The Honeymoon destination Guide

THE HONEYMOON DESTINATION GUIDE. I have been thinking about creating this guide for quite a few years now so I thought to myself, 2021 is the year when I will publish The Honeymoon Guide. In this guide I will talk about the top destinations when it comes to honeymoon destinations. I will mix my knowledge from places where I have been with information about places where I would like to go one day that are dreamy honeymoon spots as well. I think I will also create a guide to honeymoon destinations within Europe, but this guide will focus on the more tropical destinations.

When it comes to honeymoons I think there is no guide that will please everybody, some couples might want to honeymoon in the alps, backpacking through Italy, going on adventures on Iceland, hiking in Norway, you name it, there is something for everyone. My guide will be based on the knowledge I have gained from all the travels I have done so far in my life as well as the research I have done for future travels.

The destinations I will be covering in this honeymoon guide are the Maldives, the Seychelles, Bali, Mauritius, Bora Bora, St Barths, all very dreamy and tropical honeymoon destination. I will do my very best in giving you the information you will need to decide which tropical destination your heart is leaning towards.

MALDIVES – I visited the Maldives for the first time in 2012 and my oh my, much has happened since my first visit. The Maldives has 26 atolles and over 1 200 islands. It takes approximately 12 hours to fly to Male from Stockholm and flight tickets start at 700 euro. The Maldives has absolutely exploded as a destination during the last 10 years as the rise of social media came. As for me and my personal opinion a bit of the charm of the Maldives has disappeared due to this exploitation, so many resorts have been built only to capitalise on the extremely high demand so it is extremely important to do your research in terms of choosing your resort before coming here.

I have been to the Maldives 3 times and have stayed at 9 different resorts. I can highly recommend staying at 2 different resorts during your stay in the Maldives. I always make sure to try at least 2-3 different ones to broaden my horizon and knowledge of the islands. I would recommend staying in the Maldives for 9 – 12 days, this way you will have the time to truly wind down and relax and still get a bit of excitement by changing resort after 5-6 days.

The Maldives is not the destination for the newly weds that want to do lots of different activities, sports, go out in nature etc. The Maldives is all about staying in a water villa, doing as little as possible, going to spa treatments with your loved one, reading a good book or two, swimming in the crystal clear waters, feeling that dreamy white sand between your toes and enjoy the incredible privacy and serenity.

When should you visit the Maldives?

The best weather and the best time to visit the Maldives is between November and April. The high season falls between December and March. The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking around June.

BORA BORA – I have had my eyes set on Bora Bora for quite some time now. It would truly be a dream come true to go here one day. Bora Bora is located in the French Polynesia, more known as the crown jewel of the French Polynesia. The travel time from Stockholm to Bora Bora is 1 day and flight costs start at 2,000 euro. I would recommend you to fly with Air Tahiti Nui or with Air France via Paris.

Bora Bora has some of the most stunning lagunes in the world with serene and crystal clear water. I would say Bora Bora is a fusion between the Maldives and Mauritius. What I’m really drawn to when it comes to Bora Bora is the stunning scenic views that the volcano Mont Otemanu gives the landscape. I’m also very interested in exploring the island Moorea which is a 2 hour flight away from Bora Bora.

I think Bora Bora is the perfect mix between total romance and adventure, having access to the stunning volcanic landscape as well as the possibility to do island hopping. It would be a dream come true to go to Bora Bora and Moorea one day. What has been holding me back from going there during the last 10 years is that it truly feels like the honeymoon destination for me and Johan so I kind of want to save it for that specific occasion. But I’m still torn, the travel time, flight costs and jet lag is intense. I would want at least 1 week to explore Bora Bora and 1 week to explore Moorea.

When should you visit Bora Bora?

The best times to go to Bora Bora are November and April. These short shoulder seasons offer fine weather with temperatures in the mid-70s to mid-80s. High season runs from May to October when rain showers are isolated and the number of tourists swells.

