Travel

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon

Lying on a beautiful beach for a week is all well and good – especially after the harrowing affair that is planning a wedding – but for many modern couples, a honeymoon isn’t just an excuse to relax: it’s a chance to bond over shared interests and new experiences in a captivating place. Whether you and your significant other are into nature, culture, adventure or some combination of all three, we’ve got a honeymoon destination that will bring you closer than ever before and set the perfect tone for your happily ever after.

By Jessica Keller

Travel

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Adventure Lovers: Morocco – Understandably, when you think “African adventure”, you likely picture a safari lodge surrounded by herds of elephants and zebras, but a different kind of getaway awaits north of the Sahara. Though the country is steadily gaining in international fame – and Marrakech certainly gets more than its fair share of tourists – much of Morocco tends to fly under the international traveller radar. Wander the cerulean alleyways of Chefchaouen. Explore the ancient medina of Fes. Surf on the shores of quaint fishing villages like Taghazout or Essaouira. Hike to the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains and learn about the unique Berber culture. Stay in charming local riads and dine on the bright flavours of Moroccan cuisine. For the ultimate in honeymoon romance, escape to a tent camp in the Sahara desert and curl up together under an impossibly starry sky that feels like it was decorated just for you.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Paradise Lovers: Cook Islands – Sugar-white beaches, sky-blue waters, emerald-green mountains and, by government mandate, no buildings taller than the tallest palm tree: the Cook Islands are a rare creature on today’s travel scene, where the crowds are thin and the nature is untouched, yet the infrastructure allows for friction-free exploration. Of the 15 islands, Rarotonga is the largest – its 32km ring road allows you to drive the circumference of the isle in less than an hour – and most cosmopolitan, while secluded Aitutaki is honeymoon heaven with its jaw-dropping lagoon that has been described as the most beautiful in the world. Don’t miss the ancient stone temples, called marae, or the ‘Island Night’ events involving a Polynesian feast of roasted pork followed by a local dance performance.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Rambling Lovers: Perthshire, Scotland – If your idea of a romantic paradise is more Outlander than Robinson Crusoe, have we got the place for you. Perthshire Big Tree Country is home to more than 200,000 acres of old-growth woodland, with the tranquil lochs, rugged glens, rushing waterfalls, rolling hills and imposing mountains of Highland Perthshire right at the heart of this wild region. Roam the trails that wend through forests, alongside rivers and up into the hills for dramatic views over the countryside. Tour exceptionally preserved mediaeval castles and stroll through Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood. Take to the lochs for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Admire the Victorian town of Pitlochry, and discover the cultural and historical attractions of the city of Perth. And at the day’s end, snuggle up by a roaring fire with a glass of local Scotch in hand.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Offbeat Lovers: Bisbee, Arizona, USA – When it comes to cute Arizona desert towns, Sedona tends to suck up all the oxygen, but travellers with an artistic soul and a penchant for the eccentric should head south to Bisbee. This tiny town just 18km north of the Mexican border lured workers in droves to its copper mines in the 19th century. Now, however, its siren song attracts a more eclectic, creative crowd of artists and craftspeople who run the many galleries and antique shops. Start by taking a tour of the old Queen Mine and learning about the history of the town and its importance as a mining centre, then stroll the charming streets of Old Bisbee, with its Victorian architecture, street art murals and inviting mix of shops and cafés. Fans of the creepy and uncanny can join a ghost tour and stay at the Copper Queen Hotel, along with the 16 spiritual entities who supposedly reside there. Set aside an afternoon for hiking with your other half among the arid hills of the surrounding Mule Mountains, and then reward yourselves for the effort with a glass of suds from one of the many local microbreweries.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Lovers Of Beauty: Cartagena, Colombia – Blessed with a tropical climate and a sublime location by the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena is a beloved beach destination – but also so much more. The exquisite walled old town, founded in the 16th century, harbours some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the Americas, and simply wandering its cobblestone streets is the main event of any visit. Take in the colourful plazas, mansions, monasteries and churches, and walk along the city walls; up the romance factor by doing it all via horse-drawn carriage. History buffs won’t want to miss the magnificent 17th-century Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas atop the 40-metre-high San Lázaro hill, which is also a great place to get panoramas over Cartagena and out to the sea, and should also pay a visit to the Palace of the Inquisition. Its exhibitions recount a grisly chapter in local history, so plan a palate cleanser afterwards; one of the city’s live salsa or cambia performances should help you shake off any sombre vibes. 

