HONEYMOON Hit the Beach

When planning the biggest day of your life, honeymoon attire isn’t usually a top priority and often falls outside the wedding to-do radar. And with the big day budget being squeezed of every last penny, it’s easy to pull out last year’s faded bikinis and sweaty flip flops. But not this year!

Don’t head off on honeymoon without checking out Matalan’s latest affordable beachwear collection. From colourful, stylish swimsuits and bikini separates from £3, in more than 50 different styles, to gorgeous cover-ups, Victoria Beckham-esque sunglasses and a massive array of beach bags, flip flops, sun hats and jewellery, you can replenish your entire beachwear wardrobe for around £20!

This gorgeous gold foil bikini, £10, will ensure you dazzle poolside on honeymoon and looks sexy under a sheer cover-up, while this fab sequin beach bag, £6, will hold all your beach essentials. These on-trend green post-toe sandals, £8, are great for lounging by the pool by day and sipping sundowners in the bar at night...

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HONEYMOON A Taste Of The Tropics

With its kilometre-long beach of powdery white sand, the five-star luxury Residence Mauritius is one of the most beautiful jewels of the sparkling Indian Ocean and makes the perfect honeymoon hideaway.

The elegant colonial-style resort with its subtle mix of calming dark wood décor and oriental antiques offers honeymooners a peaceful, soothing atmosphere to enjoy your first days as Mr and Mrs.

Inspired by turn-of-the-century colonial mansions and Mauritian plantation houses, The Residence recaptures the refined elegance, opulent luxury and impeccable service of a bygone era.

Check-in is held in the comfort of your suite and a personal butler is on hand to attend to your every need, including unpacking and running a deliciously scented bath. Pamper yourself in the Sanctuary Spa with the romantic Ylang Ylang massage for two or take a gentle Serenity Walk along the powder-white shore and enjoy the unspoilt beauty of Mauritius.

Spend the sultry evenings enjoying dinner at the ocean-front Plantation restaurant, where fresh seafood and Creole dishes are the order of the day, and live jazz is your honeymoon soundtrack.

Know before you go

Mauritius enjoys a tropical climate and the warmest weather is generally in February while the coolest temperatures tend to be in July. The sea temperature ranges from about 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the conditions and the season. Heavy rain is common from January through March, and tropical cyclones are a possibility from November through April.

Insider tip:

WP bride LoobyLoo2002 travelled to Mauritius for her honeymoon and has this tip for brides-to-be: “Don’t change money at home! The rate in Mauritius is much better. When you arrive at the airport in Mauritius you’ll see loads of exchange bureaus at the arrivals halls and you can change your money there.”

British Airways Holidays offers seven nights half board from £1772 including BA flights, private transfers, accommodation in an ocean view room and free UK connecting flights from most regional airports. Call 0844 4930752 for more details.

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HONEYMOON Pure Paradise

Begin married life in style with a honeymoon at the luxurious Maroma Mayan Resort and Spa in a breathtaking corner of the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

Shaded by banana trees, the Maroma Mayan Resort & Spa is dotted with two and three-storey thatched villas, nestled among lush tropical gardens.

The ocean-front Sian Nah (Mayan for “house of heaven”) suites are a complete honeymoon sanctuary and come equipped with their own spa space for massages, a wellness area with fitness equipment, a living room, large bedroom with king-size bed, and a spacious outdoor terrace with private plunge pool.

Together with the 24-hour in-room dining service, this exceptional level of service means honeymooners looking for privacy won’t even need to leave their room – but with a huge choice of fine dining restaurants at the hotel, as well as three outdoor pools, a boutique art gallery, and 750-foot beach skirting the world’s second longest barrier reef, chances are you won’t be able to stay in there for very long…

The new Kinan spa was built following the Maya study of astrological alignment – each building and treatment room has been aligned to the stars to ensure positive energy flow so the body, mind and spirit are at peace. Kinan offers a full range of spa services in treatment rooms with private gardens, outdoor massage palapas (small thatched roof pavilions), a Watsu garden pool and a rooftop tower treatment room with stunning 360 degree views of the jungle and the sea. Honeymooners can indulge in the Aphrodisia's Chocolate Invigoration – a two-hour relaxation treatment that is strictly for couples. What better way for a wedding-weary husband and wife to relax and unwind…

Know before you go
Maroma is 20 miles south of Cancun International Airport with daily flights from London and Manchester with American Airlines from around £600 return.
Cancun enjoys 253 sunny days per year, and the hottest months are July to September where temperatures average 24-33°C.

