We are looking for a relaxing, but fun honeymoon where we are involved in the place we are at. Whether it is in a city or an all-inclusive resort like Sandals, we want to truly be at the place we go and it not feel like a normal road trip. My fiancé is from Florida so we would prefer not to go there as it seems so familiar and not like a getaway. Because of that, if we stay stateside to cut down on cost, we would probably prefer to go somewhere other than a beach. We have a small budget for our honeymoon, $1,500, because we want to save money for a trip to Europe in the next year and a half. Our honeymoon will also be fairly short, 3-4 days at the location we go, to cut down on cost.

This trip is really important to us but I am confused by the plethora of options! Do you have any suggestions on trips or locations to check into or any advice?

Thank you so much for your help! Your site has already been a great tool to me in planning.

I’ve come up with a few options that might work out for you two, within your budget – I’ve looked firstly at all-inclusive flight and accommodation packages to beach resorts outside of the US, and then a few destinations in the US as well. All of the prices (quoted for two people) were current when I researched them, though obviously they are likely to change (especially as you get closer to the time). For all of these, I’ve looked at holidays from Sunday 3rd June until Wednesday 6th – so just three nights away. Obviously it’ll cost a bit more to go away for four nights, but many of the options listed below will still work out in your budget if you go away for four nights.

Firstly, Expedia is a great resource if you’re happy booking the trip yourself, and has a number of options within your price range. Best of all, they’ve currently got 50% off Mexican holidays, making these a real bargain (but you’ll need to book soon so as not to miss out).

One great choice is Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The downside is that it is the wettest time of year there, but the upside is that the tropical climate means that that’s unlikely to ruin things for you – you’re likely to have brief, hard downpours, and then the sun will come out and dry everything up in no time. Expedia’s cheapest all-inclusive option in Playa del Carmen is the 3.5 star Riu Lupita, for just $1140 for both of you; if you wanted a four-star hotel, a junior suite at the Riu Palace will set you back $1461. If you’d rather not have to travel far from the airport, Cancun has an even greater range of options, ranging from the three-star Sea Adventure Resort & Water Park for $1177 to the Riu Cancun for $1467, with more than half a dozen other options in between. Or, you could head to the Dominican Republic – Expedia have three nights all-inclusive at the three-star Talanquera Beach Resort for $1384.

Expedia also come up top for flight and hotel packages in-country; for $1301 you could have three nights in the four-star Le Parker Meridien in New York City, $1217 for the four-star Prescott Hotel in San Fran, or $1310 for the four-star Hotel Monaco in Portland, Oregon. With all of these destinations, you can get an even cheaper deal for below four-star accommodation.

Another company worth checking out for all-inclusive deals are Apple Vacations, who have a number of good offers – though you can book online, I’d recommend giving them a call (tel: 800-517-2000), as they’re more likely to be able to help you out and find you the best deal that way.

Your options for a road-trip are only really limited by how far you’re happy driving. Somewhere like New Orleans would make a great option – it’s a good few hours’ drive, but will feel like a world away when you get there, and the city has that heady mix of amazing food, fantastic music, and some fabulous places to stay. We really loved the Hotel Monteleone when we visited, and it would make a great honeymoon option – booking through their website, you could get three nights for just $578.91; I’d recommend splashing out, though – a Royal Salon will set you back $850.11 for three nights.

I hope that’s helped point you in the right direction or at least given you a few ideas of where to look! Good luck deciding on where to go – I’m sure wherever you end up it’ll be fabulous.

Photographs courtesy of Rigoberto Reyes; Mike Lee; Joseph

For our summer honeymoon, we were looking for a lot of things:  luxury, adventure, romance, seclusion, not to mention finding somewhere that wouldn’t be too crowded, too expensive or with bad weather. Our goal was to find a destination that would give us an authentic experience, combined with lots of relaxation and diverse scenery: Honduras fit the bill perfectly.

A still relatively well-kept secret from mainstream vacationers, Honduras is rich with both diversity of terrain and cultural offerings. It offers unparalleled access to the Caribbean, rainforests, and historical treasures like the Mayan ruins in Copán, the people are warm and welcoming, and it was only a six-hour flight from our home in California. We spent thirteen days (twelve nights) in Honduras, during which time we visited Pico Bonito (rainforest), Copán (colonial town and ruins) and Roatán (Caribbean island).

