Europe Honeymoon Ideas with Mr & Mrs Smith + Ask the Expert!
Last year, I had a dream trip to Thailand with Mr & Mrs Smith (recap here, here and here). Today we’re bringing Mr and Mrs Smith back to talk about European honeymoon destinations and answer any questions you may have about your own honeymoon plans in the old continent. One of their senior travel experts, Francesca Cocuzza, will be answering questions about Europe honeymoons in the comments section today, so ask away!
About Mr & Mrs Smith
It was 10 years ago now when Mr & Mrs Smith co-founders James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy planned a romantic weekend away only to arrive at a hotel that was far less inspiring than anticipated. With that, they decided to launch a guidebook for other like-minded travelers looking for chic stays without the chintz. Smith has since grown to into an online booking service with a curated collection of more than 900 hand-picked and personally visited boutique hotels– and a top-notch team of travel experts dedicated to creating tailor-made honeymoons.
Meet Mr & Mrs Smith‘s travel concierge, Francesca Cocuzza, a senior travel consultant and honeymoon expert. An Italophile since her first gelato, Francesca traded in her Dante anthology after college for a ticket to Cremona, Italy. Even though she’s back stateside now – and jaunting around the US and Southeast Asia – her heart is still in Europe. When she’s not helping Mr & Mrs Smith members plan the Italy and Vietnam honeymoons of their dreams, she continues on her never-ending search for the most authentic bowl of ragu in New York City.
Even if short on time to plan, there’s no reason to leave your trip-of-a-lifetime to chance. You can still take your dream European honeymoon – especially to some of Francesca’s favorite under-the-radar destinations. We will leave you with Francesca:
Athens & Folegandros, Greece
Make your way to center of the ancient world, Athens, which is every bit as glorious and atmospheric as you’d imagine. Ease into your holiday with a couple of nights at New Hotel, a centrally located modern design den with Acropolis views. Over Santorini? Cast off for its sister island, the quiet and less touristy Folegandros, a sun-baked isle with local tavernas and secluded sandy beaches. Here, check in (and check out) at Anemi Hotel a stylish and spoiling stay perched overlooking the sea.
Puglia, Italy
Leave Tuscany to the crowds, as you explore the Italy’s enticing east coast in Puglia. Happily post up at the 16th-century seaside estate Masseria Torre Maizza, and indulge in the areas bounty of fresh fish, melons, figs, olive oils, handmade pastas and wines. Then, cruise south to Basilicata for a few nights at Francis Ford Coppola’s cinematic Palazzo Margherita. It’s set in a 15th-century town that rivals Rome in terms of culture and charm, and it comes without the torrent of tourists. Tucked high up on the beautiful boot’s instep, it’s flanked by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and home to some of the country’s most impressive national parks.
Palazzo Margherita:
last two images, source
Porto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, is another culture-rich destination, and the dramatic Hotel Teatro, will have you well-placed in the fashionable theater district. Along the Douro River, tree-lined boulevards shadow grand houses, and, to the south, Vila de Gaia is where to head with a hearty appetite for port, the city’s namesake drink, proudly produced here for centuries. For a nature fix, move out into the less-traveled Douro Valley and retreat to Vidago Palace, an opulent country manor and spa. This north-western patch of Portugal is golden by nature, with sepia-tinged hills and a sun-kissed mountainscape: it’s little wonder these wild winelands have been awarded Unesco World Heritage status.
It’s FREE to join their Blacksmith travel club. Their list of perks and best rate guarantee don’t even scratch the surface of the benefits of booking through them. In addition to their travel club, they offer a Just Married pass where for a fee you get exclusive discounts, room upgrades, honeymoon registry and credit towards your anniversary stay – the fee upfront more than pays for itself within a year!
Have Travel Questions for Francesca? Ask below!
Feeling the travel bug itch? Go ahead and use our comments box below to ask Francesca any questions about a European escape. She’ll be around all day offering honeymoon help in the comments section. You can also give Smith‘s honeymoon experts a call at 1 800 464 2040.
I was fortunate to spend 2 1/2 weeks in Italy when I was younger and I can’t wait to go back. The Amalfi Coast was the most beautiful location I’ve ever traveled, but that image of Porto, Portugal is now piquing my interest in the city.
