January is best time for traveling to the ‘sunburnt country’ of Australia. With its plethora of white sand beaches, coral reefs and red sand deserts, the ‘summer’ is magnificent. The Cricket is playing on the TV in the back ground; the fish is grilling on the BBQ outside, while watching the sound of waves crashing on the beach from the deck of your hotel. While obvious places to visit include Sydney and the Gold Coast region near the Great Barrier Reef, don’t miss some of the jewels that are further off, such as Adelaide and Perth. You have the opportunity for a varied journey in Australia: world-renowned wineries, shopping and city life with luxury hotels and restaurants and outdoor adventures such as diving, surfing and hiking.

See our honeymoon registry for Australia here.

Most don’t think of India as a honeymoon travel location, but it is sure to be an experience that will amaze and bond the two of you in a way you will never expect. You will be humbled, awed, frustrated, inspired and amazed all in one day in India. And, you will experience the ultimate luxury at comparably reasonable costs. Travel by rail on romantic super-luxury lines. Stay in some of the world’s most sumptuous palaces, such as Rajvilas in Jaipur, the world famous Lake Palace Hotel in Upaipur and the Amarvilas in Agra, overlooking the Taj Mahal. As long as you enjoy Indian food, which is a must for visiting India, this is a honeymoon suggestion for those seeking the utmost cultural experience.

See our honeymoon registry for India here.

2. February - Thailand
 
Enjoy stunning beaches, gorgeous resorts, friendly people, delicious food and cultural heritage in Thailand

February is the best month to travel to Thailand. There are fewer tourists, who flock during Christmas and New Years. The weather is perfect: the days warm and sunny but not too hot and the evenings are cooler and there is little to no rain or clouds. Don’t miss the capital city Bangkok: visit the floating market, the huge night markets and the temples of Wat Po; stay at the gorgeous, sumptuous Peninsula Hotel on the banks of the Chao Praya River. Then, get down to the spectacular islands in the south or up to the elephant sanctuaries and culturally secluded areas of the north. Our favorite island is the tropical utopia of Koh Phi Phi in the lush Krabi region. This is one of the most beautiful islands and certainly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The small island is shaped like a butterfly, with and thin isthmus of beach in the center, creating 2 circular bays of crystal clear water and white sand beaches. There are lush hills to hike up for sunset views that will bring tears to your eyes on either side of the tiny isthmus. With its warm, clear water, coral reefs and colorful, you will enjoy diving and snorkeling in Phi Phi. You can choose to stay in a luxury Thai bungalow at a secluded deluxe resort on private beaches or in a resort near the little town on the isthmus. And, don’t forget to have an invigorating Thai massage!

3. March - Costa Rica
 
Costa Rica – Offering something for everyone

Lay on the beaches all day, learn to surf, visit the butterfly farm, hike in the rain forest preserves, go fishing on a lake or do deep sea fishing, have massages on the beach, go river rafting, shop in the markets, go bird watching, go mountain biking, stay on top of a mountain or right on the beach, visit waterfalls or volcanoes, summit mount Chirripo from which you can see both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, snorkel or dive and have the opportunity to stay at a completely eco-friendly resort that provides you with luxury romance while leaving little mark on the environment. Whether you want to have a mellow, quiet honeymoon or an active adventure-rich honeymoon, Costa Rica will not disappoint you.

4. April - Italy
 
Soak up the romance and history of Italy

Italy is said by many to be the country that is easiest to fall in love with and the hardest to leave. This may even be an actual fact. A honeymoon in Italy is truly a dream come true. The only trouble is deciding where to go as there are so many romantic choices: Rome, Florence and the Tuscan countryside, the Amalfi coast, Venice, Sardinia, Cinque Terre, Lake Como, the Italian Alps, the Isle of Capri, Sicily, there are just too many places that ooze romance, not to mention the delicious food, the art, the music, the architecture and the generally stunning views that will envelope you in the beauty that is Italy. In April, the weather is not yet hot and not yet too crowded with tourists. Don’t spend your whole honeymoon trying to see it all as that will just wear you out. Instead pick a few places or even just one and really take the time to explore and soak it all in.

See our honeymoon registries for Italy here and here.

5. May - Bora Bora
 
Get spoiled to death in Bora Bora

While away the days in the elegant, romantic and unbelievably relaxing islands of French Polynesia. Be spoiled at one of the world’s most spectacular resort retreats: the Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa where they have the famous over water huts. The views are unparalleled with the white beach, palm trees swaying, the lush mountainside and the view of the clear turquoise lagoon under your hut. You can even lift the lid of your coffee table a feed the fish swimming below you. A serenity and joy will be with you while you are here and you will take it with you. You will be changed forever, as you will always have the memories of your days in Bora Bora together to calm you.

