Category Romance

It might not seem like it at first, but planning a destination wedding needn’t take any more effort than organizing one at home. Having organized my own four-day celebration abroad, I can say with confidence that it can actually be easier…

Here are some key destination wedding planning tips I picked up along the way.

Location, location, location

Naturally, deciding on a destination is the first step. There are three main ways to do this: pick a place that’s meaningful (perhaps the country where you met or where family resides), work backward according to your budget or simply find somewhere convenient to both you and your guests.

I’d planned to get married in the Philippines, my mother-in-law’s home country, but it would have blown our budget. We settled on Lombok in Indonesia because it was near enough to our Australian guests but far enough away from popular Bali to provide a new experience.

The ultimate guide to having a destination wedding

Plan a research trip

If time and budget allows, visit the destination before the wedding. Research potential accommodation and ceremony options in advance, make a shortlist and then head there a year before the big day.

A hotel website isn’t always the best indication of facilities and you won’t know how helpful staff are – or about extra costs – until you meet in person. A reconnaissance is also a good opportunity to scope out your guests’ travel path. For example, you might discover that flight delays are common or that certain modes of transport are preferable over others.

Consider the weather

This is important both for the timing of the ceremony and guest attire. If you’re hoping to get married somewhere tropical, try to avoid the peak of summer and rainy season for your best chance of a clear sky and general comfort. In cooler climates, prepare for all eventualities – yes, rain is always a possibility.

When choosing your wedding outfit, dress for the climate and encourage your guests to do the same. At our beach wedding, I went barefoot and swapped silk for lace, while guests kept cool in linen suits and flowing summer dresses. Giving guests proper guidance on attire, ie advising against high heels because of uneven terrain or suggesting they bring an extra layer in locales that get cooler at night.

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Sort out the legalities before you go

There are certain requirements you’ll need to fulfill for the marriage to be recognized on home soil. Not only do you have to make sure that your marriage is valid in the country of your wedding, it may also have to be authenticated when you return. Be sure to check your local laws and those of the country where you plan to wed.

If it all seems a little overwhelming, plenty of people – myself included – choose to have a small civil ceremony at home either before or after the destination wedding, which takes the pressure off.

Carry your outfit onboard

It’s not worth thinking about the possibility of a wedding dress or suit in checked luggage getting lost in transit. Don’t risk scrambling to find another outfit or damaging your clothes – most non-budget airlines will happily hang your suit bag for the duration of the flight.

Make sure you have something to protect your outfit when you go through security as the x-ray conveyor belt can leave black marks on both the covering and light-colored clothing.

Keep things simple for guests

Whether you’re keeping things low-key or inviting 100+ people, try to give guests 12 months’ notice so they can plan time off work in advance. Consider organizing your wedding during school holidays so any parents on the guest list don’t have to worry about taking their kids out of school.

Once save-the-dates have gone out, put together an information pack to send either with your invites or via email to make the journey as easy as possible for those attending (we made our own website using Squarespace). Include information on flight routes, transfers, any recommended medication or required visas and general information about the destination. Not everyone will be able to afford to travel, so be sure to mention that you understand it’s a big ask.

One of the reasons we chose Lombok is its affordability. Indonesia is relatively cheap to get to for Australians and being outside of busy Bali meant that we were able to cover a few nights’ accommodations as a sweetener for the same cost as the average wedding back home.

Create an itinerary

The same way a hotel might leave a welcome note on the bed, it’s nice to provide an itinerary for guests as they arrive. Thank them for making the trip and provide information and timings for the wedding day. If your wedding trip takes place over more than one day, plan some optional activities for guests to have some fun and get to know each other.

We asked friends and family to host yoga and meditation each morning, threw a welcome cocktail party and organized a day trip to a nearby island.

Manage your own expectations

I’m a bit of a control freak, so it might come as a surprise that getting married overseas was the best thing for me. Arranging things from afar meant that I had lower expectations than if I had been on the ground during the planning phase.

There are things that don’t go to plan during any wedding, but being away from home can make it easier to accept things beyond your control, like when our take-home gifts got stuck in Denpasar customs (they were still there six weeks later) and when it poured with rain just an hour before the ceremony (it stopped). So long as you have a supportive staff or a wedding planner and do everything you can to ensure the day goes smoothly, it will. Don’t let hiccups ruin the first day of the rest of your life.

Remember it’s about you, not the destination

Little touches can make all the difference at a destination wedding. Treat it like a holiday, but remember that everyone is there for you. For us, it was about acknowledging our roots. Having been legally married before we arrived, we asked a dear friend to be our celebrant and wrote our own vows and ceremony. We incorporated wedding traditions from both sides of the family throughout the afternoon and evening, which made it not just meaningful for us, but a unique experience for guests.

Don’t forget – if the idea of a wedding abroad sparks your wanderlust, just think of all those honeymoon options…

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Safety recommendations and restrictions during a pandemic can change rapidly. Lonely Planet recommends that travelers always check with local authorities for up-to-date guidance before traveling during Covid-19.

It’s a dream straight out the film Almost Famous to have a chance to hit the road with your favorite bands, seeing the country breeze by from the windows of a tour bus and collecting back stage passes from some of the greatest venues on earth. For most of us, though, we’ll have to stick to back issues of Rolling Stone and Cream magazine to live our rock ‘n’ roll fantasies of tearing up the Riot House on Sunset Strip and ramblin’ on between sold-out arenas.

But for Nik Sheasby and Lindsey Bathke, going on tour is all in a day’s work. They’ve each worked for over a decade in the music industry – slinging merch, making travel arrangements, and learning the art of living out of a single suitcase while on the road with bands like Ghost, Metallica, and Jewel.

Their careers involve intense hours, but they’ve also offered a way to see the world. And then, last summer, all those long days on stadium loading docks paid off. They were each offered the gig of a lifetime with the Rolling Stones, working on the North American leg of the No Filter tour.

What they didn’t realize is that their dream job was about to turn into a whole new kind of adventure.

When Nik and Lindsey packed their bags, they were total strangers. But eventually, they discovered that they were kindred spirits with similar travel styles, and became fast “adventure buddies” eager to make the most of every stop, no matter how underwhelming any given city might sound. Somewhere between a series of arenas, coffee shops and Indian buffets across America, they fell in love.

Nik and Lindsey are currently on a tour of a different sort. Just before Christmas, they booked a pair of one-way tickets to Europe to see where their mutual love of travel takes them. Before they took off, however, we caught up with them to learn more about life on a tour bus, and what it’s like living your own back-stage meet cute when you’re traveling with rock ‘n’ roll royalty.

It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll

Walking into High Brow Coffee + Tea in Franklin, Tennessee, it was easy to spot Nik and Lindsey. They both have a chill, bohemian aesthetic that stands out even in the rural suburbs of Music City, where it seems like everyone has a good hat and a music video on their resume. Since their twenties, both Nik and Lindsey have worked their way up in the hierarchy of backstage crews that make your favorite concerts come to life. It’s not always an easy lifestyle though, even when you’re used to the grind.

“This tour and this summer, it was one of a kind for sure. The band and meeting Lindsey and our adventures were just unreal,” says Nik. “I’ve been touring for thirteen years and there are cities I’ve been to twenty times. Even on bigger arena tours, you’re just never outside. You’re looking out the windows of the arena thinking ‘Oh, I’d love to be out there.’”

Lindsey nodded in agreement across the table, and explained, “I’ve been on the road sixteen years, and I started off in vans. You see the country during the day and then you pull into the venue at night and load in. Then you get to buses and you’re traveling overnight. You could have seven shows in a row, you could have two shows in a row. If you have an hour before doors open, that’s amazing. You don’t see much of the cities.”

