HONEYMOON SERIES III - ASIA
For a holiday destination not too far from home (at least Australia wise), Asia opens honeymooners to a world of luxurious villas, retreats and hotels that provide the perfect base for exploring picturesque beaches and tropical enclaves that zen you out in no time. And I know I need all the zen I can get.
Normally, I would ask couples for their hot tips and recommendations as I am a massive sucker for giving and researching the best places to stay and visit, but this time around I also opened it up to the brilliant wedding vendors I also have the opportunity of working with.
From incredibly talented wedding planners, hair and makeup artists and celebrants - these are the tips to make your honeymoon even more memorable.
As recommended by Casey from Peninsula Makeup Artistry
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Vietnam
What was your favourite destination and why?
Hoi An/ central Vietnam.
We loved Hoi An for its gorgeous ancient city, stunning old French architecture, bold colours and stunning food. But it’s also close to pristine, clean safe beaches.
The food is amazing no matter where you eat whether you are adventurous and eat street food to eating out at more fine dining restaurants.
The Aussie dollar also stretches so far in Vietnam, the people are so friendly and the weather is just perfect.
Must do activities there?
Ba Na Hills - Kitsch and crazy fun to visit. Must stay for the beer fest.
Red Bridge cooking school - The best most comprehensive experience you’ll have. Must do the full day experience which takes to you to the local markets and tours the local villages. There’s lots of food to eat and you can end the day with a swim in their pool and cocktails. The hosts are also cheeky and know how to have a laugh.
Ride vintage bicycles everyday through the rice paddies into town or to the beach. Laze about in a beach club all day.
Lune cultural centre - experience a cultural dance show that is like Cirque de Soleil. Acrobatics but with bamboo. Highly recommend.
Tour the Hai Van Pass - Famous road along azure blue waters and roads that hug the hills edge. The road is a famous passage from back in the war days. Take a car tour or easy rider and stop at the look out.
Roof top dinner at Vy’s Market kitchen. Book a table at the roof top for sunset and watch the famous river lantern festival below.
Must Stay at:
Any where budget or boutique. The hotels are all gorgeous with stunning French/Spanish colonial influence.
Stay close to the ancient town for one half and stay beachside for the rest. Lots of villas and hotels beach side to suit all budgets. We love A Bang Beach or Hidden Beach Area.
How long would you recommend staying?
14 days minimum for full adventure and relaxation.
For a touch of romance, go to:
Splurge and book a few nights at the Intercontinental Danang. A 7 star hotel with famous architecture. Located in a national park peninsula. It’s uber luxurious and you won’t want to leave.
Upgrade to the club package. It’s worth the high tea and free flowing cocktails every supper.
You won’t need to eat dinner, there is so much food and all 5 star. But if you do want dinner the hotel houses chef hat restaurants that are famous.
And make sure you pack:
Sunscreen, bathers and your visas. You’ll need to apply a few weeks before you go.
As recommended by Alexandra from Je Fais Celebrant Services
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
The Phillipines
What was your favourite destination and why?
I have two favourites:
1. Coron Bay, Palawan and exploring the islands - we did a five day boat tour exploring the islands on a catamaran and it was the best five days ever. The waters are crystal blue and every day we would visit different swimming spots and snorkel. The best reefs we have ever seen. Must sees: Twin Lagoon, Kayangan Lake and Maquinit Hot Springs. I believe there are incredible hotels on the water you can stay in Coron, but we decided to go with the boat tour.
2. Siquijor Island - this island has it all from incredible waterfalls to beautiful beaches & a great vibe! Must see: Cambugahay Falls and Marine Sanctuaries
Must do activities there?
Coron: Boat tours, snorkelling & shipwreck diving
Siquijor: Snorkelling, scooter island loop and healing & mystic experiences
Must Stay at:
Coco Grove Beach Resort, Siquijor
How long would you recommend staying?
We did three weeks in total visiting the Philippines but did about four different locations - we mixed it up with hiking, snorkelling, nature walks and full relaxation mode at the resort (lying by the pool, cocktails, beach & massages etc). We also visited El Nido & Nacpan ! Overall, it was a very cheap holiday too (which is a total win!)
For a touch of romance, go to:
Can't pick - all of it !!!
