7 honeymoon destinations you haven't thought of: from Oaxaca to Ponza

When planning a honeymoon it can be tempting to just book somewhere you know will be a safe bet - after all, this is not the holiday that should go wrong.

However, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save and splurge so why not make it somewhere extraordinary? Find an unexpected, winning destination and it really will be a trip you’ll never forget.

Below are some of the best alternative honeymoon locations to consider that your cousin, manager and best friend’s sister won’t have been to…

Swap a West Coast road trip for a Deep South road trip

A Californian road trip should be experienced by everyone at least once - there’s no denying the fun Los Angeles, San Francisco and Napa Valley offers - but have you considered the Deep South?

Start in Nashville, which has been attracting ex-New Yorkers for years and now boasts internationally acclaimed restaurants and hotels as well as some of the best musical sites in history - the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry to name just two.

Make your way through Tennessee to Memphis (don’t miss the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, dancing at BB Kings or any opportunity to devour BBQ ribs) and head through Mississippi to New Orleans.

Jazz cafes, swamp tours and Creole food will keep you entertained for days.

Swap Tulum for Oaxaca

What influencer, foodie or blogger hasn’t been to Tulum in the last few years? Famed for its Mayan ruins, beaches and yoga community - it’s admittedly a lovely place to visit but have you considered Oaxaca?

A state in central Mexico, it’s cities and villages celebrate their indigenous past. It’s hard to find anywhere else in the country where the streets, markets and houses are as full of colour and crafts as here.

You can easily spend five days wandering around the capital, also called Oaxaca, before either heading to the tropical beaches on the southern coast or to the Sierra Norte highlands, where you can hike, mountain bike and spot various species of birds and animals that are endemic to the country.

Swap Amalfi Coast for Ponza

Ponza is a place the Romans would prefer to keep to themselves. It’s long been the destination they’ve retire to for the summer without the invasion of millions of European tourists and today, it is still totally unspoiled.

No mega-clubs or high-rises are to be seen, instead there’s only one main “highstreet” and the ocean waiting for you to dive into or sunbathe on its shores.

A true hideaway, this is how to experience a real Italian holiday.

Swap The Serengeti for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is often overlooked in favour of The Serengeti or Kenya, but not only does this country offer you the Big Five, you can also experience one of the natural wonders of the world.

Full of luxe hotels and lodges, you can make your way around the country staying in the lap of luxury while experiencing everything it has to offer.

The Hwange National Park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world as well as lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, black and white rhino, giraffe, waterbuck, warthog, baboon, jackal, bat-eared fox, the rare brown hyena and over 400 species of birds. This makes it arguably one of the best places to go on safari in the continent.

Just one hour south you can hike up the river at Victoria Falls and then watch the sunset over the largest waterfall in the world come evening.

Swap the Maldives for the Philippines

If you want to go for the ultimate white sands honeymoon consider swapping the Maldives for the Philippines.

In recent years, this Southeast Asian nation has caught the attention of honeymooners looking for incredible beaches and unspoiled coastlines that haven’t already been instagrammed over a million times before.

A more original option, you won’t be sacrificing wilting palm trees and the feeling of being washed up on a desert island - the Philippines have over seven thousand of them with no end of 5* hotels waiting to welcome you.

Swap Tuscany for Emilia Romagna

Tuscany might be the famous region but don’t overlook Emilia Romagna.

Famed as a foodie’s haven, much of your favourite Italian produce most likely originates from here. Its capital is Bologna where Bolognese was invented but the region is also the birthplace of parma ham, balsamic vinegar, Parmesan, and tortellini*.

Sitting between the River Po to its north and the Apennine Mountains to its south, this area will offer you adventure, ancient cities and sun, sand and sea.

*Note: you will eat a lot and you will be sad if you don’t bring an extra suitcase to fill with goods to stock the cupboards with when you get home.

Swap French Polynesia for Cook Islands

Bora Bora and Tahiti are obviously tempting but the Cook Islands offer what they offer yet they aren’t as touristy.

Also located in the South Pacific, the area is made up of 15 islands in total, two of which are perfect for romance seekers.

The islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki are surrounded by crystalline lagoons, reefs teeming with marine life and powdery, white beaches. They’re blanketed in lush virgin rainforest meaning when you’re not dozing off in a hammock or having a cocktail on a lounger, you can hike and discover the unique vegetation and wildlife of these otherworldly archipelagos.