TOP 6 OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH DESTINATIONS for Destination Weddings or Honeymoons for 2020

Everyone wants their wedding to be special, and there are a lot of ways to accomplish that. For some couples who want a destination wedding or honeymoon, adding that little something extra could come by choosing a unique location. In this article, we’ll tell you about our favorite “off-the-beaten-path” destinations for weddings and honeymoons for 2020.

St. Vincent and The Grenadines

Even if you’re familiar with the world of destination weddings, you may never have heard of St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Not only does this collection of islands in Caribbean have beautiful, white sandy beaches, it also has lush gardens, swaying coconut trees, breathtaking mountains, and vibrant flora.

Bequia Beach Hotel Luxury Resort & Spa. Credit: Instagram @bequiabeachhotel

The island is home to many private beaches of white, gold, and even black sand. You can also find a number of small luxury resorts, including Bequia Beach Hotel Luxury Resort & Spa, which is located on a private island. A stay at Bequia includes a ferry ride, making it the perfect location for a romantic honeymoon retreat. Recently, Air Canada has started offering direct flights to St. Vincent and The Grenadines from Toronto.  

Huatulco

Huatulco is the perfect destination if you’re looking for a more authentic Mexican experience than you could get at popular tourist spots like Cancun. Huatulco is home to many sleepy towns and villages that you and your spouse can explore together. This collection of nine bays is also a great spot for nature lovers. Together, the area forms Bays National Park, a protected reserve where you can kayak, fish, and discover beautiful reefs.

Dreams Huatulco Resort and Spa. Credit: AMResorts

You have many resorts to choose from in Huatulco, including Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, Barcelo Huatulco, Las Brisas Huatulco, Camino Real Zaashila Huatulco, Park Royale Huatulco Beach Resort, and the adults-only Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa.

Cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia has a bit of everything you could possibly want in a romantic travel destination. The historic squares, architecture, and cobblestone alleys of the Old Town show off its European influence while still maintaining an authentic Colombian flair. Combine these aspects with the gorgeous climate of the Caribbean and this spot is just waiting for you to fall even more in love—with it and with each other.

Cartagena, Colombia. Credit: TICartagena

For easy planning, you can book a flight on Air Canada with Romantic Planet Vacations and stay at the Hotel Dann Cartagena or the Hilton Cartagena Hotel & Resort. The Hotel Dann offers beautiful sea views and quick access to the beach and Historic Center of the city. With more of a luxury resort feel, surrounded as it is by the Caribbean Sea, the Hilton Cartagena offers access to secluded beaches.

Iceland

Iceland might not have the sandy beaches you’d expect of a destination wedding, but the country has so much to offer nonetheless. Trade in your bathing suit for a pair of hiking boots and explore the rocky terrain, lava fields, waterfalls, and geysers. Or, if you really want to go for a swim, visit the picture-perfect Blue Lagoon.

Iceland. Credit: Blue Lagoon

There are a number of guided tours you can book that will take you from the capital and across the country, visiting natural landmarks and attractions across the way. If you travel at the right time, you can even take in the Northern Lights! With Air Canada, you can get a flight directly from Toronto to Reykjavik. Ask Romantic Planet Vacations for more details. 

Costa Rica

Whether you’re looking for lush tropical rainforests, beachfront relaxation, or a luxury resort experience, Costa Rica has something for every couple. You could wake up every day staring into the ocean or surrounded by green leaves and trees. Costa Rica also offers fun activities like zip lining, whitewater rafting, and hot springs. It’s the perfect combination of romance and adventure.

Secrets Papagay. Credit: Secrets Resorts

Our team of experts at Romantic Planet Vacations were lucky enough to spend quality time in Costa Rica in June 2019. Some of our favourite properties include the family-friendly Margarittaville Resort, with its relaxed atmosphere, beachfront location, and affordability, as well as Planet Hollywood, which had great food and entertainment. If you want an adults-only experience for your romantic destination wedding or honeymoon, we recommend the expansive Secrets Papagay retreat or the private Azura Beach Resort.

Europe River Cruise

If you and your spouse want to travel the world but want your family there with you on your special day, then a boutique Europe River Cruise might be the perfect choice. These all-inclusive family cruises include special events and excursions designed for you and your guests. This would certainly be a unique experience for everyone involved as you travel along some of the most famous rivers in Europe.

Uniworld U River Cruise. Credit: Instagram @u_rivercruises

For the ceremony itself, you can either choose to say “I do” right onboard the ship, or choose a port of call that suits you and your fiancé best. This is the perfect option for anyone who really wants their wedding to leave an impression!

If you want to learn more about unique and exotic locations for your 2020 destination wedding or honeymoon, then contact Romantic Planet Vacations at 1-866-247-8123 or travel@romanticplanet.ca today!

