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Three degrees of honeymooning
We asked five Toronto travel agents to give us their picks for a fantastic honeymoon. Whatever your budget, here’s where to go for your dream vacation
By Laurel Rhind
Heather Easton
Helen Thompson Travel
Budget-conscious
If you’re looking for a fantastic honeymoon retreat but are constrained to a budget, why not head to Cayo Coco, Cuba. This island off the coast of the mainland is known for its white beaches, warm temperatures and beautiful wildlife. Stay at the all-inclusive El Senador resort for a fun and affordable vacation. If you’re looking for a romantic hideaway, book the villas-on-pilings. Built over a lagoon, these villas will let you enjoy the ocean’s beauty in privacy. There’s plenty to do at the El Senador - swim in one of the resort’s four swimming pools, play a game of tennis or snorkel in the ocean. Catch a show or dance the night away in the resort’s discotheque. Enjoy fine dining at the resort’s restaurants serving Italian and Cuban food. This relaxing retreat is affordable – at press time a week’s holiday will run you as little as $2,000.
Mid-range
Visit the Mayan Riviera on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Relax on the beautiful beaches or venture to the Mayan ruins and learn about the area’s intriguing history. A honeymooners’ paradise awaits you at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort. This lush, all-inclusive resort consists of two hotels. There are countless things to do, including windsurfing, sailing and kayaking. Take a dip in one of two swimming pools or relax in a Turkish bath. With six restaurants to choose from, you are sure to find something for every palate. Visit the Mayan Riviera for less than $4,000 and soak up the warm Mexican sun.
High-end
Want to escape the everyday on your honeymoon? Take a trip to the Republic of Maldives. This small country sits off the coast of India. Tall coconut palms and white beaches adorn Maldives’s many low-lying islands. Known as one of the best places to scuba dive in the world, the area’s untouched beauty is mesmerizing. Stay at the remote and luxurious Maldives Hilton Resort. Request the romance package, which includes early check-in, sparkling wine or cider upon arrival and a full breakfast. You’ll find it easy to unwind in your private villa atop a lagoon. A balcony and private natural pool sit just outside your villa door. The most lavish suites have a glass-floored living room and panoramic views of the azure lagoon. Explore the exotic coral reef that surrounds the resort, visit the over-water spa, or take a dip in the swimming pool. Dine in one of three restaurants and enjoy fine wines. For approximately $10,000 you can indulge in this paradise for a weeklong honeymoon.
Marilyn, Agnes, Vanessa and Teresa
Carlson Wagonlit Victor Travel
Budget-conscious
If you’re honeymooning on a budget, consider Jamaica as a superb vacation destination. With its pristine beaches, natural rivers and springs, you are certain to find this a beautiful place to visit. For an affordable place to stay, visit the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort in Montego Bay, where you can choose from an all-inclusive or European plan package. Dine in the many restaurants that serve international cuisine, Italian and Jamaican fare. The resort also has an adults-only pool with a bar for refreshing drinks in the sun. Your stay includes full use of the fitness centre, four tennis courts and a disco, for evening entertainment. If you want to bask in the sun but haven’t a bundle to spend, this may be the place for you. On the European plan, your stay will run you less than $200 dollars a night. A fantastic weeklong honeymoon for $2,000 – sounds like a great deal.
Mid-range
Aruba’s stunning white beaches and desert-like interior are just two reasons you’ll fall in love with this Caribbean island. With an annual rainfall of less than 22 inches, Aruba is known for great weather year-round. The cooling trade winds keep the temperature comfortable for travellers and make lying in the sun all the more inviting. During your stay, make the Allegro Resort in Palm Beach your home. Enjoy the calm, blue-green sea at this all-inclusive resort or relax in your ocean front room. You will find four restaurants to choose from, serving Italian and Caribbean foods as well as international cuisine. All your meals, snacks, beverages, and non-motor sports are included in your package. Prices vary depending on accommodations, but a weeklong honeymoon for $5,000 is certainly do-able at this relaxing retreat.
High-end
If you have a large budget set aside for your honeymoon, why not travel to French Polynesia to explore one of the world’s most exotic locales? These islands in the South Pacific sit midway between Australia and South America. Known for stunning lagoons, colourful fish and beaches, you are certain to feel entranced here. Visit the island of Moorea, whose beaches are considered some of the finest in the world. Stay at the Sheraton Moorea Resort and Spa for a remote lovers’ getaway. Encircled by a coral reef, this resort boasts an over-water restaurant and natural spa. Sleep in a bungalow that sits on a lagoon and soak in your claw-foot tub. The most luxurious bungalows have a viewing panel on the floor, through which you can admire fish swimming in the lagoon. You’re certain to enjoy yourself here, whether relaxing in the pool, on the beach or simply admiring the beauty of the island. The cost of a honeymoon in Moorea will run you about $10,000.
