Timing is everything. Getting married when the year is new and the world around you is in bloom provides you with ideal honeymoon choices. Spring is all about change, as is getting married. The two naturally go together.
Following the winter chill, you can be surrounded by colorful flowers and days filled with sunshine. And luckily, there are many options from which to choose.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay could just be another name for a dream come true. Springtime is a wonderful time to visit before the summer heat hits hard. The water is warm and inviting throughout the year. A honeymoon in Montego Bay promises white beaches, clear water, and luxury resorts.
Guests of the Sandals Royal Caribbean can celebrate the resort’s British heritage in its Brith pub, Georgian architecture, and proper afternoon tea. Then there are the manicured gardens with the freely strutting peacocks. It has been named Jamaica’s leading resort and the 2021 top resort in the Caribbean.
The over-the-water bungalows have a soaking tub or private patio, and some, including the honeymoon bungalow, have 24-hour butler service. Every honeymoon needs a butler.
With all-inclusive access to the nearby Sandals Montego Bay, guests have access to 21 restaurants, all watersports, and nightly entertainment.
Sandals Royal Caribbean has its own private offshore island that can turn a day into an exotic paradise. With its secluded beach, pool bar, and delectable Thai restaurant, it has made for a day-long tryst.
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When in Montego Bay, couples can stroll along gorgeous beaches, take a sunset cruise, and go horseback riding,
Chukka Adventure Tours creates adventures of every kind, such as ziplining, kayaking, jungle safari expeditions, tubing, and more.
Aguas Calientes, Peru
Exploring Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains is an unforgettable adventure for couples looking to absorb the history and culture of the Inca civilization while they discover each other.
There are many trails with great views, and feeding the Llamas is fun. The closest major city is Aguas Calientes. Visiting in the springtime will help avoid the summer heat and beat the crowd.
The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel was named one of South America’s best hotels by Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast. Located at the foot of Machu Picchu, it is surrounded by the Vilcanota River and the Andes Mountains. Sixty-two rooms and suites await to spoil and pamper guests from around the world.
The restaurants specialize in Peruvian food. For special occasions, intimate dining on the terrace is catered by the chef and maître d’.
The hotel offers full and half-day tours to Machu Picchu, a cooking and cocktail masterclass, a six-course culinary adventure with wine pairing, a guided tour of local temples by a true shaman, and an Inca wedding ceremony performed by a shaman,
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As magnificent as Machu Picchu is, Aguas Calientes offers other, romantic treats.
Aguas Calientes is named after the town’s hot springs. Banos Termales is a day spa where guests can avail themselves of seven natural spring pools and drinks and foods from the bar.
Aguas Calientes is not a food town, but a great Italian meal can be enjoyed at the Incontri del Pueblo Viejo. Guests can lounge on a couch or the terrace and dine by a fireplace. It’s all very relaxed
On the southeastern side of town, a hiking trail through the forest leads visitors to the beautiful Alcamayo Waterfall.
Fiji Islands
Fiji, with its green jungles, white beaches, and the azure waters of the South Pacific, has been called ‘the most romantic place in the world.’ Nadi, on the island of Viti Levu, is the site of the international airport and is the most visited of Fiji’s cities. Its Natadola Beach is one of Fiji’s most fabulous stretches of white sand. Nadi also has stunning tropical gardens.
The Sheraton Fiji Beach and Golf Resort in Nadi is nestled between a golf course and a private beach. Three hundred rooms and suites with balconies or patios overlook either the ocean or the lovely garden.
Couples can enjoy dining at the Tatavu Grill & Bar, listening to music at the Island 619 Bar, or ordering cocktails and snacks to be brought to their private beach cabanas.
The Sheraton Fiji keeps its guests entertained throughout the day. Eighteen-hole golf is available at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club, including instructions. They can lounge around the resort’s lagoon-style pool or challenge themselves to watersport adventures. There is live music, dancing, and even crab racing throughout the day.
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Couples can get the full paradise treatment by taking a helicopter flight to the Malamala Beach Club and spending the day snorkeling, paddleboarding, swimming, or simply having a butler serve refreshments in a private cabana before returning to the main island. The island team is experienced in arranging the perfect setting for a proposal.
