Your honeymoon is more than a chance to catch your breath and recover from your wedding planning. For many couples they are the last opportunity for a big travel blowout before settling down to other commitments, like a mortgage and children. Here is our pick of the best honeymoon destinations in 2016 to whet your wandering appetite.
- Florianopolis, Brazil
While hoards of tourists descend on Rio for the Olympics, those in the know will be going to Florianopolis in Santa Catarina. It has everything you expect from a South American country renowned for its stunning beaches, delicious food, and nightlife. Avoid the mainland and stay on Santa Catarina Island where you can hang out with the beautiful people in Beira-Mar Norte.
Florianopolis is known for the quality of its oysters which pair wonderfully with locally produced sparkling wine. Unsurprising, since it is surrounded by miles of perfect shoreline the opportunity for water sports like paddleboarding, surfing, and windsurfing are plentiful.
- Shanghai, China
What better place for a contemporary couple to celebrate their marriage than in vibrant Shanghai? It’s a fantastic blend of modern skyscrapers and refined art deco architecture, with mouthwatering restaurants on every street for you to enjoy.
Much of China’s newly wealthy can be found in Shanghai – for a communist country it is surprisingly capitalistic! The shopping is fantastic with an enormous array of choice from luxury labels to pop up shops from a collaboration of independent local designers. Shanghai will leave your head spinning in the most delightful way.
- Bali, Indonesia
Ignoring the tacky resorts of Kuta and Legian, Bali is a peaceful haven with incredible beaches, and a culture that dates back centuries. The inland resort of Ubud is popular with visitors who want to escape to a slower pace of life, and feels serene and unspoiled.
Sanur is popular with families and expats, and has a good choice of Western restaurants and cafes. Seminyak is the place to go if you want a luxury spa experience, though given that it is a small island, nowhere is far from anywhere on Bali.
- Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is spectacularly diverse with lush green rainforest, white sugar sand beaches, mountains, and volcanoes. It is still relatively off the beaten tourist path compared with some South American countries, and it is worth visiting purely for the joy of sleeping in a tree house in the canopy of a jungle inhabited by sloths, monkeys, and the brightest tropical birds you will ever see in the wild.
- South Island, New Zealand
While New Zealand is affordable and family friendly, the expense of the flights and the journey time makes it a place you may want to do before you have kids. New Zealand is an incredible country split across two islands. Both North and South are stunning, however the South Island is less populated with crystal clear lakes, towering mountain ranges, and amazing glaciers.
It is a good choice for active couples who want to push themselves on world class walking routes and challenging mountain bike trails, and equally suitable for those who want to drive from boutique hotel to spa resort, or hire a campervan and see where the road takes them.
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