It’s been 10 years since the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act was passed in the UK – and to celebrate, worldwide travel company Kuoni has launched its first report revealing the community’s favourite LGBTQ+ honeymoon destinations for 2023. Read on to find out which destinations made it into the top 10…
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The Best LGBTQ+ Honeymoon Destinations
The honeymoon is arguably the best part of wedding planning. A holiday just for you and your loved one? Sounds ideal. Since being made legal in England and Wales, over 40,000 same-sex weddings have taken place and nearly 16,000 civil partnerships have been converted into marriages – meaning there have been a lot of LGBTQ+ honeymoons in the last 10 years. But where are queer honeymooners going?
‘With LGBTQ+ travel, the talk can often turn reactive quite quickly – boycotting certain destinations and so on,’ said Mark Duguid, managing director of Kuoni. ‘In reality the conversation is much more nuanced than that, so we give our customers the information to make educated choices and navigate those issues in a very individual way with our staff. And we can have those chats because many of those staff have experienced those destinations themselves.
‘We have always been committed to inclusivity and ensuring that every traveller feels safe, valued and celebrated,’ Mark added. ‘This report and the introduction of the Kuoni Promise is a testament to that commitment. We want to inspire confidence with LGBTQ+ honeymooners that they can trust Kuoni to provide exceptional service, inclusive experiences and expert guidance every step of the way.’
LGBTQ+ Honeymoon Destinations, Ranked
Taking the top spot in Kuoni’s report ranking was Greece, followed shortly by Italy and North America who took second and third place respectively. Other destinations that have tickled the fancy of honeymooners in the last year include Thailand, which saw a huge 243 percent increase in LGBTQ+ honeymoons compared to last year, South Africa, with a 106 percent increase in honeymoons, and Bali, which similarly saw a 58 percent increase. Read the full list below:
- Greece
- Italy
- North America
- Australia
- Thailand
- South Africa
- Singapore
- Mauritius
- The Maldives
- Bali
10. Bali
According to the report: ‘Picture tropical rainforests, super luxurious resorts and golden beaches dotted with fishing boats. Embrace Bali’s laid-back vibes on your honeymoon, with cocktails around the pool or lazy days on the beach. When you want to head out and explore, you can try jungle trekking, surfing or visit the island’s ancient temples. Although Indonesia as a whole has a generally conservative culture, the more-liberal island of Bali is a welcoming exception.’
Image: Bulgari Resort, Bali
9. The Maldives
According to the report: ‘There’s no doubting that this pinprick atolls in the Indian Ocean are the home of the honeymoon. Sadly, it does remain the case that it is illegal for Maldivians to be openly gay in their own country, however, our featured island resorts – where you will spend all your time during a Maldives honeymoon – are very welcoming. Many of our Kuoni staff have travelled here as a same-sex couple so will always be happy to give you advice.’
8. Mauritius
According to the report: ‘Mauritius has always been a firm favourite for honeymooners thanks to the beautiful beaches, stunning backdrops and warm seas of a much-requested tropical paradise. While pro-LGBTQ+ legislation might need a push, Mauritians are incredibly friendly, and the hotels are welcoming to all.’
7. Singapore
According to the report: ‘The Southeast Asian island state is a great place for a honeymoon, particularly if it’s part of a combo with beach destinations nearby or destinations further afield such as Australia and New Zealand. There are some fantastic high-end hotels here, not to mention a spectacular range of restaurants and bars (perfect for treat-yourself date nights. There’s some of the best shopping in the region and the equatorial climate means that it is hot year-round.’
6. South Africa
According to the report: ‘Safaris, wine, beautiful landscapes and cosmopolitan cities: what’s not to love about being in love in South Africa? We are often asked to create epic self-drives for honeymooning couples, hopping from wineries to beaches and ending up with some Big Five spotting in one of the parks and game reserves.’
Image: Singita, South Africa
5. Thailand
According to the report: ‘Fantastic beaches, great-value accommodation, amazing food plus a warm and accepting people make this a firm favourite for our LGBTQ+ clients. Bangkok is an astonishing city in which to start or end your honeymoon with an energy that has to be experienced to be believed.’
Image: The Sarojin, Thailand
4. Australia
According to the report: ‘For some far-flung time together, head to Oz where you can capture Sydney selfies by iconic sights make memories together exploring the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, discover the rich Aboriginal heritage in the Red Centre, home to the instantly recognisable Uluru or take an open-top trip for two along the Great Ocean Road to see a very different side to the country. You can also throw in a cool city stopover there and back too; Singapore is one of our favourites.’
3. North America
According to the report: ‘One of our top honeymoon requests is a California road trip in a convertible car. You can hit the open road with the top down, check out the desert delights of Palm Springs before enjoying some of the hottest restaurants in Los Angeles and West Hollywood. North of the border, road trips take you from Canada’s mountain towns to cool coastal cities and wildlife-rich islands. There aren’t many better ways to start your married lives together.’
2. Italy
According to the report: ‘Italy is so diverse that no two romantic breaks will be the same; there are scenic lakes, history-rich cities that should satisfy any cultural couple and the uber-chic coastal towns with views for days. And if you can’t choose, you can always opt for a multi-centre holiday. Food and drink lovers will be in heaven as you can sip on a Negroni, Aperol or locally sourced wine as you dine on incredible regional cuisine or even join a cooking class and learn how to create culinary masterpieces.’
1. Greece
According to the report: ‘Honeymoons in Greece are a firm favourite and it’s easy to see why with miles of jaw-dropping beaches and those unforgettable clear and oh-so-warm waters. The vibrant hotspots of Mykonos where you can dip into the cool gay scene and the cool, white-washed boltholes in Santorini are top of the list. And even better: both have private pool suites in boutique hotels or tucked away villas that you can have to yourselves.’
Image: Cali Mykonos
