These Are The 10 Best Destinations For LGBTQ+ Honeymoons

9 months ago

And the top spot goes to...

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These Are The 10 Best Destinations For LGBTQ+ Honeymoons

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

Emerging Trends

Kuoni also identified three travel trends that are making waves amongst LGBTQ+ honeymooners, with experience-led holidays becoming a priority for newlyweds.

Dual Bliss

While marriage is all about compromise (for the most part), sometimes it’s nice to experience the best of both worlds. Kuoni has observed that more couples are keen to experience two or more centre honeymoons, where they have the opportunity to explore multiple hotspots within one trip. Think sightseeing in Rome and a coastal break in Amalfi, or a Cali road trip followed by sunbathing in Miami.

Private Paradise

It’s nice to have a slice of privacy while on your honeymoon, right? More and more honeymooners are opting for villa holidays, according to Kuoni, who say couples ‘appreciate the exclusivity and privacy they offer and can freely be themselves.’ As the ultimate romantic and secluded option, it’s no wonder they’re a popular choice.

Empowering Choices

An independent poll conducted by Mortar Research in June 2023 revealed that 44 percent of the LGBTQ+ 1,013 participants prioritised the destination of their holiday, regardless of feelings towards LGBTQ+ people. Kuoni, while acknowledging that most queer couple continue to opt for ‘gay friendly’ holiday destinations, has also noticed a growing number of couple adventuring to countries where governments are typically less accepting – these locations include the Maldives, Dubai, the Caribbean and East Africa.

For more queer travel trends, check out our article here.