Honeymoon Destinations and Romantic Vacations

Honeymoon destinations should reflect what you and you spouse truly love to do. Are you looking for romance and relaxation or excitement and adventure? Create a list of honeymoon destinations that best suit your individual styles, and make a decision based on your likes and dislikes. Don't let friends and relatives influence your decision. With a little planning, honeymoons can be the ultimate romantic vacations!

 

Once you know where you want to go, why not get married there? Destination weddings are very popular: You can go straight from the wedding ceremony to the honeymoon suite without the hassle of travel.

 

Destination weddings can be simple or elaborate. You can arrange to meet the wedding party and guests on location, or just fly off together and elope in style.

 

The top honeymoon destinations vary in tone, history and activities, but they all share one thing: A sense of romance. Whether you're dining at an open-air café in Paris, France or taking a South Pacific cruise to Tahiti, you should expect pampering and stress-free travel so that you can focus on one another and enjoy the romance of this new beginning. If you crave adventure, nature, excitement, nightlife or shopping, these activities should be carefully choreographed to add to the romance of your honeymoon.

Vacations to Hawaii offer something for everyone, from the energetic nightlife of Honolulu to the quiet beauty of untouched beaches. The Islands allow you to experience the tropics with all the conveniences of western society. Where else in the world can you tour an active volcano one day, go whale watching the next, and dance away the night between the two?

San Francisco is one of America's most beautiful cities. The city's Victorian townhouses look out over San Francisco Bay, which might be your first stop if you're considering a cruise to Hawaii, through the Panama Canal or down the Mexican Riviera.

 

San Francisco itself is a haven for the arts, and boasts a thriving nightlife. Some of the best restaurants in the US can be found in the "City by the Bay." Taking a trolley ride through the city's streets is an incredibly romantic way to see the sights.

Jamaica. The Bahamas. The Virgin Islands. The names conjure images of white powder sand, cerulean blue waters and warmth. The Caribbean has some of the world's best destinations for scuba diving and sports fishing, coupled with Old World architecture that makes you feel as if you've stepped back in time. Jamaica and the Bahamas are perhaps the most popular honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean, but don't overlook the Virgin Islands for quiet romance (or boisterous activity during Carnival).

Paris, France: For centuries it's been called the City of Love, and with good reason. Here you can explore the Louvre, visit Notre Dame Cathedral or view the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Paris offers fine dining, historical architecture and amazing cultural experiences.

 

Rome, Italy, is another city that seems custom made for love. Grab a couple of gelatos and take a walk in the Piazza Espana, or take a tour of the Vatican. Reminders of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance surround you as you walk the streets of Rome. From Rome, you can easily travel to other Italian cities: Why not take a side trip and go for a gondola ride in Venice?

 

Athens, Greece: The very name brings to mind exotic adventure. Visit the Crown Jewel of the Acropolis, the Parthenon, admire the clean lines of Greek architecture, and appreciate the rubble of ancient ruins. Consider Athens your base and take overnight trips to cosmopolitan Mykonos and mysterious Santorini. Take a cruise to Crete and the other Greek Isles.

 

If you can't decide between France, Italy and Greece, maybe you don't have to. Many Mediterranean cruises travel between France and Greece, allowing you to visit some of the most exotic ports of Europe and the Classical world.

Mexico offers honeymooners so much. You can relax in comfort in the resorts of Acapulco, snorkel off the Baja peninsula or explore Mayan ruins. Most people think of Acapulco and jungle-lined coastal resorts when they think of Mexico. Mexico also offers pristine deserts, cool mountain vistas and quiet island retreats. The country is a stunning mixture of the old and the new: Colonial buildings and Aztec ruins rub shoulders with modern, cosmopolitan centers.

Looking to escape the rat race and get away form it all? Located in the South Pacific halfway between Australia and Hawaii, Tahiti is certainly away from it all. Year round temperatures of 78 degrees Fahrenheit and turquoise waters (yes, the water really is that color) make Tahiti an ideal for all romantic vacations. From the island you can travel to the other islands that make up French Polynesia.