Best Honeymoon Destinations by Budget and Vibe (2026 Guide)
If you’re planning a honeymoon, the question always comes up: where should we go? The honest answer is it depends on a few things, including your budget, the time you have, and the experience you’re actually looking for.
I’m Marcella Kuchar with Best Adventure Spots, and we work with couples on honeymoon planning all the time. Below I’ve broken down the destinations we recommend most by vibe, with a rough price per person and the best time of year to go, so you finish this with a real estimate for what your honeymoon should cost.
Romantic & Cultural Destinations
We’ll start with the most popular, obvious pick for couples chasing a romantic, culture-forward honeymoon.
Paris Honeymoon (and the French Countryside)
Paris is one of the most iconic honeymoon destinations out there, and it’s a city-based trip at its core. You can absolutely stay in Paris the whole time, but if you’re really chasing that romantic feel, I’d push you to expand outside the city and into the vineyards and Cannes. If you’re short on time and just want a quick trip, going straight to Paris for the Eiffel Tower, world-class museums, and fine dining is still a win.
Budget: $3,000–$5,000 per person for a week, including flights.
Best time to go: April–May or September–October. That’s the off-season for typical travel, so you get some of the best weather and fewer crowds at the same time.
Italy Honeymoon (Rome, Florence, Amalfi Coast)
If you’re into history, museums, and the arts, Italy is a great fit! Of cource you wouldn’t really be going to Italy if you didn’t enjoy food, so a cooking class is a must. Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast each bring something different, and most couples mix at least two of them into one trip.
Budget: $2,500–$4,000 per person for a week, depending on where you stay and what you plan on doing.
Best time to go: April–May or September–October.
Greece Honeymoon (Santorini, Mykonos & the Islands)
Greece is very popular, and you’ve got two routes: the islands, or the mainland. The mainland leans more into history, so if that’s your interest, start on land and then move into the islands like Santorini, Mykonos, and if you want something less touristy, Naxos and a few others fit that energy well.
Budget: $2,500–$4,000 per person. The islands run higher than the mainland since there’s more transportation involved and resort costs climb during peak season, and flights to Greece typically aren’t the cheapest to begin with.
Best time to go: May–June or September–October.
Beach & Relaxation Destinations
If you’re after a beach-and-relaxation feel instead, this is where I’d point you first.
Caribbean Honeymoon (Turks & Caicos, Aruba, Jamaica & More)
Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Nassau, and Jamaica all fall into this bucket. These locations are loaded with all-inclusive resorts, crystal-clear water, and amazing snorkeling.If you’re coming from Florida like we are, it’s not a long flight, and your money tends to go a little further here. Keep in mind the Caribbean varies a lot: Saint Lucia and Saint Martin run more expensive, similar to Aruba.
Budget: $2,000–$3,500 per person for most of the Caribbean (Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, and Aruba run higher).
Best time to go: Late November through April to avoid hurricane season and get cooler, more comfortable weather instead of peak summer heat.
Mexico Honeymoon (Riviera Maya: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum)
Mexico is extremely popular for a reason. The Riviera Maya region: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum is packed with all-inclusive resorts and beach clubs, giving you that full beach-and-relax experience, and your budget goes a lot further here than almost anywhere else on this list.
Budget: $1,500–$3,000 per person, including flights.
Best time to go: November through April, same hurricane-season logic as the Caribbean, with beautiful cool weather to go with it.
Bora Bora & French Polynesia Honeymoon
If your budget can expand and you still want that beach-and-relaxation feel, French Polynesia is an absolute must. It’s a bigger investment, especially flying out of the US, but you’re getting a genuinely untouched, jungle-meets-turquoise-water experience unlike anywhere else on this list.
Budget: $5,000–$7,000 per person.
Best time to go: Nearly any time of year works.
Adventure & Exploration Destinations
For couples excited about adventure over lounging by a pool, these two are where I send people first.
Costa Rica Honeymoon
Rainforest ziplining, hot springs, and the Arenal region cover the adventure-and-relaxation combo beautifully. If you want to go further, extend the trip into the Guanacaste region for surfing lessons, beach resorts, and even ATV tours on the beach which is still adventurous, but with a real sense of togetherness and relaxation built in.
