Honeymoons made in heaven - planning the perfect getaway.
After all the rush and excitement of your wedding day, you need some time alone together to relax and unwind, enjoy each other's attention, and of course, make time for romance: this is why the honeymoon was invented.
Don't underestimate the importance of a honeymoon
Sometimes couples spend so much of their wedding budget on the event itself, they have nothing left over for the honeymoon. Or else they are so busy at work, they decide to postpone their honeymoon for another month, another year… This is not a good idea and this is why:
Planning a wedding is a very stressful experience; even though it's mostly good stress - full of highs and anticipation - it will still leave you exhausted and in need of regeneration. And you will probably have been so busy with the details, that you will have neglected each other and your own needs. You may also have had a house full of guests and out of town family to entertain too - now it's time to devote time and attention to each other.
Who pays for the honeymoon?
Traditionally the groom and/his family paid for the honeymoon, but these days couples often plan their holiday together and even split the costs. The honeymoon may be included as part of the wedding budget, or one member of the bridal couple might want to surprise the other with a planned and paid- for honeymoon. If you are planning to take your spouse out of the country, remember to make sure passports, visas and inoculations are in order.
A generous relative may also offer you a honeymoon of your choice as a wedding gift - if this happens, take it!
Ideas for honeymoon holidays
The resort spa honeymoon
Rejuvenate your mind, body and soul with a honeymoon at a health spa resort. Health spas are not all about starvation diets and punishing gym routines. You can escape to the mountains or the coast for your honeymoon, stay in your own private suite and spend your days treating your bodies to heavenly facials and massages. Then watch the sun go down while sipping cocktails in your own private jacuzzi.
Go to http://www.healthspas.co.za/stay-spas.php for a list of luxurious resort spas offering accommodation. If you want to give some lucky couple a honeymoon at a spa as a wedding gift, buy them a spa voucher and let them choose their own resort spa honeymoon. Click here.
The beach honeymoon
Becoming total beach bums for a week or two - whether in South Africa or an exotic foreign location is a fabulous way to relax and de-stress. Spending lazy days soaking up the sun and evenings watching the moon rise over the sea is a great way of slowing down and having lots of free time for each other. If you choose to honeymoon in Thailand, Malaysia or even our own Camps Bay, you can be massaged right into heaven without even leaving the beach. For a choice of exotic beach honeymoon destinations from Madagascar to the Maldives, click here.
Honeymooning in the mountains
From Franschhoek to the Drakensberg, South Africa is full of magnificent and luxurious resorts where the honeymoon couple can be pampered in privacy. For the energetic, there's the ski holiday if you fancy an active honeymoon with nights spent drinking gluwhein in front of a fire. Many couples choose to get married in the South African summer, which of course is prime ski season in Europe and the ideal time for a honeymoon on the slopes. Click here for great ski packages.
Honeymoon cruises
Most major cruise lines offer great honeymoon cruises - from the two day cruise to nowhere, where you spend a night on the open sea just enjoying the pleasures of a luxury cruise liner, to island cruises, both off the South African coast and coastlines all over the world. Click here for tips on choosing honeymoon cruises and packages that include photographs and champagne breakfasts in bed!
When to go and how to honeymoon for less
Most South African couples choose to marry in the summer months, often because this is when they can take their annual leave and therefore honeymoon for as long as possible.
Remember that this is also peak tourist season in South Africa and European ski resorts for example, and therefore the most expensive time of the year to embark on your honeymoon.
You can save a lot of money if you have a winter wedding and spend a romantic honeymoon in the Drakensberg for example. Many areas in South Africa have beautiful clear and sunny winter days and you can still swim in the sea in KZN in winter. The Cape Winelands are also beautiful in winter and it's a great time to head off for a honeymoon in the snow at our very own Tiffendell ski resort! Click here for more information on skiing in South Africa.
Wherever you choose to go for your honeymoon, remember to make time to relax, unwind and give each other lots of attention: that's what honeymoons are for!
Whether you want the beach or the bush, click here for a choice of great South African honeymoon destinations and here for more honeymoon hotspots.
Sometimes couples spend so much of their wedding budget on the event itself, they have nothing left over for the honeymoon. Or else they are so busy at work, they decide to postpone their honeymoon for another month, another year… This is not a good idea and this is why:
Traditionally the groom and/his family paid for the honeymoon, but these days couples often plan their holiday together and even split the costs. The honeymoon may be included as part of the wedding budget, or one member of the bridal couple might want to surprise the other with a planned and paid- for honeymoon. If you are planning to take your spouse out of the country, remember to make sure passports, visas and inoculations are in order.
Rejuvenate your mind, body and soul with a honeymoon at a health spa resort. Health spas are not all about starvation diets and punishing gym routines. You can escape to the mountains or the coast for your honeymoon, stay in your own private suite and spend your days treating your bodies to heavenly facials and massages. Then watch the sun go down while sipping cocktails in your own private jacuzzi.
Becoming total beach bums for a week or two - whether in South Africa or an exotic foreign location is a fabulous way to relax and de-stress. Spending lazy days soaking up the sun and evenings watching the moon rise over the sea is a great way of slowing down and having lots of free time for each other. If you choose to honeymoon in Thailand, Malaysia or even our own Camps Bay, you can be massaged right into heaven without even leaving the beach. For a choice of exotic beach honeymoon destinations from Madagascar to the Maldives, 
From Franschhoek to the Drakensberg, South Africa is full of magnificent and luxurious resorts where the honeymoon couple can be pampered in privacy. For the energetic, there's the ski holiday if you fancy an active honeymoon with nights spent drinking gluwhein in front of a fire. Many couples choose to get married in the South African summer, which of course is prime ski season in Europe and the ideal time for a honeymoon on the slopes. 
Most major cruise lines offer great honeymoon cruises - from the two day cruise to nowhere, where you spend a night on the open sea just enjoying the pleasures of a luxury cruise liner, to island cruises, both off the South African coast and coastlines all over the world. 
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