Andrew Peters
Just Honeymoons
Budget-conscious
An excellent sun lover’s destination is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Located on the southeast coast of the island, this area is known for beautiful coral beaches and palm trees. A fun and affordable place to stay is the Hotel Riu Palace Macao. This five-star hotel is located on the sunny beaches of Arena Gorda. Relax on the beach, grab a drink at the poolside bar, get a massage at the Venus Spa or do some dancing at the disco. You will enjoy tennis, sailing and golf nearby. There’s lots of cuisine choice here, including Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean foods. Expect to pay less than $3,000 for a week’s vacation that includes all your meals.
Mid-range
What better place to honeymoon than the romantic mountains and coastlines of Hawaii. There’s so much to do here, from dinner cruises on the ocean to spectacular air tours that introduce you to all of Hawaii from above. The Sheraton Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach is an excellent place to stay on your trip. When booking, ask for the romance package, which includes daily room service breakfast, and a bottle of wine and cheese plate on your day of arrival. There’s no shortage of activities at this resort. You can visit the on-site spa, parasail, explore the reefs or scuba dive. Play a round at a Hawaiian golf course, known for outstanding mountain and ocean views. Be sure to catch a luau and indulge in the resort’s delicious fresh seafood, traditional Hawaiian cuisine and afternoon tea. You can expect to pay around $8,000 for a week’s holiday, depending on your choice of accommodation.
High-end
Travel to Fiji and you’ll find breathtaking scenery like nowhere else in the world. Located in the Southwest Pacific, this grouping of islands is surrounded by crystal lagoons and coral reefs. If you want luxury, you’ll find it at the Sheraton Denarau Villas on Denarau Island. This five-star accommodation is a honeymooner’s dream – opulent suites, a swim-up pool bar and shopping nearby make this a great place stay. There are several Sheraton resorts in the vicinity, which you’ll have access to while staying at the Denarau Villas. Dine on exotic foods or dance in the Planter’s Club. Make Fiji your destination of choice and you’ll pay $10,000 for a week’s vacation for two.
Dorothy Switalska
The Travel Corporation (Canada) Limited
Budget-conscious
A guided tour is an excellent way to honeymoon. Contiki Holidays offers an affordable trip to London, Paris and Rome. All accommodations, transportation, breakfasts and dinners are included in the tour package. While visiting London, you will have the opportunity to see Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and The Houses of Parliament. Next, you’ll head to Paris to visit the Louvre, Notre Dame and have dinner at the famous Moulin Rouge. In both Paris and London you will travel in comfort on an air conditioned coach with an experienced tour manager. Then, you will board the train for Rome. After visiting St. Peters Basilica, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, you are certain to learn what this fantastic city is all about. This 11-day tour starts at only $1,679 per person, not including airfare. A honeymoon in Europe sounds dreamy – at this price it also sounds doable.
Mid-range
Always romantic and magical, Italy is a wonderful place to honeymoon. Insight Vacations offers a Best of Italy tour that stops in a number of cities during the course of 11 days. Unwind as you cruise along a Venetian canal on a gondola ride. You’ll also enjoy the boat excursion to the Isle of Capri. Among your accommodations are the luxurious Crowne Plaza St. Peters and the Continental in Venice overlooking the Grand Canal. Your luxury coach will take you to Tuscany and Florence, where you’ll take in the sights and sounds of Italy. Your trip includes nine buffet breakfasts, five dinners and all accommodations. Starting at $2,135 per person, you are certain to see and taste the best Italy has to offer.
High-end
For adventurous honeymooners, exciting travels await you in South Africa. Trafalgar offers a 13-day tour that will take you game spotting, on an exploration of the underground Cango Caves, to visit Cape Town and to the city of Johannesburg. You will visit Cape Winelands and the indigenous forest in Port Elizabeth. Spot dolphins and whales at Cape Point and cruise along the Knysna Lagoon. This tour starts at $4,175 per person, which includes 16 meals. For an extra cost you can extend your tour three days and visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There you’ll cruise the Zambezi River and walk to the waterfalls that lie deep in the rainforest. This unconventional honeymoon destination is an explorer’s delight.