Nadi’s Sabeto Hot Springs lets couples revel in a healing mud bath and then jump in one of the natural spring pools. Epic luxurious spa treatments on a fun day trip.
Join one of Captain Cook’s Sunset Cruises from the Denarau Marina, enjoy a lobster dinner with cocktails, and then just cuddle into the sunset.
St. Lucia
During the winter, the temperature in St. Lucia hovers between the 70s and the 80s, perfect for discovering its rainforest, coves, and mountains. Couples love the luxury resorts and vibrant nightlife. The island is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with its best-known landmarks being the two Piton Mountains.
All-inclusive Sandals Grande St. Lucia by Rodney Bay has a great, calm beach and an Instagram beauty, with the two Pitons rising dramatically in the background. The resort has five pools and a golf course, with every imaginable water sports, including PADI scuba certification. It has been named one of the top 25 all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, the Caribbean’s leading honeymoon resort, and St. Lucia’s leading resort.
The over-the-water suites have 24-hour butler suites, a private pool, a veranda, a plunge pool, a jacuzzi, and an outdoor shower.
With two other nearby Sandals resorts, Sandals Grande has all-inclusive 27 restaurants. Guests can avail themselves of snorkeling, kayaking, waterskiing, and other watersports. Land sports include volleyball, table tennis, croquet, and board games. There is live, themed, entertainment each evening, with Sunday evening being romance night. The perfect theme for honeymooners.
Sandals Grande features 18 different, exciting tours throughout St. Lucia for its guests. They offer something for everyone.
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Exploring the Pitons is a must. These two volcanic mountains rise straight from the sea and are St. Lucia’s more famous landmark. Gros Piton is the taller of the two and the easier mountain to climb. Petit Piton may be smaller but offers a hiking challenge to the top. Either mountain rewards its hikers with an incomparable view.
Seaspray Cruises has some lively tours, including a full-day rum and chocolate tasting tour and a private sunset catamaran cruise for couples.
The Sulphur Springs in Soufriere are visited by people from all over the world. The island’s third volcano, Soufriere Volcano, erupted 200 years ago, resulting in hot (over 100 degrees), healing mud baths that are believed to help with skin problems, sore joints, and other ailments. After wallowing in the mud, couples can shower up beneath the refreshing waterfall.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is a romantic city throughout the year. Come spring, it turns into an enchanted garden filled with cherry blossoms. The sheer beauty and perfumed air are intoxicating as Kyoto is transformed into another reality that resembles a dream. Where else can anyone stroll beneath a canopy of pink blossoms that continue for as long as the eye can see? The tranquility of it can make the heart beat faster. It can’t be predicted with absolute certainty, but the blossoms usually begin to bloom in mid-March and span through April.
Aman Kyoto is nestled in a secret garden within a forest. Despite its secluded location, it is near the Kinkaku-ji Temple and several other UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The rooms are Japanese-style minimalistic with a view of the secret garden. Every stay at the Aman Kyoto includes a tour of the garden, daily breakfast, and access to the onsen bathing facilities. Dining consists of both a Japanese and a general menu, as does the afternoon tea.
The heart and soul of Aman Kyoto is its mineral wellness spa. This genuine onsen (or hot mineral spring) is intended to heal and relax – with a bit of help from the local sake that is included. The onsen is serious business, though. Water healing goes back to sixth-century bathing rituals.
The half-day program includes acupuncture, hot spring bathing, a shiatsu massage, and morning yoga in the garden. It is said to work magic at rejuvenation.
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Temples are a natural part of Japanese culture. The Kinkakuji Temple was once the retirement home of a shogun (shoguns were usually more powerful than an emperor). The top two floors are made of real, genuine gold and topped by a gold phoenix. The first floor is home to several Buddha statues. Following the shogun’s death, the building was turned into a Zen temple alongside a pond. The garden is a paradise dedicated to Buddha.
The temple reflects the extravagance of the rich and powerful.
