HONEYMOON Expert Tips 12445 views

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

NEXT THURSDAY...honeymoon heaven in Halkidiki, Greece