Budget: $3,000–$5,000 per person for 7–9 days. Some of these Arenal resorts have incredible hot springs built right into the property, which is part of why the higher end is worth it if it fits your budget.
Best time to go: December through April, the dry season. Going outside that window (like September) can bring the price down noticeably if budget matters more than weather.
New Zealand & Australia Honeymoon
I usually pair these two together. New Zealand isn’t very big, so you can knock out hiking and adventure sports there fairly quickly, then head over to Australia for more of the same — maybe even add a safari. The landscape on the New Zealand side is genuinely romantic, and it’s a great pairing with Australia to close out the trip.
Budget: $4,000–$6,000 per person. Budget extra days too; you want 10–14 days here, not a long weekend, or you won’t have time to actually enjoy either country.
Best time to go: December through February, their summer, when the weather is warm and great for hiking.
Budget-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations
If everything above sounds great but you’re working with a tighter budget, you’ve got real options.
Honeymoon Cruises
Cruises have become genuinely popular for honeymoons, and it’s not hard to see why. Five and seven day sailings can come in around $1,000 per person, up to $2,000–$3,000 per person if you want a really nice room.
Puerto Rico Honeymoon
Puerto Rico is a US territory, so no passport is required, and flights out of Florida aren’t expensive. There are some genuinely beautiful resorts here, and it’s one of the most budget-friendly options on this whole list.
Budget: $1,500–$2,250 per person.
Best time to go: May through November.
Dominican Republic Honeymoon
The Dominican Republic is also a great all-inclusive option with reasonable flights, but it’s worth checking current travel advisories before booking… conditions there have shifted from year to year, and as advisors we keep a close eye on it when recommending the DR to clients.
Budget: $1,500–$2,500 per person.
Best time to go: May through November is cheaper; November through February is a little cooler if comfort matters more than price to you.
Honeymoon Destinations by Budget: Quick Reference
| Destination | Budget (per person) | Best Time to Go |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | $1,500–$2,250 | May–November |
| Mexico (Riviera Maya) | $1,500–$3,000 | November–April |
| Dominican Republic | $1,500–$2,500 | May–Nov (price) / Nov–Feb (weather) |
| Honeymoon Cruise (5–7 nights) | $1,000–$3,000 | Year-round |
| Caribbean (Turks & Caicos, Aruba, Jamaica) | $2,000–$3,500 | Late Nov–April |
| Greece | $2,500–$4,000 | May–June, Sept–Oct |
| Italy | $2,500–$4,000 | April–May, Sept–Oct |
| Paris & France | $3,000–$5,000 | April–May, Sept–Oct |
| Costa Rica | $3,000–$5,000 | December–April |
| New Zealand & Australia | $4,000–$6,000 | December–February |
| Bora Bora & French Polynesia | $5,000–$7,000 | Year-round, avoid summer |
These are rough per-person ranges to plan against, not quotes. Actual pricing depends on where you stay, how long you go, and what you build into the trip.
Let’s Plan Your Honeymoon
Talk to your advisor about what you plan on doing, what activities matter to you, how long you plan on going, and what your budget is. Let’s have that conversation and plan a beautiful honeymoon so you and your spouse can celebrate time together as a married couple.
Looking for something specific? See our guides to all-inclusive honeymoon destinations, the best honeymoon cruises, or summer honeymoon destinations.
Honeymoon Planning FAQs
It varies widely by destination, from around $1,500 per person for Puerto Rico or a short cruise up to $5,000–$7,000 per person for a trip to French Polynesia. Most couples land somewhere between $2,500 and $4,500 per person once flights are included.
As soon as your wedding date is set, ideally 6–12 months out for international trips. Popular destinations and the best flight prices go first, especially around shoulder-season windows like April–May and September–October.
It depends on the destination. Europe (Paris, Italy, Greece) is best in April–May or September–October. The Caribbean and Mexico are best November through April, avoiding hurricane season. New Zealand and Australia are best December through February, their summer.
Only for international destinations. Puerto Rico is a US territory and does not require a passport, making it one of the simplest budget-friendly options.
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