Honeymoons in January

The English winter is the perfect time to escape on honeymoon, with so many long-haul destinations at their prime. While the beginning of January can be an expensive time to travel (Christmas and New Year are always busy), it is still a great time of year to go away, with prices dropping towards the end of the month.

Head to the southern Australian states such as New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, where you can hang out in the cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne, relax on remote, sun-drenched beaches, head into the Blue Mountains or visit one of the many stunning offshore islands. Or self-drive around New Zealand, where stunning scenery, fabulous food and wine and some truly beautiful honeymoon bolt-holes await!

Of course, if it's beaches you're after, then you'd do well to think about a classic fly-and-flop destination like the Caribbean, the Maldives or the Seychelles. The Caribbean offers great beaches, a chilled-out vibe and unique 'island personalities', while the Maldives are great for divers, luxury-lovers (the resorts are truly spectacular) and anyone who loves the idea of staying in an over-water bungalow. The Seychelles have more of a Robinson Crusoe feel with idyllic (often private) islands dotted with pristine deserted beaches, huge granite rocks and mountainous interiors. Although, make sure you do your research and speak to one of our honest and reliable experts who can advise you where to stay. The Seychelles are dictated by prevailing winds and different hotels and islands are better at different times of year. Depending on their orientation, whole beaches can appear and disappear!

Then of course, you could choose an Asian country such as Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The great thing about destinations like this is that you get to combine stunning scenery and seriously chilled-out beaches with amazing food and incredible culture. For instance, head to the north of Thailand and you'll find lush forests, amazing trekking, ancient temples and rural villages; head to the south and you're in beach paradise. Throw in a trip to bustling Bangkok (where you'll find sleek hotels, hip bars and incredible shopping) and you'll have a great honeymoon.

Finally, if you're looking to do something active, consider a trip to South Africa. Our winter months are the best time to travel to Cape Town and go on safari, so you can look towards the Eastern Cape to go wildlife spotting (the lodges are awesome), visit the sights of Table Mountain or head to the beautiful Winelands region, visiting world-class vineyards and staying in gorgeous little boutique hotels along the way.