Do you know what a honeymoon actually is?
According to the medieval world, all it literally meant was that the newlyweds drank a cup of mead every night for the duration of a moon cycle (30 days). It gets the name honeymoon because mead is made from fermented honey. It was supposed to help with fertility and whatnot.
Somewhere along the line, we made the smart decision to ditch the fermented beverage and take a vacation instead.
It’s a wonderful idea in theory, but it’s yet another expense on top of the ever-increasing wedding costs. It doesn’t have to be that way, however with a little research, it’s possible to find the perfect honeymoon spot at a much more palatable price point.
To help you along, here are some fantastic honeymoon hotels for every budget.
Love on a budget
Impression Moxche by Secrets
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Price: $900+ (with a cheap twist)
Vibe: Riviera Maya magic
The rundown: I know what you’re thinking. How can an all-inclusive luxury resort, often costing over $1,000 a night, be in the budget section? Because points. That’s how.
This stunning all-inclusive property is being mentioned in the argument for best resort in Playa del Carmen, and with good reason: it’s sleek and romantic, and the array of food, drink, and luxury amenities is incredible. It’s very much a high-end hotel.
But the property has been acquired by Hyatt, which means you can use points to book a stay here. With World of Hyatt being the best value hotel loyalty program out there, you can get a visit here for just 25,000 points a night.
Open a Hyatt co-branded card and a Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred, throw some of your significant wedding expenses on them (and pay them off), and you’ll find yourself with enough Hyatt points to cover five or six nights. You’re welcome.
Hotel Relais Bosquet
Location: Paris, France
Price: $150+
Vibe: High-value tower views
The rundown: Some want a honeymoon to involve doing nothing but lying on a beach. Others want to be in the city of life itself—Paris. Of course, the vast majority of those enviable pictures you see of balconies overlooking the Eiffel Tower are excruciatingly expensive. Not so with Hotel Relais Bosquet.
This quintessential French hotel is a diamond in the rough, offering luxurious details where possible and allowing value for everything else. The best bit, you get your Eiffel Tower view on the balcony with a bottle of champagne. All for less than $200 a night.
Mid-ranged and marvelous
Ca’ Sagredo Hotel
Location: Venice, Italy
Price: $340+
Vibe: Venetian romance
The rundown: Keeping with the iconic romantic destinations but upping the price slightly, we have the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel in Venice. Situated right on the water (where else would you want to be in Venice?), the historic building is dripping with character, nowhere more so than its panoramic canalside restaurant.
With prices starting at around $340 depending on the season, it makes for a more affordable alternative to some of the staggeringly expensive properties typically associated with Venice.
Spa Village Resort
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Price: $350+
Vibe: High-end luxury paradise
The rundown: Anyone not considering Southeast Asia in their travel plans as a whole is missing out on some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. But the best thing about the region? The prices are far more palatable.
This is never more evident at Spa Village Resort in Bali. The stunning resort would be far more expensive in the US but sits at around $360 a night. As far as value goes, it’s hard to beat. Just check out that beach.
High-end honeymoon
Baros Resort
Location: Baros, The Maldives
Price: $580+
Vibe: Romance and luxury your way
The rundown: Moving up the price tag a little is Baros Resort in the Maldives. It’s likely you’ve already seen photos of it at some point. The stunning resort is situated on a private island, with a ring of overwater bungalows extending out from the lush greenery.
Service is world class, and they famously allow you to choose wherever you want to eat; whether that’s in your room, the restaurant, the beach, or an off-shore sand bar. Romantic doesn’t really cut it. A stay here is unforgettable.
Jade Mountain Resort
Location: Soufriere, St. Lucia
Price: $1,300+
Vibe: Intimate Caribbean sanctuary
The rundown: St. Lucia’s dramatic landscape is romantic enough, but the world-renowned Jade Mountain Resort takes it to a different level. Its sprawling guest rooms are designed to open out into the surrounding nature, blurring the lines between the property itself and the island.
Whenever you’re not lounging around, staring out at St. Lucia’s iconic mountains, you can take advantage of the resort’s leisure facilities and adventure tours before retiring back for a drink and a meal at its James Beard-winning-chef-led restaurant. Paradise found.
by travelers, for travelers.
