Europe
If you are getting married in the summer, the weather in Europe is great, and it’s the peak season in almost all the European countries. This continent offers a lot of diversity and options. We have picked three potential honeymoon destinations for you among many others that are worth mentioning. These destinations are breathtaking, romantic and affordable to a certain extent.
So the road trips in Europe that we suggest are the following:
Portugal road trip
If you are spending almost all your savings on the big day and you want an amazing honeymoon destination without breaking the bank, Portugal is the perfect place for you.
Last summer we went on a road-trip around Portugal and we couldn’t be happier. We were so amazed of how underrated this country is. Lisbon is amazing, lively, colorful and the food is great (sea food in particular). Also, the beaches along the west and south coast are to die for. To top it all off, Portugal is very cheap and spending your time in luxurious hotels will still be very affordable. Below, we listed down a potential itinerary for those of you who are considering this option.
Portugal Itinerary
- 1st Base: Porto – 2 Days, 2 nights
- Day 1: Explore Porto
- Day 2: Explore Porto (wine tours)
- 2nd Base: Lisbon – 3 days, 3 nights
- Day 3: Explore Lisbon
- Day 4: Another day in Lisbon
- Day 5: Go for a day trip to Sintra and Cascais
- 3rd Base: Vila Nova de Milfontes 2 Days, 1 night
- Day 6: Leave Lisbon and head to Comporta for a day trip and then continue to Vila Nova de Milfontes to spend the night
- Day 7: Explore the beaches in Vila Nova de Milfontes (either Praia da comporta, or Praia do Carvalhal)
- 4th Base: Odeceixe 2 Days, 1 night
- Day 8: Explore Odeceixe
- Day 9: Explore Sagres and Praia do Amado
- 5th Base: Lagos 3 days, 2 nights
- Day 10: Explore Lagos beaches
- Day 11: Wander through the Lagos beaches
- Day 12: Day trip to Albufeira
Tip: Portugal alone is more than enough to be a top honeymoon destination, but for people who have more time to spare, you can check out south of Spain. Take a bus from Faro to Sevilla and check the Spanish south coast (Marbella, Malaga, Cadiz, Ronda, Juzcar). If you opt for this option, you can skip Comporta or Odeceixe in Portugal.
Russia and its surroundings
While we were looking for new destinations for our honeymoon, we came across Russia as an option. At first, we were hesitant to how much appealing this option is, until we spiced it up with the neighboring countries! Think about it: you can do Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in one go. But what about the visa hassle for Europeans, or like myself, Lebanese? Good news, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are all accessible with a Schengen Visa. So all you need is a Russian and a Schengen visa and you are all set.
ITALY – North Italy coast and Rome
Known as one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in Europe, Italy is always a good idea for newlyweds during summer for many reasons. Whether you are there for the sightseeing, food, history or luxurious hotels, Italy won’t disappoint you.
The country is huge, diverse and you need a lot of time to travel around all the cities. While covering all the cities won’t be possible in one go, we suggest the following route:
Rome and North Italy Itinerary
- 1st Base: Rome – 2 Days, 2 Nights; Discover Rome in three days and relax after a long wedding week.
- Day 1: Explore Rome
- Day 2: Explore Rome
- 2nd Base: Florence – 3 Days, 3 Nights
- Day 3: Wander around Florence
- Day 4: Day trip to San Gimignano & Sienna
- Day 5: Explore Florence
- 3rd Base: Rapallo – 3 nights
- Day 6: Leave Florence and check out Pisa on the way to Rapallo
- Day 7: Wander through Rapallo / Santa Margarita de Liguria
- Day 8: Visit Cinque Terre
- 4th Base: Milano – 3 nights
- Day 9: Day trip to Lake Como
- Day 10: Explore Milano
- Day 11: Same as Day 10
Tip: if you have extra days you can check out Venice and go for day trips to Murano, Burano, Sirmione and Lake Garda. You can skip few stops or replace Rome with Venice.
Other options: Croatia and Greece always attract the newlyweds. These honeymoon destinations are not only breathtakingly beautiful but also affordable, even though the Greek islands are becoming more expensive year after year. They are filled with relaxing, fun and adventurous experiences to do.
Asia and the Far East
We love the Far east and everything about it. But we are getting married in Summer and it is not really recommended to go over there during that period.
Indonesia – Bali
The only destination we found worth visiting during summer time is Indonesia.
Bali tops most of the honeymoon destinations lists for being extremely beautiful, relaxing, entertaining, exotic, adventurous and affordable all at once! You can live like kings and queens for ten days in Bali for the same price you’d spend in couple of days in Bora Bora.
