10 of the best affordable honeymoon destinations

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1. Find privacy in a Puglian villa

Honeymooners might not consider a villa break because they assume houses will only host big groups and, consequently, fall outside their price range. But of course, a villa provides all the magic ingredients for the perfect lovers’ liaison: privacy, space, freedom, as well as the chance to save money on restaurants by cooking local produce. Puglia in Italy is the land of the small-but-beautiful villa, as well as being a more affordable — yet romantic — region. Go for the Insta-tastic cliff-cave bars (in Polignano a Mare) and ancient trulli houses (Alberobello), stay for the cheap beach clubs (Baia Verde) and hilltop towns (Ostuni).

Make it happen

CV Villas specialises in seeking out couple-size villas. Casamarea has sea views and a private infinity pool, while being walking distance to the beach and bars.

• Bets trulli houses to rent in Puglia
• Best things to do in Puglia

2. Go all-inclusive in the Greek islands

We all know what great value all-inclusive resorts can be; the real revelation is which ones have the looks of a chic boutique hotel and aren’t overrun by screaming kids. Step in Gennadi Grand Resort, a five-star hotel in Rhodes with infinity pools, olive trees, stylish stone architecture, as well as dedicated adults-only pool, terraces and cocktail bar. Its all-inclusive programme includes dinner at romantic à la carte restaurants including Ouzo (Greek) and STK grill, as well as entry to the Kozeen Spa and use of the Dine Around service, where authentic local restaurants invite guests to eat at venues across the island.

Make it happen

Travel to Gennadi Grand Resort in the shoulder season of May and September for the best weather and lowest package prices, while avoiding school holidays.

• Best hotels in Rhodes
• Best villas in Rhodes

3. Live out a Thai island fantasy

By rights, Thailand should not make any list of affordable honeymoons; it’s a 13-hour flight away (big bucks when it comes to airfare) and the best beaches are served by secondary domestic flights (more air fare). However, Tui’s direct route to Phuket from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham, cuts out any expensive layover, and the fact Tui owns its own planes means drop-dead discounts when any seats remain empty. So, a week’s B&B can regularly be had for under £1,000pp, including flights. Consider breaks to Phuket and Krabi the best for adventurers, as both Andaman Sea spots offer cheap-as-chips longtail boats to fantasy islets such as Koh Phi Phi and Khao Phing Kan, the “James Bond Island”.

Make it happen

See Tui’s late deals online for the best prices — published almost two months before travel — though there are discounts on departures all year round.

• Best hotels in Thailand
• Best islands in Thailand
• Best beaches in Thailand

4. Choose a cut-price Caribbean escape

Turn someone else’s snobbishness into your superpower when it comes to booking a honeymoon. For example, the Dominican Republic may not have the cachet of bougie Barbados, but it is just as spectacular as any other Caribbean idyll — its northeast bay Playa Bonita is often voted best in the world, while the James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises have filmed here. Travellers who stubbornly stick with Brit-beloved islands such as Antigua and Barbados are missing out on Latino music, food, and a corking coastline. Fine by us! This means lower air fare, handy regional departures, and competitive hotel rates. First Choice has a good example of such price differentials: one week all-inclusive in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, can be snagged for less than half the price of the same week in Barbados.

Make it happen

Staying in Samana or the cobbled capital Santo Domingo places you brilliantly for day-trip whale watching, but the best deals are offered by the larger Punta Cana and La Romana resorts.

• Jamaica vs the Dominican Republic: which is better?
• Best hotels in the Dominican Republic

5. Pick a luxury lookalike in the UAE

Santorini, the Maldives, Indian-Ocean overwater villas — all of these are classic honeymoon trends, but also come with a high price tag. Instead, consider the United Arab Emirates, with its guaranteed winter sun, short flying time (6-7 hours) and its ability to build whatever travel marvel it doesn’t already have at its fingertips. Anantara the Palm in Dubai has the coconut trees and pavilions of southeast Asia, while its Santorini resort in Abu Dhabi mimics the photo-favourite island. In Ras Al Khaimah, the Anantara Mina Al Arab has lagoon villas with dhoni-shaped roofs and private pools, straight out of the Maldives, and yet weeklong deals start from about £1,000pp compared with at least £3,000pp for the real thing.

