What destination for a honeymoon by the sea and mountains?

Hello everyone, Thanks for this amazing forum—I’ve spent hours browsing through it. I’m reaching out to ask for your help as we’re looking for a destination for our honeymoon. We never travel outside Europe, so we’re total newbies, but we want to treat ourselves for this special occasion.

Dates: June 23 → July 8 (possibly until July 12) Duration: 2 to 3 weeks Budget: Not really an issue for this trip

Our plan: - A seaside destination first and foremost, with beautiful beaches - We’d like to do some hiking or at least go on walks with scenic viewpoints - A relaxing trip with sunshine, lush greenery, and stunning landscapes - A safe destination

Our thoughts so far: - New Zealand: our dream, but it seems like the wrong time of year weather-wise ++ - Azores: ruled out due to unpredictable weather—what do you think? - Mauritius/Reunion combo: vetoed by my future wife ^^ - Seychelles: seems like it could work, but I’ve read about a few downsides (no shops to buy food, snorkeling not always amazing, occasional weather/tide issues making swimming tricky)

Other options: - French Polynesia: we’re really dreaming of it, but is 2 weeks too short for such a long trip? - Hawaii: same question—too far? - Sardinia?

Thanks so much for your help, and have a great weekend!

Blanche & Nicolas

Hi there,

Plan: - Sea destination as a priority, beautiful beaches, - we’d like to be able to hike a bit or at least go for walks with viewpoints, etc. - relaxing trip, sunshine, green vegetation, stunning landscapes - safe destination

Why not the French West Indies? It’s a perfect match for what you’re looking for.

Guadeloupe, for example... several islands to visit (Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade), not to mention Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes), which I particularly recommend. It’s accessible by ferry from Trois-Rivières (Basse-Terre)... Beautiful beaches in Basse-Terre where you can stay (Deshaies) and in Terre-de-Haut (Pompierre) to see some lovely fish 😏 Great walks in Basse-Terre (Carbet Falls, La Soufrière, Îlet Pigeon, Parc des Mamelles, etc.)

Hi there,

Right off the bat, I can see that Hawaii ticks all your boxes. Gorgeous beaches, hikes, and diving opportunities. I spent a month there exploring the four main islands during your preferred time of year, and it’s one of my favorite trips ever.

Ideally, go for as long as possible, especially if budget isn’t too much of an issue.

Kauai in the north is lush with great walks, Oahu with Honolulu is quick to explore but iconic, Maui with the stunning Haleakalā (among other things) is wow, and the volcanic Big Island with the majestic Mauna Kea and its green and red sand beaches is incredible.

Everywhere in Hawaii has beaches to enjoy.

Car rentals are available on each island for total freedom. Accommodation options range from basic hotels to luxury resorts or fully equipped apartments.

Make sure to plan which islands to visit and how long to spend on each. Don’t hesitate to post a message in the right forum section for help. Your main flight should be planned with entry via the northernmost or southernmost island and exit the opposite way. In between, you’ll need to take short 30-45 minute flights separately.

Important: For Hawaii, you *must* meet the ESTA requirements; otherwise, you’ll need to apply for a visa through the authorities.

the Gold Coast in Australia.