But both found ways to squeeze adventure into their fast-paced schedules. On a recent tour with the Swedish rock band Ghost, for example, Nik pushed himself to wander instead of hanging around the hotel bar or ordering room service while vegging out after a long shift. When he came back from a day off, his coworkers would ask what he got into, they were often surprised at how much he found to do even in smaller cities.

“I found this coffee shop and this vegan spot and this bookstore!” says Nik, summarizing these post excursion recaps. It didn’t matter that he was strolling at least a mile from the venue. “As you’re walking, you might see something rad you had no idea was there.”

It was that curiosity about even the most out-of-the-way destinations that would later draw him to Lindsey. But to even meet in the first place, they each had to get invited on tour with the Stones.

Tumbling Dice

Nik and Lindsey both found out about the No Filter opportunity while on a break from other projects – and while they were on other sides of the Atlantic. Lindsey was in a romantic relationship and spending time at her home base in Nashville, Tennessee. Meanwhile, Nik had gone to Madrid to visit friends and wound up in Scandinavia working a tour with a metal band. Neither knew the other existed, or what was just around the corner.

Just as the tour reached Dusseldorf, Germany, Nik got another unexpected message from yet another old friend and coworker – one who was part of the merchandise team on the No Filter tour. Because the tour had been partially postponed after Mick Jagger needed a heart valve replacement that spring, some of the staffing arrangements had to be reconfigured. Nik’s contact wanted to know if he was available for a specialized position selling merchandise within a VIP area for the artists’ family, friends, and special guests, as well as fellow bands and principles on tour.

“I almost turned it down,” says Nik. “I was living in this small village in Denmark and just really enjoying it, being out of the States for the first time for an extended period of time, I felt a good groove.”

But his friends knew this wasn’t the kind of opportunity you say no to. “They told me they’d fire me if I didn’t go. This wasn’t even bucket list level. It was untouchable. It’s the Rolling Stones.”

Lindsey had an easier time saying yes to the tour. She had been trying to get a wardrobe job for years, ever since a 2011 Metallica tour when she’d met a woman she hoped might be a mentor. “I had always made it pretty clear that if she needed someone in the dressing room, that it was my dream to work with her,” says Lindsey. “Last October I was sitting in my truck and I got an email from Foster that just said ‘Want to work?’ My heart stopped. It was happening.”

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Midnight Ramblers

The experience started off promisingly. “There were about sixty some people on the road crew with us,” says Lindsey. “Everyone was so beyond happy to be out there that everyone was smiling. We ended up being a family.” When there were a few minutes of downtime, she and her coworkers enjoyed backstage tea parties during which they put their phones away and read Mary Oliver poems out loud.

It didn’t take long, however, for worlds to collide in that jovial atmosphere. Because merchandise and wardrobe overlapped backstage, the pair were thrown together almost immediately. “[Nik] was quite literally with us every day,” says Lindsey. “So we saw each other a lot.”

It didn’t take them long to realize they had similar approaches to life on tour, both taking every opportunity to see what different cities might have to offer. “I’ve had lovely adventure buddies on the road before, but he and I just clicked” says Lindsey of their early compatibility.

Even better, the way the Stones tour was structured gave the whole crew generous time off. Right when Nik and Lindsey met a buddy up for adventure, they actually had the time to explore in between shows. “It really afforded our ability to adventure,” notes Lindsey. “The jobs were so beautiful, and having the adventure time…it was like we were living on the moon.”

Here was someone who didn’t mind throwing a few granola bars and a bottle of water in a backpack and heading out with little agenda. They might hit a coffee shop early in the day for breakfast and wind up at, say, the Jacksonville, Florida public library to check out maps from the 1500s on the barista’s recommendation. If from there they ended up at a historic cemetery and wandering around until well past dark, so much the better. “It was just so gratifying to meet him,” says Lindsey. “I found someone who likes to just keep going.”

Gimme Shelter

Eventually, Lindsey and Nik realized their friendship was something that could go the distance both romantically and beyond the scope of the Stones tour. After all, it was both their compatibility in travel and their understanding of the rigors of tour life when apart that makes this unique couple’s relationship work.

“The biggest interview for our relationship was how we like to travel,” says Lindsey. “I’ve never been with someone who liked to travel how I did. Who understood that it was ok if we didn’t know what we were doing.”
Earlier in the summer, when they first met and were exploring New York City, Nik and Linsey swapped some of the items on their bucket lists. Nik had long wanted to see the northern lights, for example, while Lindsey had hoped to see the Christmas markets in Germany.

After No Filter ended in August of 2019, they spent time apart when Nik got a seven-week job on tour with Ghost, though Lindsey was able to fly up to meet him for a quick fall road trip through New England. But they also had time to settle into a routine at Lindsey’s home in Nashville as they counted down to their next big adventure – a trip to Europe to check off some of those bucket list items they talked about as they were getting to know one another.

“We found this airline called Level,” says Lindsey of their trip, which they’re documenting on a blog called Wanderlust Moon Duo. “So we got [one way tickets] from Newark to Paris Orly. Then we’ll train it down to Werzberg.” Beyond the New Year and a special surprise Nik had planned for Lindsey, however, they’re keeping their trip open ended.

In contrast to the strict schedule and regimentation of tour life, they’re looking forward to the playful possibilities of following friends’ recommendations and last-minute invitations wherever they might lead. After all, it’s that sort of serendipity that lead to them meeting one another in the first place. Only one things’ for sure on this adventure – these rolling stones won’t be gathering moss anytime soon.

Warm clear seas, tropical vistas and utter luxury: say hello to an overwater bungalow or villa vacation in 2023.

Detached villas that seem to float above the sea, these stilt-mounted structures bring the sea to and around you. One of the world’s great luxuries, overwater bungalows are (naturally) found in some of the world’s most exclusive places, including Bora Bora and Mo’orea in French Polynesia, and Maldives.

“It’s completely unique,” says Beverly Hills–based travel advisor Leah Winck of First in Service Travel. “You’re on stilts in this house in the middle of the ocean, completely surrounded by water. There is nothing in the world quite like it.”

Winck recalls her first unforgettable experience in Bora Bora almost 30 years ago, where her villa had a glass-bottomed floor. “I lay right on it, and could have spent hours watching the fish, and all the sea life directly below.”

“The Bali Ha‘i Boys”

Overwater bungalows were first conceived in 1962, when three young Californians decamped to Mo‘orea and opened a hotel called Bali Ha‘i, in honor of the island James Michener anointed “a jewel of the vast ocean” in his iconic Tales of the South Pacific. (It was later revealed he was writing about present-day Vanuatu.) A few years later, the “Bali Ha‘i Boys” were running another hotel on Ra‘iatea, and set off on building free-standing structures that would mimic the shacks hovering above the water where local fishermen passed their days. Thus, the launch of the world’s first overwater bungalows.

Today there are approximately 9000 of these private villas worldwide (1000 in French Polynesia alone) at about 250 separate resorts. The vast majority – about 6000 – are in Maldives. They range from such charming and exquisitely appointed thatched structures as those at Le Bora Bora in Vaitape (some of which have private pools) to bold, cutting-edge design wonders like the the ultra-exclusive Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi’s Stella Maris Ocean Villas, which float invitingly over the warm Arabian Sea. Many have private butlers, and all have incomparable views of the vibrant sea below and the sky and horizon beyond.

