The Unexpected Place Couples are Heading for Their Honeymoons

If you think every newlywed couple is en route to the palm-fringed beaches of the Caribbean, think again.

According to a new survey by Westin Hotels Resorts, 75 percent of couples that took a honeymoon in the last five years traveled to (or stayed in) the United States and Canada. Travel to Canada for this romantic trip has tripled in the last five years. The same survey showed that honeymoons to Europe dropped by nearly half.

Westin’s survey included couples from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—but there’s no question that there’s a dramatic rise in domestic honeymoons. A similar survey taken in 2010 by The Knot showed that only 30 percent of honeymooners from the Continental U.S. stayed in the country. Even then, people were beginning to show more interest in amber waves of grain than tropical Caribbean shores.

So what’s keeping traveling lovebirds a stone’s throw from home? If you ask Westin, it’s an increase in active, adventurous honeymoons (think: skiing in Beaver Creek or Whistler, zip-lining in Maui, or cycling up Bear Mountain). It should come as no surprise then that honeymooners have been 1.5 times more likely to seek the outdoors, favoring locations like New England and the Western Mountain regions. Travelers also revealed that they wanted to more time on vacation, and less time getting there. 

Looking for more honeymoon inspiration? Check out our honeymoon guide. 

Melanie Lieberman is the Assistant Digital Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @melanietaryn.