Destinations
Destination index: where to go for romance
Every couple's perfect trip is different. Start with the kind of days you want to share, then find the place that fits.
Choosing where to go is often the hardest part of planning a romantic trip. The world is full of beautiful places, and friends, magazines and advertisements will all suggest somewhere different. The best way to cut through the noise is to start not with a place, but with a picture of the trip itself. How do the two of you want to spend your days? What do you want to feel when you come home?
Four questions to ask together
When are you going? Seasons shape everything: weather, crowds, prices and what is open. A place that is perfect in one month can be stormy, sweltering or shuttered in another. The Caribbean, for example, is lovely much of the year but has a storm season to plan around, which is explained in the Caribbean for two.
How far are you willing to travel? A long flight can open up extraordinary places, but it also costs time and energy at both ends. For a short trip, closer is usually better. For a longer honeymoon, a distant destination may be worth every hour in the air.
What is your budget? Be honest with each other early. Decide what matters most, whether that is a spectacular room, wonderful food, or simply staying longer, and spend there. It is better to have a modest trip you can relax into than a grand one that leaves you worrying about money.
What is your style? Do you want to do nothing at all, or explore every day? Do you want lively evenings or quiet ones? Would you rather be looked after in a resort, or discover small local places on your own? There is no right answer, only the one that suits you both.
The regions
The Caribbean
Warm water, reef-sheltered beaches and islands of every size and heritage. Wonderful for beach honeymoons and weddings, with a storm season to respect.
Mexico and Latin America
Two very different coastlines, colonial towns, cenotes and ancient ruins. Easy to combine culture and beach in one trip.
Europe
Canal cities, island villages above the sea, castles and countryside, all linked by rail. Best enjoyed slowly, with fewer bases and longer stays.
The USA
Lake shores, mountain towns, national parks, wine country, deserts and coasts. Ideal for long weekends as well as longer trips.
Canada
An old walled city, mountain lakes in the Rockies and the Canadian side of a famous waterfall. Fresh air and old-world charm.
The South Pacific, Asia and Australia
Lagoon islands, temple towns and vast landscapes. Long journeys with extraordinary rewards, best planned with care.
Africa and the Middle East
Safaris, desert camps and ancient cities. A honeymoon that feels like an expedition, often paired with a beach.
The trip styles
Sometimes the style of trip matters more than the destination. These guides look at the different ways of travelling and staying as a couple:
Cruises
Several places in one trip, with your room travelling with you. Good for couples who like variety without packing and unpacking.
B&Bs and country inns
Small, personal and full of character. Perfect for weekend getaways and slow trips through the countryside.
All-inclusive and couples-only resorts
Everything in one place and one price, so you can switch off completely. Know what is and is not covered before you book.
Spa getaways
Time to rest and be looked after together, whether a day at a spa or a whole trip built around one.
Matching style to place
Some combinations work especially well. A beach honeymoon suits the Caribbean, the Mexican coast or a lagoon island. A culture-rich trip suits Europe, colonial Latin America or Asia. A nature-filled escape suits the Rockies, the national parks of the United States, or an African safari. A short, easy getaway might be a country inn a few hours from home.
Wikipedia's overview of the Caribbean gives a sense of how much variety can hide within a single region: thousands of islands, islets, reefs and cays, from the large islands of the Greater Antilles to the long chain of the Lesser Antilles. The same is true almost everywhere. Once you have chosen a region, it is worth reading about the differences within it before settling on a place.
A final word
There is no perfect destination, only the right one for the two of you at this moment. Choose together, plan together, and leave room for surprises. Some of the best moments of any trip are the ones nobody planned.