According to Roger Wade, of Sungazer Media and OverwaterBungalows.net, many island and coastal resorts are adding such bungalows to properties in Central America, Indonesia, Mexico and the Caribbean. But purists may have to venture farther for the ultimate magic. Wade considers the two Sandals resorts in Jamaica and the one in St Lucia “some of the best in the world” – but, he adds, “few of the resorts outside of the South Pacific and Maldives are set over calm lagoons with steps into the water. So to get that experience you really have to head to the original places,” he says. “Being able to swim under your own bungalow is on another level.” As is blissful isolation on what seems a completely private island, but which is actually a full-service resort.

The ultimate post-pandemic indulgence

Especially after COVID-19, travelers are seeking transformative journeys to far-flung locales, looking not just for adventure. They want something unique and special, perhaps a profound sense of privacy as well as wide-open space.

On all these new priorities, an overwater bungalow delivers.

“Now, people want to pay top dollar for experiences,” says Winck. “Because most of these resorts that offer overwater bungalows also offer an echelon of service that luxury travelers appreciate – and nowadays almost expect.”

With this worldwide craze for a limited number of private bungalows, demand is far outstripping supply, especially in the more accessible Caribbean. “The tricky part is finding availability,” says Sarah Key, owner of The Keys to Travel (affiliated with Gifted Travel Network). “If you want a full week in an overwater bungalow, you have to book at least a year out.”

While this kind of trip can be prohibitively expensive, bargains (at least for the villa itself) aren’t unheard of. According to Wade, you can stay in an overwater bungalow in Maldives for as little as $300 a night, and one in Fiji for as little as $400. But keep in mind that it can be pricey and time consuming to get to these remote places. “Most of them are out of reach in cost, so they remain a bucket-list or honeymoon goal for most of us.”

With that in mind, here are a few bright spots in the white-hot universe of overwater bungalows.

1. Meeru Island Resort, Maldives

Every resort in Maldives is set on its own private island, since there are 1190 coral islands in the archipelago. The stunning and (relatively) affordable Meeru Island Resort has an all-inclusive option for their Jacuzzi Water Villas, with more amenities than much more expensive resorts.

2. Le Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The thatched overwater bungalows at Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts in Vaitape are plunked right atop the crystal-clear lagoon. All have shaded decks from which to observe the green landscape and dramatic, volcanic peaks.

3. Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

Wade considers the 18,000-sq-ft Private Reserve at Maldives’ Gili Lankanfushi “the ultimate overwater bungalow experience.” Only a 10-minute boat ride from Male airport, this peaceful and spectacularly lovely resort has 45 264-sq-ft overwater villas, each with a private infinity pool.

4. Sandals South Coast, Jamaica

About 90 minutes from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sandals South Coast is an all-inclusive resort, which raises its booking price considerably. It’s worth it, though: an overwater bungalow is an entirely new way to experience this lush country, thanks to the combination of superb service and exposure to the natural world of the always-desirable Caribbean.

5. Bawah Reserve, Indonesia

“Six pristine islands, 13 beaches and three lagoons,” is how the Bawah Reserve in the remote Riau Archipelago in the Anambas Islands, Indonesia, bills itself. An eco-resort fully powered by solar energy, its 11 1130-sq-ft overwater villas stand right above the warm shoals of the South China Sea, with their ideal conditions for snorkeling and diving.

6. Avani Goldcoast Sepang Resort, Malaysia

As one of the most economical choices for the overwater-bungalow experience, rooms at Malaysia’s Avani Goldcoast Sepang Resort start at about $115 per night, and its 392 villas here are easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur Airport. With views out across the Malacca Strait and the island of Sumatra on the horizon, the sunsets are spectacular from these authentic if simple private villas.

7. Four Seasons Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The Four Seasons Bora Bora makes all the “most beautiful hotels in the world” lists, and for good reason. Modeled after traditional Polynesian huts, the accommodations here have stellar views of Mt Otemanu and (of course) the aquamarine ocean. Of the 108 overwater bungalows, 27 have private pools.

Congratulations! You’ve taken the plunge, tied the knot, sealed the deal and said ‘I do’. You’ve well and truly earned some downtime with your new Mr or Mrs. But despite what the movies would have you believe, honeymoons aren’t always without their stresses. Here are our top tips for avoiding honeymoon pitfalls and making your getaway the trip of a lifetime.

Schedule in some downtime

You’ve just thrown the biggest party of your life. You’ve people-managed warring family members, negotiated hard with scores of suppliers, and spent entire evenings hunched over a table plan. You’re pretty much a multi-tasking superhero. But even superheroes need to recharge their batteries now and again.

So even if you’re both full-on adventure junkies, don’t plan to rush headlong into a jam-packed schedule of activities, especially if you’re in a new city where you haven’t found your feet. Trust us: leave the first couple of days fairly free. Acclimatise, get to know one another again in a pressure-free zone and bask in all those wedding memories. Your brain will thank you for letting it catch up. Then chuck yourself into the fun feet first.

Resist the ‘should’ brigade

A two-week beach break doesn’t quite float your boat? Don’t feel you have to cave to others’ expectations of what a honeymoon ‘should’ be. Make no mistake: the wedding business is a booming industry, and there are plenty of people chomping at the bit to profit from your love for one another. If what you both truly desire is an all-inclusive trip to a far-flung white-sand wonderland, go for it to your hearts’ content. If the idea of lying on a beach for longer than five minutes makes you break out in a rash, don’t sweat it.

Stats show that more couples than ever before are looking for adventure and activities on their honeymoons. They’ve figured out what the packaged holiday companies don’t want them to: that romance is whatever you make it, whether that’s a dozen roses, a canyoning day trip, a windy clifftop walk, or (ahem) screeching Pulp’s Common People at each other at the tops of your voices in a private karaoke booth.

Make your budget go further

If you’re on a tight budget, the idea of throwing caution to the wind and treating yourselves can be a major source of stress. Consider setting up a honeymoon-funding wedding list. Not only will it take the pressure off your finances and let you splurge guilt-free, but it’s a wonderful way to incorporate those you love into a very special trip. Set up your list to allow contributions to specific activities: your guests will feel they’ve given you a tangible experience (especially if you add a personal touch and send them a photo of you enjoying their gift), and you can toast each present-giver as you go and feel almost as though they’re with you on your trip.

A touch of luxury is well-justified on a honeymoon, but don’t forget about the budget options too. You may well find it’s at street stalls you find the best, most authentic meals, and in the most pedestrian of experiences that you meet the most genuine people and create memories that last a lifetime.

Watch out for decision fatigue

You’ll probably have made a lot of decisions in the course of your wedding planning. Colour scheme, venue, menu, flowers, pocket squares, chair covers, table runners, lighting, favours, cutlery… It’s exhausting to even think about. And if you jet off on honeymoon straight after the wedding, it can lead to an extreme case of Decision Fatigue Syndrome (DFS). It’ll hit you at the oddest times: you’ll be happily exploring, not a care in the world, when all of a sudden you’re faced with a simple choice – ‘will it be beer or wine?’ – and BAM. Your mind empties. Your eyes glaze. You don’t know. Wine’s nice. Beer’s nice. Choose one? You couldn’t possibly! What do you want? Beer. No, wine! No, beer! Your palms become slick. You can’t. Panic.

This is entirely normal. We recommend that your partner stays on the lookout for symptoms of DFS so they can step in, calmly and quietly, to save the day. Be mindful that you may both have to act as the rescuing party at different points, so it pays to choose wisely for your partner at this point. (And, for the record, if you’re the rescuing party in this instance, play it safe and order both.)

