Getting wed in 2014? What you need to know about the latest honeymoon trends

By
Jane Anderson

PUBLISHED:

08:58 EST, 30 December 2013

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UPDATED:

08:13 EST, 31 December 2013

Did December 25th bring more than just the Queen’s speech, the obligatory family tension and a fine Christmas pud?

The festive season is awash with proposals of marriage and if this was your time to feel the twinkle of a diamond slip onto your ring finger then, firstly, congratulations and secondly, what about the honeymoon?

Going to the chapel…and then up a mountain, my love: more adventurous honeymoons are all the rage

Forget talk of who’s coming to the wedding, bridesmaids and whether the morning suits should be pin-striped or plain…there is nothing more fun for a bride and groom than enjoying something that is exclusively theirs (or is it? See below), the post-wedding holiday.

Here, we guide you through what’s in fashion for the honeymooning set…

Can’t sit still? Combine RR with a little adventure

Honeymooners now want a bit of action alongside their romantic candlelit meals and sunbathing. They want to use their honeymoon as an opportunity to visit new places such as Vietnam, Thailand and South Africa and to try out something different whether a safari, learning to surf or dive.

Traditional honeymoon destinations such as the Caribbean understand this and are offering more options for adventure travel. St Lucia, for example, now offers Segway tours, mountain hikes and zip-lining through the rainforest.

Kuoni recently conducted a survey of 2,000 unmarried people and discovered that the perfect honeymoon involves four days lying in the sun, temperatures of 27ºC, two books, four candlelit meals, three spa treatments together and three adrenaline fuelled activities. One in ten would even like the thrill of a bungee jump on their romantic getaway.

How deep is your love? Reclining by the pool for a fortnight is so passé, dahling

Ditch the generic luxury and go authentically local

Forget the lavish four-poster beds and the gilt taps, today’s honeymoon luxury is all about tuning in with the local touch and feel of a place. Why travel half way round the world to stay in a bland hotel that could be anywhere?

Even all-inclusive resorts are realising that today’s couples want to replace corporate with culture. The new Zilwa by Attitude in Mauritius (zilwa-hotel-mauritius.com), for example, puts the emphasis on authentic Mauritian experiences with a contemporary feel. Set in the lively north of the island, the hotel offers Creole lessons on the beach under a cassuarina tree and lessons in cooking a traditional Mauritian curry.

Ride a pirogue (local fishing boat) to one of two little castaway islands for a massage, or go out with a local fisherman and return to cook your own breakfast on the beach.

My love pours forth: The Caribbean offers endless hiking opportunities for newlyweds

Love the family? Take ’em with you!

Unlikely as it may sound, many newlyweds are keeping their friends and family with them on honeymoon when they have tied the knot overseas. Oliver’s Travels (www.oliverstravels.com) hosts many weddings in its chateaus and villas in France and the Caribbean and has found that a lot of guests stay on for the honeymoon.

Canopy Stars (www.canopyandstars.co.uk) has also noticed a trend for glamping-style weddings where part of the appeal is bringing everyone together and sharing not just a day and evening, but a few days. The traditional bride and groom exit is being replaced with the newlyweds cooking bacon sarnies for their friends and family on their first day of married life followed by a few days sleeping in tipis or yurts.

Tune in, drop out, get spliced: Festival weddings are increasingly popular

Short on time but don’t want to forgo the treat? Try a mini-moon

The improvement of accommodation in the UK and the rise of time-poor, cash-rich couples has seen an increase in the amount of couples taking a short UK honeymoon straight after their wedding followed by a two-week long-haul honeymoon later on. Stylish self-catering outfits like Sheepskin and pubs with rooms like the new Wild Rabbit in the Cotswolds make this a popular choice.

This also works well if the long-haul destination is out of season when you want to get married at home. Online travel company i-escape has noticed a surge in people wanting to hide away from the world after their wedding in isolated cottages in the UK. A great example is Croft 103 (www.croft103.com) in the north of Scotland where you are surrounded by nothing but wild landscapes.

Just the two of us: The Croft 103 property in northern Scotland

Stay in a luxury villa but enjoy the trappings of a hotel

Newlyweds are seeking more bespoke places to stay with increased privacy but still crave all the luxuries and services of a five-star hotel. Villas within hotels are the perfect solution as honeymooners can either lock themselves away with the services of a private chef and butler or venture out to use the hotel facilities.

Hotels are outdoing themselves to create the ultimate in private villas such as Parrot Cay (www.comohotels.com/parrotcay) in the Turks Caicos or the many over-water villas in the Maldives with private infinity pools. Go completely overboard and book your honeymoon at the largest and newest villa on Mauritius, the St Regis Villa at Starwood’s St. Regis Mauritius (www.stregisvillamauritius.com) with direct beach access and a dedicated team of butlers, valets and a chef.

Turkey specialist, Exclusive Escapes has new pool houses at Deniz Feneri Lighthouse (www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk) plus there is the Cliff House at uber-chic Hotel Villa Mahal complete with a private swimming pool and views of the Bay of Kalkan.

Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios (www.jamaicainn.com), Jamaica has upped the honeymoon ante with its range of luxury cottages – Blue Cottage and the Jamaica Inn Cottages are now the number one choice for honeymooners. Enjoy all the services of the hotel with the space and privacy of your own oceanfront cottage, some with a private pool.

Brazil’s star is rising – Caiprinhas at the ready!

All eyes are turning to Brazil for the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016, plus there is general growing awareness that this amazing destination is still fresh for UK couples wanting to up the ante when it comes to their honeymoon.