Wedding. White dress, tuxedo, cake, guests, celebration. One of the most important moments in life! But the wedding is behind: the guests are happy, the cake is eaten, the white dress and tuxedo are removed. And the newlyweds face the question: where to go on a honeymoon? To Europe or somewhere in Russia? And when is it better: in winter or in summer? Or maybe in the fall? Where to begin? How to choose your perfect wedding tour? In this article you will find answers to all questions.
A bit of history
Before we move on to honeymoon tours, let's talk a bit about history.
It is still not clear where the name “wedding” came from. One of the versions is of ancient Indian origin: “swas” means “own” (hence, by the way, the word “matchmaker” also comes from). That is, at the wedding, everyone became each other “their own” (relatives).
According to another version, the word "wedding" came from the old Russian "wilderness." Maybe that's why a Russian wedding without a fight is not a wedding!
Well, if we decompose the word "wedding" into its components, we get:
- Swa - blessing or enlightenment.
- Q is virtue or good.
- Ba - respect or respect.
That is, a "wedding" is a "blessing for a good life in respect." Sounds nice, doesn't it?
Why is the bride and groom called that way? "No West" - one who does not know, that is, she is innocent, inexperienced. And only after the wedding she will know (know) what family life is. And the “bridegroom" is the one who intends to gain, win his woman, in the future - his wife. Here is such an interesting origin of seemingly such familiar names.
Let's go to ... sweet ... sugar ... honeymoon
The origin of the name “honeymoon” is no less interesting than the origin of the words “wedding”, “groom” and “bride”. There is no longer any dispute, because this is a long-known fact. Newlyweds at the wedding were made to give a barrel of honey. Well, as a barrel - 5-10 kilograms! And the newlyweds had to gobble up both cheeks so that by the end of the month this barrel would be empty.
In fact, honey in Russia was considered a very useful product, and its use had a beneficial effect on the whole organism. And newlyweds need strength and health like no one else!
But do not we go on a tour for the newlyweds?
Before, the tradition of leaving for a wedding tour did not exist. Firstly, not many had the means to travel immediately after the wedding. And secondly, after the wedding hassles a little different appeared: to plant a tree, build a house, give birth to a son, etc.
In the XIX century, Europeans began to go to Italy, France, Switzerland. Russians chose the Mediterranean countries for honeymoon trips. The best time was considered 1.5-2 months after the wedding, when the bride managed to take a break from the hassle.
In the days of the USSR, there was neither the opportunity nor the means to travel abroad, but the newlyweds still managed to stay a week or two away from home. They traveled across immense Russia.
And after the 90s, when all roads were open, the Russians began to choose the most diverse destinations for travel. Travel companies are increasingly offering special tours for honeymooners, which has a beneficial effect on the development of this branch of tourism.
A couple of tips before traveling
Before you decide where to go after the wedding, here are some tips:
- If you are allergic to certain products, do not go to countries where this product is dominant in local cuisine (for example, if you are allergic to citrus fruits, it is better to refrain from visiting exotic countries), since even the smell of this product can cause unpleasant Feel.
- Breathing problems - go to the sea, physiological - to Asia. If you are interested in historical monuments - to Europe, you are more interested in modern architecture - to America.
- It doesn’t matter what trip you are going on, wedding or just on vacation, be sure to prepare a first-aid kit. Each first-aid kit should include: medicines for diarrhea (Loperamide or Smecta), food poisoning (coal, Furazolidone), painkillers (like Citramon), antipyretics (Analgin or Paracetamol), antibiotics (Sumamed is considered to be one of the best), antiallergic (Loratadine), and in small details (bandage, patch, chlorhexidine, Boro Plus).
Well, now that you’ve prepared to a minimum, it's time to decide where to go on your honeymoon.
In the native expanses
If you do not have a foreign passport, you are not a fan of trying a new kitchen, and in principle you are not a fan of traveling abroad, your honeymoon in Russia is what you need! In our vast country there are a lot of interesting places that many did not even suspect of.
If it is difficult for city residents to part with the usual noise and bustle, then the best choice is Moscow or St. Petersburg. Moscow is a city where you can not only look at cultural monuments, such as the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Tsar Cannon or Tsar Bell, but also enjoy modern architecture (Moscow City). And, of course, go shopping at the largest shopping center - GUM!
But St. Petersburg is not far behind Moscow. In addition to visiting famous monuments such as the Hermitage and Peterhof, there is the opportunity to enjoy white nights. The exact start date is June 11, the end is July 2, but in fact they can be captured from late May to mid July. So the honeymoon trip in July to the Northern capital can be especially memorable.
Nature lovers should go to Karelia. Forests, reserves, rivers - what more could you want for a great vacation!
Crimea will also amaze travelers with its nature: clean mountain air, endless fields, the heavenly blue of the sea and many diverse attractions - just a paradise for body and soul.
