Were your wedding and honeymoon plans affected by the pandemic? If so, you’re not alone. Travel website Expedia recently conducted a survey of 1700 couples and found that the vast majority of them had to cancel or postpone their honeymoons.
Now that travel is possible again, these couples are taking their trips and most are changing their original honeymoon plans. This is creating some new honeymoon trends for 2022, 2023, and beyond.
These trends mean that honeymoons in 2023 and beyond are going to be bigger and better than ever. A collective itch to travel is combined with the desire to make up for the previous years’ disappointments and stress.
“Mega-moons” and “splurge moons”
Many couples that Expedia surveyed are opting to supersize their postponed honeymoons into “mega-moons” by spending more than they originally planned and going to dream destinations—essentially turning their honeymoon from a chance to chill after the wedding into the “trip of a lifetime.”
Couples want to feel indulged on their honeymoons in 2022. For their “splurge moons,” they’re choosing luxurious resorts, amazing accommodations, and romantic extras on the trip like pampering spa treatments, sunset cruises, private candlelight dinners, personal butler service, luxury car rentals, boat charters, and private guided tours.
More and more couples are planning unique honeymoons. They seek incredible experiences they’ll remember forever and are willing to spend more on their honeymoon in order to get them.
Many couples want to cross things off their bucket list, like swimming with dolphins (or pigs!), seeing the Northern Lights, taking a cooking class in Italy, doing a hot air balloon ride, or going to an exotic island.
Active honeymoons are on the rise, whether the couple likes to snorkel, scuba dive, bike, hike, play tennis or golf, ski, or sail. Adventure honeymoons featuring things like hiking into a volcano, going on safari, or ziplining in a jungle are becoming increasingly popular.
Couples are also planning longer honeymoons, with an average stay of 10 to 20 days.
Honeymoon Insurance
“In 2022, another less positive trend we are seeing is more expensive travel and more travel disruptions. Flights are being canceled, and luggage is being lost. We are also seeing an increase in interest in travel insurance. Consider protecting your mega-moon, extended moon, or any other type of moon with Seven Corners travel insurance. It covers your prepaid and nonrefundable trip expenses if you cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason.” – Angela Borden
Stress-relieving honeymoons
Planning a wedding has always been stressful, and honeymoons have historically been a time to rest and recuperate. After the unprecedented stress levels many couples have experienced over the last few years, however, this is even more true in 2022. Forty-five percent of the couples surveyed were planning to honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort. All-inclusive honeymoons offer an especially stress-free and relaxing experience, with everything provided onsite and covered in one charge.
Another honeymoon trend in 2022 resulting from pandemic stress is that many couples want a wellness-focused destination to make their honeymoon a restorative retreat. They’re booking wellness holidays at resorts that offer extras like locally sourced, organic, farm-to-table cuisine; detoxing and rejuvenating spa treatments; soothing exercise classes like yoga; and nature-based activities like hiking and kayaking.
Honeymoon funds
The Expedia survey also discovered that couples getting married now are 65% more likely to have a honeymoon fund on their registry to help them finance their dream trip.
This is an increasingly popular option that allows friends and family to contribute toward experiences rather than buying items that may or may not get used. (If you’d like to have a honeymoon fund but are not sure about the etiquette or how to word it, check out our article on “honey funds” here.)
“Duo-moons”
Of the couples in the Expedia survey who are planning to get married, 83% want to have a “duo-moon,” where they take a minimoon right after the wedding, then a longer trip at a later date.
Especially when the couple is planning a mega-moon, having a duo-moon gives them more time to plan and save for their main honeymoon. For example, a duo-moon could be taking a long weekend minimoon at a nearby beach, then heading off to a honeymoon in Africa the following year to go on safari. Mini-moons usually last between one and four nights, making them an affordable trip that is easy to fit into a busy schedule.
Mini moons are a great way to take a short break and recuperate from the wedding, especially if you don’t go far. Many couples choose to spend their minimoon at the place where they got married, which could be the easiest option ever—your destination is just a short walk or elevator ride away!
Mini moons can be a good option for the couple who doesn’t have time for a longer trip right after the wedding, but still want to mark the occasion. Another reason many couples are taking minimoons is because travel is still somewhat unpredictable and risky. They want to wait a while to avoid the current travel delays, high costs, and issues that might arise if they were to get sick on their honeymoon.
“Redo-moons”
More than half of the couples in the Expedia survey who got married and took a honeymoon during the pandemic are planning another trip as a “redo-moon.” This is to make up for their pandemic mini-moon, which was less than satisfactory due to all the travel restrictions at the time.
Dream destinations
The couples that Expedia surveyed had a wide variety of places they want to honeymoon, with 19% choosing tropical or beach honeymoons, 18% going to multiple destinations, 15 percent going to national parks, and 16% choosing cities.
The top 10 honeymoon destinations on their lists were England and Scotland in the United Kingdom; Dubai; Paris; Palm Beach and Miami, Florida; Los Angeles; Spain (especially Madrid and Seville); Rome, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast of Italy; St. Lucia; Iceland; and the Maldives.
Multi-destination honeymoons
After years of pent-up travel demand, many people are planning multi-stop honeymoons to maximize their time away and hit several dream locations in one trip. A multi-destination honeymoon is a great idea for couples who have different interests or want to have several types of experiences (such as active plus relaxing).
These trips could be combining a beach vacation with exploring a city, going to several cities or destinations in one country, visiting multiple countries, taking a road trip, exploring several national parks, or any other creative itinerary that the couple wants.
Responsible and eco-conscious honeymoons
An additional honeymoon trend is sustainable and eco-friendly travel. Couples are increasingly aware of the ecological and cultural impact of tourism. Many are choosing eco-tourism destinations for their “eco-moons,” or are looking to volunteer or get involved in the local culture on their trips.
Extended honeymoons
And then there’s the honeymoon that keeps going, a trend that we personally champion (#honeymoonalways)! One benefit of the last few years has been the increase in remote work, allowing many people to work from anywhere with a good internet connection. This has given rise to another 2022 honeymoon trend, the extended honeymoon.
Instead of a short-term vacation, couples are opting to spend months or even years traveling. Some choose the nomadic lifestyle, essentially taking a never-ending honeymoon.
Are you planning a mega-moon, duo-moon, redo-moon, unique honeymoon, adventure honeymoon, wellness honeymoon, multi-destination honeymoon, eco-moon, or extended honeymoon? Did you have a minimoon and are now planning a do-over trip? Let us know in the comments!
