The best honeymoon destinations for every month of the year

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Planning a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon is similar to finding the perfect life partner: It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. While the wedding date used to be the deciding factor in where to honeymoon, more and more couples are postponing their postnuptial getaway in order to travel to their chosen destination during the ideal season. (What’s another few months when you’ve waited two pandemic years to get married?)

Traveling at the right time can make a world of difference when it comes to scoring lower room rates, avoiding crowds, capitalizing on ideal weather and more. For example, couples who marry in August might find exorbitant hotel rates and booked-up restaurants on their Amalfi Coast honeymoon. Waiting just one month, however, means shoulder-season discounts and a more pleasant overall experience as you sip prosecco on the hillsides of Positano. So instead of jetting off for the honeymoon immediately after your wedding, read on for our calendar breakdown of the best honeymoon destinations by month.

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Where to go in January: Hawaii

There’s no more quintessential domestic destination than Hawaii, a Pacific Ocean paradise filled with golden-sand beaches, lush rainforests and colorful canyons. The state has no true low season, but couples who travel just after the holidays can take advantage of more favorable airfare and hotel rates.

Oahu honeymooners will find tranquility at Kaimana Beach Hotel, a bright, splashy stay on a quiet stretch just south of Waikiki Beach. For ultra exclusive digs, take a short interisland flight or ferry ride to Lanai, where the Four Seasons Resort Lanai stuns with lava-rock pools and a Nobu restaurant. Maui honeymooners, meanwhile, can drive the historic Road to Hana for horseback riding, waterfall treks or just plain relaxation at the bungalow-style Hana-Maui Resort, now part of Hyatt hotels.

If you’ve been saving up points for your Hawaiian honeymoon, consider the Andaz Maui (a Category 7 hotel available from 30,000 points per night) or, back on Oahu, the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection property.

Where to go in February: British Virgin Islands

It took years for this British overseas territory to recover from the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Now that it’s open to vaccinated travelers (and partially vaccinated/unvaccinated travelers with additional quarantine and testing requirements), the BVIs offer under-the-radar sophistication to honeymooners. The toniest spot is Rosewood Little Dix Bay, a legendary resort with 80 butler-serviced accommodations, a cliffside spa offering locally inspired treatments and bespoke experiences like “Beach Drops” that plop couples on private islands accessible only by sea. There’s also Aerial BVI, a new private-island eco-resort as well as Saba Rock, the recently reopened yachtie haven. If you and your spouse dream of being adrift at sea, book a private charter with The Moorings to traverse some 60 unspoiled islands and visit iconic BVI landmarks such as The Baths and Soggy Dollar, home of the world-renowned Painkiller cocktail.

Related: Overwater bungalows are coming to the British Virgin Islands thanks to Bitter End Yacht Club

Where to go in March: Maldives

There’s no more luxe locale than the private-island paradise that is the Maldives — made even sweeter when you travel at the end of peak season (to catch the beginning of surf season and to take advantage of better, albeit still costly, rates). Gili Lankanfushi is an eco-chic island resort accessible from Male by 20-minute speedboat. Expect 45 refurbished overwater villas, castaway adventures and marine biologist-led snorkeling trips. Further afield, in the Noonu Atoll, is the family-friendly Soneva Jani, Insta-famous for overwater villas outfitted with retractable roofs and two-story slides that descend directly into the ocean.

Where to go in April: Thailand

The tail end of Thailand’s dry season (which lasts from November to April) sees tourist numbers dwindling, but still-favorable weather. After a few days exploring Wat Pho and the Ayutthaya temples near Bangkok, hop a quick flight to provincial Chiang Rai. The infinity pool at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is the perfect place to cool off after a muay thai boxing class and walking excursion with the resort’s herd of habituated elephants.

After a few days in the Golden Triangle, it’s time to hit the beaches of Koh Samui, a more tranquil alternative to popular Phuket. You’ll find few other tourists on the beach at Six Senses Samui, which offers mind-bending views from its terrace restaurant, Dining on the Rocks, and world-class tension relief at the Six Senses Spa.

Where to go in May: Japan

Couples can capitalize on lower rates at hotels as cherry blossom season comes to a close (don’t worry, you can still catch a few late-breaking blooms in places like Hokkaido). First-timers should look to travel specialists such as InsideJapan Tours to plan a custom itinerary — with plenty of Insta-worthy moments along the way (think: sunset helicopter cruise above the Tokyo skyline and hot spring baths in Hakone).

It’s easy to redeem points for a premium flight to Tokyo, too. Your best bets are usually Japan Airlines, Delta and ANA, a Star Alliance flyer. Just keep an eye on Japan's plans to reopen to tourists before making any bookings.

Where to go in June: Greece

Traveling before the summer tourist crush allows for strolls through the narrow cobblestone streets of Santorini. Choose between iconic Canaves Oia (part of Hyatt's partnership portfolio with Small Luxury Hotels of the World) and newcomer Magma Resort Santorini, the first Hyatt-branded resort in the Greek islands, located among vineyards on the slopes of Vourvoulos. Take the high-speed ferry to Mykonos (or fly straight there using points and miles on a seasonal summer flight) to Nammos Mykonos (don’t miss the sushi and grilled octopus) before retiring to tranquil Kalesma Mykonos. Cap the trip at Amanzoe, a Peloponnese hilltop retreat where yoga classes are taught in a classic Greek amphitheater.

