Honeymoon destinations

Nouméa & Isle of Pines

New Caledonia - South Pacific

Welcome to a magical honeymoon in Nouméa and the Isle of Pines located in the Southern Province of New Caledonia. New Caledonia, known as the land of eternal spring, is a perfect romantic honeymoon destination with a pleasant semi-tropical climate year-round and is surrounded by an immense coral reef which protects it from the open seas. The main island is enveloped in a stunning lagoon, the largest in the world, creating a paradise for nautical activities such as sailing, windsurfing, surfing, water skiing, jet boating and glass bottom boat excursions to get an up-close view of the beautiful marine environment.

Nouméa, the capital city, has much to offer newly married couples.

Located on a large peninsula, it features colorful markets, gardens, parks, boutiques and culinary options ranging from French gourmet cuisine featuring champagne and wine, to humble cafés that offer a wonderful place to experience local tradition with French sophistication. Crystal clear turquoise water caresses the popular beaches along Citron Bay and Anse Vata Bay that are a short distance to numerous hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and casinos.

If seclusion is your idea of an ideal honeymoon, then the Isle of Pines known as the "Jewel of the Pacific" offers a unique experience located just eighty kilometers south east of Nouméa where you will find an oasis of white beaches and the welcoming sway of palms and graceful Araucaria pines that watch over turquoise bays.

Accommodation on the Isle of Pines range from simple camping to luxury full-service resorts that feature spa treatments and fully-appointed bungalow suites. Excursions by canoe, glass-bottom boat, yacht, as well as magnificent underwater dives are also available to view the exquisite coral, tropical fish, turtles, and sharks. The Isle of Pines is an iconic destination for walking hand-in-hand on a deserted beach soaking up the luxury of total relaxation all the while leaving footprints in time of your new life as a married couple. New Caledonia is located 2 hours flying time from Australia, 2 ½ hours from New Zealand, 9 hours from Japan, 14 hours from Los Angeles and 21 hours from France. International flights arrive and depart from Tontouta International Airport.

 

Santorini – Greece

With a small population of approximately 14,000, this 73-square-kilometer world-famous island is a top honeymoon destination. Santorini, in the southern Aegean's Cyclades islands of Greece, is one of the most prestigious and glamorous locations on the globe. It brings together unbelievable heavenly sea-views with historic mountainous and volcanic scenes. This divine location, also known as Thira, was originally hit by a volcanic eruption, destroying the early settlements and leaving them in ruins. From the ashes of the old came the greatness of the new and improved Santorini. 

 

Along with its physical beauty, Santorini has established its reputation as having one of the hottest nightlife in Europe. From chill-out pubs to the most prominent clubs, Fira, Santorini’s capital, offers you a wide variety of entertainment to suit any occasion. To spice-up your honeymoon with some culture, you may want to join the locals in the “mpouzouki” dance, a traditional Greek dance, which is known for its long duration.  Fira is also internationally renowned for its high-end cuisines and restaurants including the classical zest Mediterranean food along with the rich flavors of the traditional Greek and Italian cuisines. 

 

Spoil yourself with the latest couture and designer clothes in the heart of Fira, or roam Gold Street, known as one of the biggest gold and silver markets in Greece, and let the diamonds and gems entangle you in their crisp cuts and great variety. 

 

The best time to visit this astounding island is between mid-spring and late summer. Travel packages for honeymooners are reasonably priced and include accommodation, sightseeing tours and sea cruises.

 

St. Petersburg – Russia

Embark on the journey of married life in the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. Home to over 4.5 million people, St. Petersburg has been the host to a variety of celebrity honeymoons including none other than the world renowned pianist “Pyotr Tchaikovsky”. Rated one of the most romantic cities, St. Petersburg has captured the world’s attention with its impeccable sights and its rare cool weather. Summer is obviously the best time to plan a honeymoon in St. Petersburg due to the higher temperatures. This weather gives you the opportunity to move around more freely and see the different sights, although the beauty of Russia in the winter shouldn’t be underestimated; it is a magnificent sight on its own. 

 

St. Petersburg is known as the cultural heart of Russia and features a large variety of world famous architectural gems like the Winter Palace, the Kazan Cathedral and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Cuisines representing the culinary skill of the world can be found lining the inner city streets along with pubs and clubs which have been set to standard. St. Petersburg is another city whose nightlife challenges even the top-rated ones globally with its astounding light shows and its celebrated dance and house raves.

 

One of the main beauties of St. Petersburg is its mixture of classical art with modern culture. With this harmonious combination, your honeymoon can be enriched with the wisdom and class of the old and the style and glamour of the new. From the great “Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra”, which filled the early 1980’s and 1990’s airways with the most exuberant and relaxing timeless pieces, to more recent hits like DJ Sanchez who has taken the modern techno and house scene by storm.

 

Beyond its night entertainment, St. Petersburg offers daily tours around the city and great views of the sunrise and sunset. Enjoy shopping, where you can find anything from fridge magnets to an immense selection of the newest fashion trends and high-end couture features. 