Pico Bonito

We flew from Los Angeles to La Cebia on TACA Airlines, from where it’s just a quick fifteen-minute drive down a windy dirt road to Pico Bonito, a national park on the north coast of Honduras, which is popular for its insane variety of birds, a few mysterious jaguars, and a host of outdoor activities. We stated at the Lodge at Pico Bonito, which is located at the base of a large peak, and bills itself as a luxury eco-lodge. The lush, secluded estate is surrounded by hiking trails and has around twenty private bungalows (complete with air-conditioning), a beautiful main lodge and a pool. The grounds are pristine, and the veranda in the main lodge is perfect for lounging with an unobstructed view of the peak and birds – unsurprisingly, it’s a very popular destination for birdwatchers. The restaurant served up some great dishes; our favourites included the freshly baked rolls, chocolate fillet medallions, and shrimp cocktail.

Adventure was something we sought throughout our honeymoon. Rafting was one thing we had to try so we planned a guided rafting trip down Rio Congrejal in the Pico Bonito Forest – Omega Tours offered two private guides for us novice rafters. We also did a lot of hiking, some on our own and with a guide. One trail, literally right outside our cabin, was the Mermaid Trail to Las Pilas swimming hole, where we enjoyed a dip in a freshwater river pool on the Rio Coloradito. Our biggest feat, though we made barely more than a dent in the side of Pico, was an amazing guided three-and-a-half-hour hike to the Unbelievable Falls.

As much as adventure was a must, relaxation was still op of our list – this was our honeymoon, after all. The lodge offered massages and, while there is no full spa, you can get an hour massage in a private cabin, at a very good price.

Copán

Copán is nestled in hills of a large, vast valley; it’s hard to get to – we took a thirty-minute flight to San Pedro Sula, then a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Copán. It really is a hidden gem – once you’re there, you can very much feel the past centuries around you, and it’s obvious why the Mayans, as far back as 400 AD, chose to settle here and build a great city. While in Copán, you must go to Hacienda San Lucas for a candlelit dinner; situated just ten minutes outside of town, you can also stay here, but we opted for the easy access at Hotel Marina Copán over seclusion.

There are a lot of opportunities for adventure while visiting Copán. On our way into Copán, we stopped by a local coffee company, Welchez, where the beans are hand-picked. They do full coffee farm tours as well, and this is a must-stop if you love coffee. We also spent time in the colonial town of Copán, with its cobbled streets, which was great for shopping, food, nightlife and meeting friendly locals. One afternoon, we treated ourselves to a private horseback ride through the surrounding valleys.

Our tour guide, Miguel Andres Raymundo, really listened when I said I was interested in local art. He located and arranged a private viewing with Sacbe, a local painter who also runs a painting school, from whom we bought a beautiful portrait of a traditional Mayan woman. Even with all this adventure and variety of activities, the definite highlight of our visit was still touring the famous historic Mayan Copán Ruins, which are absolutely not to be missed.

Roatán

The beautiful island of Roatán is just a twenty-minute flight from La Cebia airport. We started off staying at Media Luna, an all-inclusive, brand new HM Resort on the east side of the island, which features modern decor and beautiful bungalows. But it’s new, and, at the time of our honeymoon in July 2011, was partly under construction. Media Luna is far from West End (the island’s main town) and the whole all-inclusive experience didn’t suit us – the food was sub-par and we were disappointed by the lack of upgraded premium spirits available and not being able to choose from an a la carte menu, so we sought local advice to find somewhere better to stay. We were pointed towards a boutique waterfront hotel, Blue Bahia, located on the east side of the island, which offered no frills but large rooms and the all-important air-conditioning. The location was great and we took advantage of walking to and from Blue Bahia to West End, for a healthy hour-long walk each day.

We were happy to find that the beach grill at the Blue Bahia is reason alone to visit – ribs and brisket are smoked on site every other day and only the freshest seafood is served. There’s plenty of other good eating options nearby, including Imperial, which serves fantastic brick-oven pizza (better than most I’ve had in New York City!), and Gio’s Seafood Restaurant, where we headed on our last night for some fabulous crab.

