Where did/will you Honeymoon and why there?

kizzabel

Hi just wondering where everyone did/will honeymoon?
Did you enjoy it?
Was it good value?

Searching for something special on a budget!!

antiskeptic

kizzabel wrote: »

Hi just wondering where everyone did/will honeymoon?
Did you enjoy it?
Was it good value?

Searching for something special on a budget!!

South of France for a couple of weeks and Paris for a week. We didn't get quite the sun-splitting-the-stones weather you sometimes get down south (in the Pyrenees) but had a nice relaxed time all the same. My mate owned the house we stayed in a gave it to us for the 2 weeks as a wedding pressie. So excellent budget wise.

Paris was great: great weather and a fantastically interesting (and not as expensive at you'd think) city to investigate. Folk were far friendlier than we had been led to expect too. We rented an apartment in the city centre which was far nicer (and somewhat cheaper) than staying in a souless hotel of equivilent class.

We'd definitely go back to both

smelltheglove

We went to Fuerteventura for 5 days. We married the week before Christmas and obviously had to be back before Christmas for the kids so 5 days was all we could fit in. It was a handy solution, his sister has a very fancy villa there and we had been before and enjoyed it, because we had children we just wanted some time out to relax rather than planning anything extravagent. It was very affordable and the privacy of a villa was brilliant, nobody waking you, getting up when you feel like it. It was perfect for us.

fozzle

We went to Indianapolis to a convention! Gencon Not everybodies' thing, but we loved it - got to meet friends, was very affordable and no chance of getting bored.

Do you want a sun holiday or an active holiday or a sightseeing holiday....? Lots of people don't want to just lie on a beach for 2 weeks (and lots do of course, nothin wrong with that!)

hunnymonster

We're hoping to run around Mont Blanc for about 100 miles (as part of the ultra trail du mont blanc). As with Fozzle's honeymoon it's not everyone's cup of tea but very much the kind of thing we do. I can't really see myself looking back in 40 years saying we had a standard week in the sun for our honeymoon.

Again, as Fozzle said, if you let us know what kind of things you guys are into and what kind of holidays you usually take then you might get really useful suggestions, particularly if you can indicate a rough budget.

Eoin

We went to Thailand as we wanted somewhere with a bit of everything - big city / cool stuff to see / beach. So we went to Bangkok, Chang Mai and Ko Samui in that order. Thailand can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be, I think.

Toots

We're hoping to go to Beijing, but we'll have to see how we're fixed financially. I've wanted to go to China all my life, and my fiance really wants to go too. I think he'd like a couple of weeks on a beach, but I don't tend to do too well in the heat, so that wouldn't really be my cup of tea. For anyone who's looking for a city break, Hong Kong is amazing, we were looking to go there for our honeymoon, but October is a really busy time to go there, so flights and hotels are much more expensive.

Grandadsbear

antiskeptic wrote: »

Paris was great: great weather and a fantastically interesting (and not as expensive at you'd think) city to investigate. Folk were far friendlier than we had been led to expect too.

We went to Paris in April for a week...(and of course Euro Disney!:D)

I have agree with antiskeotic..not nearly as expensive as you'd think, could have happily stayed for another week of pottering about the city and soaking up the atmosphere and Folk were extremely friendly. We were just looking at our map and a kind lady stopped on pointed us on our way.

A city I would highly recommend.

aviendha

Just booked Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, do Safari and veg on beach in Zanzibar to finish up... definitely not for budget conscious though, it's pricey when it all adds up

ninjaBob

Currently booking:

SanFrancisco
Hawaii
LA (Hollywood)

For less than €4500, always wanted to go to Hawaii and this is probably the best chance to do it.

barbiegirl

As we married in Italy we stayed there for the honeymoon, Venice, then Verona and finally Positano. All in all we were three weeks in Italy and loved it. Highly recommend, the food, wine, people, lots to do :-)

bogmanfan

Hawaii. It was paradise.

