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Honeymoon hot spots

Alaska's travel experts name their top honeymoon picks for 2012 and beyond

Story by Sarah Gonzales

After months of planning, hours of work, running to and from tastings, fittings and meetings, the wedding is over and it's time to get away for a little R and R. Thank goodness! So, where are you going on your honeymoon?

Travel experts say that Hawaii and Mexico will remain favorite honeymoon destinations for Alaskan couples and for good reason - the weather is always warm, romantic settings abound and they are just one or two flights away from Alaska. But it's a big world out there, kids, and there's much to see with your new spouse so we asked a couple of local travel planners where they might send wanderlusting brides and grooms in 2012.

A Taste for Adventure

If the two of you go to Mexico and Hawaii as frequently as visiting your backyard, then you'll want to explore further flung places. Keep going south, says Ermalinda Gonzalez, branch manager of AAA Travel Alaska. "Brazil offers the rainforest and if you enjoy thunderstorms this is the place to experience one," she says. Imagine huddling together under the covers while the tropical skies rain fury after a night of dancing, only to wake the next morning to blue skies, gentle breezes and chirping birds. Sound like your kind of getaway?

If you're considering South America and it's the fauna that you love, "the Galapagos (Islands) are a paradise for the outdoor person as they have a vast array of unique wildlife," says Gonzalez, naming a top choice for adventurous couples. Or, she adds, "South Africa is also another adventurous place to honeymoon." Kruger National Park in South Africa boasts all five of the Big Game animals – lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinoceros and leopards (as well as zebras, giraffes and hippopotamus, oh my!). There, honeymooners can enjoy candlelit dinners under the starry sky after a day on safari. Gonzalez recommends the luxurious and all-inclusive Ulusaba Private Game Reserve Lodges where guests cross suspended rope bridges to their treehouse-style rooms.

Donna Button, president of Travel Services Inc, says Costa Rica is her number one choice for adventure-seekers. The combo mountain/beach, rent your own Jeep excursions abound for those who like their volcanoes up close and personal, and preferably, underneath their hiking boots. "Book six to 12 months in advance to get the best deal," she recommends, adding that those on a budget (and who isn't these days?) should consider these additional money-saving tips: "All-inclusive resorts will give you the most for your travel dollar. To save on airfare, take advantage of companion coupons and miles."

Beach Lovers' Paradise

Perhaps your idea of the perfect honeymoon is more tame than big game and less bushwhacking and more cuisine snacking by the pool. Then a tropical beach at an out-of-the-way resort is your style. Button likes Turks and Caicos. On the white-sand, turquoise water beaches found on this tiny Caribbean island nation you'll feel like you've shipwrecked in paradise – that is, if paradise fronted a sleek, boutique hotel like the Gansevoort or came with the longest bar in the Caribbean as found at the Infiniti Bar at the Grace Bay Club.

While Gonzalez believes that Hawaiian beach honeymoons will only continue to grow in popularity in 2012, she also names a favorite, exotic beach lover's destination. "My choice for a top pick for a beach resort would be at The Hilton Bora Bora Nui," she says. "The waters are beautiful blue with white, soft sand beaches." Imagine enjoying an afternoon massage while watching the fish swim by through the glass panels in the floor of your private villa on the lagoon. Later in the evening, watch the Polynesian sunset melt into the ocean while enjoying Pacific Rim cuisine at a beachfront restaurant while listening to live music. Or, order room service and never leave the comfort of your suite.

Oldies But Goodies

For honeymooners who are after good, old-fashioned romance and don't care to spend a small fortune traveling half way around the world, Gonzalez has one word for them: "Poconos." Really? This might be where your grandparents honeymooned back in the day, but it doesn't mean that it's all early-bird specials and bingo nowadays. "They offer a wide variety of outdoor activities for everyone.

There are seven state parks and 150 lakes. This is an affordable, adventurous place to take a honeymoon," she says. From luxurious lakeside bed and breakfasts, to rustic dude ranches to towering resorts, this mountainous area of the Pennsylvania has a lot to offer those on holiday. "Honeymooners could request the suite with the champagne glass hot tub," adds Gonzalez, referring to one of the utterly over-the-top theme rooms at the Poconos Palace.

If bathing in barware is not your cup of tea, there's really nothing like the standards when it comes to booking a solid honeymoon experience at a good price. After all, there's a reason Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean are top spots for honeymooners – they've been hosting newlyweds for years and these destinations know how to treat you right.