By Mark Hodson

We often hear the phrase “pent up demand” when talking about holidays abroad, and nowhere is this more evident than in the honeymoon market. It is reported that 240,000 weddings in the UK have been postponed because of the pandemic. That’s a lot of couples itching to get away.

Demand for wedding venues will be huge in 2022 and this is likely to lead to more weddings taking place out of season. Couples that can’t find a venue in May or June will have to opt for February or November.

So, where should you go on honeymoon in 2022? Here are some month-by-month suggestions from the experts at 101 Honeymoons.

JANUARY

If you’re getting wed in the depths of a British winter, you’ll want somewhere hot and gorgeous for your honeymoon. It’s hard to beat the Maldives … but it can be done by combining these silky sand islands with a private tour of Sri Lanka. Visit temples, National Parks and historic monuments in a car with your own driver, then take the short flight to the Maldives where you can relax in style. You can even get married in Sri Lanka (but not in the Maldives, which is a Muslim country). Find out more from Selective Asia and see more honeymoons in January.

FEBRUARY

Three good things about February. Firstly, it’s short. Secondly, Valentine’s Day. Thirdly, it’s a wonderful time to be in the Caribbean. The Inspiring Travel Company has some lovely multi-centre trips including island hopping in the Grenadines, for a taste of the authentic unspoilt Caribbean, combining stays at Young Island and Bequia Beach Hotel. Its Jamaica honeymoon twinning a beach retreat with a stay in the Blue Mountains is equally enticing. Another option is to set sail on a tall ship cruise with Star Clippers, avoiding all the big cruise ports in favour of intimate harbours. See more honeymoons in February.

MARCH

If the Galapagos Islands are on your bucket list, the period between March and May is the best time of year to go, particularly if you want to combine them with mainland Ecuador (you really should). The islands with their unique and diverse wildlife will blow you away, but the mainland may be more of a surprise: stay at Mashpi Lodge set in a vast private rainforest reserve where you’ll encounter monkey, puma and up to 500 species of birds. Find out more about this trip from Abercrombie & Kent, and see more honeymoons in March.

APRIL

You could take your chances in the Mediterranean in April, when the start of the season often sees long days of sunshine, but if you want an injection of tropical glamour, and some stunning wildlife encounters, how about the Seychelles? There’s a great selection of high-end hotels including Raffles on the island of Praslin and, for spa lovers, the Six Senses Zil Pasyon. Find details from Turquoise Holidays, and see more honeymoons in April.

MAY

May is not just one of the most popular months to get married, it’s also one of the best months for a honeymoon (so you could book a May honeymoon even if you get married earlier in the year). The Med is warming up nicely, but prices are still low, and it’s a good time to be in the Caribbean, before hurricane season but after the expensive high season. For something different, how about Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco. Marrakech will be hotting up in May but this sumptuous boutique hotel is set in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains with lots of cooling breezes. See more honeymoons in May.

JUNE

Almost everywhere in Europe is gorgeous in June, from the midnight sun in Scandinavia to the dazzling Turquoise coast of Turkey. But for a very special experience, you can’t top the Orient-Express train to Venice. This classic luxury journey is a masterclass in opulence and delivers you directly to the heart of Venice where you are whisked by water taxi to the hotel of your choice. Book with the specialist operator Kirker Holidays, or view more honeymoons in June.

JULY

July is packed with options. You could rent a secluded little villa for two in Tuscany such as La Casetta, a restored stone farmhouse with a very private pool just outside the hillside village of Cetona. Details from Citalia. Closer to home, Cherrystone Barn is a bespoke oak framed cottage for two with contemporary styling and a pretty garden surrounded by open countryside near Lewes, Sussex. Details from Rural Retreats. Discover more honeymoons in July.

AUGUST

August is the month for lotus eaters. Go easy on the sightseeing, take a siesta. In Puglia, in the south of Italy, a trullo for two with a private pool is the perfect place to hang out, nibble on antipasti and toast the sunset with an Aperol Spritz. Details from Oliver’s Travels. If you want to escape dry land, how about a luxury sailing holiday on a crewed yacht exploring the Greek Islands? Details from Fleewinter. Find more honeymoons in August.

SEPTEMBER

Do you like the idea of hiking holidays but find the thought of organising one all a bit exhausting? Fear not, because Inntravel has perfected the hotel-to-hotel walking holiday exploring some of the most beautiful trails in Europe, from Sweden to Malta. It will book charming little hotels and B&Bs along the route, transport your luggage each day so it’s waiting for you when you check in, and provide routes, maps and picnics. If you’d rather chill beside a pool, check out the stylish adults-only MarBella Nido resort on the south-east coast of Corfu. Find more honeymoons in September.

OCTOBER

African safaris have become increasingly popular for honeymooners over the past few years. The best ones aren’t cheap, but you’ll come home with sensational lifelong memories. Stay at one of the stylish tented camps in Kenya – the best time to visit is between July and October – then finish your trip with time on a beach, perhaps in Mauritius or the Seychelles. If you want to cut down the flights and immigration formalities, stay on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast. Find details from Mahlatini or more honeymoons in October.

NOVEMBER

Madagascar offers a unique African experience, with weird and wonderful wildlife encounters, rainforest tours, hiking, pristine coral reefs and sensational white-sand beaches. Best time to visit is between April and December. Ask the experts at Rainbow Tours to design your trip, or check out other honeymoons in November.

DECEMBER

Embrace the dark and the cold and head north in search of the Northern Lights, an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. You could sleep in reindeer skins at the ICEHOTEL in Sweden, go dog sledding in Norway or chase polar bears in Svalbard on one of these private tours with Regent Holidays. See more honeymoons in December.

The ICEHOTEL in Sweden: Photo by Big Ben Productions, Artist: Hiroyoshi Sakai