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HONEYMOON Off The Scales

If you’re packing for honeymoon but worried you won’t be able to squeeze all 14 pairs of shoes in your suitcase, read on…

It’s the day before the wedding and you’re putting the final touches to your honeymoon packing – by which we mean you’re trying to force that fifth pair of flip flops in among the multitude of bikinis which are spilling out of your suitcase. Sounds familiar?

Well, here at WP, we love anything that helps make a bride’s life easier, so when we saw this neat little gadget, we thought it was worth a closer look.

The Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale promises to take all the stress out of packing for your honeymoon. Gone are the days of balancing your case on the bathroom scales, or simply crossing your fingers and hoping it’ll be under the luggage weight limits. The Balanzza gives you an easy and accurate way to weigh the suitcase.

Simply attach the strap of the Balanzza to the handle of the suitcase and then pick the suitcase up. When you do, the exact weight of the suitcase will appear on the easy-to-read display. If it’s over the weight allowance, simply remove that extra cocktail dress (because you know you’re not actually going to wear it) and repack, allowing you to arrive at the airport without any worries or unnecessary back pain.

The Balanzza luggage scale is priced £19.99 from Drinkstuff.

Photo © Linda DuBose

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Comments - Latest by: MrsReed2Be:
Thats brilliant & saves all that worry when you get to the airport

HONEYMOON Rainforest Retreat

COSTA RICA
Spend your honeymoon at the eco-friendly Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort in Costa Rica, set in a lush rainforest next to a stunning national park on the glorious beaches of the Pacific coast – what more could you ask for?

Each of the 38 spacious hotel rooms and 16 apartment suites of the Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort offers spectacular views of the ocean or tropical rainforest, with direct access on to the private beach.

The Ocean View Suites are air-conditioned and feature a king-size bed, a large deck area and two beautiful his ‘n’ hers bathrooms. The private hot tub on the deck is the perfect spot to relax on your honeymoon and catch up on some well-deserved ‘you’ time.

Couples can spend their time on either of the two spectacular beaches, relaxing on the sugar-soft sand or exploring the warm tide pools where tropical birds are known to nest.
Or if you’re feeling energetic, the hotel organises half-day tours of the Manuel Antonio National Park, so you can observe first-hand the distinctive plant life as well as spotting monkeys and some of the 184 species of birds that live in the rainforest.

If that all feels like too much effort, the hotel boasts two glorious swimming pools and the Las Brisas Spa, where the long list of treatments includes hot stone massages, the lavish caviar facial or a sumptuous chocolate body wrap (strictly for beauty purposes only, sadly).

Sample the fresh seasonal ingredients at the two gourmet restaurants, which offer delicious Costa Rican cuisine with an international flavour. The Playita Snack Bar offers cocktails throughout the day and tasty dishes, such as grilled shrimp wrapped in spinach-herb tortilla. The formal El Mirador overhangs the Espadilla Beach with its white sand and sparkling water. Enjoy fresh lobster, squid, sea bass, and other delicacies while admiring the breathtaking sunsets.

Eco-conscious guests will be pleased to hear Arenas del Mar prides itself on supporting local projects that work towards environmental improvement and will be participating in an extensive re-forestation programme, planting over 7,000 native species of trees on the property. The hotel also has solar panels to heat water, underground electricity systems that don’t interfere with surrounding wildlife, energy efficient light bulbs throughout, and even tiles made from discarded plastic bags.

Prices for an Ocean View Suite start from £181 per night based on two people sharing. Visit Arenas del Mar for more information.

Know before you go

Costa Rica is a year-round destination with temperatures comfortably warm in the highlands and hot along the coasts. The dry season from December to April is usually considered to be the best time to visit.
American Airlines flies daily to San Jose via Miami from around £640 per person return.
Arenas del Mar is three hours by car from San Jose airport or a 25-minute domestic flight with Sansa.