Embrace the bicker

‘Nothing worth having comes easy,’ goes the saying. Travel, just like marriage, is a test – of ourselves, our limits, our beliefs and our perceptions of the world. It’s worth remembering this (of both travel and marriage) when you’re both hopelessly lost, without a map or data, exhausted, hangry, and arguing for all you’re worth about how to find the hotel. And how, frankly, you did say bringing the map would be useful, but, you know, whatever…

Conventional wisdom tells us that honeymooners should spend every second gazing lovingly into one another’s eyes. We politely call conventional wisdom out on this one. Bickering is not failure: it’s how we learn to understand each other better. Chances are you aren’t used to spending 24 hours a day with your new spouse, and no matter how well you get on, being thrown into constant company with each other can ignite irritations, especially in the challenging environment that travel inhabits. Despite – or because of – those challenges, travel makes us better people, and you’ll be a better couple for it, squabbles and all, as long as you can laugh about it afterwards.

Don’t forget the best bit, either: making up…

Coping with the comedown

It can be a monumental crash back down to earth in the weeks following your honeymoon. The wedding has been and gone, the honeymoon is over and you’re back, with the best party of your life and the trip of a lifetime behind you (along with most of your disposable income for the next decade). You may find it helps to push rosy retrospection to one side at this point and remind yourself just how free you are from planning, well, anything. Those countless evenings spent making wedding favours and cursing the day you agreed to this circus? They are all behind you, my friend.

And when that isn’t enough? Simple: book another trip! OK, so you’re probably feeling more cash-strapped than Santa on Boxing Day, but it doesn’t need to be a blow-out adventure. Book a weekend break, together or with friends, or even just designate a staycation to look forward to. ‘Travel is a state of mind,’ Paul Theroux once wrote. So make that state of mind a condition of your lives together, get dreaming about the next big trip, and you can’t go too far wrong.

Is your honeymoon on the horizon? Check out our new Honeymoon Handbook for plenty of tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect day.

France is the world’s top tourist destination for good reason – artistic and architectural masterpieces, remarkable museums and natural landscapes, and a history harking back far beyond the Romans. Top it off with fine wine, food, and a culinary culture that permeates through every city and small town. This first-timer’s guide to things to do in France can help you narrow down the best places to go, along with other top tips to make the most of your visit.

Paris

France’s chic, sexy capital has to be experienced at least once. Mix picture-postcard icons with simple Parisian moments and you’ll truly fall in love with the city. Scale the Eiffel Tower then walk or cycle along the Seine, or cruise down it on a bateau-mouche. Stroll by Notre Dame, which is closed for extensive renovation works following the 2019 fire, and grab a coffee at Café Saint-Régis, ice-cream at Berthillon or super juice at literary cafe of mythical bookshop Shakespeare & Company. Hit the Louvre then collapse on a bench with a Pierre Hermé macaron in the Tuileries or Jardin du Palais Royal. Delve into hilltop Montmartre with a local Paris Greeter. Escape to posh leafy Versailles and come back blown away by France’s most famous chateau.

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Loire Valley

The lush Loire Valley is scattered with stunning French castles, or châteaux. Stand in awe of the Renaissance castle Château de Chambord, and graceful Château de Chenonceau astride the Cher River. Château de Blois, with its whistle-stop tour of French architecture, and classical Château de Cheverny is the perfect one-day combo. In summer put the gardens at Château de Villandry and Château d’Azay-le-Rideau after dark on your hit list. Base yourself in Tours, Blois or Amboise; hire a bike to pedal along the Loire riverbanks at least once; and try to catch a son-et-lumière (sound-and-light) show.

French Riviera

This strip of seashore on the big blue Med has it all – hence the extreme crowds in summer. The seaside town of Nice is the queen of the Riviera with its cutting-edge art museums, belle époque architecture, pebble beaches and legendary promenade. Take glitzy day trips keeping an eye out for film stars in Cannes, Formula One drivers in Monaco, and hobnobbing celebs and socialites in St-Tropez. Sensational views make the drive along the three coastal roads from Nice to Menton an absolute must. Otherwise, grab your hiking boots and stride out in the fiery Massif de l’Estérel for brilliant red-rock mountain scenery.

Provence

Check all devices are fully charged: the extraordinary light and landscape in this part of France’s south demands constant snapping and sharing. Start with Marseille, a millennia-old port with striking museums such as the anthropological MuCEM and coastline straight off a film set. Inland, zoom in on glorious Roman amphitheaters and aqueducts in Nîmes, Orange and at the Pont du Gard. Drive past lavender fields and cherry orchards to hilltop villages and food markets in the bucolic Luberon and Vaucluse regions. No lens is large enough for the peak of Mont Ventoux (a cyclist’s paradise) or the Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s deepest canyon with 2620ft (800m) sheer-drop cliffs and startling emerald green water, no filter required.

Champagne

The sparkling viticulture region of Champagne in northern France is all class. Where else can you sip champers in centuries-old cellars and taste your way through vineyards and medieval villages straight out of a Renoir painting? Stay in Reims (pronounced something similar to “rance”) or Épernay to visit Pommery, Mumm, Moët & Chandon and other big-name Champagne houses. In Reims, pick a clear day to scale the tower of the cathedral where dozens of French kings were crowned. From both towns, scenic Champagne driving routes thrust motorists into the heart of this intoxicating region.

Brittany and Normandy

A wind-buffeted part of northern France, Brittany and Normandy were created especially for outdoor fiends and history buffs with sensational seafood, cliff-top walks, a craggy coastline and ancient sights steeped in lore and legend. Top billing is Mont St-Michel, a magical mysterious abbey-island, best approached barefoot across the sand with a guide. Hire a bicycle to explore the Carnac megaliths strewn along Brittany’s southern coast (wear a windbreaker). Normandy’s time-travel masterpiece is the Bayeux tapestry but it’s the heart-wrenching D-Day beaches and WWII war cemeteries nearby that will really take you back to a moment in history.

Read more: How to explore the D-Day beaches

French Alps

The French Alps is one massive outdoor playground, which pumps during the ski season (December to April) when insanely challenging slopes and trails entice adrenaline junkies from everywhere. Mont Blanc prevails, and party town Chamonix is the place to get up close to its might and majesty – the mountain panorama from the top of the Aiguille du Midi cable car is the best there is, whatever the season. If small and chic is more your style then strap on the skis in Megéve-St-Gervais. To let rip after dark over hardcore après-ski head to Val d’Isère or Méribel and Courchevel in Les Trois Vallées.

• Walking shoes

• French phrasebook

• Lonely Planet’s Paris City Guides App

• Adaptor for France’s two-pin plugs

• Raincoat and umbrella (particularly for Paris and northern climes)

• Sunscreen and mosquito repellent (particularly for southern France)

• Detailed road map and/or GPS device

Essential phrases

Hello: Bonjour
Good afternoon: Bon après-midi
Good evening: Bonne soirée
Goodbye: Au revoir
Please: S’il vous plaît
Thank you: Merci
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais?
I am lost!: Je suis perdu!
Please can I reserve a table for two/four people: Je voudrais réserver une table pour deux/quatre personnes s’il vous plaît.

Getting around

Regular trains link cities and main towns. Check schedules and buy tickets at SNCF. Traveling around by car buys freedom, flexibility and a ticket to rural France. Motorists drive on the right side of the road and pay to use autoroutes (motorways). Plot routes, toll and fuel costs with autoroutes.

Bicycle is a brilliant way of navigating towns and cities, including Paris. Sleek cycling paths link sights in the gorgeous and flat Loire Valley, Provence (not so flat) and Brittany. Research routes with France Vélo Tourisme.

Read more: How to get around in France

You might also like:

14 of the best places to visit in France
Do you need a visa to go to France?
The 12 best beaches in France

Article first published in June 2015 and last updated in July 2021.

