Top Honeymoon Locations

After the wedding is a special time for the newly married couple called the honeymoon. Where should one take their honeymoon? Many couples elect to honeymoon overseas. Well, here are top ranked honeymoon destinations, in Europe, North America and Polynesia:

• Winter Honeymoon - Atla Igloo Hotel, Finnmark, Norway
• Summer Honeymoon - Hanalei Beach, Hawaii, USA
• Exotic Honeymoon - Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahitian Islands
• Fabled Romantic Honeymoon - Rome, Italy
• Honeymoon of the Gods - Athens, Greece

At the Atla Igloo Hotel, in Finnmark, Norway, visitors stay in a hotel made completely of solid ice and snow! This will be a vacation to remember with ice carvings, fine dining (top chef) and an actual fire in the ice lobby! The glasses in the bar (that only serves blue vodka) are even made of ice! Open each January until the spring closure (determined by weather conditions), this hotel marks one of the best winter honey destinations on the planet - for those who like the cold! Inside this crisp hotel kept between -4 and -7 degrees Celsius, guests will sleep on beds of ice, covered in reindeer fur and sleeping bags. Bathrooms are in a wooden building separate from the hotel itself and is kept cozy and warm, with normal toilets, and a door connecting it to the sauna room. The teepee shaped restaurant just outside the igloo serves hot meals of the highest caliber. Travel warning: The Northern Lights are only sometimes visible in the sky. Don't plan on being able to see it but enjoy the surprise, if you can. Also, travel to Norway is expensive compared to other countries. This hotel uses communal bathroom facilities.

Highlight activity: Go snowmobiling through forest trails.

This two-mile long beach is a year-round, warm oasis situated at the base of mountains. Forming a half-moon shape, the waters are flanked by coral reefs, divided by a boating pier, and adjacent to a wide cocooned beachfront. A choice location for wind surfers, surfers, and kayakers, swimmers convene on the North end, where protected waters are calmer. Avoid this summer destination during high surf months due to serious rip-tides. The best time to enjoy the pristine, crystal waters and white sands are between April and September.

Hanalei boasts six churches, alongside a grocer, restaurants, historical points of interest, gift shops, and local events. The best part of staying in this small town is the walkability of the location. You can reach nearly every destination on foot. Find vacation rentals at Hanalei Beach Houses.

Highlight activity: Visit the Hanalei Waterfalls on the West end of Hanalei Beach.

Bora Bora's pristine aqua-colored waters serve as a backdrop to a resort-style exotic experience, complete with nearby five-star hotels (with their own private beaches), top-less sunbathing, and sumptuous seafood fare. Matira Beach is a quieter version of the raved-upon world beaches and the world traveler should not expect the same experience in Bora Bora as in other world resort destinations. A scuba center is available for exploring the ocean depths. Hiking trails await the inland explorer. Other activities include jet ski rentals and coral exploration (water shoes advised for beach visits and snorkeling due to broken coral). This quiet French Polynesian outlet and former US military post offers soothing evenings perfect for beach front strolls on Matira Beach (the only public beach on the island), as the shops and restaurants close for the evening. There are no true night clubs on the island and island life retires early in this Tahitian destination. Be advised: As on many tropical islands, dogs roam freely in town and along the beachfront. Generally regarded as harmless and usually leaving tourists in peace, they are not the same as domestic pets and should not be treated in the same manner but will usually not bother people.

Highlight activity: Explore the Blue Lagoon by outrigger boat.

Rome has something for everyone, from museums to excursions to nearby towns, to art to fine dining, shows, socializing in the center (which is well-policed) and activities such as bike riding and wine tasting. Romantic evening walks are safe to do in Rome. Located 20 miles inland and halfway down the Italian coastline, the immense history includes: Etruscan tombs,the Vatican, Republican meeting rooms, the Forum, Imperial temples, early Christian churches, medieval bell towers, Renaissance palaces and baroque basilicas.

Clarify the type of bed you want. This is the only way to ensure a double bed for the honeymoon couple. If you request a single room, that will mean you will get one twin bed. If you request a double, you will end up with two twin beds, which they sometimes push together. They even sometimes call the two twins pushed together a matrimonial bed! So, if you want a true double bed use the words "letto frances" or "American double" to describe the bed you want. Most rooms will run between 100-130 Euros a night in Rome. Keep in mind that if you travel from the USA, the dollar is weak against the Euro and this will be a higher priced stay than you may be used to.

Highlight activity: It's said that a visit to Vatican City is a must for every traveler to Rome.

Museums to explore, like the National Archeological Museum or the Benaki Musuem, the Agora-Athens Central Market, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, or the National Gardens

Highlight activity: The Parthenon, of course! How can anyone go to Athens and not see a masterpiece of the ancient world, not even counting how the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is located) was "home" of the Greek Gods and the fabulous architecture for the period is beyond compare. Plus, they have their own museum: The Acropolis Museum.

Once you've decided where to go on your honeymoon, it's time to make plans and pack like a pro. Check out these articles for continue the travel planning adventure.

• Book Low Cost Travel - How To Compare Travel Fare
• Insurance For International Travel
• Pack Like a Pro - Travel Light
• Staying Comfortable on a Long Plane Ride
• Avoid Foot Swelling When Traveling
• How Travelers Stay Healthy