I wish I had known about Original Travel when I was getting married. I ended up organising our honeymoon myself (to save money so I thought) and we ended up swapping hotels half way through! Still we had a brilliant time and there is always time for another one when we’re older!! If you’re looking for some help in organising an incredible honeymoon then check out Original Travel – they’re an award winning travel specialist who will definitely be able to help you with that something special. What do you think about this destination and are where have you planned to go on your honeymoon?

The second leg was hotter, and more rugged yet. We hired a 4×4 in Muscat (Oman) and headed to the Wadis (Arabic term for valley, or dried out riverbed) for swimming in pools, climbing steep hills and camping out under the stars. We either cooked our own food, or headed to the nearest village (most of the time…) and the area was dotted with ruined castles and small markets, mainly selling ancient guns, or sheep – tourism hasn’t hit this area, which suited us perfectly.

To finish it all off we needed a little bit of luxury, and where better than the Chedi, one of the top hotels in the Gulf region – long breakfasts, the day lounging in the pool and cocktails before dinner. In retrospect I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

Al Poulain, Co.Founder of Original Travel, talks to us about his honeymoon – they specialise in arranging unforgettable experiences, adventure led journeys and tailor-made holidays to destinations world-wide. Specialities include honeymoons, family trips, private properties, experience-filled adventures, safaris and luxury exclusive travel. Honestly if you are looking for something a bit different and very special then do check them out, Original Travel. I’m going to tell my husband that we’re due for another honeymoon sometime soon…

Between the mangrove and blossoming frangipani trees is a sandy pathway covered with hibiscus flowers that change from yellow to red when they fall to the ground in the evening. We walk along the perimeter of the island shuffling our feet in the water. There are black crows that circle the island overseeing their land while the water hens, herons, and gannet keep watch of shore. Wooden swings and hammocks hang on trees, and huts with lounge chairs are scattered all over the island – each one feeling like you’ve Christopher Columbused a secret chill-out zone.

The Maldives are a place I have always wanted to visit but never thought I actually would… kind of like Mars. My husband, Dominic, stealthy booked a trip for us as a belated honeymoon and much needed break.

It’s 9am when we arrive in Male, the capital of the Maldives. I yank off the Uggs that had not left my feet for the past four months and rummage through my bag for my cherished flip-flops. As I place them on my feet, I feel like Cinderella in her glass slippers. I am in a state of wonderment as we whiz away from the dock on the 40-minute speedboat ride to Cocoa Island – it’s warm and wide open with gradients of blue as far as the eye can see. We are welcomed to our resort, Como Shambhala, with coconut juice (in the actual coconut) and a refreshing towelette. Our hostess, Widi, receives us as if we are old friends.

We are seated for breakfast at a table in the sand with a 360-view of paradise. Those legendary Indian Ocean waters are indeed turquoise. The sand is somewhere between sugar and flour in both color and consistency. The temperature is ideal at 30 C. And the flourishing foliage looks like a Garden of Eden. The island is so teeny you could hold it in your hand. The frost of life in London melts away as we play with the sand underneath our feet.

The accommodations on Cocoa Island are oh-so much more than ‘rooms’. There are just 30 secluded villas on the island, each one resting on stilts over the translucent water. The island is close to full occupancy most of the year.

The One-Bedroom Villa:
The bed is mounted on a platform of Japanese tatami mats with a beautiful rustic tapestry hung on the wall behind it. The long deck extends out to the most spectacular stretch on the island. Perfection.

The COMO Villa (aka: The P.Diddy Villa):
Fit for a Balinese king, infused with modern elegance, and glamorous enough even for Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs. Dominic and I do a stupid dance of joy on all three tiers of the deck in celebration of our palace perched at the edge of the earth.

It feels as if every fluffy white towel, every outdoor shower, and every ginger mojito is here as naturally as the warm breeze. Stillness and seclusion are ubiquitous. Although the island is only 500 paces long by 80 wide and all the rooms are occupied, we often feel like the only guests here. The service and staff on the island effuses a graceful island vibe without a trace of pretension.

The Ufaa Restaurant sprawls out underneath an alang-alang pavilion the open sky, and around the shimmering infinity pool – it’s like dining in an outdoor planetarium. The Casablanca-esque bar, Faru, is adjacent, and inspires smoking cigars and drinking something out of a snifter while wearing a tipped Panama hat. The food is fresh and flavorful, as they use locally-grown produce and seafood, seasoned with Indian and Sri Lankan spices. We snorkel in the shallow part of the reef where we see angelfish, pufferfish, triggerfish, sting rays, baby sharks, and even a looming manta ray. Snorkel gear is complimentary. So is a daily yoga class, which is held in open-air yoga studio with the still sea on one side and a sandy courtyard on the other.

The next day we return to the spa for the Como Shambhala massage given in a private glass hut at the water’s edge. Unobtrusive yoga-like music plays, and the room permeates the resort’s signature scent – a blend of eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint. The hydrotherapy pool is a must. It is encased in a stunning wooden pavilion with lush green plants woven throughout.

During our stay I noticed that there only seemed to be couples visiting Cocoa Island, and by the end of our honeymoon, I realized exactly why – they are here because they want to just be together in peace. Couples come here to rejuvenate, recharge, and reconnect. They have come here to press the reset button on their lives and, perhaps, their relationship. Cocoa is a retreat. A place to just be ¬. Next time we come to Cocoa Island, and there will be a next time, I know all I need to bring are my bathing suit, a few gauzy dresses, and sunscreen – everything else is provided.

Bon Ton Resort Langkawi, Malaysia

The majority of couples choose to jet away straight after their wedding, normally the next day, but we decided to delay ours seeing as we got married so close to Christmas. We wanted to celebrate Christmas and New Year with our families and friends, go back to work for a few weeks and then head off and enjoy ourselves towards the end of January, when it was all cold and bleak and we had a chance to take a breather post wedding.

This is going to be the one chance when you can (if you decide that is what you want) really splash out, enjoy yourselves, go to that dream location, be pampered and eat and drink well. The feeling of being newly married, coupled with the fact that everyone will treat you like royalty means that your honeymoon will just be amazing and a very special time together.

Honeymoon beach relaxing, Andaman, Langkawi

There are lots of companies and sites that specialize in honeymoon packages, hotels and destinations and we’ll be reviewing those in this section. Also for those of you that want to go the DIY option which is often cheaper and might be more to your style, I’ll be looking at cool places to stay, the hip hotels and the boutique wonders where you might want to while away those early days as Mr and Mrs. There are now many wedding lists, such as at trailfinders and similar companies, that allow your guests to donate towards your honeymoon fund so that you really can have your dream holiday.

We’ll be covering ‘real life’ honeymoons to so it would be great to hear from you with any great trips that you have planned or to hear about what your dream honeymoon would be. I would like to cover lots of wierd and wonderful choices, whether it be beach lazing in Phuket, skiing in Zermatt or hiking in the Lake District so I am relying on inspiration from you to help me uncover those hidden gems!