THE HONEYMOON GUIDE

Planning a getaway after your wedding? Ravina M Sachdev gets experts to tell us about the top trends for the year

- Ravina M Sachdev

Once upon a time, couples would get married, head to more traditional options such as Srinagar or Kodaikanal and Paris or Venice for their honeymoons, and dine out on the memories for decades to come. Times are changing, however, and so are ideas about what the perfect honeymoon could be. Of course, Paris and Venice are still on the list, but there are also many more popular honeymoon trends that couples are opting for these days.

MINI-MOONS

Between heavy work schedules and social calendars, not everyone can afford a two-month-long leave period. This is where a mini-moon comes in. Simply put, it means visiting a romantic destination that doesn’t take hours to reach, and for a shorter duration. Think of it as an express honeymoon! Popular minimoon destinations include Dubai, the Maldives and Bali - all beautiful but quick and easy to get to.

GOURMET HONEYMOONS

 "Couples these days actually plan their romantic getaways around food," reveals Pune-based travel planner Poonam Makhija. "From having an elaborate 15-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant to exploring popular street food joints, food experiences have slowly started to influence the choice of honeymoon destinations." France, Italy, Mexico, Thailand and France are some favoured gourmet honeymoon destinations.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Never has our environmental footprint mattered more, and honeymooners are increasingly more conscious of their impact on climate change. "For honeymooners, travelling responsibly means longer stays, single country visits and a commitment to travelling more responsibly," agrees Poonam.