Make it happen

Virgin Holidays has bargain deals thanks to its direct flights to Dubai, which is driving distance to the other Emirates.

virginholidays.co.uk

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6. Escape to a UK spa hotel

More and more newlyweds are choosing to holiday in the UK post-nuptials — for cost-of-living reasons and because it’s better for the planet. But that needn’t mean chintzy seaside B&Bs or drab chain hotels. The Nici, overlooking Bournemouth’s sandy seafront, has style in (bucket and) spades, from its chic Old Harry Rocks restaurant to its parasol-trimmed outdoor heated pool. The star is the spa, with love seats by the indoor pool, a thermal tub, sauna, steam room and the most romantic relaxation room in the country.

Make it happen

By combining a spa package with an overnight stay you’ll save the most money; also avoid school holidays when the hotel is popular with families.

• Best spa hotels in the UK

7. Enjoy a city break in Stockholm

Many of this millennium’s ‘mooners demand more than a fly-and-flop holiday and are looking for culture and wellness on their first married escape. That’s when Stockholm waves “Hej!”. It’s a city not known for its affordability, but that’s because comparisons are made using the price of a pint, and not Stockholm’s fresh air, waterfront lifestyle and island swimming, all of which are free. If you’re getting married in summer, avoid booking a Stockholm break around June 21 — the city may have a fabulous atmosphere, but that’s because it’s Midsommar, when Swedes take their holiday and rates spike.

Make it happen

On the seafront in Djurgarden — an urban island of parks, trails and free outdoor galleries (see the Princess Estelle Sculpture Park for smooching selfie opps) — check into Hotel Hasselbacken, where rooms start around the £100 mark. It has water views, a gorgeous terrace restaurant (with heaters and rugs for chillier nights) and its own sauna and cold-water plunge pool.

8. Have a grown-up getaway in Florida

Picture SoBe Miami — star of a thousand music videos and infinite sun-drenched celebrity pap shots — and you’d rightly assume starry rates to match. Instead, fly to little-known Melbourne airport on the Floridian Atlantic coast, served by affordable airline Tui and within driving distance of Miami as well as Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast and Palm Beach (made famous by the cult Apple+ show Palm Royale). It’s also very close to Orlando, where Walt Disney World and Universal Studios beckon, the latter with its new DreamWorks Land. If you’re one of the 50 per cent of adults who visits the Florida theme parks without children, we got you. Kids shouldn’t get all the fun.

Make it happen

Hurricane season technically runs till the end of November, keeping costs low, yet hurricanes in Florida are rare after September. Travel in late October or November for top deals and reliable weather.

9. Take a European grand tour

If we’re going to get real here, surely anybody booking an “affordable honeymoon” must strike two things off their list: cruises and/or multi-destination tours. Both represent extraordinary but expensive ways to see the world. Or do they? If you factor in that cruises are all-inclusive, and you choose to sail from the UK, then you might be able to afford such a once-in-a-lifetime experience after all. Cunard’s hyper-luxurious Queen Anne ship sails from Southampton to Gibraltar, Barcelona, Mallorca, Corsica, Ibiza and Cadiz on a 16-night journey, with all meals and snacks included, including afternoon in the Queen’s Room, live music and entertainment, and more.

Make it happen

With prices for this 16-night itinerary starting at less than £1,500pp (and shorter voyages from £319pp), that’s less than £100pp per day.

• Best cruises from Southampton
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10. Visit magical Morocco

Time was, Marrakesh was the only gateway into this incredible north African country, and intrepid travellers would have to travel from the city out to Morocco’s coast and desert under their own steam. However, more low-cost airlines have the added coastal resort of Agadir to their route map, and beautiful hotels have opened to accommodate these adventurers. Only half an hour from Agadir, Taghazhout is a pretty and peaceful fishing village, but now also a hip surf hub, with al fresco cafés and souks. High-end hotel brands such as Fairmont and Hyatt flaunt gorgeous ocean-edge locations, where sunloungers sit in pairs beneath lofty palm trees, and infinity pools make it feel like you could swim straight into the Atlantic.

Make it happen

This honeymoon works out affordably whether you want to travel independently, or you want a package put together. Thomas Cook is a good option when it comes to tour operators as they can sell trips that include low-cost airline seats.

thomascook.com

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