Honeymoon Hotspots Ideas

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and leap-year proposals only a few weeks away, romance, marriage and honeymooning are on a lot of people’s minds.

However, it seems that the traditional fly-n-flop honeymoon is on the way out: a recent poll of travellers revealed only 12% would opt for a beach break after their wedding, with 81% saying they’d use the excuse to take the adventurous trip of a lifetime, according to newly launched Unique Honeymoons magazine who also name their predictions for honeymoon hotspots for the years to come.

The new publication, which is just out, is dedicated to those newlyweds who want more adventure from their honeymooning, providing much-needed inspiration and practical information.

Says editor, Sarah Baxter, “Most people assume couples just want to collapse on a pretty beach for two weeks. However, our poll showed this is far from the truth with most Brits looking for unique and adventurous ways to start married life.”

Despite the economic doom and gloom only 3% of people said they would go on a budget break and spend their money on the big day itself, and just 4% would opt for a mini-moon, too short on time to take a more indulgent break.

With this is mind Unique Honeymoons has named where it thinks will be the honeymoon hotspots for the coming years:

1. Tanzania – Combine the undeniably dreamy beaches of Zanzibar with the 2 million wildebeest charging across the Serengeti and a climb up Kilimanjaro

2. Burma – The hottest honeymoon spot for 2012: this newly opening nation offers culture, temples, lake-side lodges and wedding blessings from Buddhist monks

3. Borneo – Exotic jungle, spicy food, orang-utans, glorious (and great value) boutique hotels, with perfect beaches too

4. Namibia – The best place to board a hot-air balloon, for dawn desert views and a champagne breakfast

5. Japan – Embrace the tradition of ‘hadaka no tsukiai’ (naked companionship) in a steamy hot spring

6. Ikaria, Greece – This isle sees a fraction of the visitors of nearby Santorini, but the seaside sunsets are just as good, and the tavernas half the price

7. Western Australia – A new flying safari around the Kimberley will take newlyweds to the region’s remotest Outback

8. Lake District – A wild swim in the remote waters of Langstrath Beck will elevate mood and libido

9. Argentina – Learn to tango in Buenos Aires, stay in wine lodges around Mendoza and camp out in the wilds of Patagonia

10. Kyrgyzstan – For a honeymoon with bragging rights, cosy up in a lakeside yurt and ride across the Central Asian plains

The magazine is packed full of ideas for every price range from the £100 honeymoon to trips that really blow the budget – such as hiring your own palace, castle or classic sports car.

There is an indispensable month-by-month calendar of the best places to go and when – for example, enjoy New Zealand’s outdoor playground in January; witness spring festivals and parades in Prague in April or track mountain gorillas in Uganda in July.

And finally the feature, ‘Where to Stay’, helps couples hunt down the very best retreats chosen either for their location – miles from anywhere for some real ‘us’ time, or for their amazing levels of decadence and indulgence. Also recommended are the more unusual, including caravans, lighthouses, tents, caves and even a cleverly converted 1950’s fire truck.

Visit UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com