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HONEYMOON Greece Is The Word

If you’ve dreamed of a luxurious honeymoon set on beautiful white-sand beaches, surrounded by five-star service and stunning views, the Porto Sani Village & Spa in Halkidiki could be just what you’re looking for.

Set in a 1,000 acre ecological reserve overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea, Porto Sani is the Sani Resort’s all-suite spa hotel. The five-star property offers an exclusive and tranquil environment and boasts its own exclusive Anne Sémonin spa, two gourmet restaurants and a large, peaceful lagoon-style swimming pool.

All the 103 suites at Porto Sani have a spacious living area, double bedroom and large bathroom with Jacuzzi. Designed in neutral colours, the suites mix tones of beige, pastel pinks and soft silvers with stylish pale wood, stone and glass to create a fresh, comfortable living space. Each suite also features either a large private terrace or balcony overlooking lush green gardens, the swimming pool or marina.

Honeymooners can unwind in the stunning adult-only Anne Sémonin spa with heated pool, exploring the lively Sani Marina or by simply relaxing on one of the comfy sunbeds surrounding the pool.

After a hard day’s sunbathing on the soft white beaches, choose between the luxury gourmet Byblos, offering dishes with an emphasis on fresh Mediterranean ingredients, served with fabulous view over the Porto Sani Village swimming pools; or the a la Carte Artemis restaurant, which offers international dishes and local Greek delicacies from a set menu in the cosy atmosphere of a romantic terrace setting.

Prices start from 156 Euros, per room per night, in a Marina Junior Suite, based on two people sharing, B&B. Visit Porto Sani Village & Spa or call 0030 23740 99400 for more information.

Know Before You Go
•The climate on Halkidiki is generally Mediterranean, which makes it a perfect year-round honeymoon destination.

•The currency in Greece is the Euro, and banks and ATMs can be found in all major towns and villages.

•ThomsonFly has flights from Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Luton, Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester. Return flights start around £130.

©Porto Sani Village & Spa

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HONEYMOON Expert Tips

WHERE TO GO
As many honeymooners are looking for somewhere remote and unique, I would recommend that they start by looking for smaller properties with less than 60 rooms. Avoid mainstream brands and look for more independent hotels. These can be harder to find but there are some amazing ones around the globe and these are best found by research…magazines, books, websites and so on.

SEARCH ONLINE
Select an online resource that shows the direct contact details to the hotels/resorts as this gives you the possibility to make direct contact with the hotel and ask relevant questions to the people on the ground (at the hotel/resorts) who can really answer the questions.

WHO TO TRUST
Don’t trust the star rating – all countries have their own! Online travel sites can also quite biased so I would recommend looking at the hotel’s website for media coverage. Find out what independent publications had to say about the resort.

SEEING IS BELIEVING
Look for specific details in the hotels' images online such as the pool furniture – if it’s plastic, chances are the hotel might not have the attention to detail you are after.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Watch out for internet specials – if a price is too good to be true, there is probably a reason such as it is for travel during the stormy season. When you do come to book, make sure you ask for the ‘Best Available Rate’. This is an industry term that most hotels use and may give you a better price than the one listed.

SPECIAL TREATMENT
Don’t be afraid to ask! It’s your honeymoon after all! Call the hotel and ask to speak to the director of sales. Sometimes they can do wonders if you mention you’re on your honeymoon. Upgrades, champagne on arrival, romantic dinners…if you don’t ask you don’t get.

KNOW THE LINGO
A room advertised as ‘ocean view’ may have a view only if you stick your head out of the window. Look for ‘ocean front’ instead. Similarly ‘superior’ or ‘executive’ rooms don’t always mean the best. Always ask for the size of the room for comparison.

HONEYMOON HOT SPOTS
There are so many to choose from however, here are my top five:
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi – a truly WOW destination
Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge in Bocas del Toro, Panama – one of the best dive spots in the world
Hotel Bora Bora – what can be more romantic than Bora Bora
Banyan Tree Ringha – a cultural honeymoon in Tibet with wooden bathtubs
Cuixmala in Mexico – a stunning estate of lagoons, golden sand beaches with whales and dolphins to spot.