 

You can’t go wrong with the unbelievable city of St. Petersburg. It caters to both the young and the old and is a perfect pick for a honeymoon. Even its summer weather gives you cool breezes during the afternoon to cool off after a long and beautiful day of sightseeing. In St. Petersburg, your honeymoon will be sweeter than honey itself. 

 

Venice - Italy


Italian is the language of love and Venice is the city of love, making it the perfect romantic European honeymoon getaway for seekers of romance. Venice is the ideal destination for newly married couples just beginning to explore their newly-formed bond. The Venetians are experts in making everyone feel as if they belong. There are no strangers in Venice; only members of an extended family.

Venice is the city of canals, palaces, stunning architecture, gondolas, serenades and, of course, love. This is where water and land come together to bring to life the ancient charm of the Venetians. This is exactly why it is one of the most painted, filmed and written about cities in the world. Nothing quite compares to your first glimpse of the distant domes and spires emerging from the tranquil water that make-up the Venetian skyline. From the moment you arrive, you are surrounded by a glory of art, architecture and history that are virtually unmatched anywhere else on the planet.  Museo Correr is situated in the Napoleonic Wing, the western end of St. Mark's Square. This museum houses a collection of works that highlight the art and history of Venice.

Venice has long been known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, and the fairy tale dreamlike adventure has kept honeymooners returning year after year. There are plenty of romantic things to do in the city, such as dining in one of the many street side cafés, listening and even dancing to the sounds of the various street performers in the main squares, and of course taking a scenic gondola ride around the city’s beautiful waterways. The famous local crafts have been produced in Venice for centuries and are hard to get elsewhere: the glassware from Murano, the delicate lace from Burano, and the cartapesta (papier-mâché) Carnevale masks you'll find in endless botteghe, where you can watch artisans paint amid their wares. There are basically two kinds of Venetian masks; one is the carnival mask with all the fancy lace, colors and shapes. Then there are the traditional masks: Commedia dell’Arte which has to do with theatre. Genuine masks make great souvenirs to remember your honeymoon by and the Laboratorio Artigiano Maschere in Castello specializes in traditional mask-making, with some truly splendid and eye-catching designs. You can also find a good selection of masks and some rather stunning costumes just off Campo Santa Margherita in Mondonovo, and at Tragicomica near Campo San Polo. Leading up to the main carnival time, Venice mask-makers are understandably very busy, but normally they will welcome visitors and are pleased to demonstrate their craft - some even hold workshops.

Venice is a city that charms and captivates with 170 canals and an estimated 400 bridges. Venice is a feast for the eyes with the main sights that include the Grand Canal, St Mark’s Square, and the Doges’ Palace. Take the time to explore the picture-postcard backwaters with their hidden squares and tiny churches which are part of the essence of every-day-Venice only accessible by water, thus allowing glimpses into ancient houses, secluded gardens and boatyards with gondolas waiting for repair. Indulge yourself in the romance of a gondola ride at sunset and capture the true magic of Venice. Many gondoliers stand near bridges offering gondola rides in St. Mark's Square during the evening hours. Walk the neighborhoods and discover wonderful shops, cafés and churches. Venice overflows with old-world charm. Stroll along the southern shore of the Dorsoduro, with its boathouses, bars and cafés. Go at dusk when Venetians take their evening stroll; Venice is a quiet town in the evening and evenings are best spent lingering over a late dinner, having a pint in a birrerie, or nursing a glass of prosecco in one of Piazza San Marco's outdoor cafés. 

Venice can be the backdrop for the honeymoon that you have always dreamed of and it is important to remember to relax and enjoy your time together. With so much to see and do, it is easy to forget to unwind the first few days so you can recover from post-wedding exhaustion and focus on each other and celebrate your relationship and your new life together as a married couple.

 

The Maldives, Indian Ocean

Located in the Indian Ocean, sunny, unique and unspoiled, the Maldives is an archipelago comprising of 1190 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator in groups of 26 naturally-occurring atolls. The atolls that form the Maldives were formed from the crust of a deceased volcanic mountain range. 

The romantic atolls of the enchanting Maldives offer unmatched scenery, stunning white sandy beaches and clear blue waters unparalleled anywhere in the world, perfect for enjoying an Indian Ocean sunset. Beautiful resorts offer facilities from thrill-seeking water-sports to revitalizing spas. With the wide range of resorts and hotel accommodations, honeymooners are sure to find their ideal setting. The numerous eye-catching, over-water villas suspended on stilts above the tranquil ocean are regarded as among the most picturesque and exotic honeymoon locations to be found anywhere. The small hideaway resorts are accessible by motorboats or water taxis called “dhoni”. The other resorts can be reached by helicopter and seaplane from the airport that sits on a small island near Male, the capital city.

The beaches in the Maldives are so numerous and so out-of-the-ordinary; the miles of breathtaking coastline is almost overwhelming.  Each of the islands is encircled with a reef which encloses a shallow lagoon holding back the waves from the sugary-white sand. These beaches are not exactly over-crowded; with so many choices there is always a totally deserted spot to escape the world and find total and complete solitude.  Most of the famed beaches in the Maldives are found at the resorts dotted throughout the atolls.  Each of these resorts occupies its own private island with all the luxuries and tranquility imaginable. Many of the palm-fringed islands are un-inhabited offering privacy and seclusion while other islands offer a choice of sophisticated restaurants and bars. 

