1. Adventure Trips
If reaching for the suntan lotion is your idea of exertion, this honeymoon trend isn’t for you. But if you’re a more active twosome, an afternoon of learning to surf, hiking to the top of the tallest nearby peak, or four-wheeling over rugged terrain are foolproof ways to increase your pulse.
Where to Go
- Taking a safari doesn’t have to mean living like a rhino. Tintswalo Safari Lodge in South Africa is a luxurious base from which to explore the surrounding nature reserve. tintswalo.com
- Crisscross the Mediterranean island of Gozo on a weeklong bike trip. Breakaway Adventures offers “independent” tours, whereby they suggest routes and provide bikes, and then wave good-bye. breakaway-adventures.com
- For the helicopter pilots at Nimmo Bay Resort on Vancouver Island, the top of a glacier is a fine place to drop you off for lunch before whisking you away to other natural landing pads. nimmobay.com
- Get more adventure honeymoon ideas!
Help: Find tour operators for adventures from surfing to storm chasing at voyagetrek.com.
2. Private Villas
Whether it’s a house in the countryside or a collection of bungalows along a stretch of beach, private villa rentals afford a lot of privacy and give guests the sense of having a home away from home. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.
Where to Go
- The 40 pavilions at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos are made largely of glass and wood to create airy, open spaces from which to enjoy the surroundings. amanresorts.com
- Cotton Bay Villas, opening this year in June on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, will boast 24 villas, a mile-long beach, and two private cays for birthday-suit sunbathing (just don’t skimp on the SPF!). discovercottonbay.com
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bali Resort & Spa has 38 new villas perched on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, each of which has its own plunge pool. ritzcarlton.com
Help: Search 1,600 villas of all sizes in Europe and the Caribbean to find one that fits your honeymoon budget at wimco.com.
3. Green Honeymoons
There’s no real definition of what qualifies a hotel as “green,” but making minimal impact on the surroundings, serving local fare in it’s restaurant, and using solar power are signs that it’s on the right track. These resorts prove going eco can still be posh.
Where to Go
- Fiji’s Turtle Island limits visitors to just 14 couples at a time to ensure the island’s preservation, and organic gardens provide fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. turtlefiji.com
- Never thought you’d see a zebra grazing in Mexico? You will in the 25,000-acre nature reserve that surrounds Cuixmala resort, along with gazelles and wild boars.
cuixmala.com
- Machaca Hill Lodge in Belize is located within an 11,000-acre nature reserve, less than 25 percent of which is used by visitors of the resort. machacahill.com
Help: Want to spend your honeymoon helping others? Plan a volunteer honeymoon through sites like charityguide.org or i-to-i.com, and get more green wedding ideas.
4. Intimate Cruises
We’re not talking about a huge ship swarming with grannies, we mean luxury boats with only a few dozen rooms that can take you to spots that aren’t as fun to reach via planes, trains, and automobiles.
Where to Go
- The Oberoi, Zahra is a week-long luxury cruise on the Nile River. With Egyptologists on board to explain the country’s fascinating history, as well as four massage suites, this voyage is just as educational as it is relaxing. oberoihotels.com
- Island hop between the French Polynesian Leeward Islands aboard a 60-person yacht. Depart from Bora Bora and make stops at the islands of Taha’a, Huahine, and Raiatea during the six-night cruise before returning to Bora Bora. boraboracruises.com
- Love watching Planet Earth? Real life is better than HD on a National Geographic-sponsored tour of the Galapagos Islands, during which you’ll have the chance to glimpse the famous giant tortoises, search the waters for whales and dolphins, and (we’re not making this up) snorkel with penguins. expeditions.com
Help: Find a cruise to fit nearly any itinerary and to practically any destination (including a 108-day “World Cruise”) at crystalcruises.com.
5. The Sporting Life
Roaring crowds and awesome athletes can be a big highlight of any honeymoon. To see a world class sporting event in person can be a thrill, even if you don’t follow the team.
Where to Go
- NASCAR has nothing on Formula 1 Grand Prix racing—for starters, these drivers have to make right-hand turns. F1 speedsters zip around the track from March until October at races around the world, from Malaysia to Monaco. formula1.com
- If your honeymoon doesn’t coincide with a major tennis tourney (who wants to get hushed at Wimbledon, anyway?), have no fear. The pros compete nearly year-round in events on six continents. atptennis.com.
- To understand soccer’s rep as the “beautiful game,” take in a contest in South America. Root for some of Brazil’s squads along with 95,000 other enthusiasts at Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. worldstadiums.com
Help: For those who want a sporting event to be the pinnacle of their stateside trip, check out sportstravelandtours.com when it’s time to set the vacation plans.
6. Foodie Trips
A growing appreciation for fine cuisine has put couples on the hunt for once-in-a-lifetime culinary experiences. Whether it’s a restaurant with a 12-course tasting menu, a wine bar with a well-versed sommelier, or a market with the freshest local produce, take advantage of your honeymoon abroad by letting your appetite be your guide.
Where to Go
- Paris has long been considered the world’s culinary epicenter, and at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, you can taste small, tapas-style portions of the classics (like foie gras) concocted by one of the top chefs in the world. joel-robuchon.com
- A tasting of more than 100 types of tequila at Esperanza resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, will take you way beyond Patrón. esperanzaresort.com
- At TabaC24 in Barcelona, Carlos Abellan—one-time student in the kitchen of famed Spanish chef Ferran Adriá—serves traditional tapas that make for truly haute cuisine. The potatoes bravas, spicy meatballs, and lemon anchovies (seriously, give them a shot) are all must-try dishes. comerc24.com
Help: Hone your culinary skills in a one-session cooking class. See epiculinary.com for a list of culinary vacations available throughout Italy, France, Spain, and Mexico. Find more of the best destinations for foodie honeymoons.
7. Country Hopping
Couples who don’t get to travel much are splitting their honeymoon between a few different spots. It’s a chance to take advantage of far-flung places you may never travel to again, or to vary the type of trip by spending time in different settings (like a week in the city, then a week on the beach).
Where to Go
- Shop and dine in the bustling city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and then fly five hours to rest on a beach in The Maldives.
- Get a well-rounded Mediterranean experience by jetting from the Italian island of Sicily to the Greek capital of Athens, with a final stop to see the ancient ruins on Crete.
- Travel to the Caribbean island of Antigua to experience the lively nightlife, and then take a 40-minute flight to Dominica, which is less developed and has a more subdued vibe.
Help: Flying within Europe? Check ryanair.com or easyjet.com for supercheap airfare. Find the most romantic cities for honeymooners, and the best beach honeymoon ideas.
8. Boutique Hotels
Personalized service. Less than 100 rooms. No cookie-cutter style. Such hotels set themselves apart from large chains by creating an experience that’s unique to their property.
Where to Go
- Get an authentic feel for Mexico’s culture at Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta, with a chef who will serve your dinner anywhere you choose. mexicoboutiquehotels.com
- Stay next door to Buckingham Palace at London’s 41. Each black-and-white room has a marble bathroom and the unmatchable air of gilded aristocracy. 41hotel.com
- Bauer il Palazzo in Venice is more than 100 years old, has 82 rooms and suites, and is located just next to Palazzo San Marco. ilpalazzovenezia.com
* information taken from www.theknot.com (http://wedding.theknot.com/honeymoons/honeymoon-planning/articles/8-hot-honeymoon-trends.aspx?cm_ven=Responsys&cm_cat=NDE&cm_ite=August%2007,%202010&MsdVisit=1)
