Top Honeymoon Ideas in the Winter

But is winter a good season for going on a honeymoon vacation?

Even though honeymoons have often been characterized by summertime paradises and sun-drenched beaches, many couples choose to embark upon their post-nuptial trip during the winter months. Here are some popular honeymoon ideas for wintertime travel:

For couples who are active and adventurous, a week in the snowy mountains can be idyllic. Certainly, there is the draw of the slopes for skiers and snowboarders. But mountain resorts also offer gorgeous vistas, charming villages, and a hearty nightlife. And your alone time can be spent in bubbling hot tubs, near cracking fires at inns, or snuggled together under a warm blanket in a cabin.

You don't have to make cold weather a theme of your honeymoon. Several places like Phoenix, Santa Fe, or San Diego in the American southwest are very comfortable during the winter months. This region boasts plenty of lush, full-service resorts where you can get pampered in the spa or book a twosome at the golf club. In contrast, there are also lots of quiet, artsy burgs where you can stroll through art galleries or shop in delightful town squares. In either case, the Southwest fits the bill perfectly if you're looking for a reclusive, temperate getaway.

This region is sprinkled with hundreds of country inns and bed-and-breakfasts which offer quaint accommodations and warm hospitality. In many areas, there are also outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, hiking, and nature walks. And the breathtaking scenery of wintry mountains and frozen ponds help make for a storybook honeymoon experience.

The rest of the world may be stressing and shivering while you're down in the tropics operating on "island time." And there's no better way to see the Caribbean than on a cruise ship. You can swim, snorkel, ride horses, parasail, or relax on the beach in the Bahamas, Barbados, the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St Lucia, or Antigua and Barbuda. All of these ports of call offer exciting opportunities for shore excursions from culture seminars and wilderness hikes to helicopter tours and off-road adventures. Plus, you'll travel in the lap of luxury on a vessel where meals, entertainment, and activities are all included in the price of your stateroom.

Imagine taking in the sights of one of the world's most historic and picturesque cities - without battling all the summer tourists. There are plenty of European destinations to pick from, such as the regal palaces of London, the majestic cathedrals of Rome, the towering castles of Budapest, the old-world charm of Zurich, and of course the romance and charisma of Paris. And every European city is incredibly scenic during Christmas time. You could fly across the Atlantic for a honeymoon and return with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Whether you're in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or one of the hundreds of other casinos around the country, you may not even realize that it's winter outside because you'll be having so much fun inside. The more upscale casinos have so much peripheral activities taking place that you can spend much (or even all) of your honeymoon away from the gambling areas. In many cases, standard rooms are cheaper than lodging in other locations; and casino hotels can certainly provide you with as much upscale amenities and entertainment as your budget permits.

Remember that it's summer down under when the mercury drops in North America. So you can bask in the southern hemisphere sun and enjoy an additional summer vacation in Australia. Plus, you can dive the Great Barrier Reef, explore the outback, or tour some of the country's most beautiful cities like Sydney, Melbourne, or Canberra. And the laid-back, friendly demeanor of the Aussies will wonderfully accentuate your festive honeymoon.

Like Australia, the continent's southern section enjoys summer conditions during the winter months. So it's a perfect time to visit places like Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Buenos Aires is a bustling Argentinean city with a heavy dose of old-world charm. Paraguay offers incredible markets and shopping areas where your money goes a long way. And Santiago is a cornucopia of Spanish architecture nestled in the shadow of the grandiose Andes Mountains.

There are a plethora of choices available for wintertime honeymoon travelers. For some couples, this may be a more convenient time to travel because of the holiday season and the accompanying time off granted by companies to its workers. Others may appreciate the relative dearth of fellow travelers, which can add to the reclusiveness of their romantic getaway. Whatever the reason, rest assured that new brides and grooms can easily find suitable wintertime locales for their first vacation together as a married couple.