Darling Internet, I need your help. You see, back when Steve and I first became engaged and launched into the delightful planning of Our Special Daaaaaaaaaaaaaay, one of the first things we did was decide where to honeymoon. Priorities squarely in order, no? But now I realize that I was not being entirely honest with myself when I agreed (readily, and with much alacrity, I must admit) to embark upon wedded bliss by spending a few weeks climbing, beaching, exploring, and eating our way through Thailand.
Not that there's anything wrong with Thailand. To the contrary, I adore Thailand. I spent several wonderful weeks traveling there a few years ago, and greatly enjoyed my subsequent stops in Bangkok en route to other places. I have also visited - and loved - Vietnam, and more recently spent 4 amazing days in Cambodia wandering through Angkor Wat and related ruins (following a trip to Bhutan, where you should all go NOW). From personal experience, I know that Southeast Asia offers incredible food, friendly, welcoming people with a rich and vibrant culture, countless opportunities for adventure, and the prospect of relatively upscale honeymooning on a relatively downscale budget. Perfect, right?
But I've beeeeeeen there. And with other people (twice with friends, once with a significant other). Now that I'm being honest with myself, I realize that I really, really want our first voyage as a married couple to be to a place neither of us has visited in the past (Steve's passport figures little into this equation, last month's Costa Rica trip having supplied its first stamp). More selfishly, I want to go someplace NEW, particularly because my list of must-go places isn't getting any shorter.
Here's where you come in. Given approximately three weeks to travel (either the last three weeks of September or the three weeks between roughly 10/29 and 11/19), a moderate but somewhat flexible budget, and an adventurous spirit, where would you honeymoon? Rather, with those givens, where should we honeymoon? In providing your recommendation, please keep in mind the following criteria we have articulated for our honeymoon experience:
1) We must spend at least part of the trip in proximity to an ocean warm enough for swimming.
2) Ideally, we want to spend part of the trip rock climbing.
3) We prefer to stay in small towns and villages rather than in big cities.
4) Great food, at reasonable prices, is essential.
5) We'd like to have at our disposal a mix of active fun (sea kayaking, hiking, cycling, e.g.) and relaxation (beaches, mountainy retreats).
6) We'd like at least some exposure to a "very" foreign culture.
Where shall we go? When? And what shall we do there?
I'm counting on you . . . .
Having been almost exactly no where in the last five years--well, only those places where I have family to visit: Colorado, Vermont, Wisconsin, Chicago, D.C., Santa Barbara. I think I am of absolutely no help to you. Pretty much anywhere sounds great to me. Well, except for, of course, Colorado, Vermont, Wisconsin, Chicago, D.C., and Santa Barbara, because I've been all those places recently.
Good luck!
Posted by: Eve | February 08, 2005 at 08:49 PM
Have you considered New Zealand?? Beautiful place... friendly people... lots of outdoorsy stuff to do... and for VERY foreign culture you can hang out with the Maoris!
Posted by: jdz | February 08, 2005 at 10:15 PM
I was going to suggest the Maldives as it's great to swim/snorkel/scuba dive etc there but it's very expensive and when we went we were pretty much on an island resort the whole time.
How about Indonesia? (I went to Bali in September 2003 and it was great fun.)
Posted by: Scheherazade | February 09, 2005 at 02:41 AM
What about the Virgin Islands...you could island hop to a lot of mini adventures.
Posted by: Julia (not that one) | February 09, 2005 at 10:35 AM
don't know that these fit all your criteria, but some good sounding destinations would include new zealand/australia, caribbean, venezuela, mexico (not so exotic but close and cheap and some gorgeous places), and india. that covers a number of continents right. how about a round-the-world ticket and go for 2 months? that'd be fun! good luck
Posted by: sasha | February 09, 2005 at 02:34 PM
GREAT suggestions, all. For what it's worth, I can tell you that the top places we've discussed so far are:
1) South Africa (MY top choice; Steve is ambivalent)
2) New Zealand
3) Burma (which we would probably combine with a week of climbing in Thailand as a compromise)
Posted by: mad | February 09, 2005 at 03:31 PM
I, of course, vote for New Zealand.
Posted by: O. | February 10, 2005 at 02:19 PM
Seriously, the first spot that jumped to mind on reading this post was New Zealand (or Oz/NZ, combination of both). I think we have a winner. Never been myself; been to Oz though, and many other far-away lands.
Posted by: UCL | February 10, 2005 at 06:36 PM
I second, or third, or fourth New Zealand.
It was the first place that came to mind as I was reading your wish list.
Posted by: Coralie | February 13, 2005 at 08:57 PM
NZ sounds great. I'd recommend it to. It has the added bonus of being an easier country to travel in if your fiance hasn't traveled as much. I was in Australia recently and loved it; wished we'd had more time so we could have visted NZ, but went to Vietnam instead (which may be another possibility - but a little more difficult to travel in if you don't speak the language).
Posted by: Anon | February 14, 2005 at 12:08 AM