M&M55

Hi ninjaBob

I am also pricing a honeymoon for SanFrancisco, Hawaii and LA for July this year but the quote I am getting is €5500.
What time of year are you booking it for? Just wondering could I save a €1000

ninjaBob wrote: »

Currently booking:

SanFrancisco
Hawaii
LA (Hollywood)

For less than €4500, always wanted to go to Hawaii and this is probably the best chance to do it.

kizzabel

hi, heres the shortlist for where we'd like to go. Budget is around €2000 though so mitent make it outside europe...
Thailand
Cuba
The Maldives
The Carribean
Mexico

keano_afc

eoin wrote: »

We went to Thailand as we wanted somewhere with a bit of everything - big city / cool stuff to see / beach. So we went to Bangkok, Chang Mai and Ko Samui in that order. Thailand can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be, I think.

We did the same, but in the reverse order. Found Chiang Mai cheapest, wish we'd stayed longer.

Eoin

Yep, we wish we had stayed longer as well - brilliant place. There's lots to do and see though, so we wanted to have the beach part last so we could relax before heading home.

Ickle Magoo

We stuck a dart in a map - and went to Mexico, it was fabulous.

youcancallmeal

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

We stuck a dart in a map - and went to Mexico, it was fabulous.

Probably would of made more sense to throw the dart, then it really would of been random

Ickle Magoo

Throwing a dart is no guarantee it it's hit's it's target or stays there. Sticking, in the context I used, is a metaphor to show the dart has been thrown and has both hit it's target and remained in the target.

kizzabel

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

We stuck a dart in a map - and went to Mexico, it was fabulous.

tell me more!
what time of year did you go?
was it hot/bearable?
was it expensive? (as in both the honeymoon package and spending money wise)
what part did you honeymoon in?
its horrid bad luck but the swine flu seems to have made it a more finnancially achievable honeymoon..

Ickle Magoo

We went at the end of May, it was hot but bearable. We split the 20 days between Quintana Roo (Cancun, Isla Majera, Xel-ha, etc) and the Yucatan Peninsula (El Castillo, Chechen Itza, Uxmal, etc).

Accommodation, flights and pre-booked activities were around 2.5k, with another k for spending - now, this was 6 years ago this year so I have no idea what it would be now, much less I imagine.

It was a really fabulous holiday, it isn't very expensive in terms of eating out or doing things and the people are very friendly and not too eager to rip off the tourists for the most part. We climbed Mayan pyramids, snorkelled with enormous fish (like the size of a mini car), swam with sting rays and manatee, went deep sea fishing on a private boat, shopped in the markets, sunbathed on gorgeous beaches - we travelled around quite a bit and found it quite an easy going place.

Any more details required, just shout!

Pherekydes

kizzabel wrote: »

Hi just wondering where everyone did/will honeymoon?
Did you enjoy it?
Was it good value?

Searching for something special on a budget!!

I honeymooned in the Canaries, twice.

First time was 1982 and we went there because it was January (the last BIG SNOW!) and the Canaries was the only warm spot in our budget. I didn't enjoy it, well because...:o

Second time around (is always better ) we went to Lanzarote 11 days ago because it was January (and another big snow ) and we both loved it. We brought our kids too! :pac:

I suppose where you go depends on what type of holiday you want, what your budget is and what time of year you marry. The Canaries in winter is bliss. (especially after the last two weeks here)

angelfocus20

bogmanfan wrote: »

Hawaii. It was paradise.