Roatán is an island famed for diving, but we aren’t certified and didn’t want to take any tests while on vacation (ok, we were a little lazy); that said, we found that there were plenty of other options to stay active and enjoy the islands amazing reefs and preserved ocean ecosystem. While we were at Media Luna, we joined a diving trip, in order to go snorkelling. This included a stop at the unforgettable Cayos Chocinos – an island that is less than a mile wide and long, which shelters an indigenous culture that settled here 170 years ago and still boasts no electricity. While visiting we enjoyed a delicious homemade meal of fried fish caught by locals, fried plantains and dirty rice. (If you visit, be sure to bring money because the local women’s hand-made gifts are far better than anything you can find in West End.) During the trip we also saw whales, dolphins and, for a brief time, started chasing tuna to seek out leopard sharks. The Blue Bahia also had a dive shop (as most hotels do on the island) and we caught a few smaller two-hour trips with divers to reef spots a little further out. It’s possible to snorkel from most points on the island – just rent a pair of fins and goggles and swim out!

We were warned but didn’t experience any hiccups with airline travel until going home – our flight with TACA Airlines was cancelled only thirty minutes before we were scheduled to leave and the airline put us on a seemingly one-way bus to Fantasy Island resort. The one night delay was no fantasy, I can assure you. Funny thing, if it hadn’t been for our unexpected extended stay, we would have never seen a monkey, which conveniently popped up right next to us while we ate breakfast with our fellow delayed travelers. A nice surprise to a seemingly inconvenient extended stay!

All photos courtesy of Janelle Noble 

Need to know

Airlines: British Airways and TAM both fly direct from London to Rio de Janeiro.

Where to stay: Hotel Santa Teresa (from £320 a night); La Maison (from £140 a night).

Travel agents: cazenove+loyd; Journey Latin America

Photos courtesy of: Felipe Neves;  Rodrigo Soldon; Christian Haugen; Paul Mannix; Phillip Ritz; Breno Mendes; Rodrigo Soldon; Matt Saunders

I’m delighted to be sharing a great “A little place I know” today from the lovely Rebecca Norris. Rebecca runs the fabulous lifestyle blog, Florence Finds, covering a whole range of interesting and inspirational subjects, from fashion and interiors to travel and cooking. I love Rebecca’s New York City find, and it’s definitely at top of my list of places to check out when I head over there next.

When I go on holiday I’m always looking for places that the locals love, a little off-the-beaten-tourist-track; those special places that make you feel like an insider, like a local. New York is probably my favourite city aside from my home in Manchester; I’m sure I’m not alone in aspiring to the whole Carrie Bradshaw lifestyle when I think of the Big Apple. The place I’m talking about is more Steve than Mr Big but smacks of local personality and all the quirks of Manhattan’s creative Lower East Side community.

I was lucky enough to receive this recommendation from a friend’s sister who had (at the time) recently lived in New York for a year. Freemans restaurant was one of her ‘must go’ places and certainly lived up to the hype.

Freemans doesn’t take reservations unless for more than six people (always the mark of a popular place), and is situated in the Lower East Side, right next to the Alphabet City of RENT fame. Things have cleaned up a lot since then, but it is still a little edgy so we were a bit nervous when our cab dropped us on one side of a block resembling a ghost town and no restaurant to be seen.

However, a short walk around the corner revealed Freeman Alley, which felt like chancing upon the Leaky Cauldron from Harry Potter. At the end of an alley strung with fairy lights, Freemans was glowing welcomingly as people chatted outside with a cigarette and a drink. We waited all night for a table and actually ended up sitting at the bar out of choice – we had priceless banter from the fabulous bar tender who introduced me to my now favourite cocktail, the French 75, as we feasted on devils on horse back; I swear, they were the best I’ve ever tasted. Behind us, the clientele was boisterous, and the atmosphere bohemian. The restaurant felt more like an English pub, with cobbled together tables and chairs that didn’t match in a rabbit warren-like series of rooms; people were sitting on anything they could find, clustered together and enjoying their evening.