And make sure you pack:
Mosquito repellent, your water/reef shoes and your bathers (of course!)
As recommended by Cath from Bow Creative
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
A post covid honeymoon to South Korea and Bali - our original pre-covid plan was South of France and the Maldives but this was so much more "us" so a blessing in disguise.
What was your favourite destination and why?
Seoul in South Korea BY FAR - we're huge foodies so having such a large plethora of options from cheap to pricey as well as having a place where culture and food were so intertwined - it was perfect for us and really let us enjoy the atmosphere.
Must do activities there?
Tea houses, Korean Barbeque and some Bingsu in Korea and when in Bali I HIGHLY recommend a massage and maybe a splurge moment at a nice restaurant!
Must Stay at:
Our Bali Accomodation was just perfection and we just never found the need to leave the resort - highly recommend a stay at Alila Uluwatu which has the most amazing ocean views and a pool that is the perfect place to relax and have a private moment too.
How long would you recommend staying?
We only stayed a week at each location but I would have loved to have done three weeks in Korea if possible to travel around and experience more of the culture - where as I found the Bali resort life was perfect for a one week stay.
For a touch of romance, go to:
Alila Uluwatu - we did this at the end of our trip and it was by far the most romantic part of our trip. It was a wind down before heading back to our lives. Because this was post covid it was lovely to get back to the romance in our relationship and celebrate it again with just some quiet time.
And make sure you pack:
Sunscreen and portable mini fans - a lot of it. Bali and Korea get HOT and these were life savers!
Alila Villas
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We went to the Philippines - specifically to dive around Tubbataha Reef off the coast of Palawan. It’s a highly protected marine reserve in the Philippines which is only accessible by boat - there is no accomodation around the Reef so you have to stay on a live-aboard boat in order to explore the dive sites.
What was your favourite destination and why?
We only really stayed around Tubbataha Reef, which had a variety of dive sites. The sites were all pretty similar - there was typically a vast and flat reef which had a cliff end that dropped about 40-50m to the bottom of the seabed. The cliff face was filled with beautiful coral, sea anemone and smaller fish. One of my favourite dives was when we swam out into the deep blue and sat there for 15-20 minutes in the hopes of seeing a whale shark. While we didn’t see any whale sharks that trip, there were plenty of white and black tip sharks, carpet sharks, rays, turtles, trigger fish and clown fish.
Must do activities there?
Dive!
How long would you recommend staying?
The liveaboard companies set the schedules and they’re typically 7-10 day trips.
For a touch of romance, go to:
Other parts of Palawan - El Nido is a popular spot to dive, relax and stay on floating accommodation.
And make sure you pack:
Bathers, a mask and sunscreen! A bottle of champagne to pop on the boat didn’t hurt either.
On behalf of Jessie; one of my wonderful brides, here are some more incredible suggestions:
Komodo Islands, Indonesia: Marine National Park in Indonesia. Closest airport is Labuan Bajo. It’s home of the Komodo Dragon and some of the most beautiful dive sits in the world. You can stay in town in Labuan Bajo or book a liveaboard boat and explore around the national park.
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia: located in West Papua and a little off the beaten track (you’d need to take 2-3 flights depending on your origin, either through Jakarta or Bali). We stayed at a resort on Wai Island and dived and tanned everyday. It was truly paradise and very similar to Maldives.
- Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam: great bustling city holiday with plenty of street food (vermicelli noodles, bun cha, banh xeo, banh mi, pho, etc.) and cool rooftop bars. Vietnam’s first Michelin starred restaurant is in Saigon - Anan. It’s a modern take on Vietnamese food and has great cocktails (try the tamarind whisky sour). The population is quite young so it’s a really cool energy.
- Hoi An, Vietnam: quaint Vietnamese town in Central Vietnam with plenty of street food options and tailors which can whip up clothes, shoes and leather goods within 24 hours.
- Bangkok, Thailand: probably the wildest city in Asia. No shortage of great food (including street food, Michelin and Bib Gormand rated), bars, clubs and shops. Thai people are some of the nicest people in the world. Particular highlights were a Michelin starred restaurant called Aksorn, boat noodles at Thong Smith and a drag show called House of Heels. The shows start around 11:30pm / midnight but it’s such a fun night out with the girls.