The best luxury honeymoons that won’t wreck your budget
New research has named the world’s best luxury honeymoon destinations on a budget — and the top spot is cheaper than a long weekend in London.
A study by digital entertainment platform BC.Game analysed honeymoon destinations worldwide, ranking them on five-star hotel rates, the cost of a romantic dinner for two, average drink prices, couple activities, spa availability and overall safety. The result is a genuinely surprising list that puts Southeast Asia and the Atlantic islands firmly ahead of the obvious Instagram choices.
Hoi An takes the top spot
Vietnam’s Hoi An came out as the number one best-value luxury honeymoon destination in the world. A room at a top-rated hotel costs around $111 a night, and dinner for two at a candlelit riverside restaurant comes in at under $20. The city has over 270 things for couples to do together — cooking classes in the old quarter, sunrise boat rides on the Thu Bon River — plus up to 250 spas for when you’d rather do absolutely nothing.
Bali takes second place, with nearly 700 activities on offer for newlyweds, from private volcano hikes to sacred water purification ceremonies. Five-star hotels average $283 a night, which sounds like more until you remember what that gets you versus, say, Santorini. Speaking of which — Santorini does make the list at number nine, but at $100 for a romantic dinner alone you can see why it doesn’t top it.
The European options worth knowing about
If a long-haul flight isn’t the vibe, Madeira comes in at third overall and is the standout European pick. Five-star rooms average $152 a night and a romantic dinner with wine costs around $27 — which is genuinely less than a Saturday night out in Dublin. It also holds the highest safety score of any European destination on the list, at 82 out of 100, which matters more than people admit when you’re navigating a new country fresh off a wedding.
Crete lands at number four. Over 140 upscale resorts, 80+ spas and nightly five-star rates averaging $227 make it a serious contender, particularly for couples who want that Aegean aesthetic without Santorini prices. The Algarve takes sixth place, rounding out a quietly strong showing for Portugal overall.
The full top 10
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1. Hoi An, Vietnam — $111/night, dinner for two from $19
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2. Bali, Indonesia — $283/night, dinner for two from $36
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3. Madeira, Portugal — $152/night, dinner for two from $27
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4. Crete, Greece — $227/night, dinner for two from $68
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5. Phuket, Thailand — $149/night, dinner for two from $45
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6. Algarve, Portugal — $246/night, dinner for two from $52
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7. Galle, Sri Lanka — $153/night, dinner for two from $26
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8. Cape Town, South Africa — $124/night, dinner for two from $54
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9. Santorini, Greece — $271/night, dinner for two from $100
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10. Cappadocia, Türkiye — $180/night, dinner for two from $49
The research also included some practical tips worth filing away. If you’re heading to Madeira or the Algarve, renting a car for at least a few days opens up spots that no tour bus reaches. For Bali, looking at Ubud or Canggu instead of Seminyak can get you an equally good resort without the price premium that comes with being in the most photographed part of the island. And if Crete is on the list, booking directly with five-star hotels rather than through third-party sites often includes breakfast for two in the rate.
The honeymoon doesn’t have to cost more than the wedding. Turns out, in most cases, it really doesn’t have to.
