A: Based on a recent, informal reader survey, 38% of honeymoons are domestic. The remainder are international, which includes the Caribbean, Mexico and such.
Q: What's top on your list of the most romantic, secluded beaches in the world?
A: The southwest coast of Bermuda. Without a doubt. There are loads of pink-sand beaches, completely private (or nearly so): Jobson's Cove, Horseshoe Bay (slightly more populated), John Smith's Bay, Tobacco Bay, Devonshire Bay, Hungry Bay, Elbow Beach, Coral Beach, Marley Beach, Warwick Long Bay. Some are accessible only by moped or bicycle, so there's very little traffic and very few people. The waters are incredibly blue, and the surroundings absolutely impeccable.
Q: If you had to pick one Hawaiian island to honeymoon on, which would it be -- and why?
A: This question is so hard! The magic of Hawaii is its diversity, so the choice of one island over the other is really a matter of personal taste rather than one of objective fact. My advice to anyone traveling to Hawaii is to DO YOUR RESEARCH and decide which island is right for you. Barring that, island hop...it's fairly simple. That way you're sure to get the complete Hawaii experience.
Q: Where's the best place in Mexico you know for honeymooners -- and why?
A: The most romantic hotel is without a doubt La Casa Que Canta, which means "the house that sings." This Zihuatanejo hotel is a beautiful place with all kinds of winding staircases, great views, infinity pools and more. It's also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which means it has the guarantee of a company with very high standards. I think that's really important if you're staying in a small hotel for your honeymoon, when you want everything to be perfect. There are other Small Luxury Hotels in Mexico, also very nice, as well as some large, well-known hotel chains in the more populated areas of the country.
Q: Where's the next great adventure-honeymoon destination?
A: Adventure travel is a huge trend in travel, particularly in honeymoon travel. We have seen a lot of interest in safaris to places like South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania, as well as rainforest treks. There's also a rise in really active vacations like heli-hiking and mountaineering.
Q: Any new vacation activities or watersports you've heard about?
A: This one sounds great: Body Splash Water Sports in St. Thomas, USVI, lets you fly an inflatable flying boat -- together -- on a two-person instructional flight. The vehicle is ultra-light, and once it's airborne, its wings span 36 feet. The ride's really smooth, apparently. It's eco-friendly, too. There's also "snuba," a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving that lets you go much deeper underwater than traditional snorkeling, without all the gear and training of scuba diving. The sport is approved by PADI and NAUI, and you can reach depths of up to 20 feet. You can try it with a guided tour of Trunk Bay on St. John with Snuba of St. John.
Q: If you had to advise a couple on the best place to honeymoon each season, where would you direct them to go if their honeymoon took place in the summer?
A: England...it's simply one of the most wonderful places I've ever been. Bermuda is also a good summer destination. It's semi-tropical, so it doesn't get as hot and humid as it does in the Caribbean or in Florida.
Q: Fall?
A: New England and the eastern United States...for spectacular scenery and fall foliage.
Q: Winter?
A: For warm weather, the Caribbean. I especially like St. John (it's so pristine and natural) and the British Virgin Islands. But for skiers and snow lovers, Cordillera in Vail, The Little Nell in Aspen/Snowmass, and Cal-Neva Resort in Lake Tahoe are great. (Cal-Neva does beautiful winter weddings, by the way. I've seen lovely photos of the bride in white, with soft snowflakes drifting around her and her new husband.)
Q: Spring?
A: Mediterranean destinations are good in the springtime...Malta, Greece, Sicily, and so on. Closer to home, try Florida (before the rainy season starts), Georgia, or South Carolina.
Q: Any time at all?
A: Fiji and the South Pacific are great just about any time of year, as are any of the Hawaiian islands. Closer to home, check out Carmel and the rest of the northern California coastline--it's quirky and beautiful and the weather's cool yet sunny.