Where to go in July: Botswana

From June to August, the Okavango Delta springs to life as seasonal floods from the Angolan highlands turn grassy plains into lush lagoons and channels. Situated on an island in the middle of the delta, Mombo Camp — which means “place of plenty” in Tswana — offers one of the most game-rich experiences in Botswana. Keep cameras at the ready as you spot lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and spotted hyenas on twice-daily game drives.

Safari-goers can alternatively try lauded newcomer Xigera Safari Lodge (pronounced "kee-jera"), situated in the western reaches of Botswana’s iconic Moremi Game Reserve. Request a night in the Baobab Treehouse during your stay; the three-story steel treehouse (built to resemble a baobab tree) rises 32 feet above the flood plain, offering 360-degree views of the bush.

Intrepid honeymooners can extend their bush experience in the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest salt flats. Fly from Maun to Jack’s Camp, which recently underwent a tip-to-toe renovation and where you can ride ATVs onto the Mars-like desert wasteland.

Where to go in August: French Polynesia

“Tahiti and her islands” offer some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery, which is best enjoyed when temperatures are mild, rainstorms are less frequent and whale watching season is at its peak. From the garden-green hillsides of Moorea to the towering mountains of Bora Bora and the pristine coral reefs of Rangiroa and Fakarava, something inspires at every turn.

Most international flights arrive in Tahiti in the late evening, so plan a night or two at the new Hilton Hotel Tahiti before catching a flight or ferry to Moorea. Maximize your budget by opting for a garden- or lagoon-view bungalow at Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea, instead of an overwater villa. Cap the trip on Bora Bora, where calving humpback whales can be spotted just beyond the shores of Conrad Bora Bora Nui and overwater bungalows at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora offer postcard views of Mount Otemanu. Another honeymoon-worthy points hotel option is the St. Regis Bora Bora, now a Category 8 property.

Where to go in September: Italy

Between the centuries-old architecture, the charming countryside and the dazzling Mediterranean coastline, Italy is a honeymoon home run. Wait until the summertime hordes clear out before touring an ancient capital like Rome or Florence, where pear ravioli at La Giostra is a “don’t miss.” Take the train or fly to Naples for a glamorous trek along the Amalfi Coast. Start with a few nights at the storied Hotel Santa Caterina before hopping over to the isle of Capri for leisurely wine-and-spaghetti afternoons at La Fontelina Capri. If you prefer a less-traveled (but no less charming) region, head instead to the birthplace of burrata: Puglia. The timeless beauty that is Borgo Egnazia is reason alone to check out the Adriatic coastal hot spot.

Where to go in October: Mexico

As hurricane season draws to a close, couples can take advantage of lower occupancy on the Baja Peninsula and many other parts of Mexico. Los Cabos has a bevy of luxe retreats, such as Montage Los Cabos, Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas and Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. After you’ve settled into your digs, plan a romantic off-site at Flora Farms to sample delicious plates like the marinated catch of the day, wood-fired pizza and braised shank pappardelle. Afterward, stop by Acre Baja for tequila Negroni nightcaps.

Where to go in November: Seychelles

Located approximately 1,000 miles off the coast of East Africa, this Indian Ocean archipelago offers one of the world’s most remote postnuptial getaways. Though you could spend a blissful week on the main island of Mahe (at a hilltop villa at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles or an ocean-view room at Fishermans Cove), it’s worth hopping around now that crowds are few and far between. Fly by helicopter to Fregate Island, which has just 17 thatched-roof villas on 300 blissfully untamed tropical acres. There’s no more romantic activity than a picnic lunch on Anse Maquereau, a powder-soft white-sand beach that’s exclusively yours for the day — so long as you remember to hang the “beach in use” sign.

And don’t worry: There are plenty of ways to use points to get to this far-flung beach destination.

Where to go in December: Chile

While couples should definitely prioritize a few nights in Patagonia (you’ll find out who’s really in wedding shape once you climb the snow-dusted mountains of Torres del Paine National Park), there are endless off-the-beaten-track adventures to be had in Chile. You’ll almost certainly fly into the Chilean capital, so make it more than a quick stopover. Check into Hotel Singular Lastarria before a tour of downtown Santiago, with stops at the Presidential Palace and Plaza de Armas.

Your next adventure awaits in the Lake District, where untouched wilderness can be explored on daily hikes from sleek adventure lodge andBeyond Vira Vira. Easter Island is the pinnacle of bucket-list travel; at Nayara Hangaroa, couples can tour remote beaches, secret caves, the Ranu Kau crater and moai sites at Rano Raraku quarry and Ahu Tongariki by ATV. The recently renovated Nayara Alto Atacama offers direct access to the otherworldly landscapes of the Atacama Desert, plus crystal-clear night skies and unbeatable stargazing from its open-air observation deck.