The Imperial Palace is the former home of the Emperor and is now used only for enthronement ceremonies. The gardens can be explored with or without a tour. The palace itself cannot be toured.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Most cities are in bloom come springtime. Amsterdam, however, turns into an essential garden of colorful tulips with boats floating in the canals wherever you look. The city has several festivals in March and April. April 27th is King’s Day. A million people flock to Amsterdam for the feast. To celebrate the incredible spring flowers, people visit the Keufenhof Flower Garden from mid-March to mid-May to walk amidst 9 miles of tulips. The Amsterdam Wine Festival with its wine workshops takes place during the same time, as does Amsterdam Dining Week, when many restaurants offer meals at a highly discounted price. Amsterdam truly comes alive in the spring.
The Ambassade Hotel has 55 suites and rooms spanning 15 canal houses, with each house and room being uniquely decorated. The Ambassade Restaurant serves French cuisine with its large variety of wines.
The hotel has a large collection of artwork and now showcases over 800 pieces, which are available in the rooms and the public areas. For anyone with an urge to read, the Library Bar has 5,000 books to accompany its cappuccino, whisky, beer, or cocktail.
The spa is like few others. While it offers standard beauty treatments, it is known for its floating treatment. Floating is a different form of relaxation as the person weightlessly drifts on a float of warm salt water in his or her own room. The floating eliminates any outside stimuli and provides a unique relaxed feeling. Follow this with a massage, and it is like being reborn.
The Ambassade’s Romantic Dream Package includes breakfast each morning, flowers, chocolate bonbons, and champagne.
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As everyone knows, prostitution is legally practiced in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The district does have other sites of interest, such as several nice restaurants and bars, Madame Tussauds Museum, Rembrandt’s House, the Marijuana Museum, and others. It is perfectly safe to stroll through the district and visit the Erotic Museum and the Museum of Sex. Education is everything.
In different parts of the city, couples will find the Van Gosh Museum, the classical Rijksmuseum with its 8,000 exhibits, and the Anne Frank House.
If flowers make Amsterdam’s days come to life, the Chin Chin Club brings excitement to the evenings. The Chin Chin has a restaurant, three bars, a karaoke and arcade room, and a dance floor with a live DJ.
Florence, Italy
Florence’s springtime temperature is in the high 60s, perfect for strolling through the city’s stunning gardens and admiring its medieval architecture. It is also the only city where visitors can meet up with David. This is not a suggestion for a threesome. The original Michelangelo’s David, undoubtedly the world’s most famous statue, is in Florence at the Accademia Museum.
Florence is a walking city, and one of the best walking tours is the three-hour The Romance Guy, which includes David’s statue, the Duomo, Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Bronze Boar Fountain, the Ponte Vecchio, and Dante’s District.
The Palazo Di Camugliano welcomes you to this magnificent 16th-century palace that exceeds every expectation of elegance. The 11 rooms and suites have original frescoed ceilings, stucco, vintage furniture, and lots of space. The suites have a separate sitting room, a whirlpool, and access to the garden.
Meals are a sumptuous experience and can include a private dinner for two tucked away in the palace. The concierge will also arrange for tasting tours, museum excursions, and cooking classes. They will also offer an excursion to the Tenuta di Camugliano, which is the Palazo’s Pisa’s estate with its farm, restaurant, and truffle hunts.
Things to do:
Take a tour of Tuscany’s wine country which includes lots of food and plenty of wine.
Few things are as satisfying as a homecooked Italian meal. While in Florence, couples can take a marketing and cooking class which begins with a tour of the market. Then, under the supervision of a chef, the ingredients will be turned into a first-rate meal with homemade pasta and Chianti.
A tour of the 16th-century Uffizi Gallery bypasses the long lines and will reveal the stories behind the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and other masters.
Charleston, South Carolina
Spring in Charleston is an awesome time as the azaleas, dogwoods, and other flowers take over the city. The temperatures remain comfortable in the 70s. Much happens here between March and May. The Festival of Houses and Gardens holds workshops in interior design and culinary matters – very helpful for newlyweds. The North Charleston Arts Fest is a five-day celebration of the arts with free performances, exhibits, and workshops taking place in a variety of venues and has turned into one of the city’s top 20 events.
