features – an elegant staircase, pannelling and marble fireplaces – are still in place, but they’ve been pepped up with contemporary prints and fabrics, jazzy chandeliers and whirly art. Rooms have White Company bedlinen and L’Occitane toiletries, and meals are great value. But it’s the warmth of the friendly hosts that will really make your stay.

What’s nearby? The Pyrenees are on your doorstep for wonderful hiking (ask the owners for suggested routes and a packed lunch) or you can hire bikes and explore local villages on two wheels. You’d probably stay here for Carcassonne though; this UNESCO World Heritage town has a medieval walled Cité with cobbled streets and drawbridges, and was Walt Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

When to go: Summer is obviously lovely, but to see the wildflowers at their best, May and June are the ideal months. The autumn months are also memorable when first the vines and then the fruit trees change colour. www.i-escape.com/le-tresor » UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com | 93

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Mountain, desert, ocean, jungle...

No matter what type of terrain you prefer, there’s an atmospheric honeymoon hideaway for you

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Where to stay ✽ unique

We want to stay on a... MOUNTAIN You'll be on a high from your wedding, so why not keep it that way and seek out some panoramic scenery 1 Whare Kea Lodge Southern Alps, New Zealand

Nestled at the foot of Mt Aspiring, Whare Kea Lodge is the place to go for a room with a view.

The six rooms/suites have dramatic mountain panoramas, while there’s also the Luxury Alpine chalet option high in the Buchanan Range – a helicopter flight from the main lodge.

While you’re there: Try fly-fishing. horse riding through Cardrona Valley or a vineyard tour. For high-octane adventure there’s hiking and mountain biking in summer, heliskiing or ski touring in winter.

When to go: Year-round.

From NZ$1,400 (£729) pn, including dinner and breakfast; www.wharekealodge.com

Whare Kea Lodge; Inkaterra; Uma Paro

2 Whitepod Les Cerniers, Switzerland

1

Whitepod’s geodesic structures are like modernist igloos, and perfect for a white-winter honeymoon. The 15 pods have wood-burning stoves, luxury bedding and proper bathrooms.

Be prepared for the elements: on check-in you’ll be given rucksacks, a map, headlights, crampons and walking sticks for the hike to your pod; luggage is sent up by skidoo.

While you’re there: Go skiing, snowboarding, dog-sledging or night sledding then relax in the sauna and have a massage.

When to go: Open Dec-Mar. From CHF360 (£240) pn incl tea & breakfast; www.whitepod.com

Picchu. The set-up is idyllic: an enclave of whitewashed casitas dotted amid streams, orchids and trees. At night, cuddle up under alpaca-wool blankets; by day (if you opt for opulence in the Villas Inkaterra), escape the heat in your own plunge pool.

While you’re there: Explore the Inca citadel, of course, then take a tour with resident orchid experts – the hotel has the world’s largest collection of native species.

When to go: May-Oct. Three-day packages from US$970 (£620) pp; www.inkaterra.com

4 Uma Paro Paro, Bhutan

Uma Paro combines traditional Bhutanese architecture with quiet, contemporary elegance.

Rooms have views of azelea glades, pine forests and the Paro Valley; suites and villas come with butler service.

While you’re there: Have your marriage blessed at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in in the country.

Bhutan’s famous Tiger’s Nest monastery is nearby.

When to go: Mar-May for rhododendrons; Oct-Nov for clear trekking weather.

From US$290 pn; www.uma. paro.como.bz

5 Bab Ourika, Ourika Valley, Morocco

Relax in this converted Kasbah in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains.

4

The rustic-chic rooms all have fireplaces to curl up by and views of the valley. As for cuisine, the chef specialises in traditional Berber recipes.

While you’re there: Explore the Monday Berber market at nearby Tnine Ourika and the fragrant farms that supply the medina’s perfumiers and herbalists.

When to go: Mar-May & Sept-Nov – avoid stifling summer heat.

From €150 pn; www. kasbahbabourika.com

6 Can Rigall , Pyrenees, France

This 300-year old Catalan farmstead has 11 intimate rooms, each named after something significant in the farm or the region’s history. The views of Mt Canigou from the natural-rock swimming pool are magnifique.

While you’re there: Explore ancient forts, picnic where peaks tumble to the sea or bathe in the healing springs of nearby Amelie-les-Bains.

