In the June Destination Weddings & Honeymoons issue, we write about fairy tale honeymoon stays in Paris, Santorini and Dubrovnik. Here’s a trio of other superlative destinations so you can up-sell your clients’ honeymoons to any of the aforementioned hotspots.
• Beyond Paris, the second most popular area for honeymooners is the Cote d’Azur, where the romance of France stretches from Marseilles to Monaco, embracing a coastline of art-filled villages and lively resorts. Connect the two areas with a French Rail Pass, permitting high-speed TGV travel south and north, then from the most romantic base possible—say Cannes or St- Paul-de-Vence or Nice—use the pass to hop on and off the rails when sightseeing along the Riviera. For more information, call (800) 622-8600 or visit raileurope.com.
• Coming and going to Santorini through Athens, consider a 2-night Experience Romance in Athens at the landmark Grande Bretagne property—part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection—recently remodeled to its 19th century splendor with added amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools and a lovely spa; always grand is the view of the acropolis from the rooftop restaurant. Rates for a 2-night stay start at $406, including Champagne and flowers upon arrival, daily breakfast, and complimentary use of the spa. The nicest rooms in the house are those with a balcony overlooking Syntagma Square. For more information, call (800) 325-3589 or visit grandbretagne.gr.
• Why not consider combining the great “walled city,” Dubrovnik in Croatia, with the stunning, but little-known Istria peninsula on a self-guided hiking tour designed by On Foot Holidays. The company’s onsite “Route Adviser,” Vladimir Benas, has laid out the walk—three to six hours per day—starting in fortified Motovun and working one’s way from hilltop village to hilltop village (Sovinjak, Hum and Roc), before cresting Mount Ucka and reaching the Adriatic at the pretty fishing port of Moscenicka Draga. Like all of the company’s self-guided Europe routes, the Croatian experience is tailored to cover a varied countryside, packing in as much culture as possible en-route and seeking out the most welcoming small hotels, farmhouses and village inns; the accent is on good food and wine after a day’s walk. The 6-night tour include B&B accommodations, three evening meals, four picnics, and luggage transfers between hotels; priced at $770 per person. Visit onfootholidays.co.uk.
Read the Europe feature in the June Destination Weddings & Honeymoons issue.
