What has led to the rise of the mini-moon concept according to you?

One of the most popular trends of the wedding industry, has taken the luxury travel industry by a storm – The Mini-moon. We’ve evolved from the “Just Married” couples in their getaway cars driving into the sunset & headed for their honeymoon into realistic modern times where they are usually preparing for another friends wedding in the same group! However, just a couple days away to celebrate the recent nuptials, unwind after all the wedding stress & just enjoy being a newly wed away from the friends & family, enter the mini-moon!

Opting for a delay in the honeymoon can have multifold reasons. Usually we see couples come in wanting to travel to hemisphere that may not have favorable weather conditions right after their wedding. Some may not have the liberty to leave right after an entire week away from office to celebrate the Big Fat Indian Wedding. Destinations like Africa, South America, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji – demand a minimum of 15 days with a decent sized budget, after all, this is the single most important trip a couple can take.

Here at TravelnLiving, travel is an experience we take very seriously. No trip, big or small is tailored to anything but perfection.

Are there any recent honeymoon/mini-moon trends you’ve particularly noticed?

A mini-moon or a mini – honeymoon is typically a weekend to a five day-long getaway. Anything that doesn’t require too much planning or packing. You can enjoy your short break at a nearby a winery, a spa hotel or a luxury mountain retreat, or better yet, spend one or two days at a fabulous hotel in the city you live in, which to be honest Indians do anyway before jetting off to their mini-moon! As experts, we encourage our clients to try new experiences & lesser frequented places. Given that we have ourselves experienced over 60+ countries, gives us the ability to guide them correctly & find the hidden gems.

A few trends we’ve experienced as travel experts is:

1.Opting for Sustainable travel

The world is growing eco conscious & so travelers are looking to support properties and experiences that fully focus on this. A very good example of an eco-conscious property is Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. Zero plastic on the island, zero waste, zero imports, produce grown on the island. Soneva as a brand believes in barefoot luxury. The minute I stepped onto the island myself, our shoes were taken and returned to us at the end of the trip.

2. Back to Nature

Escaping to a tree house combines the growing awareness of nature’s holistic healing properties with society’s increasing global need for calm and serenity. We recommend wellness retreats like Ananda in the Himalays which has been ranked in the top5 in the world. Sha Wellness in Alicante is world renowned too.

3. River Cruising

An ideal mini moon getaway we sell is river cruising. It’s just the right amount of time, luxury & budget. In order to keep the experience niche & unique we do products like The Strand Cruise sailing on the Irrewady river in Myanmar. I can’t think of a better way to unwind, it’s the perfect cruise in a land of beauty and magic. Unimaginable lip smacking foods, butler service, guests limited to 50 people in 25 cabins.

4. Classic Beach Break

There’s always one couple out of the lot that likes their classic cocktail, pool side & beach perfection. Opting for a less beaten paradise, we steer them to a beautiful & untouched part of Srilanka – Cape Weligama. Atop a cliff, this Relais & Chateaux luxury property is intimate, cozy & romantic. For the adventure beach lovers, Seychelles an archipelago in the continent of Africa has seen scores of couples snorkeling through their crystal clear waters and enjoying the pristine white sand beaches. With a topography unlike most beach destinations, the Seychelles topography allows its visitors to enjoy rainforests, beaches, the UNESCO World Heritage Coco de mer forests & driving around the beautiful islands.

What are the most popular/must-visit mini-moon destinations according to you and why? (Please pick 4-5 destinations with hotel suggestions for each)

1. Sri Lanka

Given its close proximity & easy process to obtain the visa (EVisa). Srilanka is quite popular a mini moon destination with a plethora of islands to explore. My personal favourite & highly recommended properties to experience would – Ceylon tea trails in the Ceylon region, Cape Weligama & Anantara. What most people don’t know is Srilanka has recently become home to a safari experience. The Yala National Park with a beautiful luxury lodge under the Relais & Chateaux group is an experience by itself.

2. Oman

Six Senses Ziggy Bay. Parasail into the property, snorkel with the dolphins, dip in the wadis.

3. Phuket

Though a common destination, this experience is uncommon. keemala resorts & spa is located in an enchanting rainforest with tree top luxury villas called the birds nest with a 30 mt sq private pool giving you the perfect ocean, forest & mountain view

4. Marrakesh

What’s not to love about an amalgamation of ancient Rome, Greece and the Maghreb. The stunning Riad’s and luxury properties boast impressive architecture against a desert palette of sand, taupe and beige. La Mamounia & the Mansour Marrakesh

5. Kashmir

This may well be a land of conflicts but is most definitely a haven for couples. Like a painting come to life, Kashmir sells itself. Khyber resort in Gulmarg is a rage with families, couples et all.

Your top picks of pre-wedding getaway destinations

Out of personal experience, a lot of the millennial’s are option for pre-wedding getaways to enjoy a hassle free celebration before the real show begins. Here’s my top pick of the lot

Beirut, Istanbul, Udaipur, Oman, Jordan, Charter Cruising, Pushkar, Srilanka, Bali & Hong Kong