What part did you go to? My Fiancee and I are getting married in April 2011 hoping to head to either Hawaii or Jamaica? We love heading out at night and spending all day by the pool, what's the nightlife like in Hawaii?

esharknz

Queensland. We decided to get married there, as the OH REALLY wanted a sun wedding and my family lives in NZ, so the flight was much shorter.

detoxkid

Folks, I was wondering if we could keep this thread going?! Totally stuck on where to honeymoon in July 2012- I want to go to Australia, he wants to go to India, neither of us want to go where the other wants to go so both are ruled out! Considering canada or south africa as have done the states, south america, carribean and europe thing and want to do something different and long haul for honeymoon, but just can't make up our minds I grant you, this is a champagne problem, but any inspiration of where people went/are going, their experiences would be most welcome:D

sillysocks

When we had our honeymoon I wanted South Africa, my hubbie wanted Canada. We went into Trailfinders to try get some idea of itineraries, prices etc. We were going for 3 weeks so the guy said South Africa would be the better option (much to my delight!) - he reckoned you could go to Canada on a 'normal' two week holiday where you'd be pushing it to go to South Africa for 2 weeks. He also said the summer is peak season in Canada so can get very expensive, where its low season in South Africa so things are cheaper. Now the honeymoon was still expensive, but we got to stay in places that we couldnt have even dreamt of staying in in high season.

We got lucky with the weather, its their winter but we only got one day of rain in the 3 weeks. It was mid-teens, early 20's temperature wise, and wasn't days of sunshine on end but we weren't going there to sit in the sun so that didn't bother us. Was still t-shirt wearing weather (alhtough the South Africans thought we were mad in t-shirts when it was so 'cold')

We had an amazing time, and would go back again tomorrow if we could. We stayed in Capetown and then drove the Garden Route and finished with a safari near Port Elizabeth. Would recommend it 100%.
PM me if you'd like any more details.

helimachoptor

aviendha wrote: »

Just booked Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, do Safari and veg on beach in Zanzibar to finish up... definitely not for budget conscious though, it's pricey when it all adds up

Thinking of doing something similar but really undecided at the moment

POKERKING

Off to hawaii in oct, mainly because we wanted sun somewhere in america and its limited choice!

watna

A week after our wedding Ireland we're going to South Africa to have a second ceremony for my fiance's family. My parents, uncle and some of my friends are coming to South Africa so we're all going to go on safari together after the SA ceremony.

I'll be going on my honeymoon with my parents, father-in-law, uncle and friends :P We wanted to go to the Seychelles or Mauritius as well by ourselves but it's all just proving too expensive so we're thinking of just going to stay somewhere fancy in South Africa for 2/3 days after the safari trip.

If we weren't travelling to two different countries to have two weddings and were just getting married where we lived like normal people then we'd be going to Florida. We've both always wanted to go to Miami and I'm a big Harry Potter fan so I want to go to Harry Potter world in Orlando. We're thinking of doing that for our first anniversary instead.

denhaagenite

Going to Bali in October and very excited. We needed a good diving destination and having made the decision that we're going to be sticking around Europe for the next 5 - 10 years wanted to get somewhere completely different but with freely available cheap luxury. By booking everything seperately we have managed to get a luxury villa, four star retreat and 5 star honeymoon suite, also flying Singapore Airlines for less than a package deal would have cost.

Having spoken to a friend who has been before, it is one of the cheapest places in the world to holiday. Difficult to talk to someone about your honeymoon who is trying to convince you that backpacking is the way though grrrr.

tinkerbell

detoxkid wrote: »

Folks, I was wondering if we could keep this thread going?! Totally stuck on where to honeymoon in July 2012- I want to go to Australia, he wants to go to India, neither of us want to go where the other wants to go so both are ruled out! Considering canada or south africa as have done the states, south america, carribean and europe thing and want to do something different and long haul for honeymoon, but just can't make up our minds I grant you, this is a champagne problem, but any inspiration of where people went/are going, their experiences would be most welcome:D

Hmmm has your fiancé researched India a bit? I know quite a few people who have gone there, probably maybe a quarter liked it and would go again, the other 3/4s did not because the poverty was just so so bad. Personally after hearing all their experiences I would not want to go there - that and the food issue - you have to be so careful what you eat over there as you could get sick easily. Now not trying to make a big generalisation here but I'm just saying what people I know have told me after being there for a few weeks.

Also what are his reasons for going to India and yours for Australia? Could you find another country which has covers part of the reasons for both India & Australia and go there?