Baikal is a unique place not only in Russia, but also in the world. The lake, similar to the sea, is surrounded by endless forests with a unique wildlife.
If you want to visit Europe without leaving Russia, there is such a place - Kaliningrad. The former German Koenigsberg (translated as “King’s mountain”) preserved the architecture of that time (Cathedral, Holy Family Church). There are also modern buildings (Fish Village). Well, the famous Curonian Spit will amaze you with its mysterious dancing forest and dunes.
I will go to where ...
There are no less places for honeymoon in Europe than in Russia. But let's talk about everything in order.
The most popular countries for honeymoon trips among Russians are Spain, Italy and Portugal. And such a choice is quite explainable: delicious cuisine, the sea, an abundance of attractions, excellent shopping. But today I want to talk about countries that are slightly deprived of attention.
If you do not have a large budget, but you still want to go to Europe, then your choice is the Czech Republic or Hungary. Both of these countries are very rich in culture, friendly people and, of course, beautiful architecture. For example, in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, there are the famous Astronomical Clock. Until now, the history of their creation has not been unraveled, only legends exist, but the clocks shock with its magnificence and complexity of the mechanisms. And this taking into account the fact that they were created around the 15th century! And Prague bridges deserve a separate article.
In Budapest, the capital of Hungary, you can also find a lot of interesting things. It used to be two different cities, Buda and Pest. In the Old Town are the Citadel, Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion, which are located on three hills, and in the New Town - the St. Stephen’s Basilica, various squares and the Budapest Eye (as in London, only smaller), which offers a beautiful view of the city. And one Hungarian goulash is worth it!
If you have health problems, you can drink mineral water in Karlovy Vary or swim in the Szechenyi thermal baths.
When planning your honeymoon trip in February, you can consider two options. If you like snow, you are not afraid of frost, then the best choice is Scandinavian countries. There you can enjoy real winter, seafood, and if you're lucky, see a real miracle - the northern lights!
If you do not like winter, then the second option is exotic countries.
Have you been to Haiti?
Russians (not all, but most) really love the sun, sea, sandy beaches. For a honeymoon tour, this is generally romance.
India is a unique country. Yoga, exotic flowers, sunsets, elephants, dancing ... Each state here is famous for something of its own. The state of Goa will give you fun and golden sandy beaches, Kerala will surprise yoga lovers. Arriving in India, you find yourself not just in another country, in another world with your charm, which is felt at first sight.
The Maldives is a whole series of islands, there are more than 1000 of them. Blue lagoons, palm trees, a rich underwater world ... And the plankton, which is washed ashore at night, reflects the stars like a mirror, because as a result of chemical processes it becomes bright blue.
Pleasant climate, sun, friendly Latin Americans - these are the criteria of Mexico that attract tourists. It was here that millions of years ago the ancient Mayan civilization was formed, it is here that you can see turtles up to 2 m long, and it is here that the museum is located at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.
Anything more dangerous!
For some, the best rest is sunbathing, for others a hike in the mountains, and for some, a parachute jump. Extremal newlyweds also have a place to go. In Europe, of course, you do not often find extreme entertainment, but in America - more than enough! Here and bungee jumping, and skydiving, and rafting, and climbing, and many other "adrenaline" entertainment. In general, there is where to roam.
And where to stay?
Newlyweds should not worry at all where to stay in a new city or in a new country. Almost all European hotels and most hotels in Russia have honeymoon rooms. They are slightly more expensive than standard rooms, but differ significantly in design. In addition, the newlyweds are offered some services: a special breakfast or dinner, champagne in the room and others. Honeymoon rooms often have a jacuzzi. And what could be better than taking a hot bath with a glass of champagne in your hand after an interesting day exploring a new city!
Interesting ...
After you decide where to go on your honeymoon, decide on the hotel and your honeymoon, it's time to find out some interesting facts about the countries and make sure that you made the right choice:
- Frogs in France are not eaten as often as is commonly thought. They are served only in the most sophisticated restaurants.
- In Finland, it is not considered shameful if the husband is cleaning the house, and the wife is working at that time, that is, cleaning is not only a “woman’s business”.
- If you really like coffee, then go to Finland or the Netherlands. Here they drink it the most.
- The most diverse country in terms of various criteria (linguistic, cultural, climatic, religious, etc.) is India.
- Love the lakes - go to Canada. There are 60% of the total number of lakes in the world.
- Mexicans are most fond of drinking Coca-Cola, not tequila.
Conclusion
We hope this article will help you determine the main question: where to go on a honeymoon. Nowadays, all roads are open, and you can choose any place on the planet, the place where you had wanted to visit for so long, but there was no way. In general: it’s important not where you are going, but with whom. After all, the atmosphere of travel is created by the people who surround you. All bright and exciting travel!