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Mountain Lovers: San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina – With serene blue lakes snaking among thick pine forests against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, this region of Argentinian Patagonia blends the idyllic appeal of the Swiss Alps with a friendly, laid-back Latin American sensibility. Skiing in winter is, of course, one of the big draws, but the southern hemisphere summer is when Bariloche really spreads its wings: endless trails wind through the hills and valleys, calling to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, while the cool waters of the numerous glacial lakes beckon for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking or just lazing about on the beach. When you need a break from the action, visit the area’s cultural centres, like the Museo de la Patagonia and Colonia Suiza, a picturesque village that looks much the same as it did upon its founding more than 100 years ago. And feel free to power these pursuits by indulging in the region’s top two gastronomic fortes: chocolate and craft beer.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Wine Lovers: La Rioja, Spain – Though often overshadowed by the legendary vineyards of France and Italy, Spain is no winemaking lightweight. And when it comes to the country’s top wine regions, one of its most talked-about is, curiously, one of its less visited. Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, you’re more likely to spot pilgrims in La Rioja walking the Camino de Santiago than flocking to its temples of viticulture, which means you won’t have to jostle with too many fellow tourists as you attend vineyard wine-tastings, tour the mediaeval monasteries of San Millán Yuso and Suso, wander the charming old town streets of Logroño, Haro and Briones, and visit the Vivanco Wine Museum – one of the best of its kind in the world. La Rioja’s tantalising wines, heavily defined by the Tempranillo grape, are best paired with copious amounts of local tapas; you can justify the indulgence with a hike in the nearby Sierra de Cebollera Natural Park.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For LGBTQ+ Lovers: Southern Maine, USA – From Portland’s dramatic windswept lighthouses overlooking rocky coves, to the historic streets and cosy inns of well-to-do Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, coastal southern Maine is a honeymoon destination ripped right from the pages of a romance novel. LGBTQ+ couples in particular might want to consider Ogunquit: this adorable resort town takes the nature-loving, seafood-serving charm of many Maine destinations, and adds a vibrant LGBTQ+ community to the mix. As the “queer capital” of the state, many of Ogunquit’s hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and galleries are run by LGBTQ+ folks, creating an inviting and supportive atmosphere for travellers of every orientation. Come for the good vibes, stay for the thriving arts and theatre scene, as well as the wealth of outdoor activities, like kayaking, sailing and taking sunrise walks along the stunning Marginal Way coastal trail.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Diving Lovers: Bonaire – Getting your diving certification together is a great way to relieve some of that wedding-planning tension and connect over a shared new hobby, not to mention the perfect activity to organise a honeymoon around. Though relatively unsung on the mainstream Caribbean holiday circuit, Bonaire is no secret to scuba diving enthusiasts who head here for its award-winning dive sites, from coral reefs to sea caves, most of which are accessible from the shore – no need to sink money in a dive boat excursion. Catch your breath between dips by windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking, exploring spectacular pink sand beaches and hiking Mount Brandaris, the island’s highest point at a whopping 241-metre elevation. You won’t find many sprawling resorts here; the hospitality scene is characterised by boutique bed and breakfasts, self-catering rentals and luxury hotels, which makes this patch of paradise that much less commercialised and all the more authentic.

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For History Lovers: Belgium – For travellers looking to marry romance and history, this mini European country packs a mighty punch. From the many palaces, cathedrals and abbeys that dot the landscape, to the fairy-tale canals and alleyways of magical Bruges, and the bustling streets of Brussels where European Union history is made every day, Belgium is a living museum of well-preserved monuments and landmarks that offer interesting historical insights while also serving as splendid selfie backdrops. War history buffs will want to check out Flanders Fields in Ypres, the Battlefield of Waterloo in Braine-l’Alleud, and the Bastogne War Museum in Ardennes; art history enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice between the Groeningemuseum, Musée Magritte and Royal Museums of Fine Art, to name just a few; architecture aficionados and fans of Cool Old Stuff will be captivated by, well, everything.

Travel

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Wedding 101: The 14 Most Underrated Places To Honeymoon.

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For Seaside Lovers: Corsica, France – The Mediterranean was surely made for lovers: can you think of anything more romantic than sharing a bottle of local wine over a plate of fresh seafood in a picturesque village by the sea? There’s of course no shortage of romantic destinations in this magical part of the world, but for newlyweds looking for an all-around Mediterranean holiday that mixes the active and the languid in equal measure, Corsica is a clear winner. The French – yet fiercely and proudly ‘Corsican’ – island has more than its fair share of postcard-perfect beaches, enchanting historic towns and craggy mountains with vertiginous hiking trails to rival anything the mainland can offer, as well as a bit of history to be investigated, from Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthplace of Ajaccio to the impressive Citadelle de Corte. Be sure to save space in your itinerary for discovering the Lavezzi Islands, which offer a slice of the Seychelles in the Mediterranean.