*Romantic Planet Vacations is a value partner with Air Canada Vacations because they offer 63 city connectors, have 39 years experience, and have won top airline award in North America for last 3 years. They have 50 aircrafts (rouge), 100+ routes, 750 resorts, 40 sunny destinations, 63 new resorts, and 100+ cruises to offer. Air Canada Vacations also spotlight products and have exclusive bonuses. At Romantic Planet Vacations, we can book and hold 30 seats for 90 days with only a wedding couple deposit.

Falling in Love with River Cruising

What does travel mean to you? I’ve asked this question to myself since my very first over-seas trip at the age of 15. And the meaning of travel is so near and dear to me that I’ve made a career out of it for the past 25 years. To me, travel emotionally charges me. It heightens my well-being and auto-corrects my priorities. It connects and reconnects me to my family and friends. It brings me new experiences, memories and awareness that enriches my life as a whole. And as a travel advisor and agency owner, I absolutely love connecting travellers with travel experiences that truly move them.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel on my first river cruise and fell head-over-heals in love with the experience. The intimacy of a small ship allows for attention to detail and attention to service that travellers deserve. The ports of call are also unique and extra special, allowing for a true culturally-interactive experience that isn’t typically found at the more touristy destinations. And there is never that feeling of being rushed or anxious. The itineraries and optional and included excursions are relaxed and are always available and if you feel like walking off-board and exploring the port yourself at any time, then that’s what you shall do. And after a morning, afternoon or day of exploring by land, you are always assured that you’ll be returning back to your ship that offers impeccable service, gourmet food and a dreamy night sleep. And the sightseeing doesn’t stop once you’re onboard, unlike ocean cruising. From every room, you will continue to have magnificent views of the destination you are visiting.

The various river cruise companies, such as Uniworld River Cruises, also have theme cruises including multi-generational sailings with discounts and special amenities for children, golf cruises which include green fees and transfers to various golf courses on-route, and solo cruises with no single supplement fees.

We have secured some group sailings for 2020 that offer extra amenities and savings that you wouldn’t get otherwise. For more information on securing your next river cruise, my team and I truly look forward to serving you.

Laurie Keith
President
Boutique Travel Service
Parent company of Romantic Planet Vacations
www.boutiquetravelservice.com
1-866-247-8123

Self-Guided Europe River Cruise Experience Perfect for Young (or young at heart) Travelers

So here's the scoop. You love the idea of cruising and bus tours but cringe at the thought of being stuck aboard a ship or bus full of blue hairs and fighting over bingo dabbers. You want to explore Europe but let's face it, you don't have the time, nor desire, to backpack it. You want the best of both worlds - an organized trip where you won't miss out on any of the great wonders, but you also want the freedom to anchor for a few more days at a place you love.

Like Lewis and Clark, Alexander Mackenzie, and Jacques Cartier, we know that some of the best routes to explore worldwide are by river, hence the massive and growing popularity of river cruising now in Europe. This is certainly a viable option for you, except, their big river cruise-lines have a strict itinerary to adhere to. What do you think Cartier would have done if his ship was set to go North, instead of West to discover the St. Lawrence River. On your big ship river cruise, there will be no stopping at Marmande, a little village in France 

for the Wine and Cheese Festival. Nope, you can't stop at that little cafe overlooking the square to watch the sunset because the ship is leaving at 5:00 PM and no way can they navigate narrow channels to get you to that hidden medieval castle. Oh, and heaven for bid if you want to stay up past 10:00 PM to enjoy some music and look at the stars on top deck while the other cruising patrons are already fast asleep.

So what is the young explorer in you to do? The answer, gather up your friends or family and rent your own river boat! 

The newest, and most exciting travel product now available to Canadians is hiring a little barge, yacht, house-boat, fishing boat - whatever you name it, and be your own captain, your own Alexander Mackenzie! Included in the hire, you will receive hands-on instructions to how to run the equipment, maps and suggested itineraries so you can go and explore the rivers and canals of France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Ireland, and/or Poland entirely on your own. There are even circuits that are recommended for nature, gastronomy, swimming, heritage and cultural/urban. Fishing from your boat is no problem for those fishing enthusiasts, or for those who want to catch and cook their own dinner. Another great feature is that you can also rent bikes for the duration of your stay and store them on-board. Then when you port, you can further explore the country-side, town or city. It's like bringing your own home with you wherever you go!

Destination Wedding Planner, Laurie Keith, of Romantic Planet Vacations, had her wedding in Mexico last year and hasn't yet planned her own honeymoon. For a well-traveled couple who's been-there-done-that, renting their own river boat in Europe this summer is now their top choice.

The cost of renting your very own river boat depends greatly on the size of the boat itself, where, and the duration of stay but most are less expensive than European hotel stays and definitely less than the large river cruise-lines. A small river boat for two people for 7 days from Burgundy to Loire for example, is only about CAD$600 per person in September!

Please contact Romantic Planet Vacations at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or 1-866-247-8123 www.romanticplanet.ca for more information.