World's Best Honeymoon Destinations

New Zealand

If you enjoy outdoor adventures paired with refined luxury, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more diverse honeymoon destination. There are gorgeous beaches for swimming and sunbathing, freshwater lakes for fishing, fast-moving rivers for rafting, breathtaking fjords to explore and mountains to climb. There’s even a region of active volcanoes. The country — made up of the North and South islands as well as a few smaller outer islands — may not be as populated as nearby Australia, but it’s well-developed and easy to get around by car.

Cancun, Mexico

Honeymooners have been going to Cancun on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for decades to enjoy the soft, white-sand beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, jungle rain forests, excellent regional cuisine and well-priced, all-inclusive resorts. Cancun was developed exclusively for tourism, so you won’t have an authentic Mexican experience unless you venture further afield. But if you’re looking for pools with swim-up bars, festive nightclubs, excellent shopping, spa treatments and activities like golf, jeep adventures and parasailing, Cancun fits your bill.

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Maldives

This archipelago of dozens of atolls in the Indian Ocean is one of the last unspoiled island getaways in the world. It’s hard to get there, but the effort is rewarded with picture-perfect sunsets, wide beaches and some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. This is the place to interact with whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks, sea turtles and an array of colorful fish and sea creatures. Resorts are confined to their own islands so you won’t flit from place to place after you arrive. Almost all of the resorts are firmly in the “luxury” category. This is the place to book a beach villa or overwater bungalow.

Bali

Bali is the best-known island of the 17,500 that make up Indonesia’s archipelago. While the majority of the country is Muslim, Bali is a sliver of Hindu culture and art. Spirituality is ingrained in the population, and you’ll see offerings of incense, flowers and rice in front of just about every temple, home, restaurant or shop. Just south of the equator, Bali is always warm, ranging from the high 60s to the low 90s. There are several tourist districts. In South Bali you’ll find Kuta and the Bukit Peninsula (both terrific surf spots), Jimbaran, Legian, Nusa Dua, Sansur and Seminyak. When honeymooning in Central Bali, look to the artist community of Ubud, which is also home to beautiful rice terraces and the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (a must-visit).

Thailand

A perfect multiweek honeymoon to Thailand should include time in Bangkok, the nation’s capital, Chiang Mai and/or Chiang Rai (gateway to the Golden Triangle) in the north, and one of the island getaways. That way, you’ll get a cosmopolitan city with fantastic food and culture plus scenic mountains, lush jungles and idyllic beaches.

Belize

Located in Central America, Belize is an incredibly compelling honeymoon destination for three simple reasons: its close proximity to the United States (a two-hour flight from Miami), its weather (around 84 degrees daily year-round), and the 190-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef, which is easily accessible along the coast and a wildly popular spot for snorkeling and scuba trips, fishing excursions and romantic sunset cruises. Belize attracts a variety of honeymooners, from nature lovers, history buffs and diving fanatics to zip-liners, cave (river) tubers and those who simply prefer to sit on the beach at a resort with drink in hand.

Saint Lucia

This jewel of the Southern Caribbean has been a popular honeymoon destination for many years, with its palm-fringed beaches, rain forest, the majestic Pitons mountains and locals who appreciate tourists. Saint Lucia is safe, so you won’t be confined behind the high walls of your resort. Get out there and explore. Try ATV’ing along hill trails or zip-lining above the treetops of the rain forest. Spend an afternoon hiking in the mountains, sea-kayaking, horseback riding, diving or just relaxing on the beach.

Tahiti

Polynesian and French cultures blend on the chain of Society Islands that includes Tahiti to create a laid-back ethos that nearly every visitor falls in love with. The islands themselves are lovely — with perfect white-sand beaches (often protected by coral reefs), amazing snorkeling and diving, and lush inlands perfumed by abundant flowering plants. The international airport is located on Tahiti, and it’s worth staying there a few days to get your bearings, shop the outdoor market and maybe even buy some Tahitian pearls.

Caribbean

No matter what your vacation style or your budget, there’s a place that’s right for you in the Caribbean — especially if you live on the East Coast of the U.S. and have limited time for a honeymoon. Jamaica is home to all-inclusive resorts like Sandals and Couples. Jet-setters and yacht-clubbers head for St. Barts, with its boutique hotels and French restaurants. Sailors love the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and beach worshippers are at home on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Croatia

If you love the Mediterranean but are tired of the crowds, it’s time to visit Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast — and one of the best ways to explore is via cruise ship. You’ll call upon such places as the city of Dubrovnik, a bustling seaport since the 7th century; the island of Korcula, where you can bike, snorkel or kayak; and the breathtaking Diocletian’s Palace, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Plan to visit the fishing port of Rovinj and the quaint island of Hvar, with its beaches, lavender fields, olive tree groves, pine forests, fruit orchards and vineyards.

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