Ten Winter Honeymoon Destinations For UAE Couples
Written by Petra Weidl on November 26, 2018.
Tagged under: BCME, Brazilians, Couples The, Ten Winter Honeymoon Destinations For UAE Couples, Thailand, UAE, Winter, destinations, honeymoon ideas, honeymoons, matches, time, time destinations
Ten Winter Honeymoon Destinations For UAE Couples
The weather is perfect now here in the UAE, which means that wedding season is well underway! With this, many UAE couples are planning their honeymoon getaway. In addition, those who married in the hotter months may have delayed their honeymoon for a number of reasons. If you are one of those couples who are leaving the UAE winter behind for some quality time with each other, you may be interested to learn about some of the options that are open to you, thanks to our vendor Petra Weidl of Travel Counsellors. Below, Petra introduces us to a range of different destinations (some of which you may not have even thought about!) that are sure to appeal to everyone. Enjoy!
Many couples get married in the summer months, but honeymoons between June and August may not be the most ideal time for your dream vacation. Apart from the fact that most of the world has holidays during this time and therefore prices skyrocket, a lot of destinations have monsoon or typhoon seasons.
So, here are my top ten winter time destinations that are ideal for between December and February. Of course, it goes without saying, that you should avoid the Christmas and New Year period if you want great prices for your luxury resorts, unless you want to celebrate the New Year along with your honeymoon!
The Maldives
An all-time favorite for honeymoons or a romantic getaway, where luxury beach resorts are aplenty….
Nothing can really beat The Maldives when it comes to romantic destinations that are close to the UAE, where white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters and skies to rival them will have you yearning to visit these picture-perfect islands time and time again. The winter months between November and February are blessed with perfect weather as the summer monsoon time is over. All you need to do is put your feet up and experience island life on the beach or in your over-water-villa, go diving and snorkeling, sailing or have a couple’s massage in one of the many spas. A candle light dinner on the beach can be arranged at any time along with a wedding blessing ceremony if you feel like it.
How to get there: Emirates or Etihad have direct flights to Male, which is around four hours flight time plus the connecting speedboat, domestic flight or seaplane to the resort
Thailand
Friendly and fun-loving is probably the best way to describe Thailand.
Golden Temples and palm tree lined beaches with distant islands as a backdrop, along with the famous Thai hospitality will surely create the perfect honeymoon. There is something for everyone, from shopping in Bangkok to jungle experiences in the north or hundreds of beaches to choose from if you both fancy some downtime after the wedding swirl.
Generally, Thailand’s dry season is between November and March, but some areas are better to visit than others due to Thailand’s position between different oceans and the length of the country.
There are plenty of luxury beach resorts to dream about and Thailand is famous for pampering their guests with attention to detail and the general friendliness of its people.
Tip: for the best experience go for a few days off the beaten path to see the real Thailand.
Sri Lanka
Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is blessed with an exceptionally varied landscape, flora and fauna. Ancient ruins, palm-fringed beaches, reefs and surfs; it’s the land of tea plantations and rainforests mixed with wildlife parks. This destination has something for both partners if one enjoys the beach and the other a bit of culture or wildlife, so it’s quite easy to combine this here. The best time to hit the south-western and more developed beaches is between December and March for perfect weather.
Resorts are just as varied with small luxury boutique places and large beach resorts, so it will be easy to find accommodation that matches your budget.
How to get there: There are many direct flights into the capital city of Colombo from the UAE, and the flight time is around four hours.
Florida
This may not be the first destination that comes to mind, but it is certainly worth considering!
If you are an active, party-loving couple, head to Miami Beach. Miami is famous for great beaches, beach bars, a glamorous lifestyle and parties. It’s easy enough to rent a car and drive around in Florida. Here are just a few examples of what you can do whilst honeymooning there.
Nature lovers can explore the Everglades, whilst there’s plenty of shopping on Palm Beach. Drive down to the Keys and check into one of the beach resorts or combine your stay with a trip to Orlando for a few days. For the young-at-heart, Disneyland and Universal Studios could be just what you are looking for to change the scene – because not everyone who goes there must be a child!
Tip: If ever there was a place designed especially for couples, it’s Lover’s Key State Park, near Fort Myers. Pack a picnic and spread out a beach blanket on the sand. A haven for wildlife, the island is home to manatees and dolphins. The name alone proves that it’s one of the most romantic places in Florida.