SEYCHELLES – The Seychelles holds a very special place in my heart. I came here for the first time in 2014 and went back for more in 2019. If the Maldives is all about staying in a stunning water villa, the Seychelles is all about staying in a hillside villa with stunning panoramic views. The beaches on the Seychelles are out of this world and this island is also very famous for their big rock formations on their beaches, carved by the ocean.

The flight time from Stockholm to the Seychelles is approximately 17 hours and the ticket prices start at 700 euro. I would recommend flying with Qatar via Doha, they have the best connections. The Seychelles is 4 hours ahead of Stockholm so the jetlag isn’t bad at all.

Something I really like about the Seychelles is the fact that this island offers the perfect match between total privacy, luxury, prestine beaches and waters as well as stunning nature to explore for the newlyweds that enjoy more adventurous holidays. You have the main island Mahe then you also have Praslin that offer stunning beaches and resorts but the most stunning island of them all is La Digue, which is an island you mostly do day excursions to but they also have a few accommodations available on the island if you want to stay more than one day, it is most definitely worth the trip.

What I really like about the Seychelles is that you are always surrounded with lush nature and stunning panoramic views as most of the islands luxury resorts have hillside villas. It makes you feel like you are hidden in your own little cocoon which is quite the feeling you want to achieve when you are on your honeymoon, just you and your love, hidden away in your very own private villa in the jungle overlooking the Indian Ocean.

When should you visit the Seychelles?

The best times to visit Seychelles are April, May, October and November. These months represent the transition times between the hot and humid northwest trade winds (from November through March) and the cooler southeast trade winds that define April through October.

ST BARTHS – Saint Barthelemy is a French island located in the Caribbean, known for its jet set crowd, stunning beaches and turquoise waters. St Barth’ has been on my go to list for quite some years now and it most definitely has a spot on my honeymoon list. The flight time is 17 hours and the ticket prices start at 700 euro. I would recommend booking with either KLM or Air France, connecting via Paris. St Barts is 5 hours behind of Stockholm which creates a pretty decent jetlag.

St Barts ranks among the most expensive getaways on the planet. One reason is that everything from hats to hankies has to be shipped in, sometimes from places as far away as France. But the big reason is because the island caters to an upscale clientele who can afford it. This being said I wouldn’t recommend going to St Barts on a budget. This island is for the newlyweds that know what St Barts is all about, pure and utter luxury and if you have the budget to go here, my oh my, this island won’t disappoint.

Popular things to do in St. Barts include kitesurfing, kayaking, fishing, surfing, and sailing, and you can snorkel and dive the wrecks and fish-filled reefs, many of which are protected in a marine reserve. St Barts offers one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, Saline Beach.

Gustavia, St. Barts’ red-roofed capital, is a small harbor town and the best place for shopping in St. Barts. Chic boutiques, and art galleries line the streets. Foodies will also love tasting their way around Gustavia. Gourmet St. Barts restaurants serve mouthwatering French-inspired cuisine, from crepes to croissants and succulent, fresh seafood.

When should you visit St Barts?

The best time to visit St. Barts is from April to June. These three months fall in a more affordable sweet spot just after the uber-expensive winter and before the storm-prone fall.

SINGAPORE – I wanted to add Singapore on this list, not as a main destination for a honeymoon but as a mini weekend before flying the last leg to Bali which is on my list. This is something that Johan and I did when we went to Bali, we spent 3 days in Singapore before hopping on the 2 hour flight taking us to Bali.

I really enjoyed our time spent in Singapore, the city is extremely clean and safe, filled with beautiful things to see, do, eat and shop. We stayed at Raffles, which is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen, the architecture of the building is stunning as well as the interiors. This is also where the Singapore sling was invented, we did a Singapore sling masterclass while staying at the hotel which was so much fun, the hotel is a destination in itself.

As it takes approximately 20 hours to fly from Stockholm to Bali I really enjoyed dividing the trip in to two parts. We flew with Finnair which is a really good airline company to fly with from Sweden to Asian destinations, they have great connections via Helsinki. I can also recommend flying with Singapore Airlines when you travel towards Asia from Sweden.