You could always do both? Nothing stopping you from that?

edit: you might have better luck in the travel forum by the way:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=37

detoxkid

Funds and time off work stopping us from doing both. BTW I totally agree with everything you have said about India. I'd actually love to go there but not on honeymoon. Thanks a mill for a link,I had no the general travel forum was there..

youcancallmeal

watna wrote: »

If we weren't travelling to two different countries to have two weddings and were just getting married where we lived like normal people then we'd be going to Florida. We've both always wanted to go to Miami and I'm a big Harry Potter fan so I want to go to Harry Potter world in Orlando. We're thinking of doing that for our first anniversary instead.

This is what were doing in March. Key West (To relax) > Miami (To party) > Orlando (Harry Potter yay!) > 1 week Western Caribbean cruise. Just under 3 weeks.


detoxkid: You would be mad to go to India on a Honeymoon. Its a tough going place and there is a good bit of roughing it regardless of your budget. I wouldn't recommend Australia either, everything worth seeing/doing is so far apart your going to spend a lot of time getting around to see things.

If you want to go down under the weather in July isnt going to great except for Northern Oz(Cairns/Darwin etc)

Toots

We ended up going to Paris for a week, and we really loved it. We stayed in the Hotel de Banville which was in a nice quiet area of the city, but the metro was just at the end of the block so we could get to the centre easily. I thought October was a nice time to head to Paris, I'd been before in February, which was very cold and wet, and in July, which was far too hot and there were massive queues for everything.

Monife

This time next week, I will be honeymoon-ing in.....

Westport

Not your typical 5 star cruise or trip to somewhere tropical but my OH and I weren't even going to go on a honeymoon because we couldn't afford one. My very elderly grandmother offered us 700euro for a honeymoon so we have booked 4 nights in Westport with dinner on 2 nights and spa treatments and room upgrades A boat trip on one of the days and I am going to drag the OH to a trad night too as he has always wanted to go to one but never has (he is not from Ireland).

bills

youcancallmeal wrote: »

This is what were doing in March. Key West (To relax) > Miami (To party) > Orlando (Harry Potter yay!) > 1 week Western Caribbean cruise. Just under 3 weeks.


detoxkid: You would be mad to go to India on a Honeymoon. Its a tough going place and there is a good bit of roughing it regardless of your budget. I wouldn't recommend Australia either, everything worth seeing/doing is so far apart your going to spend a lot of time getting around to see things.

If you want to go down under the weather in July isnt going to great except for Northern Oz(Cairns/Darwin etc)

There is a lot of travelling but australia is so worth it. It may be one of the few chances you can justify going there. Obviously, you wont get to see everything due to size but better to see something than nothing. We concentrated on the east coast & had an amazing time. Holiday of a lifetime which a honeymoon is meant to be.

watna

youcancallmeal wrote: »

This is what were doing in March. Key West (To relax) > Miami (To party) > Orlando (Harry Potter yay!) > 1 week Western Caribbean cruise. Just under 3 weeks.

I'm so jealous

mark_jmc

got married 5 years ago- had the honeymoon of a lifetime.
We had a few days in hong kong, few days in Sydney, 12 days in New Zealand, week in an island off Fiji, few days in LA and then home.
Really glad we went all out- it'll be a long long long long time (if ever) before we could do something like that again

Heineken Helen

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

We went at the end of May, it was hot but bearable. We split the 20 days between Quintana Roo (Cancun, Isla Majera, Xel-ha, etc) and the Yucatan Peninsula (El Castillo, Chechen Itza, Uxmal, etc).

Accommodation, flights and pre-booked activities were around 2.5k, with another k for spending - now, this was 6 years ago this year so I have no idea what it would be now, much less I imagine.

It was a really fabulous holiday, it isn't very expensive in terms of eating out or doing things and the people are very friendly and not too eager to rip off the tourists for the most part. We climbed Mayan pyramids, snorkelled with enormous fish (like the size of a mini car), swam with sting rays and manatee, went deep sea fishing on a private boat, shopped in the markets, sunbathed on gorgeous beaches - we travelled around quite a bit and found it quite an easy going place.