A honeymoon may be the perfect get-out-of-jail-free card with your boss that lets you take a longer vacation than usual, but sometimes life gets in the way and that epic trip just has to wait. That needn’t mean giving up on the idea altogether, though.

Consider a ‘minimoon’ – an abbreviated version of your ultimate getaway. If you’re short on time but big on ideas, this could be the trip for you.

Why take a minimoon?

There are several reasons why a minimoon might work best for you. Some spouses-to-be plan a short getaway before the wedding. This growing trend in some parts of the world is like a palate cleanser in advance of the big day: you’ve worked really hard to plan the ceremony and the party, and want to step back and find your Zen before saying ‘I do’. The more classic reason for condensing your time away is that it’s simply not possible to take a long trip right after the nuptials – perhaps work commitments are biting, or you’ve got kids. In cases such as this, a minimoon can become the main event or, for some, the stopgap before a more traditional honeymoon further down the road.

Where, how long and how far?

Typically, a minimoon could be anything from a weekend to a week away. When planning your trip, consider following this simple rule: the number of hours you travel should not be greater than the number of days of your trip. So, for a four-day trip, for example, you should ostensibly book a flight no longer than four hours. This equation essentially safeguards against two things: crippling jet lag and spending too much time of your short trip travelling. Ask yourself the following two questions when deciding what destination will work best for your trip:

• Is my destination of choice different enough from where I live and my everyday life that I’ll feel the full effect of travel’s magic?

• Is my destination of choice different enough from my ‘real’ honeymoon down the road (should you be planning one) that it will feel like a special trip in itself?

Where to stay

For some travellers, a minimoon is the only way to climb up to the next price bracket. By shortening a stay, a dream hotel may suddenly come into reach. If there’s a super-special resort on your Pinterest board, now’s the time to book it! In general, time is extra valuable on a minimoon so it’s best to stick to one accommodation and avoid additional hours wasted on transferring hotels and falling into that awkward post-check-out/pre-check-in vacuum between 11am and 2pm. Travellers wanting two stripes to their minimoon (beach and city, say) should target a destination that offers both, like Cartagena in Colombia or Lisbon in Portugal, rather than moving between two stops on one trip.

Itinerary tips

Like a regular honeymoon, an itinerary for a shorter foray should read like a story. The action should gradually crescendo – you’ve just left the hectic rhythm of your life behind and need a moment to click into vacation mode. The middle of the trip functions like the meat of the sandwich. Get out there and explore, do everything on your checklist (leaving room for serendipity, of course) and joke about needing a vacation from the vacation. Then, push the brakes as you approach the end of the trip.

The last piece of the itinerary – even if it’s just one day – is the happy ending. Does the hotel have a spa? Great – soothe those walking legs in the jacuzzi. Is there an incredible restaurant around the corner? Wonderful – enjoy a long, luxurious dinner. This is the time to remember the trip’s raison d’être: celebrating each other. The last slice of the vacation should leave you feeling refreshed and poised to return home to brag to your friends.

Lonely Planet staff stories

Denver, three days – Natalie Nicolson, Senior PR and Communications Manager

My husband and I rented a Volkswagen van for our wedding and were planning on a big road trip down the California coast to New Mexico, but since we wanted to spend more time with relatives in town, we opted for a quick, easy trip instead, to unwind together for a few days post-wedding.

We got an inexpensive flight from Oakland to Denver, where we had never been, and had a great time taking in the city: staying in a high-rise apartment, hiking near Red Rocks Amphitheater, going on a brewery tour through LoDo and RiNo neighborhoods, listening to live music, and lots and lots of eating. One of the (surprisingly romantic) highlights of the trip was the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with its stunning views of downtown and the mountains beyond.

Paris, four days – Helen Elfer, Content Sources Manager

We weren’t planning to take a proper honeymoon any time soon, but wanted a short break to relax after all the wedding excitement. Our friends had come to London for our wedding from NYC and Shanghai, and it seemed such a missed opportunity to not be able to spend a decent amount of time with them when they’d travelled so far, so we arranged to all meet in Paris a few days later.

I guess it’s not very traditional to bring four friends and baby along on a honeymoon! We strolled round Belleville to check out the street art and hit up any bars we could find with ‘coupe de champagne’ on Happy Hour special offer. We had heaps of fun and it definitely helped soften the post-wedding comedown.

Scotland, four days – Dan Fahey, Destination Editor for Western Europe

We had four days between us tying the knot and our friends walking down the aisle the following weekend, so we decided to grab a quick break in-between – primarily to avoid the post-wedding clean up. I imagined a traditional honeymoon would feature a little more relaxation, perhaps a sun lounger and a cocktail. This was Scotland in October, though. So gale-force winds and Tennant’s lager it was.

Each morning we’d drive to a new hiking spot to splash foolhardily through lashing elements as our cagoules inflated and flapped about in the wind like brightly-coloured carrier bags. Then it was back to the hotel for a hot bath, whiskies in front of the crackling fire in the hotel bar and a three-course dinner. Pure bliss. Maybe we should renew our vows and go back?

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A week at an all-inclusive resort promises idle, sunny days but it doesn’t usually spell adventure. After all, where’s the thrill of exploration when there’s a beach in easy reach of your bed, and all meals and drinks are served on site? But hold the piña coladas: resorts can offer much more than a do-nothing holiday.

At these 10 all-inclusives, guests go galloping across lonesome prairies, watch elephants from outdoor pools, and cultivate skills from yoga to axe-throwing. These out-of-the-ordinary spots might even win over hardened resort skeptics.

Club Marvy, Turkey

Resorts are sprinkled across Turkey’s Aegean Coast as generously as pistachios on a wedge of künefe (pastry cheesecake). Club Marvy has the swish spa and sandy beach you’d expect of an upscale all-inclusive. Its kitchen aims high with Turkey-meets-Italy food from locally sourced ingredients (the owner’s mother has an organic farm close by). But best of all is the chance to play sea captain with reasonably priced lessons at the on-site sailing club. Kids can bob around in the sparkling water on a dinghy while adults work to get their sailing license … perhaps you’ll arrive by boat next time.

Full-board packages start around TL1045 (US$185) per night. It’s less than an hour by road from ancient port town İzmir.

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, the Bahamas

A Bahamian beach is a suitably dreamy setting to search your soul. This traditional ashram’s immersive yoga holidays on Paradise Island include guided meditation, workshops and dance performances, along with vegetarian meals and accommodation. Some private rooms look straight at the sea; even better value are the wood-lined garden rooms, dorms and tent huts. When you aren’t working on your asanas (yoga postures) you can wiggle your toes into warm sand or go snorkeling.

For a shared room, budget US$105 or above per night. Boat transfers from Nassau reach the ashram.

Bamarru Plains, Australia

In Australia’s Top End, a jigsaw of wetlands, rainforests and sandstone plateaus, Bamarru Plains offers a front-row seat to natural drama: gamboling wallabies, strutting storks and herds of water buffalo. Nine stilt bungalows, poised above the Mary River floodplains west of Kakadu National Park, are designed with respect for the land and its history, from Aboriginal artwork to bathrooms made from up-cycled metal. Mesh walls on three sides allow epic views from your bed, while magpie geese act as a cacophonous alarm clock.

Packages start at A$1140 (US$800) per person per night (minimum two-night stay). It’s a three-hour drive east from Darwin (or a 30-minute charter flight).

OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo, Maldives

Powder-white sand, crystalline water … few destinations evoke paradise quite like the Maldives. This palm-fringed resort encourages guests to dive in (literally), with complimentary stand-up paddleboard, wind and kite surf, kayak and snorkel hire, plus there’s an on-site diving school to guide the adventurous to wrecks and reefs. Still not done with the deep blue sea? Some packages include an evening at the underwater restaurant – though it’s hard to order fish of the day after seeing Nemo swim past the window.

All-inclusive rates start at around US$966 per room when booked online. Speedboat transfers link to Male’s international airport.

Roho Ya Selous, Tanzania

Wildlife prowls straight past the luxury tents at Roho Ya Selous. Guided walking safaris and game drives (included in the price) take you even closer to residents of the Selous Game Reserve: lions, wild dogs, elephants and more than 400 bird species. The eight luxury tents have a certain rough-hewn chic, with stone floors and reed walls, and evening meals are served outdoors allowing diners to count stars. Prime time is from June to October when watering holes shrink, allowing for predictable wildlife-spotting.

Nightly full-board rates per person (double occupancy), including activities and transfers, start at around US$700.

La Cucina Sabina, Italy

Dining on authentic pizza and tiramisu is a memorable though short-lived pleasure. But a stay at La Cucina Sabina might cultivate a life-long love affair with Italian cuisine, with cookery classes woven into a program of gastronomic discovery. At this elegant boutique resort, you’ll sizzle up saltimbocca (prosciutto and sage-wrapped veal) while admiring lemon trees and olive groves from the kitchen’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The itinerary also includes guided tours of castles and Rome’s ancient sights. Best of all, you’ll depart with the secret cooking techniques of Italian nonne (grandmothers).

Six-night culinary holidays start at US$3400 per guest (double occupancy). La Cucina Sabina is 20km northeast of Rome.

Vista Verde Guest Ranch, USA

Nestled in northwest Colorado’s Elk River Valley, upscale dude ranch Vista Verde isn’t only for serious equine enthusiasts. Novice horse riders are welcome, plus there’s mountain biking, rafting, photography, cooking classes and, in winter, Nordic skiing and sleigh rides (all included in the rate). Communal dining and quality wine lists ensure easy mingling with other guests. Roam the plains on horseback then retreat to a log cabin with a hot tub…ranch life sure is tough.

Seven-night winter stays start at US$3025 per person (US$4525 in summer). Driving from Denver takes roughly 3½ hours.

The Chilko Experience, Canada

Feeling the urge to leave humanity behind for a while? Head to the untamed Chilcotin, the stomping ground of grizzly bears (and only around 1000 humans). Everywhere you look from The Chilko Experience are evergreen forests, alpine lakes and serrated mountain peaks. Along with accommodation in cosy timber-frame and log dwellings, prettily decorated with antiques, the rate includes gung-ho activities from kayaking and lake cruises to ATV riding and axe-throwing. Ideal timing is mid-September into October, when bears travel from miles around to guzzle salmon at the Chilko River.

Three-night stays from US$2950 per person. Flights from Vancouver to Williams Lake land within a three-hour drive of the resort.

Sarara Camp, Kenya

At solar-powered Sarara Camp, every moment is a wildlife-spotting opportunity. You might spy warthogs from the terrace of your high-ceilinged tent, watch elephants from the outdoor pool, and spot impala from the al fresco dining area. True Luxury Travel parcel up an all-inclusive stay with a visit to nearby Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. Committed to returning orphaned animals to the wild – and opposed to cruel practices like elephant riding – this community-focused project limits human-elephant contact but allows observation of endearing pachyderms at play.

Four-night package (based on two guests sharing) with domestic flights GBP£6600 (US$8250). Transfers from Wilson Airport in Nairobi are included.

Tiger Rock Resort, Malaysia

Tourism can have a disastrous impact on fragile island environments and Pulau Pangkor, a popular beachy retreat off Peninsular Malaysia, has seen rampant development. But Tiger Rock Resort has taken a low-impact and community-driven approach, and the result is a tranquil hideaway that blends into its jungle setting. Knock about on the tennis courts, watch huge Raja Brooke butterflies flit through overhanging palm fronds, cool off in a saltwater pool, and tuck into fish curries and nasi lemak (coconut rice) flecked with the island’s signature product, ikan bilis (sun-dried anchovies).

Full board per person per night starts at RM690 (US$168). Ferries connect Pangkor Island with mainland jetties Lumut and Marina Island.

Warm temperatures aren’t the only thing in the air in Florida: love is too. With more than 1300 miles of coastline, cosmopolitan cities with happenings galore and secluded terrain primed for romantic outings, the Sunshine State is a multifaceted destination for lovebirds near and far.

Central to Florida’s allure are its pleasant year-round climate – particularly for those escaping colder US states during the wintertime – and its spectrum of lux and affordable adventures. This means walks on white-sand beaches, resort stays and intimate outdoor excursions are always in reach.

Here are seven of Florida’s most romantic trips – spanning all corners of the state – to help hearts flutter.

Embark on a snorkeling adventure in Key West

There are plenty of water-adventure businesses to wow you and yours in the Florida Keys. For a build-it-yourself adventure that lets your romantic creativity shine, make a snorkeling outing at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park – the site of a pre–Civil War fort – your itinerary’s anchor.

No boat is needed to get your snorkel on here. Simply bring your own equipment (or rent some on-site) and then venture into the water where coral, parrotfish, snapper, lobsters and more colorful creatures will greet you.

After some time on the water, head to Key West’s Southernmost Point. In addition to snagging a photo with the anchored buoy at the Southernmost Point in the continental US, time your trip to coincide with a sunset. Your geographical journey will leave you just as tingly as the cotton-candy-like colors swirling in the sky.

Build your own around-the-world itinerary at Epcot in Orlando

If a dreamy excursion to France or Italy has ever been on your bucket list, you can make it happen in-state – or a version of it, at least. There are few places on planet Earth where you can visit 11 replica countries in one day, enjoying authentic cuisine and shopping up a storm along the way, but at Walt Disney World in Orlando, you can do just that with a classic eating-and-boozing “around the world” adventure at Epcot.

As easy as it can be to randomly wander and nosh on anything within the park’s 300-acre confines, consider building an itinerary around a cuisine you both enjoy. For wine lovers, for example, that could mean hitting Les Vins de France for champagne pours, Japan for plum wine and cold sake and Italy’s Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. As easy as it can be to focus on wine, you could easily go the beer-and-food-only route at Epcot too.

Shop ‘til you drop in South Florida via Brightline

South Florida traffic can be a total nightmare. Fortunately, the ultra-sleek and high-speed Brightline train has been a total game-changer, connecting the downtowns of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach like never before. For a date night or a weekend getaway, book a premium-class ticket, which includes a lounge and on-board car with drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and curated bites.

As for the quintessential shopping destinations within the Brightline route’s reach, you can peruse the boutiques and restaurants of Clematis Street, Rosemary Square and Worth Avenue in West Palm Beach; mature-tree-clad Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale; and funky, graffiti-covered Wynwood, street mall Lincoln Road and uber-classy Bal Harbour Shops in Miami.

Picnic and see some dolphins at Lovers Key State Park

If the name of this Fort Myers Beach park itself doesn’t do the trick, perhaps its stunning confines will. This is a popular destination for weddings, with a gazebo on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. But there’s plenty to light some sparks even if you’re not tying the knot, including 5 miles of wooded trails to bike, a 2.5-mile estuary to kayak or canoe and a butterfly garden to explore. If you decide to go for a swim, dolphin and manatee sightings can happen here.

Go horseback riding on the beach at Amelia Island

Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city by population, with more than 900,000 residents. When locals and visitors alike want a reprieve, they head approximately 30 miles northeast of the River City to Amelia Island and its luxury resorts and golf courses.

