Boutique hotels , Romantic places
How to plan a Honeymoon without losing your shirt (or your Mind)
Planning a Honeymoon? Don’t skip these no-nonsense travel tips
Think wedding planning was the hard part? Try agreeing on a honeymoon. Start with these 4 tips to see if marriage is still sounding like a good idea.
Destination dilemmas: beach, city, jungle, Mars?
Picking where to go should feel fun, but it sneaks up on you. One minute, you’re scrolling photos of Santorini sunsets, next minute you're spiraling down a rabbit hole comparing Wi-Fi speeds in Bali villas. Trust me, been there, clicked that.
The key? Ask yourself, do you want to lay flat like a pancake on a beach, chase history down cobblestone streets, or swing from vines in some jungle? No right answers. But keep one eye on flight times. Nobody wants to trade vows on Saturday and then endure a 30-hour layover in Frankfurt on Monday.
Budget: Don’t mortgage the house
Nobody wants to return from a honeymoon to a mountain of credit card bills. Start by getting real about the essentials: flights, hotel, food, maybe a cheeky massage or boat ride.
There’s no need to burn through savings on gold-plated room service, unless that’s your thing. A tip from the trenches: Always double-check hidden costs. Taxes, resort fees, or a surprise minibar raid can eat into your cash faster than you can say “honeymoon package.”
Why season will make or break iIt
Seasons matter. Not in an "astrology chart" way, but wallet-wise and sanity-wise. Off-season travel saves cash, but it might also mean dodging typhoons with your suitcase over your head. Shoulder seasons though? They’re like those underrated supporting actors—don’t steal the show, but they make the movie.
I once booked Bali in monsoon season thinking, “Eh, it can’t rain that much.” Spoiler: It rained sideways for five days. Great if you like reading indoors, less great if you packed only flip-flops.
Flexible bookings = sanity saver
Here’s where it gets juicy. Flexibility is your secret weapon. Life’s unpredictable (weddings doubly so). Maybe Aunt Karen decides to host a second reception. Maybe you catch a cold. Booking.com usually offers free cancellations up to a few days before check-in, which, frankly, is a lifesaver.
I once had to switch hotels three days before arrival because they were, quite literally, renovating the pool into a parking lot. No charge, no drama. Always, always read the fine print before you book. That non-refundable rate might look tasty, but it bites back.
5 Destinations that won’t steer you wrong (probably)
From the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the overwater bungalows of the Maldives, whether you’re chasing sunsets in Santorini, temple-hopping in Bali, or island-hopping around Thailand’s Phuket and Koh Samui—these destinations don’t just host your honeymoon, they witness it.
1. Bali, Indonesia: Temples & Tan Lines
Bali’s where yoga fans, surfers, and beach loungers all collide. I stayed in a Ubud villa where the only alarm clock was roosters. The beaches? Long stretches. The rice fields? Endless. But the real win? Villas booked via Booking.com with flexible cancellation. Saved my hide when our wedding ran over budget, and we needed to trim a few days.
Hotels in Bali for your honeymoon
2. Maldives: water, water, everywhere
It’s islands on stilts. You’ll need a seaplane, sometimes a boat, maybe both. Luxury resorts pop up like mushrooms, but heads up: off-season prices drop like a rock. I stayed once in May, expecting the worst. Ended up with sunny days and the occasional shower to cool things off. Check the flexible policies; these places know honeymooners are flaky (in a good way).
3. Santorini, Greece: Caldera views & cobbles
You’ve seen the photos—blue domes, white houses. Santorini delivers. We booked a small cave hotel on Booking.com with cancel-anytime rates because, frankly, I wasn’t sure if we’d survive the wedding planning. The sunsets are free. The wine isn’t. But everything is walkable, and shoulder season avoids both crowds and inflated prices.
4. Amalfi Coast, Italy: pasta & cliffs
It’s as much about the drive as the stay. Towns like Praiano and Ravello give Positano a run for its money, minus the Instagram circus. I once booked a cliffside apartment, canceled two weeks before when a better deal popped up, and no penalty. Flexibility? Chef’s kiss.
5. Thailand: Islands for days
Phuket, Koh Samui—they’re tried and true. Affordable, varied, and brimming with longtail boats and street food stalls. Booked a beachfront bungalow once, canceled it last minute when we realized my partner had forgotten his passport (long story). No fuss thanks to a flexible policy.
8 Honeymoon hotels you’ll want to book now
No overthinking, no second-guessing. Just top picks for a honeymoon you’ll remember.
Wrapping it up: Honeymoon without headaches
Planning the honeymoon doesn’t need to be harder than planning the wedding. Keep your destination fun but realistic, budget smartly, and—here’s the kicker—always book flexibly. Booking.com’s free cancellation saves you from last-minute disasters, unexpected family obligations, or plain ol’ indecision.
Now, go pack the sunscreen. Or don’t. You’ve got time to cancel.
Mr Gwen
As a husband, dad of 2 children and employer, holidays are important to Gwen. Enjoying everything from small-scale boutique hotels to luxury holidays in beautiful resorts is therefore one of his favourite hobbies.