It’s known for being one of the favorite base cities for travel bloggers, and this should tell you something. The accommodation alone is breathtaking with endless options of private villas with pools in the middle of the Jungle.
So where to go in Bali? I would make a combination of the following if not all:
- Ubud – luxurious jungle and amazing beautiful waterfalls
- Uluwatu – Aqua-blue waters, waves, cold tropical drinks, and epic sunsets
- Seminyak – Heart of Bali’s tourism. It’s busy and lively, and home for the best dining and nightlife experiences on the island.
- Canggu – Home for great sunset lounges and bars, Instagram models
Other options: The Maldives. When you talk about a honeymoon destination, The Maldives comes directly to mind and there is a reason why it is known for one of the best honeymoon destinations. But if you are reading this blog post, you are probably looking for something out of the box, that’s why we didn’t feature it in our top 9!
Africa
Mauritius
Maldives with a twist. If you are looking for something like the Maldives but with a twist, Mauritius won’t disappoint. Its Aqua-blue waters, luxurious resorts and exotic feel, will fill all what you are looking for in a honeymoon.
The best time to visit Mauritius is from May to December when the weather is cool, dry and sunny. Africa’s best beaches, fresh seafood and long sunny days are waiting for you. The island has a classic tropical climate with warm weather year-round. It’s hot and humid from November to April and pleasantly warm from May to October. Avoid the east coast in July and August, when the wind is at its strongest.
The only down side of this destination is the tickets tend to be expensive (around 2,000 $). With the same amount of money, we can go to the US or Latin America. But if the budget is not your main concern then Mauritius is something you definitely want to consider.
Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the top destinations on our bucket list. But unfortunately, it is very hard for us Lebanese to get a visa. Mel is half Greek, which makes it so easy for her to get it. But not me. The process can take up to 3 months sometimes with a high risk of rejection. So, we backed off the idea because we think it’s important to plan a stress-free vacation especially with all the wedding preparations going on at the moment.
But if you are a holder of any other passport, then consider this beautiful African country.
Zanzibar will cover the beach, relaxing part of your vacation and then you can spice it up with a 3-day safari in either Serengeti National Park or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The best time to visit Tanzania is from late June to October. The timing of the migration (perfect for the safari experience) varies every year and the best chance of seeing it is during June and July.
North America
USA – The West Coast
The United States of America is the dream country for many people. Visiting most of the states would require multiple trips. So, we chose the west coast for you as a summer destination where you can have your perfect American road trip.
Where to go?
- California – 5 Days
- Lake Tahoe
- San Francisco
- Road trip to Carmel, Yosemite park and Santa Cruz and Santa Monica
- Grand Canyon
- Los Angeles – 4 Days
- San Diego
- Las Vegas
- Hawaii – 4 days
- Oahu and Honolulu
If you are the type of couple who likes partying, then consider going around the burning man event happening around the month of August.
Latin America
Latin America is also on top of our bucket list. Peru, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil and more! But if you are planning your honeymoon in the Summer, most of the above-mentioned countries won’t stand a chance. It’s winter in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. So, if you are keen on going for honeymoon in summer right after your wedding, then the following destinations are possible and might be a good, out of the box ideas.
Colombia
Colombia has a tropical weather all year long and that makes it perfect to visit in summer. Whether you know it from the famous Netflix show NARCOS or read a lot about Latin America, Colombia has a lot to offer in terms of tourism.
We suggest you go visit Cartagena and the Tayrona national park for beaches and chilling then hit the capital Bogota. Colombia also hosts a decent part of the Amazon. So, planning a trip to the biggest jungle in the world is not a bad idea. Medellin is also one of the cities tourists opt for specially after watching the show Narcos.
Peru
The dry season in Peru is mainly between May and October where the days are sunny, bright blue skies in the Andes and chilly nights. It is a wonderful time to be in Peru; it also happens that it is the winter season, so it’s most certainly cold.
Peru has so much to offer for its visitors and never fails to impress them. Machu Picchu, the rainbow mountain, the Incan villages, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Ica and much more are waiting for you in Peru. If not for the honeymoon, you should consider it for a later trip.
You can choose to visit both countries if you have enough time or visit Peru and Ecuador instead of Colombia. I heard a lot about Galapagos islands in Ecuador, the richest ecosystem in the world and one of the top destinations for wildlife-viewing.
IN SHORT
We loved sharing with you our findings, and in the next couple of weeks we will be choosing from the list above the destination that suits us best as our honeymoon destination! If this was useful in any way or if you have any question, please don’t be shy to reach out by email or leaving a comment. We would love to hear from you.
To sum it all up, we have put together the below detailed chart.