Suffice to say, I don’t remember much of that night but I remember the mains (described as rustic American cuisine) being fabulous, so when I returned with my best friend just under a year later I was desperate to take her there. Cue another night, just as good as the first, with the atmosphere unchanged and the insider secret maintained. The first time we tried to go, Freemans was closed due to a private event, but they kindly directed us three blocks north to their new restaurant, Peels. Although it had only been open a week or two and was consequently quiet, this was another place with a stonkingly impressive cocktail list and a cool, if slightly more polished, atmosphere. Peels is billed as a diner with a Southern-inspired menu, and if you’re not afraid of fried food it’s definitely worth a stop.

Freemans has now become one of those legendary places that instantly puts a smile on my face when remembered and makes me yearn to go back. Its one of those places that’s so good that you don’t really want to share the secret. So don’t all go at once, will you?

First photo courtesy of Rebecca Norris; all other photos courtesy of Freemans Restaurant

It’s hard to remember all those little bits and pieces you need to pick up before going on honeymoon – from those books you’ve been meaning to read to a new flash card for your camera and that all-important suntan lotion – so, to make things a little bit easier, I’m pleased and excited to announce The Honeymoon Project‘s brand new shop, run in association with Amazon. From after-sun and dry shampoo to travel pillows and ipods, we’ve got it covered. Most of these items are either my own personal recommendations (such as this book and this water bottle) or things other people have recommended me (including this suntan lotion), so you can rest assured that they’ve earned The Honeymoon Project‘s stamp of approval.

You can access the shop at any point by clicking link in the right-hand sidebar. I’ll be continually adding items to the shop as I come across them, and of course if you have any particular recommendations then do let me know.

Off-grid itHouse, Pioneertown, California, USA

From £233 a night through Airbnb

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

Sigiriya Rock

Earlier this month, I chose Sri Lanka as one of my five hottest honeymoon destinations for 2012. This is a great destination for a plain-and-simple beach honeymoon, or for a more adventurous trip that combines exploring with time in the cities and days on the beach. With a whole host of fabulous places to stay on the island, it can be difficult to know where to start (I know I’d have trouble deciding!), so when I heard that the lovely Sally and Alice, from the appropriately-named Sally and Alice Travel Co., were just back from a trip to the island, I asked them if they’d share some of their favourite accommodation finds with The Honeymoon Project. Happily, they obliged, and I think you’ll agree that what follows are some stunning properties.

If you’re interested in any of the hotels and resorts below, are looking to book a honeymoon to Sri Lanka, and/or need someone friendly to ask advice of, I really recommend giving Sally a call on 07904 958 194, emailing them at home@sallyandalice.com, and of course checking out their website here.

CENTRAL NORTH/CULTURAL TRIANGLE

Ulagalla Resort £££

Suite 12, Ulugalla

The perfect place to kick off a Sri Lankan itinerary, with raised log-cabin chalets spread out around beautiful paddy fields, located two hours from Sigiriya Rock and close to many of Sir Lanka’s cultural sights. Bikes are provided with each chalet, so you can explore the extensive grounds and surrounding jungle, and most chalets come with a private plunge pool, plust a deck with loungers and umbrella. Ulagalla has a very relaxed feel – from meals being offered as and when you like and the small spa that offers, according to Sally and Alice, a heavenly Balinese massage that’s perfect for a good night’s sleep post-flight, to the “drop dead stunning” lounge bar and stylish open-sided restaurant, and the opportunity to dine by candlelight in the middle of an “island” in the paddy fields.

KANDY

Kandy House ££

Kandy House

A beautiful old colonial style house with plenty of intimate corners and a riad-style courtyard, which has been immaculately styled and offers smart, effortless (yet relaxed) elegance. Though just twenty-minutes’ drive from Kandy itself and the famous Temple of the Tooth, you feel very much in the thick of nature here, walking through the jungle to get to the pool, which has gorgeous views over a rice paddy. There’s just nine rooms, so it’s incredibly intimate – the wonderful-looking Black Rajah suite has its own “secret garden”. You’re higher up here so it’s a bit cooler (welcome in the hottest months), but still warm enough for an early morning swim – perfect.

