Tahiti, the Maldives, and the Bahamas are probably the first suggestions you’ll see when you start planning your honeymoon. And, unsurprisingly, they’re also among the most expensive places to stay on Earth, even adjusting for the “wedding tax”.

They’re all beautiful countries, undoubtedly, but the truth is there are amazing white sand beaches all over the world, and these tropical islands don’t offer so much outside of the expensive all-inclusive resort experience.

So, we’ve butted heads to narrow down our choice of seven honeymoon-friendly destinations that you can visit on a budget, as well as some tips on the kinds of experiences that will stay in your memory long after your honeymoon is over. We’ve rated them on price from £- £££ for both airfare and spending costs, and if you also manage to combine it with one of JFC’s great flight tips, then you’re already starting ahead!

Thailand (Krabi province and mainland)

Air ticket: ££

Spending while there: £

Good for: Beach and adventure

Thailand’s beaches are very popular but you can avoid the crowds by going in the shoulder season. It also has great nightlife, food (mango sticky rice!) and temples for your cultural fix.

Fun things to do:

• There’s an abundance of beautiful beaches to explore all over Thailand’s coasts, where you can enjoy water sports, snorkelling and scuba diving - so no shortage in that department!
• Take a day-trip boat tour and island-hop the many small islands of the south-west of Thailand
• Take a trip to Krabi’s bustling night market
• Rock climb in Krabi
• Go on a scenic nature trek (for example Khao Ngon Nak Viewpoint)
• Learn the art of a traditional Thai massage in a couples workshop

Hidden spots: If you’re in north Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai, zip-lining through the forest while spotting gibbon monkeys in their natural habitat on your way through is definitely worthwhile!

Authentic food to eat: Tom yung goong - A spicy and sour soup that is usually served with fresh shrimp for lunch.

The Azores

Air ticket: £

Spending while there: ££

Good for: Nature and outdoor activity

This volcanic island has been described by some as a cross between Europe and Hawaii, and if you’re a nature, food or wine lover then you’ll love these scenic islands.

Fun things to do:

• With beautiful black beaches in abundance, water sports and diving are a given
• Go on a whale and dolphin watching expedition
• Set your eyes on the Sete Cidades Caldera crater lake views
• Climb Montanha do Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal (but not too high)
• Tour the Algar do Carvão lava tunnel
• Take a dip in the Poça da Dona Beija hot springs
• Go for a horse-drawn carriage ride

Hidden spots: Visit Caldeira Velha - a stunning landscape with a natural hot spring connected to a waterfall, which is a paradise on Earth - once you’ve walked the trail to get there!

Authentic food to eat: It may sound pretty basic, but Azores is well known for its cheese. Get a taste of the São Jorge cheese which is matured for up to 60 days and has a strong smell and spicy flavour!

Dominican Republic

Air ticket: ££

Spending while there: ££

Good for: Beach and tropical scenes & sunsets

A bit of a budget stretch for this list, but you can make your own way across the Dominican Republic rather than just sticking to Punta Cana’s resorts and save money. It’s well worth it too, as the Dominican Republic is littered with quiet beaches in small towns and also throws in rainforests, mountains and sand dunes to explore.

Fun things to do:

• Laze on the many tropical beaches or enjoy watersports and snorkelling
• Visit the Three Eyes National Park or National Park of the East
• Take a cable car tour to take in some of the views from above
• Do the El Limon nature trek and experience the waterfalls on the way
• Take a boat tour and explore the Hoyo Azul natural caves

Hidden spots: Catuano Beach Flea Market - with a very traditional vibe, is a great place to find the holiday souvenirs and local hand-crafted gifts for people back home.

Authentic food to eat: Chivo guisado - a spicy and saucy braised goat stew cooked with garlic and bitter orange that’s usually served with a side of rice.