One of the state’s more unique experiences for couples is a horseback ride on the beach. And yes, many companies – including Amelia Island Horseback Riding, Happy Trails Walking Horses and Kelly Seahorse Ranch – offer guided excursions for novice equestrians.

Get pampered in Hollywood in a Rock Spa & Salon couples’ treatment suite

Less than 10 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale – a canal-filled romance hotspot in its own right, dubbed the “Venice of America” – the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino beams with warm vibes. And we mean that quite literally: at night, a beam of light streams up through the clouds from its guitar-shaped hotel.

Beyond the Bora Bora–style pool setup and nightly light shows – in which the hotel structure itself puts on a synchronized light and music show – the property’s Rock Spa & Salon is the ultimate couple’s spa destination. For unmatched romance, book one of the three 800 sq ft couples’ treatment suites, each with its own private shower and Jacuzzi. The utopia or relaxation also has an open atrium area with wet lounges, dipping pools, saunas, quiet rooms and a salt room.

Select a hotel to match your romantic vibe

According to Visit Florida, there are more than 4200 hotel properties in the Sunshine State to help set the tone for your getaway. Time-tested options in northern Florida include the Henderson Park Inn in Destin, which has a tranquil sunset deck overlooking the Emerald Coast, as well as Gainesville’s Bed and Breakfast District, which includes the Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn, offering pet-friendly cottages if Fido is joining.

In Central and South Florida, book a stay at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, where you can explore a 4.5-acre glass atrium loaded with landscaping and waterways with your boo. For Miami luxury, the St Regis Bal Harbour Resort exudes oceanfront indulgence, with Bal Harbour Shops across the street for a shopping spree and an on-property adults-only pool for ultimate privacy.

There is no escaping the romance of Paris. In the early 19th century the French capital revelled in the artistic and literary liberation of Romanticism, yet this graceful city has always inspired love. It permeates through the city’s arrondissements (districts) where loved-up couples laze in its manicured gardens, dine at candlelit wine bars and stroll along the Seine arm-in-arm at sunset.

The opportunities for romance here are seemingly endless, but these are our top picks of romantic things to do in the City of Love.

1. Take in the view from the Eiffel Tower

It’s no surprise why the Eiffel Tower witnesses so many marriage proposals: scaling the three floors of the 324m Parisian icon to the sweeping panoramic views of the city is utterly romantic – and even more irresistible with a glass of pink Champagne in hand at the top-floor Champagne Bar. Rev up the romance stakes with an ascent after-dark when the tower sparkles every hour on the hour with 20,000 gold lights.

2. Say ‘Je t’aime’ in Montmartre

Montmartre and its signature Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Sacred Heart Basilica) is a place of pilgrimage for romantics as well as the religious. Steep staircases scale the hillside to the basilica’s lofty dove-white domes, from where vistas of the city – from the front steps or from inside its main dome – are second to none.

Delve into the fabled heart of this artist neighbourhood at the Musée de Montmartre, set in the 17th-century manor where Impressionist painter Renoir and later Realist painter Suzanne Valadon had studios. The intimate garden here – with a rope swing hung from a tree evocative of Renoir’s The Swing (1876) – is particularly romantic. Weave your way to place des Abbesses and discover how to say ‘Je t’aime’ in 250 languages on the Le Mur des Je t’aime. Dedicated to love, the I Love You Wall, painted on enamelled lava tiles, is the creation of artists Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito.

You might also like: Where to stay in Paris – which arrondissement is right for you?

3. Admire the French Romantics

From place des Abbesses, walk south to the Musée de la Vie Romantique, incongruous yet still at home in red-light Pigalle. The romantic mansion with green shutters and tangled garden sits in a cobbled courtyard at the end of a tree-shaded alley. Writer George Sand and painter Ary Scheffer lived here, and objects exhibited create a wonderful flashback to Romantic-era Paris when Chopin, Delacroix et al attended salons in the house.

Admire works by Romantic painter Delacroix in the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay (in either museum hook up with THATMuse for a love-themed treasure hunt). Or head to Delacroix’s studio-home Musée National Eugène Delacroix to peek at more intimate works like An Unmade Bed (1828). In the genre of sculpture Rodin was the man: be inspired by his The Kiss (1889) and other curvaceous works at the Musée Rodin.

Writer Victor Hugo was another great French Romantic, inspired by Notre Dame. Get close to him at house-museum Maison de Victor Hugo on place des Vosges – a city square full of romancing couples on warm days.

4. Discover covered passageways

Indulge in the romantic nostalgia of 19th-century Paris in the Right Bank’s covered shopping arcades. Browse antique and secondhand bookshops in Passage Verdeau, and doll house miniatures and old-fashioned toys in Passage Jouffroy. Tea room Le Valentin seduces with homemade gâteaux (cakes).

Stroll south to Passage des Panoramas, the first arcade to be lit with gas lamps in 1817. Vintage boutiques burst with collectibles here (stamps, coins, medals, postcards etc) and old-world bistros mix with on-the-trend eating addresses like gluten-free Noglu and Philippe Starck’s Caffè Stern in an old engraving workshop at No 47.

From Passage des Panoramas continue to Jardin du Palais Royal, wrapped within the elegant arches of Galerie de Montpensier and Galerie de Valois. Guy Martin’s gastronomic Le Grand Véfour here is the last word in 18th-century opulence.

5. Stroll arm-in-arm down Canal St-Martin

There are few finer spots for a romantic stroll or cycle than along the shaded 19th-century tow paths of tranquil Canal St-Martin. Linger on the iron footbridge by the intersection of rue de la Grange aux Belles and quai de Jemmapes to watch the vintage road bridge swing open to let canal boats pass. Or grab a waterside pew at Chez Prune to boat-watch and fall in love with this fashionable Soho-boho quartier.

For lunch, feast on traditional French in the vintage romance of Le Chansonnier or play it cool with a picnic on the banks of the canal: grab a bottle of wine from Le Verre Volé and a pizza to go from Pink Flamingo.

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6. Go boating in Bois de Boulogne

There is a certain romance to sailing down the Seine on a Bateaux Parisiens or Bateaux Mouches river cruise. But two in a boat is more memorable. Head to the Bois de Boulogne to glide in a rowing boat around Lac Inférieur – romance and serenity guaranteed. Afterwards make your way through the woods to Jardin Shakespeare where plants, flowers and trees mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays grow. Summertime performances in the garden’s delightful open-air theatre are magic.

7. Tuck into a memorable meal

The maze of candlelit rooms inside a vine-clad 17th-century townhouse in the 5th arrondissement at Le Coupe-Chou is overwhelmingly romantic – as are the tables between art nouveau columns at Mini Palais in Grand Palais. Top choices for a romantic lunch are the art-nouveau jewel Bouillon Racine or Le Frank at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Boulogne. Feast on aphrodisiac oysters at Au Rocher de Cancale – a favourite since 1804 – or pair a dozen with wine at Le Baron Rouge then whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ears while gorging at dessert restaurant Dessance.

Elsewhere, Les Ombres and Café Branly have splendid Eiffel Tower views, certain to set hearts aflutter any time of year. In summer, warm Paris evenings woo lovers with a stunning rooftop garden at La Tour d’Argent, cobbled courtyard eating at Derrière, and romantic dining beneath the stars on cafe terraces all over the city.

