First comes love, then comes marriage… then comes the couple with their excess baggage? It may not be how the traditional rhyme goes, but as couples continue to make their own rules about wedding ceremonies, so too are they recreating the notion of a traditional honeymoon. Gone are white sands and romantic sunsets, replaced with bucket-list destinations and blended travel.
“Sometimes the perfect holiday doesn’t come off the shelf. It starts with an idea – a favourite city, a special celebration, a desire to explore at your own pace – and becomes something truly personal,” explains Neal Collins, managing director of Topflight.
This is exactly how Ronan and Olivia Young approached their recent honeymoon. “We knew we wanted our honeymoon to be a one-in-a-lifetime trip, but we also know how we like to travel, and it’s with variety. Neither of us can sit still for two weeks, so we knew a beach holiday wouldn’t work, but we wanted something a little more than a standard city break, as well as needing some winter sun, which is how we ended up in South Africa. We stayed in Cape Town for a few days, did safari outside Johannesburg, and spent time wine tasting on the Western Cape – we got a mix of everything, all from one bucket-list destination.”
The idea of combining city stays with traditional beach-style holidays is becoming increasingly common, especially if the destination also offers unique experiences.
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If one destination doesn’t fit the bill, Collins suggests building your dream itinerary across countries that offer complementary flights. Singapore and Bali perhaps? Or Bangkok followed by the Maldives? By selecting differing cultures that are located within the same continent or along the same flight path, you can experience two or even three styles of holiday in a single trip. City and beach is certainly a popular combination, but don’t forget there’s also adventure tourism (New Zealand or Nepal), ecotourism (Tanzania or Australia), gastronomy (Mexico or Japan) and even musical destinations (New Orleans or Vienna) which travel plans can be built around.
“Your perfect honeymoon isn’t necessarily a standard week-long package,” acknowledges Collins, “which is why we at Topflight are here to help you plan the perfect trip for you and your partner. Mix and match destinations, plan wonderful excursions, enjoy a lakeside retreat, followed by a luxury five-star stay by the beach – whatever the combination is for your perfect honeymoon, we are on hand to bring your dreams and expectations to life with a fully customised trip.”
Closer to home, choices of multi-destination European breaks are gaining momentum as couples seek to enjoy multiple cultural immersions during their holidays. Italy, Greece, Croatia and France all provide huge potential for experience-led breaks.
La Dolce Vita
Embrace the Italian way of life by spending as many days as you can spare traversing the boot. Start with a few days in Rome, summoning good luck at the Trevi fountain and wine-bar hopping in Trastevere before heading to Venice for a chance to enjoy the world’s most famous city for lovers. Afterwards, lie back along the Amalfi Coast, letting it all sink in – rising only to take a day trip to Positano or to experience Capri’s Blue Lagoon.
Myth-making
Start in Athens with romantic sunset dinners overlooking the Acropolis, before wandering through Anafiotika and maybe indulging in a spot of bar-hopping. Move to the islands for a few days of R&R, soaking up that glorious sunshine. If it’s relaxation you’re after, skip busy Mykonos and head for chilled Paros, where you can enjoy cruises around Naoussa harbour and dinners on the beach, before rounding out the holiday with a few days in Crete enjoying the best of Greek island life.
Joie de vivre
We can think of nothing more romantic than starting married life with a sunset cruise along the Seine before settling in for intimate dinner in a Parisian bistro. French honeymoons are anything but cliched; think lie-ons, morning pastries, sharp cocktails and constant culture. However, if you’re tired of the City of Lights, head south to the seaside cities of Nice or Cannes followed by a few days spent in the nearby 12th century medieval village of Eze, the bigger Antibes, or the slightly ritzier Monaco, with its casinos and designer shopping.