Planning Tips:

• Figure out a budget and stick to it: It can be easy to get carried away planning a dream holiday and forget to budget for it alongside your partner. Before you start looking for your honeymoon, make sure you both agree on how to split your budget between it and the wedding. Check out this free holiday budget planner to see how much you should budget for countries and cities around the world.
• Seasonality: One of the biggest factors on how much you’ll end up paying is the season when you visit. Check the high season of the destinations on your shortlist in advance and, if your wedding is right in the middle of the most expensive time to go, expect that you’ll be paying a lot more for your trip overall. Generally, the best weather will be found in the high season, but most countries have shoulder seasons where the weather is almost as good and things are much less crowded overall. This works especially well on longer honeymoons, where one rainy day isn’t the end of the world.
• “Mini-moons” are a popular alternative: This is another name for a short break after the wedding, followed by a bigger trip further down the line. This allows you to get married when you want, but not get tied into a specific time frame for your honeymoon.
• Tell people you’re newly-weds while away: You’ll be surprised how generous people are when they find out you’re on your honeymoon, so don’t be afraid to shout about it. At worst, you go on with your holiday, at best, you get an upgrade!

Read more…

We want to hear about your honeymoons! Where did you go, and what were your favourite experiences? Did you try to stick to a budget, or was it a good excuse for a bit of luxury? Let us know, so we can help out the newly-wed JFC-ers of the future!

Answered by Kristi Flight Finder Kristi is on a break from her beloved Rockies while she travels the world as a digital nomad. And when she isn't travelling, she's dreaming up her next destination!

I remember walking out of the airport, and the chaotic craziness of Cairo hits you like a bus. There is beauty in the colours, new smells, people… but I agree, it’s still massively overwhelming!

Coming from a greenery-heavy country like Canada, I too was drawn to find the natural beauty in Egypt. Of course, I wanted to see the pyramids, tombs and incredible history abundant everywhere, but I felt a strong pull to the otherworldly White Desert, the calm banks of the Nile and the soft sand of the Sahara.

I’ll share my experience searching for history and nature in Egypt in the hopes it might give you some ideas!

My first tip when visiting Cairo is to give the Giza complex a wide berth. It’s so overrun with tourists, peddlers and crowds that it’s difficult to absorb anything.

Instead, let your inner Indiana Jones roam at the nearby Dahshur Pyramids. Even in high season, we shared each pyramid with only a handful of people, allowing us to delve deep into the bellies of each behemoth at our own pace. My favourite experience was sitting in the centre of the Bent Pyramid and quietly watching bats play above my head.

The next day, we flew from Giza to Aswan and immediately left civilization for a multi-day felucca trip. Gliding silently through the water, we explored the banks of the Nile, and were even taken to a (relatively) safe shore for a swim. I tried not to think about coming face to face with a crocodile, but it was definitely the most adrenaline-inducing swim I’ve ever had!

On the felucca, we slept under the stars after a bonfire on the banks of the Nile—and it felt like we were a million miles away from reality.

Next up: we traded our cute little felucca for a massive boat to cruise Lake Nasser. If the previous trip was fun and authentic, this ride was luxurious (although still affordable). We did a 4-day trip from Abu Simbel back to Aswan, and we enjoyed some breathtaking historical sites all to ourselves. One day, we watched birds (and tried to spot crocs) along the passing shores, and we didn’t see a single other human all day. I’ll always remember the feeling of sitting on the deck under a full moon, moored in the middle of nowhere.

I couldn’t pack in anything else, but another natural highlight that I would recommend for a fellow nature-lover is the remote White Desert. Hiking and camping among the alien rock formations looks like an unforgettable experience. I wish I could have soaked in the crystal clear salt pools of the Siwa Oasis. I dream of scuba diving with the dolphins among the coral reefs of the Red Sea.

These are my top tips for getting to know Egypt beyond the hubbub—I really hope you enjoy exploring the country’s dramatic landscape. And maybe it’s time for me to start planning my next trip too…

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All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• In what can only be described as a thing of nightmares, a woman on a ski trip at Lake Tahoe spent 15 hours trapped inside a gondola overnight.
• Here’s a handy guide to all the top tour operators making travel more accessible to disabled travellers in 2024.
• Train trips are well and truly back in fashion, and it’s not too late to take a spectacular winter trip through Hell.
• And finally, National Geographic has shared its top travel experiences for the year ahead. So instead of simply telling us where to go, you’ve got your plans sorted before you even leave home. How about running a marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games? Or joining the first luxury river cruise down Colombia’s Magdalena River? Then again, maybe you just want to do a gentle spot of antiquing. No judgement here!