Mills House Charleston is conveniently located downtown. Rooms are large and many have a balcony and face the street. The Black Door Café offers all-day casual dining, while the Iron Rose is located indoors and outdoors within a walled courtyard and prides itself on its southern cuisine. The freshly remodeled rooftop terrace, which includes a cool rooftop pool experience, is only open during the warmer seasons. It also provides umbrellas, lounge chairs, and a towel service for hotel guests only.
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Folly Beach is Charleston’s closest beach and is popular with fishers, kayakers, and surfers. The beach’s pier has plenty of restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Couples can stroll the waterfront. The water is inviting, and the stately mansions along the path are straight out of Gone with the Wind, with many resembling castles.
The Pineapple Fountain in downtown Charleston by the Waterfront Park makes for a wonderful photo opportunity.
It doesn’t get more Scarlett and Rhett than a romantic and historic carriage ride. Experience 300 years of history on a two-and-a-half-mile ride that includes antebellum mansions and stunning gardens.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is one of America’s original resorts, an island made popular by the uber-rich such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built their elite summer mansions here. Many of them can be toured for a glimpse at how the other half lives. George Washington came here and prayed at the Trinity Church.
In addition to its 70-room mansions, Newport has great beaches, sailing, shopping, restaurants, and hiking. It has a long seafaring history.
As the chill fades and makes room for 1,300,000 blooming daffodils spread across all of Newport, springtime turns into a busy season. Newport Restaurant Week takes place in mid-April with great deals for foodies. For athletes, the Newport Night Run happens during the first week of April. For two weeks in April, the nearby town of Bristol opens its Blythewood Mansion and its 50,000 daffodil-filled garden.
For couples in need of a beer, the Newport Beer Festival takes place in Fort Adams State Park at the end of April. The Newport Oyster and Chowder Festival happens in May. Champagne is included.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk Hotel is a direct reflection of Newport’s Gilded Age past. From high on top of the Cliff Walk, every moment provides an enchanting view. Each of the 20 villas is decorated in period style with a private garden, outdoor hot tub, and sauna; the use of the hotel’s car is included.
The Cara Restaurant has a surprise five-to-eight-course tasting menu each evening with wine pairing. The restaurant’s wine list won the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
The Chanler is entirely dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of its guests. It has cruises available for exploration of the stunning Narragansett Bay and its hidden coves or simply to provide a romantic evening. It will cater a gourmet picnic with champagne by the Bay, as well.
At the end of a very satisfying day, the hotel will draw an aromatherapy bath for its guests as well as indulge them with an in-room massage.
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For a romantic date, couples can visit the Newport Playhouse for a buffet dinner, a play, and a rousing cabaret.
The Rose Island Lighthouse, located a mile offshore, once helped ships navigate the coastline safely. Today, it is a museum with private tours available in May.
For couples who are in Newport in April, they can stay at the lighthouse overnight, enjoy the quiet solitude, and stroll along the island’s trails. Walk to the top of the lighthouse for the best vista in town.
Established in 1673, the White Horse Tavern is believed to be the country’s oldest tavern with a cozy fireplace. It serves 21st-century meals with wine pairing in a charming colonial setting.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a magnet for people worldwide who love Creole cuisine, festivals, the exotic French Quarter, and participating in the fun nightlife on Bourbon Street. It’s a major draw for honeymooners.
When winter shifts into spring, New Orleans thaws out a bit sooner than a lot of the country, so there is an earlier opportunity for an enchanting getaway. Ten days of Jazz Fest begin in April, as does the French Quarter Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands to its music and food celebrations.
Hotel Monteleone has been a French Quarter staple since the 19th century. Luxury suites are named after the authors who drew inspiration here: William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and the mischievous Truman Capote. With the Carousel Bar & Lounge, weekly entertainment, Creole cuisine, a five-course dinner, and a jazz brunch, the Hotel Monteleone more than fulfills the desires and needs of its guests.
The hotel’s dedicated wedding planning team is prepared to create the dream wedding of a lifetime.
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The New Orleans streetcar rails are the basis for Tennessee Williams “A Streetcar Named Desire.” It is one of the oldest rail systems anywhere and is recognized by the “National Register of Historic Places.” Hold hands and let this exciting city flow past you. The actual streetcar from the movie is still in service.