For more information or to find more stunning honeymoon hotels, visit www.kiwicollection.com

Where are you going on honeymoon? Or is it a big secret?
Post a comment or email amanda@weddingpath.com

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HONEYMOON Island Life

Going Places
The Turks and Caicos Islands in the British West Indies is a honeymoon haven of undeveloped islands boasting miles of white powdery beaches, superb diving, luxury hotels, and first-class restaurants.

Grand Turk Island stretches just six miles long and a mile wide and is the capital of the Turks and Caicos. Like the other islands, Grand Turk is blessed with miles of secluded sugary beaches and is surrounded by several uninhabited cays just waiting to be explored.

Providenciales Island (nicknamed ‘Provo’) is the most popular destination for honeymooners and is home to Grace Bay, a 12-mile stretch of velvety white sand, which is surrounded by a barrier reef and offers fabulous diving opportunities.

What to do
Relaxation is the order of the day but couples can choose to do as much or as little as they like on these breathtaking islands.
On Grand Turk, tourists can visit the historic Governor’s Beach, the Victoria Public Library and the famous lighthouse. While whale watching is a popular past time for holiday-makers visiting between January and April. The Turks and Caicos National Museum on Front Street, which explains the cultural history of the islands, is also not to be missed.

Travel in Style
For a truly A-list style honeymoon, check in to the luxury island resort of Parrot Cay, located in a tiny corner of its own uninhabited island with three miles of secluded beaches, an endless horizon of turquoise water and teeming coral reefs.

Couples can unwind and recharge their batteries in a blissfully peaceful environment and enjoy the mind and body treatments of the exclusive hilltop spa, or spend lazy hours lounging around the magnificent infinity pool.
Parrot Cay is the ultimate in chic simplicity with a touch of modern colonial style. Garden and Ocean Rooms are located in white terraces within the gardens, while set back from the beach are the spacious Beach Houses and Villas. The villas, with their terracotta tiles, teak wood furniture, white fabrics and elegant four-poster beds, all offer comfortable terraces, which are the ideal spot for star gazing.

And if you want to take part in a different kind of star-spotting, Parrot Cay is well-known for its celebrity clientele. Desperate Housewives’ super-glam leading lady Eva Longoria and her basketball hubby Tony Parker spent their honeymoon on this idyllic island.

The resort’s restaurants are also a great place for rubbing shoulders with the A-listers. By day, dine al fresco on the beach or at the pool side Lotus Restaurant; in the evening guests can enjoy a drink at the beach bar or poolside restaurant, or head up the hill to sample the delicacies of the gourmet Terrace Restaurant.

Know Before You Go
Honeymooners can now fly direct to Providenciales with British Airways from around £545 return from London Heathrow.

The Parrot Cay resort is about 35 minutes by power boat from Providenciales. A Garden Room Villa is around £223 per night, while a three-bed Beach Villa costs from £1600 per night depending on the season.

Even in winter, the islands are a comfortable 27-29°C, however, June to October is hurricane season, which can get quite severe, so travellers are recommended to visit between November and May.

The Turks and Caicos use the US Dollar. ATMs dispense dollars, and can be found in banks, supermarkets and most shopping centres. Credits cards are accepted almost everywhere, but some shops add a $25 minimum charge.

For more information on accommodation and excursions, visit Turks & Caicos Tourist Office.

© Turks & Caicos Tourist Office

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Comments - Latest by: sj:
This is where we got married and had our honeymoon,

Cape of Dreams

Bright lights
Cape Town is a thrilling city with a diverse range of attractions, sights and activities on offer. From the stunning beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to the vibrant V&A Waterfront – a honeymoon in Cape Town will be nothing if not memorable.

The best views of Cape Town are seen from the top of its famous landmark, Table Mountain. The cablecar takes five minutes to scale the 1085m summit and affords spectacular views and photo opportunities of the city below. A return ticket on the cableway costs 130 Rand (about £8). Expect queues in peak times – however, your hotel should be able to pre-book tickets for you.

If it’s culture you’re after, the famous Robben Island prison, once home to former South African president Nelson Mandela, is well worth a visit. Now a World Heritage Site, a trip to the island is an unforgettable experience and offers a glimpse into the apartheid era.

