Where to go on honeymoon in winter
If you’re getting married in winter, or just deferring your honeymoon so you can grab some much-needed winter sun, there are plenty of options. First, decide whether you want to go away at Christmas or New Year. It can be a special time for a honeymoon, but you’ll usually pay a premium.
December
If you’re booking a honeymoon in December, you will probably be flying long-haul for guaranteed sunshine, unless you want to pursue a winter theme, in which case you could head to Iceland to view the Northern Lights, or stay in a glass igloo in Finnish Lapland.
You’ll get a fair bit of sunshine in Morocco or Madeira, but you’re looking at temperatures of 17–19ºC. Not exactly scorchio. However, both destinations are great value if you’re on a budget.
If you want to swelter, two obvious choices are the Caribbean and the Maldives. Both offer temperatures of around 30ºC. In the Caribbean, if you love beaches and fine dining and have a healthy budget, consider the platinum sands of Anguilla or Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. If you’re a bargain hunter, try the Dominican Republic. For activities and sightseeing, head to Costa Rica.
The Maldives offer pure indulgence. Stay at a cottage on the beach or a water villa perched above a turquoise lagoon. But make sure you pick the right island. Top tips for honeymooners include Huvafen Fushi with its underwater spa and the all-inclusive Kuredu Island Resort. It’s worth considering that the Maldives work well as part of a two-centre honeymoon. Flight connections mean you can easily combine them with Sri Lanka, India or Abu Dhabi.
South Africa is good value and superb in December. There are few cities more beautiful than Cape Town at this time of year. Check out some more ideas in December.
January
How about Africa? It’s peak migration season in Tanzania, so the wildlife spotting is out of this world. Temperatures will hover around 32ºC. If you want to combine safari and beach, head to South Africa which you can easily combine with Mauritius or the Seychelles.
If you want a short flight from you UK, take a look at Cape Verde, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean with influences from Brazil, Portugal and West Africa. It’s a six-hour direct flight with temperatures of around 24ºC and only a two-hour time difference.
You may experience a few rain showers in Bali, but that doesn’t deter its fans, many of whom return year after year to escape the miserable northern climate. January is also a great month to visit Goa where you can expect temperatures of 28ºC, along with world-beating food and sunsets. See more honeymoons in January.
February
It’s still peak time in the Caribbean. If you want to avoid the big crowded resort hotels in favour of something more intimate, check out Essential Detail for a hand-picked selection of boutique hideaways. Our favourites include Jamaica Inn and East Winds in St Lucia.
February is carnival time (20–25 February 2020) and a great excuse to honeymoon in Brazil. Combine the hedonism and beauty of Rio de Janeiro with a cruise on an Amazonian riverboat and beach time on the coast of Bahia. Closer to home, carnival is also celebrated with gusto in Tenerife in the capital, Santa Cruz. Expect temperatures of 22ºC and seven hours of daily sunshine.
It’s one of the best months to visit Mauritius. The island has a reputation for outstanding hotels with five-star service, and the destination is also pushing its other attractions, from rainforest hikes to kitesurfing. One of the most popular hotels for honeymooners is Trou Aux Biches.
It’s peak season in Sri Lanka but you can still find some tremendous deals. The weather on the west and south coasts — and the interior — will be excellent, and it’s peak season for spotting blue whales. See more February honeymoons.
