Here, Jane Anderson, Editor of 101 Honeymoons, asks 10 of the UK’s leading luxury travel brands about the key trends for 2024. Not the messages the industry wants us to hear, but the experiences and destinations that honeymooners are booking with their own hard-earned savings.
Experience Travel Group
Honeymooners are staying longer, thinking more about their impact on the environment and prioritising adventure over luxury, according to Sam Clark at Experience Travel Group.
“We’re seeing a definite trend towards hotels and accommodation that offer high’ experience value’ for money,” he says. “Young honeymooners are struggling to keep pace with the rising costs of flights and uber-luxury hotels. They want more experiences for their money.”
The destinations that best exemplify this trend include Sri Lanka, Indonesia and, perhaps above all, India. Popular choices include the Amba Estate and The Mudhouse in Sri Lanka, plus a homestay programme in Thailand.
Young couples are also staying longer than in previous years. "Half of our honeymoon bookings over the past year have been for 16 days or more. They want more experiences, considering the high cost of flying, and are also mindful of their carbon footprints,” adds Clark.
Selective Asia
Full escapism, wildlife and adventure top the menu for honeymooners booking with the specialist tour operator Selective Asia. Founder Nick Pulley says: “We are seeing more extensive trips in Indonesia, along with Sri Lanka and India with their large number of excellent National Parks and trekking opportunities.
“Honeymooners are booking private charters of traditional Indonesian phinisi vessels for a few days cruising amongst islands like Komodo, and even as far east as West Papua, where you will really escape the crowds.” Elsewhere, Japan is very popular with honeymooners, along with perennial favourites Thailand and Vietnam.
Mahlatini
Africa is a dream destination for many honeymooners, with more couples than ever choosing to go beyond the standard Big Five safari. One of the biggest draws is gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, says Greg Fox, co-founder at Mahlatini. “Honeymooners want unique experiences, so they might combine a stay at Victoria Falls with a Botswana safari," he says. “They are also looking for Instagrammable romantic moments - a hot air balloon safari or a night in a treetop house like Ngala Treehouse in South Africa.”
Private plunge pools with spectacular views are increasingly popular in Africa. One of the most popular choices is Chitwa Chitwa in Kruger National Park, with your own pool and private dining experiences.
Mahlatini is also finding that sustainability is no longer a niche requirement for honeymoons, but the norm. “Mozambique is seeing a big jump in interest for its castaway, idyllic beaches and very strong eco credentials,” the company says.
Abercrombie & Kent – A&K Villas
Africa is also a huge destination for Abercrombie & Kent but lately it has seen an increase in honeymooners choosing villas and private homes in Europe, over luxury hotels. France is proving popular with stunners such as The Nest in Bonnieux, and Villa Saint Emilion in the Bordeaux region.
Another big draw is River View in Florence with views over the River Arno and the historic city centre. “Honeymooners want to feel they are in an exclusive neighbourhood like San Frediano, where Florentine people still live,” says Ross Pakes of A&K Villas. “We also have small houses in city centres. Casa Levante is a super-cute house with a private pool in the centre of Palazzolo Acriede in Sicily.”
Turquoise Holidays
Authenticity, experience and exclusivity are the honeymoon buzzwords, according to Turquoise Holidays, which is seeing strong demand for Australia, New Zealand and Canada. “There’s a desire to really get under the skin of the destinations, so unique experiences and spending time with local people, hearing their stories and getting an insight into local culture and history are important features of these holidays,” says Jackie Leather.
Honeymooners are keeping it real by heading to bear lodges in Canada, outback stations in Australia such a Mount Mulligan Lodge, and high-country lodges in New Zealand..
Dehouche
The Amazon is increasingly popular amongst honeymooners, thanks to increased awareness of climate change, according to Dehouche co-founder Paul Irvine. “Honeymooners with an interest in nature and the environment are keen to see areas that are threatened before it could be too late, and also are increasingly aware that by travelling to these regions they are providing incentives to preserve them.”
Honeymooners want to visit and partake in social projects. “Millennials seem to be all about changing the world, even on honeymoon,” says Irvine.
“Couples are also looking for more unusual experiences such as ayahuasca retreats, tented camps and horse riding across the Andes. They want adventurous transfers from place to place including quad bikes, speedboats and light aircraft.”
Kirker Holidays
The luxury Europe specialist Kirker Holidays handles a lot of second and third honeymoons and says the stereotype of beaches and palm trees is not appealing to most of its clients. Senior manager Patrick Millar says: “Older honeymooners know each other well enough that two weeks stuck in a resort doesn’t appeal very much, and instead they want to get out and tick some experiences off their travel wish list.”
Top honeymoon trips for 2024 include the Orient Express to Venice, as well as other luxury train journeys such as El Transcantabrico in northern Spain. Some clients choose to push the boat out with a really indulgent hotel, such as Le Bristol in Paris, or something more unusual like Brenners in Baden Baden.
“We have surprising requests, too, like the couple who recently booked two specialist science tours back-to-back for their honeymoon, combining the Scottish renaissance with astronomy in Prague.”
Tropical Sky
Rachel Oliver at Tropical Sky says: “We seem to have two types of honeymooner. Firstly, those that just want to flop on a beach and are looking for better hotels and rooms plus seat upgrades. Our popular destinations haven’t really changed - Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico and the Caribbean.
“Then there are those newlyweds who want to be a bit more adventurous, so will look at independent and private guided tours and holidays of a lifetime which may be longer in duration. Popular destinations include Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Thailand.”
Inspiring Travel
For Inspiring Travel, it’s all about the classic honeymoon destination of the Maldives. Senior manager Zoe Saunders says: “The Maldives is our top-seller when it comes to honeymoons. Of the all-inclusive options, the two OZEN resorts - Ozen Reserve Bolifushi and Ozen Life Maadhoo - are very popular with guests who love their high quality Champagnes and wines that are included, as well as deluxe spa treatments and, for those who do want to get out and about, experiences such as snorkelling excursions.”
Simpson Travel
“After weeks of wedding planning, intense socialising, and the whirlwind of the day itself, we often find clients are looking for the away-from-it-all privacy that a villa offers for their honeymoon, to gently slow things down and have a more private celebration,” says Helen Grace of Simpson Travel. It is seeing demand for intimate and cosy yet stylish villas for two such as Amalthia Cottage and its near neighbour Arethusa Cottage on the island of Ithaca, and Waterfront Cottage on Turkey’s remote Bozburun Peninsula.
October 2023