Hi Corinna,
Isn’t the Amalfi Coast amazing? I love it, too. Porto would definitely be another beautiful coastal city to visit. You should also add the Dalmatian Coast, in Croatia, to your list, as it has that same rugged cliff-side landscape with historic Mediterranean architecture. And parts of the Côte d’Azur also have a similar feel, with the steep, winding streets and hillsides tumbling down to the ocean. So many gorgeous places!
Hi Francesca! Oh man, I’m totally in love with all of these trips. But we’ve finally narrowed it down to Italy, so I should stick to the plan, shouldn’t I? We can go for two weeks in May, and we want to fly in and out of Rome, but obviously don’t want to spend all our time there. We def want to get off the beaten tourist path. I was in Puglia a few years ago – and loved it! Any particular suggestions?
Hi Rachel,
I’d go back to Puglia every year if I could, but if you’ve already been, maybe you’d consider Sicily as an alternative. Fly from Rome to Catania and start at the gorgeous Monaci delle Terre Nere [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/monaci-delle-terre-nere], right at the foot of Mount Etna and within reach of the must-see city of Taormina. Keep going south to visit Noto and Modica, two beautiful baroque towns (here I’d stay at Seven Rooms Villadorata [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/seven-rooms-villadorata]). And if you’re looking for beaches and sun, head to Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, on the southwest coast, just north of the breathtaking temples at Agrigento.
Don’t forget to eat loads of cannoli, too!
Hi Francesca,
Love the idea of Folegandros, thank you! My fiancé and I are planning on going on our Greece honeymoon for 10 days next year. Do you think there would be enough time to spend a day or two in Turkey, and if so, what kind of itinerary would you recommend?
thank you!
Hi Lucy,
Ten days give you plenty of time to stop in Turkey! You could fly into Istanbul and recover from your transatlantic flight on a balcony overlooking the Bosphorus at one of our House Hotels [like this one: https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/the-house-hotel-bosphorus%5D . Then make a pit-stop in Athens (it’s an underrated city and, in my opinion, really not to be missed) and stay at the central and trendy New Hotel, which I mentioned above. From there, choose between a quick puddle jumper or a long scenic ferry ride to Santorini, Mykonos, Crete or Folegandros to get your island time in.
Hope that’s helpful!
Hi Francesca,
I’m planning the final stage of our honeymoon this Sept / Oct and wondered if you had any recommendations on where to stay in Positano? Or, perhaps you have other places you’d recommend staying in Amalfi that rivals Positano?? I’d definitely love to stay somewhere with gorgeous beaches if that’s an option?? Thanks so much in advance!
Franca
Hi Franca,
Just outside of Positano is Casa Angelina [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/casa-angelina], in the smaller and less-touristy seaside town of Praiano, which is within 20 minutes of both Positano and Amalfi. I wouldn’t miss a day trip to Capri (or a night if you can spare it at Capri Palace Hotel & Spa [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/capri-palace-hotel-and-spa]).
The Amalfi Coast beaches are rocky rather than sandy, so if you want to get in the water, the best bet is to hire a speedboat for an afternoon and explore the coastal caves. If you’re looking for sandy beaches, you’ll want to try Puglia, about a three-hour drive away, or the Tuscan coast, where it doesn’t get any better than Principe Forte dei Marmi [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/principe-forte-dei-marmi].
Hope that helps! Feel free to give me a ring at 1 800 464 2040 if you have more questions.
Hi,
I’m getting married in a couple of weeks and we haven’t booked our honeymoon yet! We would ideally like to be away from the 28th/29th July for a week or 10 days depending on cost. Our maximum budget is £3000 for everything (probably too little for the types of hotels on your site) and we are really keen on Greece or Italy or anywhere in Europe really. All the hotels you suggested above look divine
I know our budget is probably lower than other Mr & Mrs Smith customers – but any suggestions would be massively appreciated…
Thank you!
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
We’ve got something in our collection for every budget! The San Giorgio Mykonos [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/san-giorgio-mykonos] is one of my favorites, you wouldn’t even know their rooms start at £200 per night. In Italy, some of our most charming hotels are the budget-friendly ones: check out Borgo della Marmotta [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/borgo-della-marmotta] in Umbria and Azienda Agricola Mandranova [https://smithhotels.com/luxury-hotels/azienda-agricola-mandranova] in Sicily. Those two will even leave you with some wiggle room to splurge on a nice bottle of vino. You can add a ‘budget boutique hotels’ filter when searching on our website, or give us a call for more advice!