Top 10 Honeymoon Ideas for 2012

www.101honeymoons.co.uk

If you are planning to get married in 2012, now is the time to start planning your honeymoon. Jane Anderson, editor of 101 Honeymoons selects 10 of the hottest honeymoon ideas for 2012.

Best for Fashionistas
The Maldives may be awash with luxury resorts, over-water villas and dreamy beaches but the new NIYAMA by Per AQUUM Resort, opening in January 2012, takes it all to another level. Think 24-hour spa, underwater nightclub, floating restaurant, open-air cinema under the stars and seriously cool beachfront studios with private pools.

A bicycle made for two

How can you soak up fabulous sights and sites at your own pace, indulge in fabulous cuisine and wines, and stay in characterful country hotels? The answer is on two wheels. This Gastronomic Barolo cycling trip takes in the best of romantic Piedmont in Northern Italy from sun-drenched hamlets to welcoming vineyards - with someone to take your luggage from hotel to hotel each day.

Two-centre honeymoon
Maybe he likes culture and she likes beach or you simply want your holiday of a lifetime to be truly unique. Either way, a two-centre honeymoon is the answer. Combine a safari with a stay on the beach or, my personal favourite, tour culturally-rich Sri Lanka followed by some serious R&R on a Maldives beach.

City lights

The obvious choices might be Paris or Venice but I think that the Spanish cities of Grenada, Seville and Cordoba are hard to beat when it comes to romance, culture and sheer intoxicating beauty. This Andalucian Trilogy takes in all three cities in style; stay in the atmospheric luxury Hospes hotels in each city with some complimentary dinners thrown in too.

Villas for Two
A villa for two, tucked away in some beautiful Mediterranean setting, is my idea of honeymoon heaven. Eat when you feel like it, hit your private pool at midnight if the mood takes you and head out to local restaurants in your own time - with no knock on the door from housekeeping to disturb you! Or stock up with your favourite treats, light the BBQ and stay put!

Turning Japanese
I am in no doubt that Japan will be one of the hottest destinations for 2012 - and the fabulously romantic Hot Springs of Japan itinerary just screams ‘honeymoon heaven.' Stay in traditional Japanese inns, indulge in ceremonial bathing rituals together and soak up Japan's culture in its vibrant cities and beautiful countryside.

Glamping
Cuddling up under the canvas together doesn't need to involve chilly nights and damp clothes! Here in the UK, there's a wonderful collection of glamorous places to stay from yurts to romany caravans. Or head to Morocco where Sir Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot has just added new luxury Berber tents.

Long-haul honeymoon on a budget
My top tip for an exotic honeymoon on a budget is The Gambia. The choice of hotels has developed considerably in the last few years with stylish gems such as Coco Ocean Resort & Spa and the Mandina Lodges, located on the river's edge. It's reasonably priced, only 6 hours' flight away and there's no jet lag.

Splash the cash
Your honeymoon should be special and if time and budgets permit, there are few places more special than the Cook Islands. Find your inner Robinson Crusoe in these 15 dreamy Pacific Ocean islands. Don't miss a stay on tiny Aitutaki - the lagoon is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Blinding beaches, Polynesian charm and azure waters await.

Top hotels in the Med
You've spent months planning your wedding, the stag and hen nights are past history, the wedding is over and now you want to - relax! Hop on a short flight to the Med for some romantic R&R and pampering. My pick is Sardinia; it's got the best of the beaches and some superb hotels. The Capo d'Orso, tucked away in the scenic north of the island, ticks all the boxes for a restful, stylish and memorable honeymoon.

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