The concept of a desert island to create an atmosphere of total relaxation is not new, but in the Maldives many resorts now have spas to accelerate the process.  As space on the islands is limited, the latest trend is to develop spas in over-water locations.  This innovation means that the facilities can be spacious and take advantage of the soothing effects of the water and warm sea breezes in year-round temperatures, which are ideal for lying around and rejuvenating yourself.

Staying in any of the resorts gives you the feel of your own private hideaway; they all provide an ultimate escape from the everyday hustle and bustle found in so many other resorts around the world.  Accommodations in all price ranges are considered to be of a good quality compared to other similar destinations.

 When you are not tucked away in your hotel or luxury oceanside villa there are many attractions and things to do on this little slice of heaven including windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, waterskiing and fishing. Perhaps the water sports most suited to the islands are scuba-diving and snorkeling. The region is incredibly clear and the warm water offers limitless possibilities for those wishing to partake in the multitude of water sports. On most islands, the sea creates a swell of just two or three inches, so it may come as a surprise to know there is good surfing in the Maldives. The best surfing is located on the outer edges of the major atolls. 

This exotic destination provides the ultimate in luxury and relaxation and all the resorts pride themselves as perfect destinations for honeymooners with many offering special honeymoon packages. Blessed with warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine and a laid-back atmosphere for simply relaxing in the sun, the Maldives really does deserve its reputation as one of the most sought-after honeymoon destinations in the world. 

 

Bora Bora – French Polynesia

The South Pacific islands are among the remotest spots on the surface of the globe that have a special allure of adventure and romance. Of these islands, Bora Bora is an idyllic honeymoon destination for those who seek that perfect paradise location set amidst tall palm trees waving their plum-like tops in the air. Bora Bora is rich in natural beauty and is the perfect setting for your south sea honeymoon dream. Located 150 miles north-west of Tahiti, the island lies anchored amidst the very bluest of lagoons, with a necklace of tiny atolls, each fringed by a protective reef of coral. Bora Bora was once an active volcano that collapsed leaving a ring around the cone. At one time, the lagoon completely encircled the island separating it from the sea beyond.

The legendary beauty and sensual pleasures of French Polynesia have made it a sought-after honeymoon destination. The upscale resorts do their best to deliver the dream with over-water bungalows that offer unforgettable views, luxury spas, couples massage, gourmet beach dinners, bottles of champagne, fruit baskets, canoe breakfasts, bouquets, and beds covered in flowers.

No Polynesian island offers a greater choice of luxurious honeymoon essentials than Bora Bora; some of the amenities offered by the resorts include water massage, seaweed body wraps and mud treatments. Some resorts can even organize a private picnic barbecue on a motu (A motu is a little island made up of nothing but coral and its derivatives - sand, limestone boulders etc. The only vegetation that adapts to dry and salty coralline conditions are found on motu including Coconut palms, bushes and shrubs).

Bora Bora is everyone’s idea of a South Pacific island adventure! Dramatic basalt peaks soar above a gorgeous, multicolored lagoon. In fact, the island took its name from the local Tahitian language and since there is no “B,” in the Tahitian language, the island is actually called Pora Pora, and means “first born”. The climate is very warm and humid, with mostly sunny weather all year-round. Some of the most perfect beaches you will ever see are here. Not only are the beaches beyond imagination, but there is also plenty to see and do. Water sports are offered at all the resorts and scuba diving is the most popular sport amongst visitors and many of the resorts offer introductory resort courses to those who want only a taste of the adventure and intrigue. Snorkeling is free and you can do it as often as you like. Surfing, ocean kayaking, sailing, and fishing are also popular activities offered.

And if none of these water activities tickle your fancy, Bora Bora is just as famous for its lagoon trips where you get to float along on a great shimmering, still sea with the possibility of seeing giant clams, manta rays and try your hand at shark feeding. Some of the Lagoon wildlife tours allow you to actually feed the stingrays!

This island is not only one of the most stunning places you might ever see, it is also a place where elegance, serenity and pampering are what you breathe in and out. The legends, mysteries and romance associated with the words "Bora Bora" bring an almost mystical presence to the island. The warm hospitality the locals extend to visitors is lavish and unbounded and provided with great pleasure and sincerity creating a feeling of being an honored guest; the sense of belonging in this exotic locale stirs the soul as a reminder of the enjoyment of living.

It is worth noting that most of the people who vacation on Bora Bora are honeymooners or couples, therefore it is not a typical destination where you will see children or families. In addition, with the island being relatively small in size there is not much of a nightlife scene – however take the time to watch the setting sun transition to the brilliance of a tropical starlit night while listening to the soft ripple of the surf on the smooth sands and it will more than make-up for the lack of  bars and clubs.

Blue lagoons, languid ocean breezes, swaying palms, soft white beaches, dazzling flowers, pinnacled mountain slopes, breathtaking sunsets. It’s romantic, it’s fantastic, it’s gorgeous. What a place to spend your honeymoon!