In 20-, 30-, or 40-years, ideally, you’ll still be talking about the memorable honeymoon that you and your significant other enjoyed after tying the knot. But how do you ensure that your honeymoon will be everything you’re imaging? Choosing a honeymoon destination is the first step!

Deciding on where you will spend your honeymoon can require just as much time and planning as your big day. It’s a special time in your life and should be treated as such before making any reservations for a memorable first trip as newlyweds.

There are several things to consider when choosing a honeymoon destination to make it the trip of a lifetime.

Price

Determining a suitable budget for your honeymoon is an essential step in deciding the perfect destination. The price of a trip will determine if you will be taking a road trip to the nearest beach after the wedding, or flying halfway around the world to an exotic location.

The price of your honeymoon includes more than just transportation and accommodations – you must also consider dining, activities, daily expenditures, souvenirs, etc. You want to make sure that your honeymoon trip fits within your budget so that you can enjoy the trip without thinking about money.

Figuring out a budget for your honeymoon trip should be talked about between you and your future spouse to find the best fit. Once you know your budget, you can begin narrowing the destination options down.

Many of the top honeymoon destinations have special offers for package deals explicitly designed for honeymoons. Whether you’re planning to go to a popular destination or choosing a unique place to visit, you may be surprised at what you can find within your budget.

Weather or Climate

The perfect honeymoon means having the perfect weather for spending it how you please. Whether you want to sunbathe on the beach or hit the ski slopes, weather and climate are important to consider when choosing a destination.

Many things can influence your decision when it comes to weather. The season that you plan to have your honeymoon can significantly affect your plans. There are two ways to think about weather: either travel somewhere with the perfect weather conditions for your trip or if you’re flexible, wait until the time of year when your perfect destination has favorable weather.

In both cases, you must think about what you hope to do during your trip. Weather is something we don’t have control over when it comes to a honeymoon. The best you can do is choosing a honeymoon destination that has favorable weather trends during the time you expect to be there.

Be sure that you and your partner on the same page about the kind of climate you want to experience during your honeymoon trip.

Activities at the destination

What is your idea of the perfect honeymoon? Do you want a destination great for relaxing and unwinding after all of the wedding planning, or do you expect to be active the entire time? Do you prefer a quiet coastal environment, or do you like busy cities filled with culture? Whatever your preference, there’s no right or wrong answer—it all depends on what makes you and your partner happiest. If you’re considering honeymoon destinations in Australia, you can experience a mix of relaxation and adventure, from lounging on the serene beaches of the Whitsundays to exploring the vibrant culture and iconic landmarks in cities like Sydney or Melbourne. Let the destination reflect your love story, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

You should consider the types of activities you hope to do during your trip when thinking about where you want to spend your honeymoon. Honeymoon destinations can vary significantly when looking into the types of activities you can experience.

Survey results show that a large percentage of couples choose their honeymoon destination based on the kinds of activities they want to do. Find a place that has most, if not all, of the things you want to do during the special trip as newlyweds.

Considering the types of activities found in a particular destination can easily move a destination to the top (or bottom) of your list. Many honeymoon destinations offer a variety of things to do when you arrive so that you and your spouse remain occupied for the duration of the honeymoon.

Resort or hotel features and amenities

Your accommodation can make or break your honeymoon experience. Choosing the right honeymoon destination involves thinking about the type of hotel or resort experience you want to have during the trip.

Some resorts are a destination in themselves, and couples select a destination specifically to stay at a particular resort — other resorts simply supplement the overall experience of your honeymoon.

Begin to list out some of the amenities you want to have during your stay. Some couples may prefer luxurious accommodations with many guest facilities, attentive staff, and overall top-of-the-line hospitality. Other couples may want something a bit different to experience the lifestyles of remote living, surrounded by nature, or immersed in the local culture.

Choosing a destination based on the types of resorts available can determine your final decision. The perfect honeymoon destination requires you to enjoy your accommodation just as much as the actual destination.

All-inclusive resorts may be your idea of a great honeymoon, while others may prefer backpacking in intimate hostels to better connect with the locals. Each of these gives completely different experiences and should be considered in your decision-making process.

Time required to travel to destination

How long do you want to spend on your honeymoon? Most couples prefer a seven-day trip while a select few can afford to spend over a month. There is no perfect honeymoon trip, but it more so determined by your capabilities.

Budget and work schedules can influence the length of your honeymoon trip. To make the most of your trip, consider the time necessary to travel to your honey destination.

Destinations within close proximity to where you live (or have the wedding) can result in having a lot more time on the actual vacation. Traveling from the US to Asia, for example, can take up an entire day, all while losing a day, thanks to time zone changes. If you only have a week to spend on vacation, time spent traveling can take up a majority of the time.

The goal is to spend your honeymoon trip maximizing the things that you want to do. You’ll have a lot more satisfaction in your trip based on enjoying it as you imagine.

Exclusivity

Your honeymoon is a time for you and your spouse to spend together -the fewer distractions, the better when it comes to creating valuable memories together. Thinking about how exclusive you want your honeymoon to be can determine your choice in the final destination.

For the ultimate exclusive honeymoon trip, you can rent out a private island resort for just the two of you. If you don’t mind much about exclusivity, virtually everything else is an option.

Some people want to make their honeymoon a once-in-a-lifetime experience and choose destinations with lots of exclusivity that aren’t as easily accessible to average travelers. It can create a memorable moment for you both.

Your honeymoon does not have to be exclusive, and you may find it more enjoyable to be surrounded by other couples or even locals.

Communicate with each other about the kind of honeymoon you want to have. Keep in mind that exclusivity does not always mean a higher price. Several destinations give you unique, remote experiences such as a secluded cabin along a lake, for example.

Instagram-ability

When you speak with your parents about honeymoon destination recommendations, you probably wouldn’t hear too much about Instagram-ability. In today’s era, however, Instagram-ability might be one of the top things mentioned.

Instagram-ability of a destination simply means how likely you’ll be able to capture incredible photos that you can showcase on Instagram (or other social media platforms).

Having photo print outs of you and your spouse on a trip is a thing of the past. Today, we just tell our friends and families to check out our latest Instagram photos to see how amazing the trip was.

Photogenic honeymoon destinations can give you memories of a lifetime with beautiful photos to document the trip. One thing you can be sure of is that when you return, you’ll be asked millions of times, “So how was your honeymoon?” The more Instagram-ability a destination, the more believable to everyone else that you had the best trip ever.

Instagram-ability is more than just photos uploaded to Instagram, but creating lasting pictures and memories that you can easily share with those closest to you.

We all want to have a perfect honeymoon with our spouse. Choosing the right destination is essential to starting the trip right. Your honeymoon destination should be a place that you both are excited about.

Surely after listing out all of the potential destinations and going through this list, you should have it narrowed down significantly to your top choices.

You can create special memories with the person you love in any destination, but the perfect place makes it that much more special.

Every couple is different and has different ideas of the perfect honeymoon. Consider these things during the planning process to ensure you choose the best honeymoon destination.

Celebrate your new union with a memorable honeymoon in a place you can call paradise.