Honeymoon Q&A

Q: My fiancé is really into adventure travel, but I picture us just lounging around on the beach for our honeymoon. How can we incorporate both?

A: The most important thing to remember is that this trip is about the two of you—an intimate vacation to get to know each other as husband and wife. So to strike a balance between sunbathing and scuba diving, try to find a destination that meets both your needs. One option is to book yourselves at a beachside luxury hotel with easy access to adventurous day trips like parasailing, snorkeling, or swimming with dolphins. Carissa Sticha, leisure travel consultant at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, recommends the Paradisus Playa Conchal resort in Costa Rica. “There are a bunch of adventurous activities in Costa Rica,” she says. “Volcano adventures, canopy zip line excursions, hot springs, and rainforests.” At the same time the Paradisus resort offers all the luxury you crave.

Q: I can only afford a long weekend away from work, but my fiancé’s heart is set on a ten-day luxury cruise. Are there any cruise packages that can make us both happy?

A: Cruises come in all shapes, sizes, lengths, and destinations. Many cruise providers offer two-, three-, and four-day cruises to the Bahamas, Mexico, or Hawaii. Carnival Cruises offers a Saturday through Monday “Cruise to Nowhere” off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, where you can experience all the luxuries of a cruising vessel—including all meals and shows—in just two days.

If travel to and from a cruise port is not in the budget, consider a historic float down the river. Afton  Hudson Cruises offers dinner or brunch excursions down the St. Croix River. You don’t sleep on the boat, but the Afton House Inn offers romantic weekend packages and fine dining in its historic hotel.

Q: We want a honeymoon abroad, but a trip to Europe isn’t in the budget. Where can we get European chic for cheap?

A: Quebec City can’t be beat for European feel at an affordable price. “It has the charm of Paris but is closer to home, and you won’t break the bank trying to get there,” says Sticha. Book yourself in a luxury bed and breakfast like the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Old Quebec overlooking the Saint Lawrence River (as good as the Seine) and dine on duck foie gras du Quebec at Le Saint Amour restaurant. Or, simply wander the streets and take in the romantic sights and sounds of North America’s very own city of lights.