Janine Kelso finds honeymoons to suit all budgets, from cheapies in Turkey to celebrity hang-outs in Cyprus
After months of hectic planning and an emotional wedding day, most couples seek romance and relaxation when on honeymoon. Whether you’re counting the pennies or splashing the cash, we’ve selected a range of honeymoon holiday packages to suit every budget.
Under £600: Turkey
The credit crunch may mean you don’t want to splash out on a honeymoon, but spending less doesn’t mean that a taste of luxury is out of the question. Budget destination Turkey has plenty of four and five-star properties, especially on the Bodrum peninsula.
Hotel Yasmin Bodrum has a spa and thalassotherapy centre plus a private beach offering a range of water sports as well as tennis and sailing. There are also three à la carte restaurants and three bars.
Sample product: Cosmos (0871 4238 422) offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the four-star Hotel Yasmin Bodrum for £589 per person in September, including flights and transfers.
Under £1,000: Skopelos, Greece
This Greek island has been thrust into the limelight recently as blockbuster movie Mamma Mia! was filmed there. Framed by olive trees, Aretousa Studios is the ultimate romantic hideaway, situated a 25-minute walk from the resort centre. Skopelos is only reachable by hydrofoil from Skiathos, which has an international airport.
The sense of peace and isolation means this destination is ideal for honeymooners wanting to escape the crowds, although the island’s capital Skopelos Town is teeming with boutiques, cafes and restaurants if you want a bit more action. Beaches are coarse sand and shingle with clear water – perfect for swimming.
Sample product: Kosmar (0871 7000 777) offers 14 nights’ self-catering at Aretousa Studios in Skopelos for £848 per person (two weeks for the price of one offer), including flights and transfers, departing May 8 2009.
Under £2,000: The Maldives
The Maldives are a popular choice for honeymooning couples thanks to generous helpings of sunshine and beaches topped off with stylish hotels – the perfect setting for secluded romance.
Situated on its own private island, Baros offers lovebirds their own luxurious villa with a king-sized bed, open-air bathroom, 24-hour butler service and private plunge pool. Visit the Aquum Spa or the water sports centre where divers and snorkellers can explore the reef.
Sample product: Emirates Tours (0844 800 1400) offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a deluxe villa at Baros for £1,633 per person departing January 1 2009, including flights and speedboat transfers.
Under £4,500: Mauritius and the Seychelles
Newlyweds seeking privacy and pampering can spoil themselves by staying in one of 60 private villas with pools at Banyan Tree, Seychelles. Overlooked by palm trees and tropical forests with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, the villas all have verandahs with sun loungers.
After a few days in the Seychelles, head to Mauritius’s Taj Exotica, where villas are lavishly decorated in a French colonial and Indian-style. The resort has a Taj Spa, offering yoga and meditation. There is also a hammam and six therapy rooms, where guests can be treated with Indian therapies.
Sample product: Elite Vacations (01707 371 000) offers five nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Banyan Tree and seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Taj Exotica, Mauritius, for £4,116 per person including flights and transfers.
Under £5,000: Peru and the Galapagos
Blow the budget by making your honeymoon a trip of a lifetime and seeing a few destinations listed in those ‘do before you die’ books. Nature-loving couples will love Ecuador’s most famous draw, the Galapagos Islands, which teem with exotic wildlife such as iguanas, giant tortoises, whales, dolphins and sea lions.
Peru’s star attraction is Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which was built in 1450. Shrouded in mists and mystery, the archaeological site sat forgotten for hundreds of years after it was abandoned during the Spanish Conquest of 1550, until it was rediscovered in 1911.
It was recently hailed one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and can be reached by train from Cuzco or by taking part in a gruelling four-day uphill trek.
Sample product: Trips Worldwide (0117 311 4400) offers a 17-night honeymoon tour, including Machu Picchu and tours of the Sacred Valley in Peru and a seven-night cruise around the Galapagos Islands, for £4,599 per person, including flights, transfers, accommodation, tours and all meals during the cruise. Price valid year-round except July and August.
Under £7,500: Cyprus
For a taste of A-list luxury, follow in the footsteps of celebrities such as Elton John and Emma Thompson by splurging on a stay at the opulent Anassa Hotel on Cyprus’s west coast, near Latchi.
The five-star hotel is a top draw for the rich and famous thanks to its sense of exclusivity and privacy. BHS billionaire Philip Green took over the entire hotel a few years ago for his 50th birthday to the tune of £5 million, and Rod Stewart performed there as part of the celebrations.
For preferential treatment, stay in the Presidential Suite, which has an outdoor whirlpool bath.
Sample product: Planet Holidays (0871 871 2234) offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in the Presidential Suite at the Anassa Hotel for £7,227 per person departing October 14, including flights and private taxi transfers.
