In the past, honeymoons had different traditions
In the old days, the period right after a wedding had a different name and traditions related to the region or country of origin. For example, if you lived in a Nordic country the period was known as the “Wheat bread days” or “Honey month”. This meant that in the days after the wedding you ate only wheat bread and honey. Wheat and honey was expensive, so not considered everyday food and was served only on festive occasions.
The term honey month, better known as a honeymoon in English, symbolises something sweet and lovely. Both wheat bread and honey are also referred to as fertility symbols. According to old traditions, the honeymoon should last for a whole month, and during this period the newlyweds should have no obligations, i.e. it was not a good idea to visit a newlywed couple without being invited. Today there is less time devoted to a honeymoon, and most couples want to travel. Often the couple only have a week or two to spare, so it is important to select the right designation for your dream honeymoon. We have a couple of suggestions below that you may want to consider.
The Dream Honeymoon Destination
A honeymoon was previously a time set aside for the couple to get to know each other better. This is usually not the case today, as most couples have known each other for several years before deciding to get married.
A wedding is a special occasion and can be a wonderful experience, so if you have time and of course the funds for a honeymoon, do not cheat yourself out of an amazing honeymoon that will be the icing on the cake of your newly-held wedding.
You can look at the honeymoon as a kind of reward for the successful planning and execution of your wedding, which can be fun but also hard work. So you may well find that a honeymoon can be a very much needed break!
We often see in movies that the happy couple leave for their honeymoon directly after the reception. It is also a very romantic thought to drive away in the night with your loved one, but it is not always convenient or desired to do so.
Firstly, some couples do not want to miss out on the fun of the reception by leaving early, and secondly, it might be tiring to prepare for leaving for a holiday at the same time as preparing for your nuptials, so many couples choose to wait a few days before going on their honeymoon.
With the world at your doorstep, how do you decide where to go on your honeymoon? Here are a few options to help you decide.
Honeymoons to the Caribbean
Most couples dream of a romantic honeymoon to an exotic island with crystal clear bathing waters and palm trees. Naturally, Mauritian couples have all that on their doorstep so may look to other reasons to visit the Caribbean, and it always has something special to offer and there are many islands to choose from. Many of the islands are home to cultural and historical sights that are accompanied by very exciting and sometimes harsh pirate stories, and the Caribbean is also the site of some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
The most unspoilt and exotic Caribbean islands are Tobago and Grenada. Both islands have magnificent scenery and totally superb beaches, few of which the world over can be more beautiful.
You can also visit the formerly Danish West Indies, St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Here, distant Danish cultural history mixes with remarkable exotic beaches.
Those seeking a touch of luxury in the Caribbean can try Jade Mountain on St. Lucia. There are few hotels in the world that can compare with the hotels here, where nature and luxury combine to offer fabulous views that surpasses your wildest imagination.
Honeymoon In The Indian Ocean
Most Mauritians are aware of some of the other island nations in the Indian Ocean, which is home to several options that combine sun and palm trees with white sandy beaches and unrivalled crystal clear bathing waters.
Seychelles has been voted one of the most beautiful places in the world, and not without plenty of reasons, six of them being beaches that are among the world’s finest.
Seychelles also has a very rich wildlife with over a thousand different fish and shellfish species and a host of exotic animals, such as giant land turtles, huge bats, the black parrot and a host of beautiful seabirds.
The distance to Seychelles is short and easy with a less than three hour flight time from Mauritius. Seychelles is in the same time zone so you don’t need to worry about jet lag in the first days of your honeymoon.
The Maldives are an amazing stretch of verdant atolls scattered across the Indian Ocean as if by a loving hand. The climate is comfortable all year round, and the beaches are absolutely stunning, with crisp white sand, crystal clear waters and palm trees that quietly move in the gentle breeze.
The Maldives is a true paradise, with some of the world’s best and award-winning resorts. You can spend your honeymoon in a luxury villa on posts in the lagoon or in a bungalow directly on one of the spectacular sandy beaches. The choice is yours.
If you are a newly arrived expat in Mauritius or a Mauritian living abroad, then Mauritius is still a great option.
Mauritius is a modern, bustling and trendy tropical island with a smiling multicultural population. Here, you can stay at exclusive resorts offering a high level of comfort, and a great mix of gastronomy, well-being and pampering.
Mauritius is well protected by a coral reef that transforms the mighty Indian Ocean into beautiful idyllic lagoons. The beaches are beautiful and contain the finest golden sands you can imagine. Mauritius is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to enjoy water sports, swimming and sunbathing all year round.
Honeymoon to Africa
If you have always dreamed of seeing Africa’s beautiful scenery, then your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to live the African dream. Tanzania and Kenya in particular offer couples incredibly exciting and thrilling honeymoon locations.
Tanzania has some of Africa’s biggest attractions. Among other things, we find Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro, the magnificent Ngorongoro crater and the Olduvai gorge.
The Serengeti Plain, which boasts of being the most famous national park in Africa, is located in northern Tanzania, and each year millions of animals migrate north to Kenya’s Masai Mara.
Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, Selous, is located in southern Tanzania and covers a total area of 50,000 km2, and since there are no roads in most of the reserve, it consists mainly of unspoilt nature. The Safari options in Tanzania are absolutely outstanding.
Kenya offers some of Africa’s very best safaris, and boasts a great variety of wildlife. The number of animals you can see are overwhelming. Kenya’s tourism industry specialises in safaris so there are ample opportunities for customisable, varied safari experiences.
South Africa is a year-round destination and has something interesting to offer at any time of the year. South Africa is a very unique destination, which offers a distinct experience to other African nations.
The country hosts a wealth of sights in a landscape stretching from the West Coast of the Atlantic Ocean to the East Coast of the Indian Ocean – a colour spectrum of culture, landscape and wildlife, which is found in few other parts of the world. The safari options are also really good here and are easily accessible.
Honeymoon to Hawaii
Hawaii consists of some of the most beautiful islands and the climate is perfect all year round. Hawaii has a good blend of beautiful and exotic white sandy beaches, mighty nature experiences, shopping and big waves.
The main island of Big Island (Hawaii) has the world’s most active volcano. It is a unique sight to fly across the volcano and enjoy the view of the lava at a safe distance. A natural experience beyond the usual. Hawaii is not a party island, here the honeymooning couple can go to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery.
The island offers excellent opportunities for diving with sea turtles and swimming with dolphins and on exotic beaches.
Important when travelling
Be sure to check if you need special vaccinations before taking off on your honeymoon. Your doctor should have a list of the countries and areas where you, for example, must be vaccinated against malaria, hepatitis and diphtheria, or which vaccinations should be given a long time before departure, so you should contact your doctor as soon as you know where you are travelling to.
You must also remember that the name of the passport and the ticket must match, so if you are changing your name after getting married, make sure you change your passport before you leave if you are issuing your ticket in your married name.
Enjoy your honeymoon!