New Orleans’ cemeteries can be spooky and a fun place to stroll at night. Visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and find Nicholas Cage’s pyramid that awaits his return to the angels when his time comes. That man is prepared.
It is impossible to visit New Orleans and not try the gumbo. The Gumbo Shop has won the best gumbo award year after year. It tastes even better when it is washed down with a New Orleans-style “Hurricane cocktail” from Pat O’Brien’s.
New Orleans easily translates into jazz, and the best jazz in the city is at the Blue Nile, another great place for a Hurricane cocktail.
Kauaʻi, Hawaii
Kauai is the “Garden Island” and known for its rainforest, waterfalls, and waterfront. Spring is when the green is at its brightest, and visits are at their least expensive.
Kauai lacks the razzle-dazzle of Honolulu. It is a “quiet” destination, giving couples a chance to get to know each other and get closer to nature than to nightclubs. It is filled with stunning beauty, fantastic food, uncrowded beaches, and mountains.
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa borders the white sands of the Poipu Beach, luscious tropical gardens, several pools, and a golf course. Rooms and suites with patio or lanais face the ocean or the gardens.
Lunch can be enjoyed poolside, and dinner can be a genuine luau. Or the resort can arrange for a private dinner on the beach or on the guests’ personal lanai.
Visitors to the Anara Spa can enjoy massages, a sauna, a steam room, whirlpools, yoga, and meditation sessions.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort offers tours of its gardens, where much of the resort’s herbs and produce are grown and served garden-fresh to its guests. Guests can also avail themselves of hula classes, lei arranging classes, and ukelele lessons.
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The Waipoo Fall trail leads visitors through the Waimea Canyon and continues to the Waipoo Falls. The hike is just short of a four-mile loop with scenic viewpoints and refreshing dips.
Discover the ultimate romance arranged by Kauai Luxury Picnics. Honeymooners merely need to show up at any chosen location. Kauai Luxury Picnics will arrange for a charcuterie platter, a laced teepee, or a luxury setup with curtains. This delightful picnic can be as private as the couple chooses.
Costa Rica
A dry spring season in Costa Rica is filled with sunshine and comes to an end in April, so an early spring honeymoon is ideal for swimming, visiting the mineral springs, and exploring the jungles with their dramatic waterfalls and famous howler monkeys. Costa Rica also has fabulous beaches, and its capital, San Jose, offers an unexpected cultural experience.
Crowne Plaza San Jose is located within San Jose’s historic district, close to the Costa Rican Museum of Art and other important sites. The two restaurants offer both native and Japanese cuisine. Food and beverages are served by the onsite pool, as well, and guests can wager their bets in the in-house casino.
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Couples can enjoy a day trip to the nearby volcano in La Fortuna with breakfast enjoyed along the way. They can explore the volcano and swim in the hot springs.
Chocolate actually does grow on trees, and a tour through the chocolate forest explores chocolate from the cacao seed to the bean to the delicious chocolate bar. Do the words “all the chocolate you can eat” get your heart pounding?”
Marrakesh, Morocco
After a fairytale wedding, couples look forward to a fairytale honeymoon. And beautiful Marrakesh checks all the boxes in the spring with its gardens and souks. Not to mention the number of five-star resorts.
Guests at the Palace La Mamounia quickly discover the power of living well. Rooms and suites are decorated with beautiful antics and have a patio with a view. Four international restaurants offer gourmet cuisine, and the wine library provides a choice of tasting menus with carefully suited wine pairings.
The gardens at the Palace are an incredible wonder with 700-year-old olive trees, orange, lemon, and palm trees spread throughout the roses.
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Marrakesh is filled with innovative souks where just about everything is available. At the Souk Haddadine, jewelry is created while shoppers watch. Leather goods are sold at the Souk Cherratine. Wool items are for sale at the Souk des Teinturiers, while carpets are available at La Criee Berbere. The Mellah and its narrow lanes is the ancient 16th-century Jewish Quarter created to harbor fleeing Jews. The Grand Bijouterie sells golden jewelry, and the Slat Al Azama synagogue has a courtyard and cemetery and serves as a reminder of the number of Jewish lives saved here.
