Best Spots for Holiday Honeymooning

Christmas comes but once a year. And if you can align your honeymoon with your Christmas break, could there be anything more festive and magical? We’ve rounded up six of the best honeymoon spots for the holiday season. Whether you’re seeking powder-soaked, snowy mountains, or white sand beaches, we have your post-nuptial getaway covered for December. 

ASPEN

For the snow bunnies and newlyweds, Aspen is our only domestic spot on the list. Arguably one of the most sought-after ski destinations in the world, Aspen is home to majestic mountain scenery and a guaranteed white Christmas. The Little Nell just celebrated its 30 years in Aspen and is the only 5-star luxury ski-in, ski-out resort in the town. For couples seeking some mountain adventure, the resort offers snowcat powder tours and horse-drawn carriage rides, trotting through town in the snow. And to warm up, and cozy up, every room has a fireplace. Many honeymooners enjoy partaking in the après ski scene, indulging in the tastiest warm drinks and treats. 

PARIS

Paris is a no-brainer honeymoon spot, all year long. But there’s an extra dose of magic during the holidays. The City of Lights is lit up even brighter, twinkling and sparkling the whole season-long. From over-the-top window displays (Galeries Lafayette has a giant Christmas tree in the dome) to Christmas Markets to outdoor ice skating: it’s basically the backdrop for the most romantic holiday movie. Hôtel Plaza Athénée Paris is in a prime location for honeymooners to frolic through the city by day, and rest their heads in pure luxury at night. On the prestigious avenue Montaigne, the tree-lined boulevard of French fashion, the hotel offers guests the very best of Paris. 

 

GLENEAGLES (SCOTLAND)

An ideal destination for a winter escape, Gleneagles offers the perfect Scottish Christmas scene, complete with roaring fires, reindeer dancing on the property and dreamy decorations. The Gleneagles Hotel offers a Christmas program throughout the season, as well as their famous (and elaborate) Christmas dinners. Champagne dreams with this honeymoon getaway. And perhaps the most enchanting part of the visit is how you get there. For guests who wish to arrive by train, Gleneagles has its own station less than two minutes from the hotel and the hotel offers complimentary transfers. This Christmas getaway reminds us of the Polar Express. 

VENICE

Europe is undoubtedly one of the most enchanting parts of the world to visit during Christmastime. With more Christmas Markets than you can count, Venice is no exception to the Christmas merriment. Campo Santo Stefano, within the town, is transformed into a Christmas Village, entirely filled with craftsmen and food producers, whose displays are housed in 30 little wooden cabins. One of the newest hotels, that just opened this fall, is The St. Regis Venice. The property combines an impeccable legacy with the contemporary luxury with prime real estate on the Grand Canal.

SWEDEN

With hopes to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, this Nordic Island Nation offers the epitome of a Christmas scene. One of the most popular hotels for honeymooners is The ICEHOTEL, located near Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. Romance literally doesn’t get any cooler than this. One of the most sought-after rooms is the Art Suite, where the entire interior is artistically hand-carved out of clear, blue ice. Each suite has its own theme. The rooms are a chilling -5 to -8 degrees Celsius, but fear not: you’ll sleep in a thermal sleeping bag on a wood-based bed covered in reindeer-hides. You’ll start your day with a warming sauna-session and hot shower before your return to the chalet and its warm rooms. And one of the most exciting, out of the box experiences involves ice-sculpting classes or venturing outside in the wilderness by way of reindeer, huskies, snowmobiles, horses or skis. 

FIJI

While some parts of the world are celebrating a white Christmas by making snowmen and baking hot roast dinners, Fiji prefers a white sand Christmas with seafood dinners on the beach and island-style celebrations. The holidays are one of the top times to visit Fiji and the islands have no shortage of Christmas celebrations and festivities. While the US is heading into a long, cold winter, Christmas time in Fiji means the onset of summer and hot, sunny weather. A year-round honeymoon destination, Fiji is arguably even more magical during the festive season. While it might not be a winter wonderland, church caroling and traditional meke performances take place for the holidays. For the couple who wants an environmentally friendly honeymoon, without skimping on the luxury, Six Senses Fiji is the place. The new resort offers holiday festivities all season long including Christmas singing bowl classes, salt dough ornament making, holiday alchemy creations, lovo feasts and holiday movie viewings.




Images courtesy of (in order of appearance): Holly Mandarich on Unsplash; Mat Reding on Unsplash; Bryan Walker on Unsplash; St. Regis Hotels & Resorts; ICEHOTEL; Maris Jool on Unsplash