Italy Tops 10 Hot Honeymoon Destinations

Move over Paris, Italy is the new hot place for lovers. Italy took the top spot in Modern Bride magazine's 11th annual World's Best Honeymoons survey. More than 6,000 luxury travel agents were asked to rank their 50 favorite honeymoon sites. Third last year, Italy moved into the No. 1 spot for the first time. Hawaii, which has reigned as the top honeymoon destination for a decade, ran a close second. This is the first year in some time that beach destinations did not sweep the top 10, though they still made a strong showing. Warmth, water and sand will always have a romantic allure for honeymooners. Survey results are available in the August/September issue of Modern Bride. The top 10 honeymoon destinations are:

Italy Hawaii Tahiti Costa Rica Mexico France the Maldives Anguilla Fiji Greece

My favorite section of the survey was the "bests" list:

• Best beach: Caneel Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands
• Best bar: The Setai, Miami
• Best resort spa: Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Most luxurious bathroom: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
• Ultimate honeymoon suite: Premier Overwater Villa, St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia.

On my next trip to San Francisco, I think I'll have to check out that bathroom! The most affordable honeymoon destinations were Mexico, Las Vegas and the Dominican Republic. If you and your new spouse thirst for adventure, try Costa Rica, South Africa or New Zealand. A few tips for planning the perfect honeymoon:

• Plan together. Talk about where you want to go and what you want to do. You may be thinking mai tais on the beach while he's thinking jet ski and surfing lessons. This is may be your first opportunity to practice compromise!
• Set a budget. This is your first major expense as a couple. Remember to factor in transportation, lodging, meals, transfers, sight-seeing, activities, souvenirs, tips, taxes and those little luxuries that make you feel pampered. Be realistic about what you can afford. A memorable honeymoon doesn't have to be an expensive one.
• Passports. If you plan to travel abroad for your honeymoon, make sure you apply early for your passports. It can take 10 to 12 weeks for your passport application to be processed. Beginning January 1, 2008, all persons travelling outside the US, including Canada and Mexico, will be required to present a passport to re-enter the country. Click here for more information.
• Pamper yourselves. A honeymoon is a lifetime event. Splurge a little. Get the massage, have champagne and strawberries delivered to your room, take the midnight cruise -- make your honeymoon a memorable trip and start building memories together.