Holiday guide. May, June, September, October.
Where to go for Honeymoon Seasons
The right honeymoon depends less on where you want to go than on when your wedding is. Match the place to the week.
The straight answer
The best honeymoon destinations by season are the Amalfi Coast, Bali, Tahiti, and an African safari for a summer wedding, Santorini, Seychelles, and Kyoto for a fall wedding, and the Maldives, St. Lucia, and Hawaii for a winter wedding.
The best honeymoon destination is the one in its best season the week after your wedding. For a late spring or early summer wedding, go to the Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Bali, Tahiti, or an African safari. For a fall wedding, go to Santorini and the Greek islands, Seychelles, Mauritius, or Kyoto and Japan. For a winter wedding, go to the Maldives, St. Lucia, Hawaii, or Costa Rica in their dry seasons.
The most common honeymoon mistake is booking a beach that is in its bad season. The Caribbean's hurricane peak runs from mid August to mid October, exactly when fall weddings leave for their trips. Bali is rainy from roughly November to March while Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket and Krabi) is rainy from roughly May to October, the Maldives has its wetter southwest monsoon from May to October, and Mexico's Caribbean coast can get heavy sargassum seaweed in spring and summer depending on the year.
If you have flexibility, delay the honeymoon a few weeks or months. Many couples take a short trip right after the wedding and the big trip in the destination's best season. The shoulder weeks (late April to May, and late September to October) are also often cheaper, calmer, and more romantic than peak season.
The world, ranked for Honeymoon Seasons
Each pick opens its May page, with weather, crowds and what is on.
Book Maldives for Honeymoon Seasons.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in MaldivesOpens a hotel search for Maldives in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in MaldivesWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in MaldivesTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Maldives for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Closer to home
The US picks for this week, from a long weekend drive to a national park.
Hawaii
Hawaii
Good year round, with the best value in April to May and September to October. Maui's Road to Hana and Kauai's Na Pali coast are the classic honeymoon drives.
Napa Valley
California
Best in September and October for harvest season, and in spring for green vineyards and mustard flowers. Wine, food, and hot-air balloons.
US Virgin Islands
No passport for US citizens, with St. John's national park beaches. Best from December to May; avoid hurricane peak from mid August to mid October.
Charleston
South Carolina
Best in spring and fall, with historic streets, excellent restaurants, and nearby beaches. Summer is hot and humid.
Sedona
Arizona
Best in spring and fall, with red rock hikes, spas, and dark night skies. Summer can pass 100F (38C).
Key West
Florida
Best from December to April, with warm sun and sunset celebrations at Mallory Square. Avoid the peak of hurricane season.
Alaska
Alaska
Best from June to August for glaciers, wildlife, and long days. A great fit for couples who want adventure over a beach.
Big Sur
California
Best from September to October, when the coastal fog lifts and the weather is warm. Check Highway 1 closures before you go.
Skip this week
- The Caribbean from mid August to mid October. It is the peak of hurricane season. If your fall wedding means you must go then, choose Aruba, Bonaire, or Curacao, book refundable, and buy insurance.
- Bali from December to February. It is the heart of the rainy season, with heavy downpours and murkier seas. Go from May to September. If your wedding is in winter, Phuket and Krabi on Thailand's Andaman coast are in their dry season from November to April.
- Santorini and Mykonos in July and August. Peak crowds, cruise ships, and peak prices. The sunsets are shoulder to shoulder.
- Mexico's Caribbean coast in a heavy sargassum year. Sargassum seaweed can pile up on beaches in spring and summer, varying by year. Check current reports before booking a beach-only honeymoon.
- The Maldives from June to August on a tight budget. The southwest monsoon brings more rain and rougher seas. The prices are lower, but the water is not always the turquoise you are paying for.
The booking playbook
- 01Choose the destination based on your wedding date, then book as early as possible. Overwater bungalows and small luxury resorts sell out in peak season.
- 02Tell resorts you are on your honeymoon when booking. Many offer honeymoon perks like upgrades, dinners, or spa credits.
- 03Consider a mini-moon right after the wedding and a longer trip in the destination's best season.
- 04Buy travel insurance for any trip in hurricane or cyclone season, and read the resort's weather guarantee.
- 05For safari honeymoons, book 9 to 12 months ahead for the June to October dry season.
- 06Leave a day or two between the wedding and a long-haul flight. Wedding week exhaustion is real.
With kids in tow
- If you are planning a family trip after the wedding (a familymoon), Hawaii, Costa Rica, and the Riviera Maya have good family resorts in their dry seasons.
- Many overwater bungalows and luxury resorts in the Maldives and Bora Bora have minimum age rules or adults-only areas.
- Destination weddings with guests work best in shoulder season, when rates are lower and more guests can afford to go.
Honeymoon Seasons, quick answers
What is the best time of year for a honeymoon?
It depends on the destination. The Amalfi Coast and Santorini are best in May, June, and September. Bali and Tahiti are best from May to September. The Maldives and the Caribbean are best from December to April.
Where should I honeymoon in October?
Santorini, the Amalfi Coast (early October), Seychelles, Mauritius, Napa Valley, and Sedona. Avoid the Caribbean early in the month because of hurricane season.
Where should I honeymoon in June?
The Amalfi Coast, Santorini, Bali, Tahiti, Fiji, Alaska, and an East African safari are all in their best season in June.
Where is best for a winter honeymoon?
The Maldives, St. Lucia, the US Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Key West are all in their dry seasons from December to April.
Is the Caribbean safe for a honeymoon in September?
It is the peak of hurricane season. Many trips go fine, but it is a risk. Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao sit mostly outside the hurricane belt. Book refundable and buy insurance.
When is the cheapest time for a honeymoon?
Shoulder seasons: late April to May and late September to October in the Mediterranean, and May or November in the Caribbean before and after peak season.
Other holiday weeks
Summer Vacation
June, July, August
Ten weeks, one country on vacation, and half the world too hot or too rainy. Go north, go high, or go south of the equator.
Fall Break
October
The best-weather week of the school year, if you pick the right place. Leaf peepers, desert hikers, and the smart European shoulder season.
Christmas Week
December
The most expensive, most crowded week of the travel year. Go somewhere Christmas is the whole point, or somewhere Christmas is not a thing at all.
Spring Break
March, April
The week the whole country goes somewhere warm at the same time. Pick the right warm, or pick a different week.
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