So Christmas is over...wasn't it romantic? Well as January is the busiest wedding planning month of the year, I guess for quite a few of you it probably was!
And if you're thinking about weddings you're probably also dreaming about
honeymoons, in which case responsibletravel.com can help you out. After all, a honeymoon is a great excuse to put all those New Year's responsible travel resolutions into action!
Make your honeymoon count
Your honeymoon could be that once in a lifetime holiday opportunity to go to the ends of the earth, take a really long break and make sure when you get to your destination that your holiday is really investing in the local economy and people rather than just another all-inclusive honeymoon package.
These packages all too often provide scant opportunity to experience the local culture and interact with the local community while the residents themselves see little economic benefit, or worse, have been sidelined to make way for a resort draining precious resources, damaging the environment, giving nothing in return.
How to find honeymoon heaven
Choose a honeymoon where you get the chance to stay in locally-owned accommodation, enjoy organic and locally-produced food (cutting down on food miles) and where you can be sure the owners are making every effort to minimize their environmental impact, using renewable energy, conserving water, and recycling and re-using wherever possible.
Those in the developing world are increasingly dependent on tourism as a major source of income and if you use your honeymoon weeks wisely you could be basking not just in the sun but in the knowledge that your holiday has helped to protect a National Park from encroaching development or saved a species from extinction because the value of travellers who want to see it alive is worth more than the income from those who would rather shoot it!
Check out the
How this holiday makes a difference sections at the end of each responsibletravel.com trip to find out how they are contributing to social development and conservation efforts within the community, providing a sustainable source of income and a reason for the local people to conserve their natural environment and protect their native wildlife.
To fly or not to fly
The dramatic increase in air travel in recent years has come for the most part from the growing market in short European breaks, made possible by cheap flights, so if you are going to fly, why not take this one long break to a long-haul destination and make it really count.
If you're keen to stay closer to home, your honeymoon could be a good excuse to explore Europe better and find that special place that you will be able to visit just by hopping on the train whenever you feel like reliving those happy memories. See our selection of
lower carbon travel holidays.
And if you plan to spend your weeks chilling out in an eco-lodge after the stresses and strains of the big day, don’t forget to check for ‘greenwashing’ with our
10 ways to tell if your eco lodge is really eco - then you really can relax with a clear conscience!
See more
tips to make your honeymoon halo shine.
Something a little different…
Of course you might like to take the opportunity of a long break to really make a difference. A volunteering holiday can be a highly rewarding and life changing experience and if it is something you are both passionate about, why not? To help you find the right volunteering experience with the right company, we've put together a fantastic range around the world from leading responsible companies committed to supporting local communities & the environment. See our
volunteering holidays.
Honeymoon Vouchers
If you haven’t already got a gift list, we can provide honeymoon holiday vouchers for your family and friends to give to you as wedding presents to contribute towards the balance of your honeymoon when you book any of the trips in our
honeymoon vouchers section.
See
honeymoons and other gift lists for full details of this offer
Wedding destinations
And remember, you don’t have to wait for the honeymoon to visit these fabulous destinations, you can get married there too!
From Jamaica to Thailand to The Seychelles, see our
weddings abroad section for holidays that include the wedding ceremony.
Ethical Weddings
If you want to find out more about planning an ethical or green wedding, why not check out
Ethical Weddings - or
sign up for the newsletter for all the latest tips and gossip on ethical weddings.
But most of all, have a wonderful honeymoon - and don't forget to tell us all about it when you get back!
Interested? Take a look at our
honeymoon holidays.