6. June - Paris
 
Make Paris your home away from home

Ah, Paris, the City of Lights, the most romantic place on earth! Have a mellow honeymoon here and don’t leave the city. Just take it all in slowly and make it your special place for just the two of you. If you go in May, the weather will be nice but it will be less full of tourists and fuller of Parisians just being Parisians. You can while away a day at a café just watching the city walk by, stroll along the Seine as artists paint the scene along the river front. Wander through the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre and as the sun sets, sit on the top steps in front of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and watch as Paris turns into the City of Lights. See some of the most famous art in the world at the Louvre, and then wander down the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Buy baguettes, cheese and wine at an outdoor market and waste an afternoon just lying in the park. End an afternoon with a walk through the flower market on the Ile de la Cite. Have champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower while the sun sets on another perfect day and the city becomes full of light yet again. Ah, Paris…

See our honeymoon registry for Paris here.

7. July - Hawaii
 
Be seduced by the frangipani scented sea breezes of Hawaii

What can we say about Hawaii? It will be as gorgeous as you expect it to be. There are endless colored beaches - gold, red, black, and even green sands! You'll find two mile tall volcanoes, palm-fringed blue lagoons, lush rainforests, waterfalls, rugged canyons luaus on the beach, leis around your neck and natives dancing the hula. A stroll holding hands on the beach after a massage in the sun, followed by a mai tai while the sun sets will be the perfect ingredients for an evening you will always remember. It will undoubtedly be romantic and beautiful and you will return home with a smile on your face.

8. August - Ladakh
 
Seek adventure hiking in the Himalayas of Ladakh

The breathtakingly beautiful region of Ladakh is in northwestern India on the border of Tibet. This is without a doubt one of the best places in the world to hike or trek. While it is not on the top of the list for luxury and honeymoon travelers, for those seeking to share an adventure and an experience that few will ever have, it is perfect. India is inexpensive and absolutely gorgeous and Ladakh is nestled in the Himalayan Mountains but is yet to be spoiled by over tourism, as some regions have been. You can stay in the quaint little town of Leh in a bed and breakfast type of home and take off on a trek from there. There are numerous agencies that will plan your whole trek for you. Choose between day trips or treks of any length you like. You can take all your own stuff with you or hire a guide and a horse to carry your things. If you hire a guide, which is surprisingly affordable, it is easier to enjoy the scenery as you have someone to follow and you can take as much as you like and have the luxury of cooking hot meals in the morning and evening with the stove and food carried for you. Note that travel to this region is complicated. There are flights direct to Leh from Delhi but they are not every day so plan ahead. Also, if you have the time it is best to travel over land from Delhi to experience the gorgeous vistas from central India into the Himalayas. The area from Manali to Leh is especially stunning. Additionally, you avoid any possible altitude issues if you travel by land, which takes 3-6 days. You can then plan to fly back to Delhi to cut the return time.

9. September - Napa and Sonoma Valley
 
Napa and Sonoma Valley during the harvest season

Enjoy the beauty of the rolling hills covered in vineyards and olive groves. Although the Napa and Sonoma Valley's are not often thought of as a popular honeymoon travel destination its reputation is changing fast. You can stay at the secluded, indulgent and luxuriously romantic Auberge du Soleil where you can soak in a giant tub with complimentary wine and have the use of the exclusive spa. Have couple massages after a hard day visiting wineries and tasting your favorite wines. Eat gorgeous meals at restaurants known world wide for their cuisine and wine selection. And, take a hot air balloon ride over the valleys to soak it all in.

10. October - New England
 
New England Fall Foliage

We suggest flying into New York City or Boston as a starting point. Spend a couple nights enjoying the city then rent a luxury car and drive out into the New England countryside of Vermont, New Hampshire or Massachusetts. Stay at the Stone Hill Inn in Stowe, Vermont which boasts fireplaces in each room and specializes in planning honeymoon packages or any of the many quaint luxury bed and breakfast inns that dot the entire New England countryside. Shop and have lunch in quaint New England villages. Enjoy romantic gourmet dinners at inns that have been around since the Revolution. Take a mountain drive up a winding road to a summit for a stunning view overlooking all the colors of fall.