Any more details required, just shout!

We went mid May to the Quintana Roo area - Grand Palladium resort. For two weeks it cost us both £2,800 (yes £) but we could have got it for around £2,000. We just really fancied the place that we booked. It was 5* all inclusive, the beach was about 50 yards from our villa. There was no need to spend a penny. We spent £300 between us for the two weeks on one half day excursion (there are millions of excursions in the area, all seem brilliant), gifts and tips. But there was also no need to tip either. It was indeed very hot, too hot to sit on the balcony in the afternoon for example but the beach had this amazing breeze on it, it was definitely a few degrees lower. There were about 16 restaurants and maybe the same amount of bars. Incredibly chilled out and would highly recommend it if you want that kinda thing... I did get a bit bored at times though cos I'm used to more adventure/travel holidays.

missmoo

we're planning on cuba, since the night we met we've been planning to go, we've even gone to book it several times, but something always happened, last time i was waiting on leave from work to be approves, and the flights went up €1000:eek: so we're gonna wait and save it for honeymoon.

Heineken Helen

missmoo wrote: »

we're planning on cuba, since the night we met we've been planning to go, we've even gone to book it several times, but something always happened, last time i was waiting on leave from work to be approves, and the flights went up €1000:eek: so we're gonna wait and save it for honeymoon.

Yeh Cuba looks amazing too and tends to be cheaper than Mexico, Dominican Republic is even cheaper and I've only heard great things! I don't think you could go wrong with any of those from what I've heard. Be very careful what time of the year you go though, that you're not going in the middle of hurricane season. The resort we stayed at was destroyed and rebuilt twice in hurricanes in recent years.

missmoo

Heineken Helen wrote: »

Yeh Cuba looks amazing too and tends to be cheaper than Mexico, Dominican Republic is even cheaper and I've only heard great things! I don't think you could go wrong with any of those from what I've heard. Be very careful what time of the year you go though, that you're not going in the middle of hurricane season. The resort we stayed at was destroyed and rebuilt twice in hurricanes in recent years.

it'll be in april we're going, so should be ok!! was in dominican republic in jan and heading off to mexico in nov, been loads of times and love it. only 7 weeks to go can't wait:D

kizzabel

Hi all
Its been a while since I posted this and much has changed!

Honeymoon is partly booked. We arive in Amsterdam on May 4th (OHs choice) leave for Paris on May 7th and head for Disneyland Paris for 3 days (my choice) and then leave for Spain on the 9th until the 13th.

Finnancially we couldnt get honeymooning outside Europe but I love how optimistic I was!!

Happy planning all!

schoolhouse

Monife wrote: »

This time next week, I will be honeymoon-ing in.....

Westport

Not your typical 5 star cruise or trip to somewhere tropical but my OH and I weren't even going to go on a honeymoon because we couldn't afford one. My very elderly grandmother offered us 700euro for a honeymoon so we have booked 4 nights in Westport with dinner on 2 nights and spa treatments and room upgrades A boat trip on one of the days and I am going to drag the OH to a trad night too as he has always wanted to go to one but never has (he is not from Ireland).

We also went to Westport for our honeymoon.
Just chilled out, relaxed, enjoyed good food and spa treatments. just what we needed after the build up to the wedding.
Mind you we did go to NewYork for our first anniversary

Rebel1977

getting married in December, where in Europe would be good to spend a few weeks on honeymoon ?

Gatica

Skiing in the alps! It sounds like hard work for a honeymoon but it's such fun! Even if you're only learning it can be such a thrill...
Otherwise, I think Barcelona is fantastic, even in winter. You can do so much sight-seeing there and without the over-the-top heat, same goes for Madrid. Someone mentioned Paris, which is also beautiful, especially if you get lucky and it's snowing there.