You might also like: 20 free things to do in Paris

Paris’ most romantic hotels:

– The ultimate place to stay is black-clad Hôtel Amour in the increasingly trendy 9th arrondissement.
– Luxurious choices loaded with history, romance and seductive gardens include Hôtel du Jeu de Paume on Île St-Louis and Le Pavillon de la Reine in a courtyard off place des Vosges.
– Opt for a rose petal-covered levitating bed beneath a starry ceiling at contemporary romantic The Five Hotel.
– The decor alone at midrange options Hôtel Caron de Beaumarchais, Hôtel du Petit Moulin and Hôtel Félicien sweeps romantics off their feet.
– Hôtel du Nord – Le Pari Vélo is a budget-priced charmer.
– Stylish doubles with private terraces at Generator Hostel overlook Montmartre – or go for a dorm bed with bathroom art declaring ‘je pense que je t’aime’ (I think I love you).

This article was first published in June 2015 and last updated in January 2020.

We have the movement of glaciers way back in the Ice Age to thank for formation of the Finger Lakes – 11 slender bodies of water flanked by wilderness, vineyards and farmland in an idyllic swath of Upstate New York.

While the Finger Lakes wine country may be finally getting its due, there are plenty of other things to love about this bucolic region. Within a few hours of leisurely driving among the lakes, you’ll encounter waterfalls, bird-watching, sculpture, women’s history, craft breweries and lots and lots of ice-cream. Here’s what to add to your itinerary.

Settle in to village life

It would be hard to pinpoint one thing that makes the Finger Lakes so charming, but a lot of it has to do with the sleepy lakeside villages dotted throughout the region.

Skaneateles, located at the top of its namesake lake (the moniker for which, pronounced “Skinny-atlas,” comes from the Iroquois term for “long lake”), vies hard for the title of the quaintest village in the land. Take a swim in the lakefront of Clift Park, just off the town’s main street, and then stroll through the smattering of adorable boutiques followed by a meal or ice-cream cone at the beloved Doug’s Fish Fry or a treat from Skaneateles Bakery.

Perched midway along the east bank of Cayuga Lake, Aurora is home to liberal arts institution Wells College, earning the village a reputation as a playground for intellectuals. The college is named after Henry Wells, co-founder of Wells Fargo and American Express, and still houses several stagecoaches as a result. Long Point State Park sits just south of the college and is a lovely spot for a picnic (pick up your provisions at The Village Market or at the farmers market if you’re there on a Saturday between June and October), as well as swimming, fishing, kayaking and boating. And if ornate homewares take your fancy, stop by the MacKenzie Childs store and its onsite Victorian farmhouse and gardens, just outside Aurora.

Over on Seneca Lake, Geneva is perhaps most well-known for its innovative concept restaurant FLX Table, which serves seasonal cuisine at one 14-seat dining table in front of an open kitchen (reserve your spot online a month in advance). The village is also home to the scenic Seneca Lake State Park and Lakefront Park, the latter of which hosts weekly free concerts in its gazebo in July and August. You can also take a stroll around the campuses of Hobart and William Smith Colleges or past the historic row houses on South Main Street.

Located at the top of its own eponymous lake, Canandaigua’s many charms include the 50-acre Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion Historic Park, which features nine painstakingly tended gardens, as well as a greenhouse complex and a Victorian mansion (be sure to check the events calendar if you’re headed there in summer). The kids will love you if you factor in a day at Roseland Waterpark, open June to September, while Roseland Wake Park is the only full-sized cable wakeboarding park in the region. But if you prefer to stay dry while out on the water, book some seats aboard the Canandaigua Lady, 19th-century paddle wheel steamboat replica that offers lunch, dinner and excursion cruises.

Though more of a town than a village, Ithaca – nestled at the foot of Cayuga Lake – is the liveliest enclave of the Finger Lakes, in part thanks to the presence of Cornell University and Ithaca College. A vibrant bohemian spirit permeates its pleasant streets, which are lined with surprisingly top-notch foodie spots (try Coltivare and Le Café Cent-Dix) and offbeat boutiques like Angry Mom Records and Autumn Leaves Used Books. Bibliophiles will love the A.D. White Library at Cornell University, while the Cornell Botanic Gardens will undoubtedly enchant green thumbs.

Explore Finger Lakes wine (and beer) country

Many who flock to the Finger Lakes are drawn to its wine country, which has earned itself a reputable name in the past few years. There are wine trails aplenty, with Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake being the most popular, but you’ll pass by boutique vineyards and wineries throughout your journey. Two of the oldest wineries in the regions, Dr. Konstantin Frank and Hermann J. Wiemer are well known for their Rieslings, while newer standouts include Heart & Hands Wine Company in Union Springs, Bloomer Creek in Hector, Boundary Breaks in Lodi, and Sheldrake Point in Ovid.

And if wine’s not your thing, or you’ve just had your fill of it, the region also has a thriving craft brew scene, best experienced via the Finger Lakes Beer Trail.

Celebrate women’s history

In July 1848, the first women’s rights convention in the United States convened at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who would become known as the founders of the US women’s rights movement. The Wesleyan Chapel still stands as a tribute to that historic event, alongside the official visitor center of the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, which hosts exhibitions and educational tours. You can also pay a visit to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s home just across the lake or the National Women’s Hall of Fame nearby.

Other cultural highlights in the Finger Lakes include the Johnson Museum of Fine Art in Ithaca, designed by architect IM Pei (who also designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris), and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning. The Corning Museum of Glass, dedicated to the art, history and science of glass (the first light bulbs were blown by hand in Corning in the 1890s), houses more than 45,000 glass objects.

Stop for ice-cream, often

One of the great things about traveling through a region dotted with small towns and villages is that mom-and-pop ice-cream spots are plentiful. Some of the best purveyors include Super Cream Dairy Bar in Homer, Pete’s Treats in Union Springs, Spotted Duck in Penn Yan, Purity in Ithaca, Cayuga Lake Creamery in Interlaken, the Colonial Pottery and Creamery in Watkins Glen, Dippity Do Dahs in Corning, Scoops in Canandaigua, Jones Humdinger in Binghampton, Chill & Grill in Palmyra and Mr Twistee’s, which has outposts in Geneva and Dresden.

Be sure to hit up an ATM first – true to their old-fashioned feel, many of these shops only accept cash. And if your tooth runs more sweet than savory, you might like to do the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail instead.

Revel in nature

While there is ample opportunity for sailing and other watersports on the lakes, you’ll also find many other ways to experience the area’s natural charms.

The Finger Lakes are situated within the Atlantic Flyway, which is a prominent migratory route for North American birds. Grab your birding book and binoculars and pull up a perch at one of the many key bird-watching spots, including Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, Montezuma Wetlands Complex, Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area and Salmon Creek.

For a stunning hike, head to Watkins Glen State Park, where the trail winds through gorges and under and over 19 waterfalls. At Taughannock Falls near Ulysses, you can view the cascade from a lookout above or hike down the easy Gorge Trail to the base of the falls (the Rim Trail is a little more difficult, but worth it for the views). And remember your swimsuit if you’re headed to Buttermilk Falls just outside Ithaca, because you’ll likely want to take a dip in the natural pool at its base after completing one of the state park’s many hikes.

Wake up to lakeside views

Chances are you’ll have a pretty decent view wherever you happen to stay in the Finger Lakes, but for the best lakeside vista, book a room at the Inns of Aurora, Belhurst Castle or Geneva on the Lake in Geneva, or the Sherwood Inn (originally a stagecoach shop) in Skaneateles. Or for something a little more intimate, try Onanda by the Lake Bed and Breakfast.

Getting to the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes are about five hours’ drive from New York City, or accessible from Rochester or Syracuse airports, the latter of which is undergoing a $45 million renovation that will include a regional aviation history museum.