6 ways to make the most of your honeymoon in Southeast Asia

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Your honeymoon is supposed to be one of the most romantic and memorable holidays of your life, so naturally there’s a lot of pressure to make it count. Everybody has their own idea of what makes the perfect honeymoon - but the tips below, compiled by our honeymoon experts, apply to pretty much everyone. Follow their advice and you’ll be on track for an unforgettable trip!

1. Don’t pack in too much

While this is true of any holiday, it is perhaps most important when planning a honeymoon. Yes – you’ve travelled all the way around the world and you’ve only got a short amount of time, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to squeeze in everything you possibly can. Don’t.

You might feel as though you’re missing out by opting to spend a longer time in one destination, or you might feel daunted by leaving “gaps” in your itinerary – but we’ve been doing this for years, so trust us. Taking it slow, giving yourselves plenty of time to settle in and explore your chosen destinations, will make for a much more relaxed, enjoyable honeymoon than bustling from activity to activity could ever do. Plus, it leaves more time to enjoy the long, lazy mornings and indulgent meals that are the stuff of honeymoon daydreams!

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Unwind on one of Thailand's idyllic beaches.

2. Go off the grid

In the same spirit as tip #1, our honeymoon veterans highly recommend spending at least some of your holiday “off grid” – no WiFi, no phone, no nothing. No matter how busy or important you are, you can put aside at least a few days to set aside your smartphone and pay full attention to your new partner – after all, it might be the last chance you get for a while! Luckily, there are plenty of remote jungle lodges and far flung tropical islands where you can leave the world behind for a while.

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Explore Borneo's dense jungles with a cruise along the Kinabatangan river.

3. Avoid the crowds

Pretty much everybody wants to avoid the crowds on their holiday, but on a honeymoon it’s more important than ever. Nothing ruins the romance of a moment more than swarms of tourists snapping photos in the background, after all.

One way to dodge the crowds is to travel in green season (AKA rainy season) – and if you plan to spend most of your honeymoon in the comfort of a luxury suite, this could be the choice for you, as prices will be lower than in peak season and attractions less busy . If you’re intent on getting a bit of sun, however, the best way to get some time to yourselves is to combine the famous highlights with a few lesser-known destinations, so you have some time to explore without the crowds.

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Discover deserted beaches on Cambodia's unspoilt tropical islands.

4. Arrange a surprise

If you are the designated honeymoon organiser, one of the most exciting ways to spice up your honeymoon is to arrange a surprise for your spouse. A sunrise balloon ride over lush green rice paddies and glittering temples is guaranteed to impress – but a night at a luxury resort, a sunset cocktail cruise, or something as simple as a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant is enough to add something special to your holiday.

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See the scenery in Laos from a hot air balloon.

5. Bring your honeymoon home

There’s nothing worse than the flat, dull feeling that follows a fantastic holiday. You had an incredible time, and now it’s back to humdrum reality with a bump. Luckily you’ll still have a bit of that just-married glow to tide you over after your honeymoon, but a great way to keep the magic alive for that little bit longer is to bring a little bit of Southeast Asia home with you – perhaps you could have a meal out at a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant if you enjoyed the cuisine, or you could bring back a beautiful batik wall tapestry that will always remind you of your honeymoon.

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Discover delicious street food in Vietnam.

6. Don’t leave it to chance

Now this is going to sound like a shameless plug for InsideAsia Tours, but you simply do not want to leave anything about your honeymoon to chance. Yes, you could arrange it yourself – and yes, you can probably do it cheaper – but if you opt to have a tour operator plan your trip for you, you can be safe in the knowledge that everything is taken care of, leaving you to relax and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip. And that’s what being on your honeymoon is all about!

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If you are planning a honeymoon to Southeast Asia, we have a whole range of experiences and itineraries to explore in the honeymoon section of our website Alternatively, we can plan a bespoke trip to suit your interests and specifications – just get in touch with our InsideAsia experts to find out more.