DESTINATIONS TRENDS | WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS
fast act ast fact Luxury European
trips remain popular with celebrities, with A-listers Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
honeymooning in Italy’s Lake Como in August.
ABOVE: Beverly Wilshire Glamping ABOVE RIGHT: Celebrity hangout Beverly Hills has received an uplift in interest from honeymooning couples PICTURES: Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureaua
There has been a “significant
uplift” in couples booking to go to the celebrity hangout of Beverly Hills in recent months, with newlyweds looking to experience what it’s like to live like a star in the city’s luxury hotels and explore its palm-lined streets. Julie Wagner, chief executive of Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau, explains that honeymoon postponements have helped couples realise how important it is to spend quality time together and create incredible memories, with many looking to “fulfil their bucket list in style”. “Specifically, what we are
seeing in Beverly Hills is that people want beautiful hotels and exclusive services that can completely cater to their needs, along with fantastic food and high-end shopping, allowing them to focus on each other,” she says.
While traditional honeymoons
are the go-to for many couples, there has been a move towards people booking alternative experiences. More expensive multi-city trips are becoming increasingly popular, like road trips through romantic European destinations such as France and Italy.
EPIC ADVENTURES There has also been a shift towards more adventure-themed honeymoons, with couples opting to take in dream diving trips or wild jungle treks after tying the knot. Safaris remain the biggest draw for those looking for an extra special holiday, with African Bush Camp’s head of marketing, Andrew Bridge, noting there has been an almost 100% increase in interest in its Romantic Africa tour compared with before the pandemic.
He adds: “Not only are people excited to travel, Covid has taught us all that travel is not something that can be taken for granted. “As a result, we’ve found guests
are making the most of what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “This manifests in longer stays and a desire for exceptional experiences – such as sleeping under the stars in a treehouse in Zimbabwe or flying over the Okavango Delta on a helicopter game-viewing adventure.” It’s clear that people are moving
towards spending more on their honeymoon – whether that’s by extending their trip, visiting a more expensive destination or packing in more luxury activities. And, after a couple of years of
major travel disruption and with people valuing experiences more than ever, it looks as if demand for megamoons will continue to grow. TW
Yoho National Park, Canada
Ciara Hazley, concierge manager, Audley Travel “We recommend
once-in-a-lifetime experiences that can’t be found in a guidebook, such as travelling to a private mountain-top picnic
by helicopter from a Canadian wilderness lodge, sleeping under the stars on Botswana’s salt flats or enjoying wine
tastings on a private cycling tour through the caves of a Loire Valley winery.”
exper expert ASK THE
travelweekly.co.uk
8 SEPTEMBER 2022
51
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Stephen Bridger
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