UP COUNTRY/TEA COUNTRY

Tea Trails £££

Norwood Estate, Tea Trails

This Relais and Chateaux-accredited property is home to four different plantation bungalows, set in various positions by Castlereagh resevoir, in the heart of Tea Country. The smallest, Summerville, houses just four rooms and is run by Andrew Taylor, who comes from a tea dynasty and runs tea-factory tours; some of the suites open onto private gardens, and the lounge has a roaring fire that’s perfect for chillier evenings. On the opposite side of the lake is Castlereagh – which is most people’s favourite for its fabulous water views, and it has a great terrace that’s perfect for sundowners. Tientsin is thirty minutes up into the hills away from the lake and has a very classic English feel. The tiered gardens here are beautiful, with lots of hidden places to sit and relax, and Sally and Alice say that the pool here is probably their favourite. The landscape gardens at Norwood have an English country garden meets tropical feel with roses and huge bamboo trees on each side, and a large pool. This is the main place for food, which has a more European than Sri Lankan feel, so expect high tea and four-course dinners, and lots of old-fashioned touches throughout.

SOUTH COAST:

Amanwella, Tangalle £££

Tangalle

Sally and Alice say that the breathtakingly beautiful long palm-fringed beach at Amanwella was the best they saw in Sri Lanka. Being an Aman property, expect their usual minimalist style, with large, open-plan suites, high ceilings and a zen-like feel. The best rooms are the Ocean Suites (106 to 114 are the best), with their fabulous ocean views (even from the bathroom!). Sally and Alice recommend finishing the day by the infinity pool where you can soak up the dramatic sunset, after enjoying the constant supply of chilled water and home-made ice cream provided by the attentive staff. Situated a two-hour drive from Galle, this is undoubtedly a real treat, so best left towards later on in a Sri Lankan itinerary.

Sunset from Amanwella

GALLE AND SURROUNDS:

Galle

Amangalla, Galle Fort £££
As this used to be the grande-dame of Galle, the New Oriental Hotel, and has retained its charm, history and colonial splendour, Amangalla doesn’t feel like a typical Aman propert. The Garden Bedrooms are the lowest room category but worth choosing for their garden views, and feel quieter and prettier than other rooms. The spa is excellent here, with lots of Ayurvedic treatments on offer. Sally and Alice particularly recommend Amangalla for older couples and anyone looking for a couple of days of being pampered in the spa and spending the mornings exploring Galle Fort with one of the hotel guides.

Frangipani Tree ££
Sally and Alice’s favourite cheap beach option, with a “very cool vibe”, great food and nice gardens, plus a pool and tennis court. With no in-room phones, TVs or DVD players, this is the perfect place to relax – the best rooms (there’s only ten) are those upstairs, which have huge windows facing the ocean. A big bonus has to be seeing the world-famous stilt fishermen (perfect for those honeymoon snaps!), though the sea here can be a bit rough. Most of the minimalist-decorated rooms come with outdoor space that’s perfect for relaxing.

Kahanda Kanda, Galle ££
Set fifteen-minutes’ drive inland from Galle itself, this small stylish boutique hotel is utterly charming, run by an eccentric owner, George Cooper, and his diligent team. There’s just seven rooms – Sally and Alice particularly recommend the Peacock Suite, which is really spacious with lovely views, two outdoor showers and a private garden. The lovely pool faces Koggala Lake, where you can do boat trips, there’s two open-sided salas with lots of comfy sofas and coffee table books on the area, and the food here is really excellent. This is a good substitute if you don’t have time to fit in Tea Country on your visit, surrounded as it is by a small tea plantation.

For more information on honeymooning in Sri Lanka, contact
Sally and Alice Travel Co.
home@sallyandalice.com

All photos courtesy of Sally and Alice Travel Co.

Heidi Klein bikini from my-wardrobe.com WAS £175, NOW £87

Zimmerman swimsuit from my-wardrobe.com WAS 226, NOW £67

Melissa Odabash bikini from Net-A-Porter WAS £160, NOW £64

Mara Hoffman swimsuit from Net-A-Porter WAS £210, NOW £63

Zimmerman bikini from my-wardrobe.com WAS £140, NOW £42

Missoni swimsuit from my-wardrobe.com WAS £350, NOW £175

Studio La Perla bikini from style-passport WAS £170, NOW £51

Petit Bateau bikini from style-passport WAS £35.50, NOW £21.30

The traditional honeymoon idyll is of a soft white-sand beach, palm trees swaying gently overhead, and an invitingly warm turquoise ocean – that’s what the magazines and brochures and almost every other piece of honeymoon literature will try and sell you (aside from this site, I hope).

