Budget Honeymoon Bliss: 5 Charming Small Hotels Cheaper Than Your Wedding
It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so make the most of it without breaking the bank.
You spent all of your money on a big, fun, extravagant wedding and — it's totally going to be worth it! But now your honeymoon fund is dry. A romantic adventure in a Moroccan medina or a weekend in a palazzo overlooking Venice's Grand Canal seem like realistic options — about 50 years from now. But if your golden anniversary seems like a lifetime away, may we suggest another route: small, boutique, charming, and full of character. Here are five little hotel gems oozing with romance that charge less per night than your price per head.
Photo courtesy of Cima Rosa.
CIMA ROSA
Location: Venice, Italy
Atmosphere: Behind a quiet courtyard in the Santa Croce quarter, the restored 15th-century palazzo overlooks the Grand Canal. The owners — an interiors architect and his interior designer wife — have decorated the five-room hideaway in a tranquil palette of grays, blues, and creams. Old-world touches include parquet floors, antique furniture, and exposed beams.
Perks: Ask for a copy of Eat The Venetian, a list detailing the couple's favorite local hangouts.
Check in: Rates from $190 per night. Click here for reservations.
Photo courtsy of Bambu Indah.
BAMBU INDAH
Location: Ubud, Bali
Atmosphere: Fourteen Javanese bridal homes overlook a patchwork of bright green rice paddy fields and the flowing Ayung River. Originally intended as a place to house visiting friends and families, owner John Hardy, a well-known jewelry designer who has called Bali home for more than twenty years, turned the small compound into a thriving eco-retreat with a natural swimming pool, organic garden, spa, and yoga studio.
Perks: Catch the free shuttle into central Ubud to take in local sites like Monkey Forest and Tanah Lot.
Check in: Rates from $125 per night. Click here for reservations.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Can Mostatxins.
HOTEL CAN MOSTATXINS
Location: Mallorca, Spain
Atmosphere: The contemporary eight-bedroom hotel is housed in a stunning Mallorcan manor home that dates back to the late 15th-century. Original Gothic details, like mason-built stone, mingle with contemporary lighting design and sleek glass passageways. A basement spa contains a heated splash pool and offers spa treatments during the day.
Perks: Head to the bi-weekly market in Old Town Alcudia for leather bags, sandals, and local olive oil.
Check in: Rates from $150 per night. Click here for reservations.
Photo courtesy of Riad 72.
RIAD 72
Location: Marrakech, Morocco
Atmosphere: A contemporary take on a traditional Moroccan riad in the heart of the colorful medina. Recently renovated, the 100-year-old building has seven guest rooms, a quintessential Moroccan hammam, a small library, an outdoor restaurant, and an intimate cocktail lounge.
Perks: The hotel terrace is the highest in the medina. Take in views of the old city, the Koutoubia tower, and the Atlas Mountains while enjoying a lazy breakfast or a sunset cocktail.
Check in: Rates from $145 per night. Click here for reservations.
Photo courtesy of Finca Valentina.
FINCA VALENTINA
Location: Salta, Argentina
Atmosphere: Set against the beautiful landscape of northern Argentina and the mighty Andes, the charming eight-bedroom country house is run by an Italian couple from Milan. Rustic-but-refined guest rooms come with all the trappings of a luxury hotel — heated flooring, private patios, and luxury linens. Traditional cooking classes, massages, horseback riding, and a gorgeous swimming pool keep guests busy.
Perks: Socompa, an adventure travel company run by the owners, specializes in planning trips through the deserts of Salta, Catamarca, and Atacama in Chile.
Check in: Rates from $115 per night. Click here for reservations.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE
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