When to go: Open Mar-Oct. From €240 pn; www.canrigall.com

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3 Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Machu Picchu, Peru Experience barefoot luxury right at the foot of Machu

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Planning ✽ How to book

Planning

Sec t tion

hre e

This is where you stop dreaming and start doing – five pages of expert advice on bringing in your perfect trip, on time and on budget

How to make your honeymoon happen In the maelstrom of wedding planning the honeymoon can get overlooked– but it’s the best part! Here's how to get started

STEP 1: The ‘Chat’ Decide what you want from your honeymoon, as a couple

Romantic surprises can be lovely – and there’s certainly nothing wrong with planning a little unexpected treat for your other half – but it’s best to plan your honeymoon together.

First, what do you both want to do? Each make a shortlist of five dream destinations.

Then think about any must-do experiences

Step 2: The budget – posh dinners, balloon flights, tango Work out what you lessons. Do be realistic – don’t plan can afford to spend something that isn’t your cup of tea just because it’s your honeymoon: there’s no law Set your budget before you start researching to avoid disappointments later. “Having that says you must book an over-water villa a clear idea of what you have to spend will or force yourself to climb a mountain. make the difference between a good holiday “Consider what sort of hotels you like: and a trial of endurance,” advises William. large, small, swanky or simple,” suggests Draw up a spreadsheet itemising potential Audley Travel’s Jim Millward (www. costs, so you can be realistic about what you audleytravel.com). “Pace is important can afford; don’t forget to allow for essential too – you’ll be tired after the wedding, extras such as any visas and vaccinations. so take it easy for a few days before doing Note, just because a hotel is expensive anything adventurous.” doesn’t guarantee you’ll enjoy it – and Compromise is key. Keep an cheap deals may be cheap for open mind to your partner’s a reason. Travel midweek and on suggestions and be flexible: unpopular dates (eg Christmas “A trip involving different Buy a new ’going away’ Day) for lower fares. To boost elements (beach plus outfit. There’s something your budget, get guests to pay safari, for example) is often special about travelling in new clothes, and it’ll for your honeymoon by the answer,” says remind you this is no setting up a giftlist (see 122).

William Brambell, ordinary holiday.

When booking, tell agents consultant at Trailfinders and hoteliers that you’re on (www.trailfinders.com). honeymoon. While the ‘wedding’ Don’t get too complicated either, word can equal price hikes, honeymoon adds William: “Opt for simplicity over status can get you star treatment: from free intricate plans that may be vulnerable to room upgrades to complimentary champers. « the smallest hiccup.”

Top Tip

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Y

ou need a honeymoon.

Period. You might think it’s just another holiday, that you’ve got too much else to plan, that you’re too busy or too skint.

But, whether you go away for a night or a year, a honeymoon puts the icing on the wedding cake.

It gives you vital bonding time after the maelstrom of the Big Day and helps prolong the marriage magic.

But where to start?

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Honeymoon lingo Adventure-moon Active, gung-ho trips, which are increasingly common according to market research by Mintel.

For example, the proportion of honeymooners who want to ‘just relax’ has fallen from 34% in 2008 to 28% in 2010, with couples seeking more active and memorable experiences.

Mini-moon A short-break honeymoon, ideal for the time/cash poor, or those delaying a big trip until the timing is right. Note that mini does not equal measly. So why not try a Marrakech riad stay (www. lawrenceofmorocco.com), safari in Scotland (www.alladale.com) or cosy up together in a Finnish igloo (www.kakslauttanen.fi/en).

Maxi-moon A long honeymoon, perhaps a round-the-world trip or last-chance gap year before having kids.

To keep romance alive, maxi-mooner Kath Freer recommends regular ‘date nights’. “Put on your cleanest clothes, head off separately and meet in a restaurant for dinner.”

Meaningful-moon (aka honey-teering) This involves volunteering on honeymoon, from a day helping at a school to weeks on a worthy project. For ideas, read Volunteer: A Traveller’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World (Lonely Planet, 2010).

Strategic-moon A honeymoon that is slotted in around various other commitments (work, family, finances) rather than taken right after the wedding.

It's a growing trend.

Buddy-moon An extended wedding party, where friends join the happy couple on a group holiday.

It could work well if you're in the 18% of UK couples who get married abroad (Mintel, 2011) - see p121.

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Family-moon As the name suggests, a honeymoon on which the kids come too.

Consider also inviting grandparents/aunts/uncles as on-hand babysitters!

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