Janet Brereton
Vision 2000 Travel Group
Budget-conscious
Las Vegas is a great place to spend your honeymoon. With spectacular hotels, world-class restaurants and so much to see and do, it’s no wonder Las Vegas is a honeymoon hotspot. Amazing sights abound here – it will seem as though you’ve travelled the world once your trip is over. Mandalay Bay is the place to stay if you’re looking for 24-hour excitement and luxury. This resort and casino boasts a tropical sand beach, three pools and delicious international cuisine. Check out a concert at the House of Blues or play the tables at the casino. This enormous complex, with beautiful fountains and sculptures as décor, is a sight to see. The resort’s suites are perfect for honeymooners – you can unwind with a bubble bath in your own spa tub. Take a weeklong trip to Las Vegas and you can expect to pay around $3,000.
Mid-range
Costa Rica is the vacation destination for nature lovers. Consider a trip that combines several destinations to get a true taste of this South American paradise. Start your trip with a stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, built on the foothills of an active volcano. You can escape the everyday here, whether you swim in the secluded emerald-crater lake or bathe in the Tabacon hot springs. Then travel to the Pacific coast and stay at the Barcelo Tambor Beach Resort in Playa Tambor. This five-star resort, situated in a beautiful natural setting, is an excellent place to relax and catch some sun. The cost for a weeklong Costa Rican adventure is $5,500.
High-end
Romance, culture and relaxation combine to make the Kempinski Resort in southern Spain a perfect honeymoon retreat. You won’t find a better place to unwind than this five-star resort with three freshwater pools and rooms that overlook the Mediterranean Sea, Marbella, Gibraltar and the North African coast. The sounds of Flamenco music and the beauty of the province of Andalucia won’t disappoint. Neither will the pristine beaches or the area’s famous nightlife. You’ll enjoy the lush vegetation that surrounds this resort and the delicious foods in which to indulge. You will marvel at the thoughtful architecture of this resort, which blends seamlessly into the coastal landscape. For approximately $6,500 you can enjoy a 10-day vacation in this dream destination.
Editor’s picks
Our favourite honeymoon destinations for every budget
Budget-conscious
Just minutes from Algonquin Park, the Bear Trail Couples Resort in northern Ontario is the perfect place to escape for an intimate honeymoon. This all-inclusive adults-only resort sits on the shores of Galeairy Lake. Offering both winter and summer honeymoon packages, you’ll find this a serene locale for a budget vacation. Week-long honeymooners receive two nights free. For $660 a person, you can enjoy a week’s worth of winter sports (skating, skiing and snowshoeing) and delicious meals. Your accommodations include a wood burning fireplace and double Jacuzzi. Summer honeymooners can enjoy a week’s stay for $1,140 per person. Swim in the pristine lake, take a dip in the outdoor pool or receive an invigorating Shiatsu massage at the spa. The beauty of your surroundings and the tranquil atmosphere make this resort a great choice for honeymooners in search of a romantic getaway.
Mid-range
The most eastern island in the Caribbean, Barbados boasts 97 kilometres of coastline for you to enjoy. For your honeymoon, visit the all-inclusive Almond Club and Spa in St. James. Book the honeymoon package, which includes: a bottle of champagne, two commemorative glasses, a half-hour massage or manicure/pedicure, a celebration dinner for two, a fruit basket, a certificate of togetherness and possibly a room upgrade (depending on availability at check-in). Enjoy fine dining at the resort’s restaurants serving Bajan and continental cuisine. Venture on a shopping trip in nearby Bridgetown or enjoy the sights and sounds of the resort’s live entertainment. Rates vary depending upon your choice of accommodation, but you can expect to pay $5,000 for a week’s vacation.
High-end
Turks and Caicos is a popular place to honeymoon if you’ve got a little extra money stashed away for your trip. These Caribbean islands on the Atlantic boast white beaches, year round sunshine and spectacular coral reefs that make for great scuba diving. Here you’ll find exceptional international cuisine, so make a point of visiting the many restaurants these islands have to offer. If you’re looking for luxurious accommodation, stay at the five-star Grace Bay Club located on the island of Providenciales along Grace Bay Beach. This small, luxury hotel is both romantic and tranquil. Take advantage of the Romance in Paradise package. It includes, among other perks, champagne and a fruit basket, daily continental breakfast, dinner from the club’s restaurant for five nights of your stay, a picnic in paradise, sunset cruise and an aroma hot stone therapy massage. Enjoy the club’s many amenities, including a fresh water swimming pool, Jacuzzi and twice daily maid service. This romantic hideaway will run honeymooners $8,000 for a week’s holiday lodging in the club’s fanciest of accommodations.
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