The Honeymoon

I bet you’re wondering where the word “honeymoon” came from! The “ moon" in "honeymoon" is likely an allusion to a traditional way of measuring time. One complete moon phase equals a month so traditional honeymoons last an entire month. The word “honey” is believed to come from special honey mead that the newlyweds drank during this month. The tradition began when newlyweds escaped from prying eyes and went into hiding so as to be acquainted with one another (if you know what I mean) without interruption from family and friends.

Skoki Cabin, Banff National Park

If you’re part of the 10% of modern Americans who choose to remain sexually pure and not engage in pre-marital sex, the best option for you would be to choose a honeymoon location where you can enjoy lots of privacy so as to spend time getting to know one another intimately. The most romantic night of your life will be a cherished memory forever! Exotic islands without a lot of tourism are a great idea as well as a secluded cabin somewhere in the woods or mountains complete with a fireplace and a hot tub. (Ah, I’m making myself nostalgic.) Unless you plan on taking a lot of time off work and spending a "literal moon" in your chosen location, you’re not going to be doing a lot of site seeing (*wink wink*) so save your money and go on your dream vacation when you celebrate your one-year anniversary. 

Tropical Island Paradise

For the rest of you naughty lovebirds, now is the time to indulge in that dream vacation you’ve always fantasized about. What do you love to do? If you love horseback riding, choose a destination where you can spoil yourself rotten riding to your heart's delight. If you love to pamper yourself, pick someplace where you can both relax and get the royal spa treatment.

Deciding where to go is exciting, but it can be a little overwhelming, too. If you're having trouble narrowing down the choices, you and your fiance should each write a list of your top five dream destinations and compare notes. If a place shows up on both lists, that's a good place to start. To stay within your budget, choose a place that is similar to your dream honeymoon but a lot less expensive. For example, flying off to Mexico instead of a Bali. 

Toasting with champagne on the Miss Liberty Paddlewheel in NYC

If you love the big city- shopping in posh stores, meandering through museums, wining and dining in fine restaurants, then you should choose a hot spot like New York City or Paris. These places are classic but can be very pricey so consider less expensive options that are similar like Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lisbon, Portugal, or Istanbul, Turkey. Other great cities close to home include Miami, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Chicago, and Las Vegas.Wherever you go, but especially if it's in a big city, make sure you buy theater tickets, art exhibit tickets, hotel accommodations, and make restaurants reservations at well in advance.

Skydiving Adventure Honeymoon

If an adventure is what you crave- hiking to waterfalls, skiing down slopes, or experiencing African safaris, then look into places like national parks and eco-lodges in places like Costa Rica, Belize, New Zealand, or Switzerland. For cheaper but similar experiences, check out Yellowstone, Utah Arizona, or Colorado.

If soaking up the sun is what you had in mind then spread a towel down in someplace like the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Pacific or Central America. Some countries like Greece, India, and Brazil have lots of culture that come with the beach. For similar places closer to home check out Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina, and California.  Cruises are a great way to experience more than one of these fun locations.