Your honeymoon is more than just a holiday, it's the first great adventure of your married life and a chance to celebrate in a way that's truly unforgettable. Whether you're dreaming of barefoot luxury on a private island, a cultural journey through ancient landscapes or a sun-drenched escape with cocktails on the beach, the world is full of destinations that set the perfect stage for romance. Planning a luxury honeymoon? Here are our top honeymoon destinations for 2026!
1. The Maldives
For pure, unadulterated romance, nothing quite matches the Maldives. Overwater villas perched above translucent lagoons, private plunge pools, candlelit dinners on the sand, and some of the best snorkelling and diving on the planet, a honeymoon in the Maldives is the benchmark against which all others are measured. The islands are designed for couples: many resorts are adult-only and the seclusion on offer is unmatched.
2. Mauritius
Mauritius offers a rare combination of luxurious resort life, dramatic natural beauty and rich cultural character, making it one of the best places for a honeymoon. A Mauritius honeymoon means waking up to turquoise lagoons, exploring volcanic peaks and botanical gardens hand-in-hand, and dining on a cuisine that blends Creole, Indian and French influences in genuinely exciting ways. The island's five-star hotels are among the finest in the Indian Ocean and the warmth of the welcome here is something couples consistently come back raving about.
3. Thailand
Thailand is a destination that rewards honeymooners on every level, from the serene temples and jungle waterfalls of the north to the dazzling white-sand islands of the south. A trip to Thailand as a couple might mean taking a longtail boat through limestone karsts in Krabi, watching the sun rise over the temples of Chiang Mai or simply finding a quiet stretch of Koh Lanta beach to call your own. It's a country of extraordinary contrasts, and the combination of warmth, beauty and affordability makes it one of the best honeymoon destinations for 2026.
4. The UAE
The UAE is the honeymoon destination for couples who want a little bit of everything. A Dubai honeymoon means iconic skyline views, world-class restaurants, desert sundowners and seriously impressive hotel experiences. For something more serene, a honeymoon in Abu Dhabi pairs cultural grandeur, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi with beautifully appointed beach resorts. Many couples choose to combine both emirates for the ultimate twin-centre escape.
5. South Africa
South Africa is another of the best honeymoon destinations out there. Begin with a private game reserve experience in the Kruger National Park, watching the Big Five from an open safari vehicle at dawn. Then head south to the Cape Winelands for vineyard lunches and rolling mountain scenery, before finishing on the beaches of the Garden Route or the white sands of Camps Bay. It's a destination that packs extraordinary variety into one trip and the romance of a bush sundowner is something you'll never forget.
6. India
India is vivid, sensory and endlessly captivating, and for couples with a sense of adventure, it makes for an unforgettable honeymoon. An Indian holiday might take you to the marble majesty of the Taj Mahal, through the pink-walled streets of Jaipur and on to the backwaters of Kerala for a houseboat stay at sunset. For pure beach romance, the shores of Goa or the Malabar Coast offer warmth and beauty in equal measure. India is a country that gets under your skin in the best possible way.
7. Turkey
Turkey offers a heady mix of history, scenery and culinary brilliance, and the diversity on offer makes it ideal for honeymooners who want more than just a beach break. A holiday to Turkey might begin in the fairy chimneys and cave hotels of Cappadocia (a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the valleys is one of the most romantic experiences on earth), before moving on to the turquoise coast for gulet sailing, secluded coves and fresh seafood by the water. Istanbul, meanwhile, is a city break destination of rare beauty and energy.
8. Barbados
A Barbados honeymoon is the Caribbean at its most refined. The sheltered Platinum Coast on the island's west side offers calm, gin-clear seas and some of the most beautiful beach hotels in the region. Rum distillery tours, sunset catamaran cruises and the legendary Friday night fish fry at Oistins all add to the experience. Barbados has a sophisticated, welcoming atmosphere that sets it apart from many of its Caribbean neighbours.
9. Antigua
With 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, as the saying goes, a honeymoon to Antigua offers an embarrassment of natural riches. English Harbour, with its historic Nelson's Dockyard and boutique restaurant scene provides a beautiful focal point for the island, while the luxury resorts along the north-west coast deliver the kind of seclusion and pampering that newlyweds deserve. Sailing, snorkelling and sunset cocktails, Antigua does it all beautifully.
10. USA
For couples who want something with scale and variety, a USA holiday is hard to beat. An iconic California road trip might take you from the vineyards of Napa Valley down the dramatic Big Sur coastline to sun-soaked Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Alternatively, a New York City stay followed by a retreat to the beaches of Cape Cod, or a Southwest adventure from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas and Zion National Park, offers a honeymoon of genuine scope and spectacle. The USA is enormous, endlessly varied and brilliantly set up for couples who like to explore.
Start planning your 2026 honeymoon with Away Holidays
The world is full of extraordinary places to begin your life together and the right one is out there waiting for you. At Away Holidays, we specialise in crafting tailor-made honeymoons that reflect exactly what you want from your first trip as a married couple, from hand-picked hotels to seamless itineraries built around your wish list. Get in touch with our team today and let's start planning something truly special.
« Continue Reading »