Daily tours to the island include the ferry trip there and back, an island tour and a tour of the prison with a former political prisoner as your guide. Allow three and a half hours for the trip and book in advance. Ferries leave regularly from the Clock Tower precinct at the V&A Waterfront.


City dwellers
For truly five-star luxury, the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in the heart of the city is the place to stay.

From the complimentary drink that awaits your arrival to the free transfers to Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront, the staff will do their utmost to make you feel at home. Your stay includes full South African breakfast and use of the Sanctuary Spa, which boasts hydrotherapy pools, a sauna and flotation tank for the ultimate in honeymoon pampering.

And when the day's over, retire to one of 15 luxurious, elegant suites, decorated in relaxed, soothing colours for airy, daytime coolness and cosy, night-time intimacy – the perfect retreat for newlyweds.

A deluxe room with four-poster bed costs from £203 per night. Visit Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa for more information or call +27 (0) 21 437 9000.

Know before you go
Cape Town enjoys an extremely moderate climate. The main rainfall occurs during July and August although regular showers occur from mid-May through to end of September. The best time to visit for sunshine is from February to mid-April.

In general, Cape Town is a relatively safe city, however, as with other major cities it is always sensible to take precautions. Your hotel will be able to advise you of any areas to avoid, and most provide a shuttle bus into the city or V&A Waterfront.

Public transport in Cape Town is poor so tourists are recommended to hire a car or use taxis or the hotel shuttle bus to travel around.

A luxury nine-night tour of South Africa, including four nights at the five-star Cape Grace Hotel on the V&A Waterfront, a two-night train journey between Cape Town and Pretoria onboard the luxury Rovos Rail and two nights’ Safari at Londolozi Private Game Reserve, costs from £2340 per person based on two people sharing and includes all transfers and taxes. Visit Wildlife Africa for more details.

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Honeymoon Trails

Go to Peru
Peru is on the north-west coast of South America, nestled between Brazil and the Pacific Ocean. It has a fabulously rich culture with colonial cities where Spanish conquistadors once rampaged across the land, toppling the native Inca empire to claim the New World for themselves.

What to do
Today, the only rampaging to be had is up the hair-raisingly steep Inca trail – part of more than 23,000km of road system built by the Incas across South America.

The Inca Trail is Peru's most famous hike. Combining a jaw-dropping mix of Inca ruins, mountain scenery, lush forest and rich subtropical jungle. Winding up to the sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu, the trail is 45km long and takes about four days to complete. It’s quite challenging and a fair amount of stamina is required to reach the summit. Prices for a four-day guided trip start at £290 per person with chimuadventures.

Travel in style
If you’d rather do Peru in luxury, why not go for a package trip, including flights, accommodation and excursions.

Greenbee Specialist Travel (0845 610 0341) offers a lavish 10-night trip (from £3,234 per person, including all flights, transfers, train tickets and accommodation), exploring Peru in the lap of luxury.

When you arrive in the capital city of Lima, you’ll be transferred to the oceanfront Miraflores Park Hotel for the first two nights of your honeymoon adventure. After a day touring Lima, you’ll fly to Cuzco and stay at the Monasterio Hotel in a deluxe room for two nights (right). You’ll then board the Orient Express Hiram Bingham train, and relax as the luscious countryside of Peru drifts by. Once in Machu Picchu, you and your new husband will be treated to the ultimate in luxury at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge (below), where you’ll stay overnight before taking the train back down to Cuzco.

Know before you go
*Summer in Peru is from December to March and the beaches south of Lima are fabulous throughout these months.

*During February, the Inca Trail is closed for tourists.

*North of Peru is Mancora, which is close to the equator and enjoys hours of sunshine – perfect for topping up your tan before you hit that trail.

*All EU, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens can currently stay in Peru as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. However, the situation does change periodically, so always check with your local Peruvian embassy before departure.

*The local currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol and you can exchange USA dollars or euros at most hotels or banks. ATMs are available, but plan to take cash if you go to the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes as a cashpoint will be hard to find.

*British Airways flies daily to the capital city of Peru, Lima, and flights start at around £998 per person return.

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Comments - Latest by: MarfyandShauny:
Oh and am looking forward to the trail reads (oops ), obviously this thread is about Honeymoons and not Kiran's piccie!!