What to look for in a honeymoon hotel

For most couples, a honeymoon is one of the most significant, and expensive, holidays they are ever likely to take. There’s a lot riding on every aspect being memorable and living up to expectations, so finding the best honeymoon hotels at the same time as planning The Big Day itself can end up being pretty stressful. Feeling the pressure? Help is at hand from our team of experienced honeymoon specialists, most of whom spent their own honeymoons in Asia. They're happy to offer advice on where to stay to ensure you have the perfect honeymoon experience. Here are a few things to consider…

Location, location, location

The word ‘honeymoon’ conjures up images of dreamy tropical islands, sun drenched sands, leisurely lunches and afternoons dozing in hammocks. Before you get down to choosing individual hotels, you’ll need to finalise exactly where you want to honeymoon and - however heavenly it sounds - spending a whole two weeks (or even just one) on a beach, with little else to do, isn’t right for everyone.

Try not to be too swayed by Instagramming celebs or glossy magazines; focus on what you know you both enjoy doing on holiday, combined with your honeymoon wishlist, and tailor your hotel choices accordingly. Asia isn’t lacking in idyllic beach resorts, but you may want to balance out the romance and relaxation with a little light adventure. Are you keen trekkers? Pack your walking boots and explore the spectacular Mai Chau scenery in northern Vietnam, or climb Borneo’s Mount Kinabalu. Wildlife enthusiasts? Consider spending time in one of Sri Lanka’s national parks, or deep in the heart of Borneo’s rainforests.

When choosing destinations, be mindful of the weather. Overcast skies, heavy rainfall and the threat of typhoons might not make for the most harmonious start to married life! While we can’t lay claim to being meteorologists, pick a month and our specialists can tell you where the weather in Asia is at its best, and which regions to save for a future trip in a different season. If you’re planning a spring wedding, you can take your pick of warm and sunny locations from across South-East Asia; if you’re honeymooning in the wetter summer months, we’d suggest you start by looking at the islands of Indonesia and Borneo for some of the best weather.

Picking your perfect honeymoon hotels

Typically, you’ll be spending less time sightseeing on your honeymoon than on other holidays, and more time ‘at leisure’, which puts more emphasis than usual on your hotel choices.

Think outside the box. Waking up to a pristine ocean view is certainly appealing, but Asia has many other memorable accommodation options to offer. For example, imagine falling asleep in a luxury lodge to the rainforest sounds of Borneo’s Danum Valley; watching the sunrise over the Komodo Islands from the deck of a traditional phinisi; floating on Cambodia’s Tatai River in a deluxe safari tent; or experiencing authentic Japanese hospitality in an intimate ryokan...

Splash out. A honeymoon offers the perfect excuse to book into an indulgent, five-star hotel that you wouldn’t necessarily consider for a run-of-the-mill holiday. If you’ve always wanted to stay in a villa with your own private pool and on-call butler, or daydreamed about retreating to a private island, we can make it happen.

Asia offers some excellent value for money deluxe properties, and upgrading doesn’t need to blow the budget. Our Gift List service is a fantastic way to let your friends and family contribute to your honeymoon, and we find wedding guests often welcome the idea of gifting towards memorable experiences rather than material things.

...but keep the spending savvy. If your ideal honeymoon combines short stretches of sightseeing with longer periods of beach-based R&R, why not keep it simple when you’re in the city? In towns, you’ll inevitably be spending most of your time out and about, exploring the sights and sampling the eateries, and less time in your hotel making use of the onsite facilities. With that in mind, it’s worth considering a solid, first-class hotel option in the city, and save splashing out on added luxury for when you’re taking it easy on the coast.

Adult only? This is an especially important consideration if you’re honeymooning during school holidays, when many resorts will, naturally, be full of families enjoying time together. If you fancy a serene, more adult-centric vibe, there are a number of resorts we can recommend. One of our favourites is The Sarojin in Khao Lak, not least because of its a la carte breakfast with sparkling wine, served until 6pm! Also worthy of mention are the Spa Village Resort Tembok in Bali and Kahanda Kanda in Sri Lanka: tranquil, adult-only retreats just made for newly-weds.

The nitty gritty. Give the small stuff some thought too. If you’re keen to be involved in post-wedding social media chatter, you’ll need a hotel with decent wi-fi connection. If you’re likely to hole up in your room for the first few days of your honeymoon, check that your chosen hotel offers 24-hour room service. If a four-poster bed, a bath big enough for two, or a room with a sunset/ paddy field / ocean view is key to your honeymoon happiness, chat with your Selective Asia consultant about their recommended favourites. Every detail, however small, is important, as we want to make sure that your honeymoon is the perfect fit.

by Gemma on 22nd November 2018