But, a beach honeymoon isn’t for everyone. Before you sign away all that money on two weeks in a resort by the sea (or on the sea, if you’re so inclined), it’s worth thinking carefully about your preferences. Because if you’re not the kind of person who usually wants to stay in one place, looking out at the same (albeit beautiful) view every day, then two weeks on the beach might be more boredom than bliss.

Here’s a few things worth bearing in mind:

In the thick of things or honeymoon hideaway? There are more types of beach honeymoons than I have space to write, so it’s really a case of finding what’s right for you. If you want complete and utter desert-hideaway seclusion then a private island resort in the Seychelles or an over-water villa in the Maldives may well be just what you’re after. If you feel like you could manage no more than a few days of that before needing a bit more life, then choose a resort that’s near or part of a larger resort town to ensure you have more options both at day and night, or an island like Mauritius that has a lot more to offer in addition to beautiful beaches. If you want a bit of adventure, think about combining a few days on safari with some time on the beach – the Serengeti and Zanzibar are an excellent combination.

Are you usually pretty active on holiday? If a normal holiday for you means cramming in the sights, taking a road trip, or indulging in an adrenaline sport, then a full beach honeymoon might be a little to staid for you. That said, if you’d be content as long as there’s great diving and other water activities on your doorstep, make sure you choose a resort with good facilities to keep you busy.

Do you need the buzz of a city? If that’s usually a big part of your travels then you might find spending all your time on the beach a little bit restrictive – think instead about doing a two-centre honeymoon (such as to New York and the Caribbean), which will allow you to get the best of both worlds.

Does the idea of eating and drinking exclusively in your hotel sound like heaven or hell? If heaven then an all-inclusive beach resort deal is probably perfect for you; if you’d rather have the option of dining out elsewhere, then choose a hotel or resort that’s within easy reach of other places to eat and drink – for example, if you want to go somewhere like Koh Samui in Thailand, choose to stay somewhere like akyra Chura Samui, on bustling Chaweng Beach, rather than the much more secluded Six Senses Samui.

Want to see more of the country you’re visiting? Having a beach honeymoon doesn’t have to mean not seeing anything of your destination, of course, but a traditional sun-and-sea holiday often involves seeing relatively little beyond the beach and the swimming pool of your resort. If you want the option of being able to see more, choose a resort that will offer you day trips elsewhere in the region (for example, at many Riviera Maya resorts in Mexico you can do day trips to Chichen Itza or Merida), hire a car to do a bit of independent exploration, or book a honeymoon that involves some time exploring the country and a few days (or a week) on a beach.

Know your limits. Last year, when I was booking our holiday, all I really wanted to do after a stressful few months was go somewhere warm and sunny and collapse on the beach. But I knew (and thankfully my husband reminded me) that that was just the tiredness and stress talking, and that in reality within a few days I would get itchy feet and need to do more than that. In the end, we had four nights on the beach – one at the beginning, and three at the end – which worked out to be the perfect combination of  having time to unwind and relax, without getting fed up. But trust me, one day more and I would have started going stir crazy. So talk to your other half, think about the kind of holidays you’ve taken in the past, and think seriously about whether or not spending all your time on the beach/in the pool/in the sea would be enough for you – chances are, it might well be, but if it’s not, don’t get swept into a decision because that’s what people tell you a honeymoon should be.

Speak to a travel agent. If you really want to find the right resort for you, the best thing you can do is speak to an experienced travel agent or tour operator, who will be able to match up your preferences with specific destinations and resorts. For a list of recommended agents, check out our Travel Links section.

Photo courtesy of notspavin

Want fantastic honeymoon offers? Struggling to keep track of all the different travel agents and tour operators and what they have to offer?

Well, from today, there’s only one place you need to go for all the best honeymoon offers – The Honeymoon Project’s Facebook page. To make sure you don’t miss out, “like” us, and the offers will automatically appear in your news feed – easy! And don’t worry if you’re not on Facebook – by clicking on the link above or in the right-hand sidebar, you’ll still be able to access all of the offers. We’ll be posting offers as often as we can keep up with our inbox, so make sure our  Facebook page becomes your first stop for the best honeymoon offers out there.