DESTINATIONS TRENDS | WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS
Trip of a a
lifetime
With more couples planning ultra-bucket list honeymoons in the wake of the pandemic, Adam Shaw explores the growing trend
fter countless newlyweds were forced to put their dream trips on hold in 2020 and 2021, it seems that honeymooners are now
opting to go much bigger with their travel plans, giving rise to a new booking phenomenon: the ‘megamoon’. These trips are essentially souped-up honeymoons, with many who were forced to postpone deciding to spend more on their post-wedding trips now travel is more predictable again – as a reward for having to wait. Others, fearing a similar global event could derail
travel plans in the future, are choosing to splash out on that once-in-a-lifetime journey sooner rather than later.
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME Alex Bentley, head of product at Audley Travel, notes that, when it comes to honeymoons, both average spend and length of trip are higher than pre-pandemic levels. He says: “As a tailor-made operator, itineraries designed around a client’s personal wish list are our core business and the demand for once-in-a-lifetime trips to mark a return to travel is strong, especially from newlyweds who have had to delay their honeymoon.
“Our specialists recommend honeymooners add a touch of luxury to their trip where they can, whether that is a private tour of one of the destination’s top spots or
Couples are booking everything
from luxury island getaways to the Maldives and Mauritius, as well as more adventurous trips
booking a night in a penthouse apartment or a private villa with a butler to truly make the most of the trip.” Scott Dunn has introduced new megamoon
itineraries – “bucket-list trips guaranteed to create long-lasting memories” – with one combining the winter wonderland of Finnish Lapland with the Maldives. The operator’s global sales and product director
Simon Lynch explains why the new itineraries were introduced: “In a recent survey more than 55% of guests identified making up for lost time as a driving factor for
²
travelweekly.co.uk 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
