When you’re planning your honeymoon, you might automatically think of the Caribbean or Hawaii. But there are more ways to celebrate your marriage than lounging on the beach or swimming in the ocean (though you can do that, too).
Here are a few places to put on your radar if you want something a little different.
Casablanca, Morocco
You can get sun in Morocco at any time of year, and the port city of Casablanca also has a rich culture to explore, from its old mosques and cathedrals to its upscale French and Middle Eastern restaurants and the famous Rick’s Cafe based on the movie Casablanca. For a romantic place to stay, there’s a Four Seasons hotel 10 minutes from the city center and right by the beach, which you can overlook from its fifth-floor Mediterranean restaurant.
Casablanca is a city for travelers who like to feel like a local, rather than a tourist, and who want to experience the present as well as learn about the past.
Vogue
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Cancun may be known as a spring break destination, but Riviera Maya offers equally beautiful beaches and a tamer crowd. The Hard Rock Hotel offers a gorgeous setting to enjoy Riviera Maya’s beach, and if you’re feeling adventurous, the area’s also home to two clothing-optional, couples-only Desire resorts with specials like sensual massages and erotic touch workshops.
San Antonio, Texas
On San Antonio’s famous Riverwalk, you can take a romantic boat ride, dine at the top of the rotating Tower of the Americas, and eat delicious Mexican food (and any kind of food, for that matter). For an intimate and luxurious vacation, La Cantera Resort & Spa has an adults-only floor called SEVEN, where couples can enjoy the spa treatments, Andrew Weissman’s Signature Restaurant, and more with extra privacy.
New Orleans
Go on a carriage ride through the French Quarter before listening to jazz at night, or explore the Faubourg Marigny and Bywater by bike and then head to a swing dancing lesson. New Orleans combines old-school charm with exciting nightlife, both of which you can experience at the Nopsi Hotel’s spa-like bathrooms, rooftop pool, and regionally inspired restaurant.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach’s Brazilian Court Hotel has been known as a discrete enclave for the rich and famous since the 20s, and you’ll both feel like royalty in its tropical landscaped courtyards, Café Boulud, and Frédéric Fekkai Salon. You can spend the daytime sipping cocktails poolside, taking romantic walks on the beach, or shopping on the upscale Worth Avenue.
Palm Beach features some of Florida's finest hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as, of course, a selection of beautiful beaches.
Travel Channel
The Ozark Mountains
If you’re fans of nature, you’ll love the hiking trails and beautiful lakes of the Missouri Ozarks. And if you like being pampered, you’ll enjoy Big Cedar Lodge’s spa cottages, which each have their own fireplaces, overlook a stream, and connect to the spa with your own private bridge.
North Carolina’s Crystal Coast
You can celebrate your love with views of wild horses and silken beaches while staying at a quaint bed and breakfast like the Pecan Tree Inn, which has jacuzzi tubs in the king suites and will welcome you in your room with flowers, wine, banners, or balloons.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
With Amsterdam’s winding canals and cobblestone streets, it’s hard not to fall in love all over again there — with each other and with the city. Its Grand Hotel Amrath has a “Yes I Do” package so guests can be greeted with roses and champagne. Or, stay in one of the Pulitzer’s luxurious suites overlooking the water.
But the truth is, any destination can be a honeymoon destination. When it comes to celebrating your relationship, there are no rules, and it’s all about doing what you love.
Walking hand in hand down a pretty canal under leafy trees while the street lamps glow and shimmer on the dark water — well, there aren’t many more romantic Euro-moments to be had.
Bridal Guide
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