Photo by Hitesh Choudhary on Unsplash
This entry is from our Expert Guest series where wedding and honeymoon professionals share their best tips on creating memories that last a lifetime.
There is no doubt that the spread of the Coronavirus has had a major effect on the plans of both weddings and honeymoons. Some weddings have carried on with small gatherings being broadcast online to friends and families. Honeymoons have been postponed and plans changed to adapt to new expectations of travel for the near future. The good news is travel has started to open up and there are many amazing destinations perfect for honeymoons as the spread of coronavirus slows down. Here are some ideas to help plan the perfect honeymoon during this time.
Find Romance on a Guest Ranch
You don’t have to be a cowboy to enjoy your time on a dude ranch. Ranches are naturally away from the crowds and are a perfect place to go where social distancing will be easier. The outdoor activities like horseback riding or fly fishing in the summer or snowmobiling in the winter will create lasting memories while the more relaxing times like leisurely hikes or relaxing together on your cabin porch allow you to reconnect after a sometimes stressful wedding.
Photo by Honeymoon Always
Vista Verde Ranch is a luxury all-inclusive resort outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado where the meals are gourmet, there are plenty of activities to enjoy together, and the private cabins make you feel at home. What makes Vista Verde unique is the staff that makes you feel like family. Which dude ranch you ultimately go to will vary based on your locations, time of year you would like to travel, and your budget.
Montana is another breathtakingly beautiful part of the country perfect for a honeymoon. The all-inclusive Ranch at Rock Creek is waiting for couples with outstanding valley views and rustic-chic rooms and cabins. You will find unique honeymoon packages at some ranches like Lone Mountain Ranch which includes accommodations in a cozy, private log cabin, a private horseback ride with picnic lunch, scenic guided tours in Yellowstone National Park, a relaxing couple’s massage and more.
Relax at a Resort in Scottsdale Arizona
Scottsdale offers Honeymooners spacious luxury resorts prepared to keep you cool with multiple pools and serene spa experiences. You will find water slides, sandy beaches, lazy rivers and infinity pools throughout the resort perfect for lounging and natural swimming holes in the area as well. Foodies will delight in the vast selection of restaurants from food trucks to gourmet restaurants and wine tastings along the Scottsdale Wine Trail.
Photo by Boulders Resort and Spa
Boulders Resort & Spa is a great example of the resorts in the area with four tranquil swimming pools, four on site restaurants and several outdoor activities that take place on the 1300 acre resort grounds like horseback rides, hot air ballooning and mountain biking to name a few. Honeymooners can stay at one of the private casitas or for an extra level of privacy and exclusivity, the 5,000 sq. ft. Villa Retreat is available. The villa includes wood-burning fireplaces, custom-designed bathrooms with a contemporary Japanese soaking tub, rain showers, a private negative-edge pool, private hot tub, fire pit and outdoor barbeque.
Enjoy a Napa Valley Honeymoon
With its stunning natural beauty, ideal climate and renowned wines perfectly paired with world-class cuisine, the Napa Valley is an ideal destination in the world for any celebration, especially a honeymoon. Visiting wineries on private tours will be a great option to see the region after coronavirus. When you are not exploring the local vineyards, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy where social distancing should be easy like riding in a hot air balloon, hiking, biking, canoeing or paddling on the Napa Valley River. Staying at a romantic bed and breakfast will make it more likely you will be less affected by lingering worries about sharing germs.
Visit the Caribbean’s More Exclusive Islands
Not all Caribbean islands are full of resorts with hundreds of rooms and buffets. While all the main tourism hot spots are anxious to get open again, consider some of the less-traveled islands for your honeymoon getaway.
Turks and Caicos offer nearly deserted beaches with beautiful water in different shades of blue, luxury accommodations and opportunities for thrilling water sports for you to enjoy together. St. John is another ideal island for a more secluded getaway. Since the island can only be reached by ferry it keeps many tourists away. St. Barts has been a popular destination for celebrities who appreciate privacy, creating a perfect honeymoon atmosphere.
Check the African Safari Off Your Bucket List
Private, secluded accommodation arrangements are widely available on African Safaris, as they are accustomed to small groups or even private safaris and private villas which are naturally distant from crowds.
“Once on safari, camps and safari lodges are very secluded and often only accessible by vehicle or small aircraft; this translates again to minimal tourists. It also means it’s very easy to avoid other travelers altogether if you wish. Additionally, this isn’t Africa’s first rodeo! After former epidemics like Ebola, international hubs like South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania have prepared emergency response solutions such as, as I experienced in Nairobi last year, thermal heat scanners at airports scanning for fevers as you disembark the plane.” – Allison Baily of African Travels Inc.
Use your honeymoon as an opportunity to take this once in a lifetime trip and enjoy the romance and luxury of the all-inclusive camps and lodges.
As you plan your honeymoon after coronavirus, review CDC updates and check on the state of things at the destinations you are considering. Be flexible, stay safe, and hopefully in the near future we can all get traveling again.
Help finance your honeymoon dreams with a Honeyfund online wedding registry.
Bio: Dan Bagby is the Owner of Honeymoon Always. Honeymoon Always strives to provide the best information to make planning your honeymoon or other romantic getaway easy.
Just a fact check: Currently, travel to Hawaii is banned. Inter-island travel does not even open until 6/16. The people that actually live in the state can’t even go island to island right now.