Five honeymoon trends for 2021 and beyond, from modern-day grand tours to retro holidays

It seems that couples are taking this more “retro” approach to their accommodation styles, too, sourcing cute cottages, shepherds huts, cosy yurts and seaside cabins. Traffic to the honeymoon pages on the glamping site Canopy Stars was up 300 per cent in the past six months of 2020; their “great for two” options were most viewed, along with searches for treehouses and properties with hot tubs.

People are also seeking out five-star hotels near to their home or wedding venue that they may have previously overlooked. “Before, we had talked about a safari, but now we are happy to have a few nights at Gidleigh Park in Devon. It’s just down the road and we have always wanted to stay, but never really had the excuse,” says Kathryn Cousins, 34, who still hasn’t set a date for her wedding.

Lohan continues: “As the vaccine programme continues to ramp up its rollout across Europe, we’ll gradually start to see the demand back in these regions, too. But travellers will be more conscious of their environmental impact, looking to cut out air travel”.  Much like those newly-weds back in the 1950s, the “No-fly moon” to Europe is likely to be big for the second half of 2021.

3. A return of treasure islands 

According to the wedding planning app Bridebook, 64 per cent of 2020 weddings have been postponed, with more than 400,000 weddings planned in the UK this year, so it stands to reason that tour operators are seeing a huge hike in honeymoon bookings for 2021.

But if not in the UK, then where? James Bell, co-founder of Turquoise Holidays, says “we’ve seen a massive increase in islands: the Maldives is bonkers, spend is up 15-20 per cent from 2019 and the duration of stay is also longer, from seven nights up to 12.

“Compared with Thailand, these destinations are pricey, but if people have kept their jobs and saved during lockdown, they are willing to invest more.”  But this no-expense-spared attitude isn’t just about being surrounded in luxury. “There is a lean towards the more classic destinations like the Indian Ocean and Caribbean because people want safety and seclusion,” he says.