11. November - Buenos Aires
 
Find Buenos Aires the Paris of South America

While not yet a honeymoon hotspot, the capital of Argentina has the same glamour and romance of Paris but with a South American flair which is sure to warm your hearts. Settled by Europeans, Buenos Aires has a friendly, exuberant culture and a passion for the arts and café life. Explore lovely neighborhoods with marble neoclassical facades and broad tree lined boulevards. Spend at least a day exploring the Palermo Park area, full of monuments and a huge collection of gardens strung along that are considered some of the worlds most beautiful. Be surprised by the extensive art museums. Shop for Argentine leather goods at designer boutiques. While away a day at a café drinking the delicious red wine of the region. Enjoy the Alvear Palace Hotel, one of the worlds finest, where you will be spoiled by luxury linens, massages, fresh fruit and flowers, a full service spa, your own local cellular phone, a Jacuzzi tub and even round the clock butler service. Have romantic nights out starting at parrillas, Argentine steak houses, where the steak will melt in your mouths. Catch a tango show – the sexiest dance in the world - at one of the many famous halls then dance the night away with the rest of Buenos Aires.

See our honeymoon registry for Buenos Aires here.

12. December - New York or New Zealand
 
Holiday season in New York or the great beauty and adventure of New Zealand

What is more romantic than walking holding hands in Central Park as it starts to snow, riding in a horse drawn carriage with wine and a blanket, watching carols being sung at Rockefeller Plaza while the tree lights up, snuggling up with a cup of hot cocoa beside a fireplace (whether in your tiny bed & breakfast or luxury hotel) and catching a Broadway show after dinner at an quaint little café in the Village? New York is obviously world-renowned for its accommodation, restaurants, theater, museums and shopping, which are sure to make your stay enjoyable and event filled. But the romance it evokes, from the images we’ve all seen all our lives, can’t be topped.

New Zealand has so much to offer those wanting some adventure on their honeymoon, while still having your breath taken away by the natural beauty and Kiwi hospitality of this diverse country. You will be charmed by cosmopolitan Auckland as well as all the quaint colonial settlements along the coast. There’s extensive shopping: art, crafts, jewelry, leather, designer labels and the world’s largest Polynesian market. You will be awe-struck by the natural wonders, such as live volcanoes, thermal wonderlands, huge gorgeous national parks, glaciers, fiords and unending islands and beaches. Have gorgeous dinners of New Zealand lamb and wine and romantic private boat rides along winding rivers. See a Maori performance, then go hiking, whale watching, sea kayaking, surfing, bungee jumping and swim with sharks. Stay at intimate bed and breakfasts in the countryside and go on scenic drives that just can’t be topped. There is really so much to do and you will both be invigorated by the Kiwi spirit. The only problem is that you may not want to leave.

See our honeymoon registries for New Zealand here and here.

13. Notes about other locations at different times of the year
 
Many beach resort areas in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India were badly damaged by the 2004 Tsunami. While this may deter some honeymooners to consider these locales to be the ‘place to go’, the thing is that it is exactly the time to go. The underwater marine life and coral reefs were not damaged and the beaches are all back to their previous pristine beauty and the tourism industry is not yet back up to its very high numbers, so you will enjoy less crowded beaches. In addition, the people of those regions are even friendlier than before as they are eager to see the tourists return. Even more of a reason to go is the fact that the

Numerous regions have two separate times of year that make them the ‘best time to go’ for different people. For example, the Alps have two very special times of year for us. If you love to ski and drink hot drinks in a quaint lodge by a fireplace, go to the Alps in February. However, if you would prefer to hike the mountains with breathtaking views of blooming flowers and sparkling lakes below, go during the summer months of June to September.

Avoid Italy in August! Slow Italian pace? Try no pace at all. By the middle of July, normal activity begins to slow considerably, and by the start of August, stores no longer close just between 1pm and 4 pm, they close for three weeks. August is typically vacation month for Italians, and it shows, basically everything is closed. Dry cleaners, mechanics, restaurants, some museums and even the car manufacturing giant Fiat is closed. Major tourism centers, such as Venice, Rome and Florence are effected less but still are not best visited at this time as many places will be closed meaning that you will miss many of the special little places that you would savor on a visit at any other time of year.

January is when much of Europe is too cold and wet or icy to be enjoyable. If you hope to sightsee, you will have to endure freezing temperatures, wind, rain and snow while out and about. However, if you plan to spend most of your time in your luxury hotel room then you will be fine. The weather will be perfect for lying in front of a fireplace with wine and never leaving the room.

14. Weather seasons to avoid
 
Monsoon and rain seasons:

• South Asia (India) to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc) – ranges from June to September depending where you are.
• Costa Rica – May to November.
• Belize – May to January!