When should you visit Singapore?

Although Singapore is a year-round destination, the best time to visit Singapore is from December to June. The months of February to April fall within Singapore’s dry season and is typically when the country has the least amount of rain, the lowest humidity, and the most sunshine.

MAURITIUS – This island is a tropical paradise with some of the most stunning resorts. I went to Mauritius with my family growing up and fell in love with the island immediately, the beaches are pristine, the water is turquoise and the resorts offer everything you could ever need while being on vacation. Mauritius would be my recommendation for the newlyweds that have kids and are thinking about bringing them on their honeymoon. Mauritius is the perfect island to go to as a family for a luxurious holiday. In my opinion Mauritius is a bit more family oriented destination, the resorts have a lot of happenings and activities that you can take part in so there is always a very vibrant energy which is lovely if you are looking for that environment. You don’t get as much privacy on Mauritius as you get on perhaps the Maldives or the Seychelles. But it all comes down to what you prefer. Something that I really enjoy with Mauritius is the fact that there is so much stunning nature to discover on the island, a perfect destination for the more adventurous couple as well.

If you are looking for a bit more private resort on Mauritius I would recommend Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok, The Royal Palm, Four Seasons Anahita and The Oberoi. When Johan and I went to Mauritius in 2014 we stayed at Dinarobin and The Royal Palm, both were absolutely stunning, I would recommend Dinarobin for a luxurious family get away and The Royal Palm for a honeymoon couple.

The average flight time from Stockholm to Mauritius is 12 hours and the price point starts at 700 euro per ticket. Something that is really good about travelling to Mauritius is that the time difference is only 3 hours so the jetlag is barely noticeable. I would also recommend combining a trip to Mauritius with a trip to South Africa, so you start your honeymoon with a safari lodge get away the first week and then you finish your honeymoon with 1 week in Mauritius (A 3 hour and 50 min flight away).

When should you visit Mauritius?

The best time to visit Mauritius is from May to December when the weather is cool, dry and sunny.

BALI – Last but absolutely not least on my honeymoon list comes Bali. This destination has absolutely blossomed during the last 15 years. I visited Bali for the first time in 2016 and fell immediately in love with the island. Bali has a special vibe, I felt much more zen and grounded just by being on this island. Bali is the perfect destination for a honeymoon, the vibe is so romantic. What is a very positive aspect about going to Bali for your honeymoon in comparison to for example the Maldives, Seychelles or Bora Bora is the price point. If you compare a 5 star resort on the Maldives with a 5 start resort on Bali it is sometimes as much as half the price.

In comparison to the other destinations on my list I wouldn’t say that Bali is the place you will find the most beautiful beaches and waters. If you are looking for that I would recommend the Seychelles, the Maldives, Mauritius or Bora Bora. The waters surrounding Bali are pretty rough and not the ideal for swimming but definitely if you enjoy surfing. Even though Bali is not the destination where you will find the most beautiful turquoise waters or the most silky white sandy beaches I would still love to go back to Bali in the future. I would love to go there for the incredible energy that Bali has, the stunning nature and scenery, gorgeous sunsets and the food. Most of the best resorts are located on a hill, overlooking the ocean, offering hillside villas for their guest. There is so much to do and explore on Bali so this island offers something for all budgets.

Flying from Stockholm to Bali takes approximately 22 hours and I would recommend flying with either Singapore Airlines, SAS, Turkish Airlines or Finnair for the best connections. We flew with Finnair: Stockholm – Helsinki, then Helsinki – Singapore, did a little mini weekend in Singapore which I can highly recommend doing before hopping on the last flight from Singapore to Bali which only takes 2 hours. Bali is 6 hours ahead of Sweden which makes the jetlag pretty tangible.

When should you visit Bali?

The best time to visit Bali is between April and October, the island’s dry season. Bali experiences only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Throughout the year, the daytime temps hover between the mid-80s and low 90s, with only the humidity and precipitation patterns changing.