The Caribbean
There are so many islands to choose from that it’s hard to pick one over the other. I think it would be best to identify your personality and then pick one or two of the islands to visit. For example, St Lucia would go well for those searching for luxury and romance, while St Barthelemy would be for the sophisticated luxury traveler. Cuba is perfect for adventurers who are not too concerned about ultimate luxury. The Bahamas are a great option for island-hopping explorers. The winter months are a great time to go as the typhoon season is finally over.
Tip: Another great way to see the islands is by cruise ship. Many luxury cruises head to a few islands for a taste of each one.
Mexico
When you hear Mexico you probably immediately think of beaches, Acapulco, Cancun and Chichen Itza.
There is so much more to this vast country though and discovering all of it during a honeymoon is impossible. So, the best way to approach Mexico is by interest, which is where I can help you. It’s also worth bearing in mind that not all parts of the country are great in wintertime.
The Eastern Beaches, with lots of all-inclusive adult-only resorts, can be combined with some sightseeing of the amazing Maya structures including (but not only!) Chichen Itza. Cancun & Tulum are the most famous beach destinations.
The western side has Acapulco and the up and coming sun-washed beach destination Cabo San Lucas (Baja California peninsula) where winter is also the best time of the year for whale watching. Further south on the western coast are the beaches of Oaxaca that still retain an authentic Mexican feel.
Further inland you will find charming cities and villages like the archeologic site of Palenque, Guanajuato’s colorful town, Zacatecas’s pink limestone buildings and, of course, Mexico City.
Chile
Winter here means summer there, so it’s the perfect time to go unless you are looking for snow. The further South you go the more seasonal the climate becomes. In particular, Chilean Patagonia is best visited between December and February as is virtually shuts down between June and September.
Fly to Santiago de Chile first and explore this fascinating city. Emirates has recently introduced a combination flight to Chile via Brazil, so it’s really easy to get there now. If you have more time you could even spend a few days in Brazil.
Chile is a huge country and the amount of time you have will determine how much you can see: The Chilean side of Patagonia with its jaw dropping glaciers and temperate rainforests, famous Easter islands, amazing city Santiago de Chile, Isla Magdalena with all the penguins and the Atacama Desert. It’s almost as if many countries are combined in a single one!
Tip: For those who would like to venture a bit further, the famous Easter Islands now have their peak season and are especially worth a visit during February’s Tapati Rapa Nui Festival.
Brazil
Brazil hardly needs an introduction.
Rio De Janeiro is probably the most famous city in the country mostly due to the one-of-a-kind Carnival in Rio, which usually falls anywhere between February to March depending on the calendar. If you love action and crowds this time could be your perfect time to go!
Along the beaches of Rio, especially on the Copacabana and Ipanema Beach, life never stops in this rhythm-filled city.
But Brazil is of course not only Rio de Janeiro. Endless beaches stretch along the entire East coast, there are the greenest rainforests further inland, the Amazon River further north and of course the famous Iguazú Waterfall on the border with Argentina, are all amongst the places you could see.
Tip: Learn to Samba and let the Brazilians sweep you along in their enthusiastic way of life.
New Zealand
Some people say it is the most breathtaking country in the world. Rugged mountains, remote valleys, fjords, lakes and forests mixed with the old Maori culture will convince you of this phenomenal destination.
Split into two parts, it’s incredibly diverse. Probably the best way to really experience New Zealand is to rent a car and drive from North to South.
New Zealand offers a wide choice of luxury hotels, lodges and exclusive boutique retreats. It is a very safe and clean destination, and therefore perfect for your honeymoon.
Tip: Go on a one-and-a-half-hour boat cruise through the Milford Sound exploring soaring peaks, towering waterfalls and New Zealand’s nature at its best.
Lapland
Lapland is as close as it gets when you dream of a winter wonderland. You might have heard of Santa’s village before but that is by far not all it has to offer. It is of course not for those who wish to bask in the sun for their honeymoon, but for those who wish to have a honeymoon with a difference, white snow all around them and the possibility of seeing the spectacular Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from their cozy glass roof igloo.
During daytime a multitude of activities await, like trying to steer a Husky-pulled sled, enjoying a reindeer sleigh ride, skiing, walking around in one of the cities and admiring the Christmas decorations in early winter, ice-fishing or even staying in a hotel build entirely of ice for one night.
Tip: only certain parts of the northern areas are easily accessible, and the amazing hotels and lodges get booked almost a year in advance, so don’t leave it too late to book.
Thanks Petra! For more information about planning your own honeymoon, visit Petra’s vendor profile here or head on over to her website. Don’t forget to quote ‘Bride Club ME’ when booking, to avail your special BCME reader gift when confirming your honeymoon with Petra Weidl – Travel Counsellor.
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