The Caribbean is one of the long-dreamed-of honeymoon destinations of many a couple. The gorgeous sunsets, white sandy beaches and picturesque palm trees make for the perfect romantic setting. But where to go when you want to avoid other newly married couples? Not St Thomas, Barbados and Jamaica – the tourism hot spots of the Caribbean islands. If you want to escape to a more natural and secluded spot, you should look into the following destinations for your honeymoon…

St John

Why it’s perfect

Part of the Virgin Islands but not nearly as developed as popular St Thomas, St John is more out of the way and untouched – the perfect place to get away. The Virgin Islands National Park takes up two-thirds of the island and affords ample space for couples looking for beauty and privacy. Consider heading here if Trunk Bay Beach is overrun with tourists.

Where to book

If you want to be spoilt and pampered, with access to plenty of amenities, book a spot at Caneel Bay. For more of a thrill, consider staying at a wooden and canvas ‘tent’ at Maho Bay Camps in pristine Maho Bay.

Culebra

Why it’s perfect

This Puerto Rican island is all about seclusion and beautiful white sand beaches that stretch for miles, like the one at Playa Flamenco. Here, it’s easy to find a private spot for two. Tired of lounging and lazing about? Consider a day trip to nearby Vieques and lush Mosquito Bay for a rush of excitement.

Where to book

Hacienda Tamarindo is the place to stay if you’re looking to get away from the world. This plantation-like inn offers gorgeous views, a refreshing pool and lots of tranquil spots by shady terraces.

Nevis

Why it’s perfect

Not as developed as other nearby islands, this laid-back island is both beautiful and secluded. Nevis honeymooners, whether they met through friends or through eHarmony, can simply soak up the scenery, lie on the beach, venture into the rainforest or out on to the water. While couples will find both friendly locals and historical landmarks here, this is not the island for shopping or nightlife.

Where to book

For a touch of the romantic and luxurious, stay at one of the island’s many restored plantations and manor houses, such as the Hermitage Plantation Inn.

Whether you met your new better half at work or through a dating website Leeds, Manchester and London newlyweds will love these exotic and secluded honeymoon getaways.

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London’s Westfield shopping centre is the ideal location for shopping for almost any purchase you have in mind. Under one roof you can grab a bargain in a vast array of the popular high street stores, but most importantly, there is the opportunity to treat yourself in its high class shopping village. In The Village, you will find some of the most luxurious designer brands London has to offer, including: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Versace and Tiffany & Co. The list doesn’t shop there though, and there’s certainly a designer brand to suit any taste, style or trend. But best of all, there are many low cost London hotels that won’t break your budget (leaving money left over to spend on must have purchase).

Although, if you really wish to shop in style, the best place to find designer labels is in one of London’s world renowned department stores. Check out last minute cheap hotel deals to be close to shops of high repute. Harvey Nichols is located in London’s upmarket Knightsbridge; here you can really shop in style, as brands from both the traditional fashion houses and new, up-and-coming designers can be found all under one roof. This means you are spoilt for choice when it comes to sampling the best that London has to offer when it comes to exciting, home grown design or classical, high-class chic.

Like Harvey Nichols, Harrods is still emblematic of London’s dedication to providing its visitors with high-class, designer clothing. Also situated in Knightsbridge, this iconic department store allows its customers to shop in elegant surroundings, whilst providing choice when it comes to brands and products. You may choose to enter Harrods’ vast food hall for a sumptuous break after a long day shopping, but, if your purse strings won’t quite stretch that far, you always have the option of returning back to your London hotel. Given the wide selection of central London locations, you won’t ever have to carry your bags far when in need of a little relaxation.

If however, you love designer labels, but can’t quite justify paying high end prices, London has many second hand designer label stores. One of the most notable is Covent Garden’s The Loft. Here you can find a treasure trove of second hand, or sometimes even brand new designer clothing at a fraction of the original price. So, if you want designer luxury on a budget, check into one of London’s cheap hotels, so you can experience the shopping potential at truly affordable prices.

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Road Trip Game #1 – Eagle Eyes

This is a game of spotting items out of the car window that are listed on the sheet and counting their occurrences. Each player would a use 1 side of the car to look for the agreed items. The one with the most occurrences within a certain time period or distance is the winner. All you need is a pen and paper for each player. Items such as cows, horses, farm silos, tractors, churches, cemeteries, farm dams and road signs are good starters.

Variations - to add extra spice each child could try and predict how many of each item they will see within a certain distance or time frame. The closest to their prediction wins.

Road Trip Game #2 – Connect the Boxes

Each child will need a pen and paper. One player will draw a grid of dots (say 30 dots wide by 10 rows so that the width between the dots and the rows is about equal). Each player, in turns, then connects 2 dots with a horizontal or vertical line. The aim is to be the player that closes the 4th side to complete a box. The winner is the player who closes the most boxes. (Hint: If you close in 3 sides you can be pretty sure your opponent will quickly complete the box and add his/her initial in the centre.)

Road Trip Game #3 – Car Make / Model Reversii

This will have the whole car in fits of laughter…guaranteed! If you see a Cadillac Eldorado (for instance) whiz past, the players try and quickly say the make and model spelt BACKWARDS. So for this example the kids will be trying to say “Callidac” (Cadillac spelt backwards) and the pronunciation would be something like Call-i-dac. Then for the model Odarodle (Eldorado spelt backwards) they would try to say O-dar-odle. Once people are trying to say these words quickly it suddenly turns into a real laugh… you’ll remember this game for years. (I don’t know of anyone else who has played this game apart from our family – so you could say it’s exclusive.)

Road Trip Game #4 – Licence Plate Spotter

On a piece of paper each player writes all the letters of the alphabet A- Z. Then the idea is to find the first digit on the number plate to match each letter on your list. The first to find all the letters is the winner. (You could slow things down a little, making the game last longer, by choosing a certain color number plate or a certain state etc)

Road Trip Game #5 – I Spy

This works well for younger kids especially. Take turns to look for something the other player(s) has to guess correctly. You begin your turn by saying “I spy with my little eye something beginning with a (letter)_____”. The other player tries to guess it from the surrounding items or countryside. The person who correctly guesses gets to have the next turn.

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