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What to do when disaster strikes before your honeymoon

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When it comes to booking holidays, it’s always best to plan in advance. The earlier you book, the higher the chance is of scoring a great deal. Incentives aside, being well organized is never a bad thing. Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan so what do you do when disaster strikes before your honeymoon?

Check the weather 

Even though you may not be able to predict the weather, you can always research and see when certain natural disasters are more likely to occur. For example, hurricanes are more likely to occur between June to November in Florida, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. If you are already there and disaster strikes, there should be specific procedures in place and safety precautions. Many places will have shelters to take cover in.

Insurance 

Depending on how much money you’ve invested in your honeymoon, taking travel insurance is a great option. If disaster strikes before you leave for your romantic getaway and you need to cancel, the extensive travel insurance should cover it.

What do the experts say? 

Travel agent, Melissa Geldenhuys from Sure Travel says travel insurance is imperative. This means that you will be covered in the event of your holiday being disrupted by any unforeseen situations.

“Should there be a natural disaster or terrorist attack that occurs before or during the client’s travel, the airlines and tour operators would put an advisory in place on how to proceed with the travel arrangements.”

If disaster strikes before you leave, the airline/tour operator would advise alternative travel dates that the holiday can be moved to at no cost to the client. If the client is not able to change their travel dates, a cancellation procedure would be offered. Any penalty fees not waived, could be reimbursed by the travel insurance company.

If an incident occurs while you’re already on honeymoon, then the airlines/tour operator would advise alternative travel arrangements. This could mean moving accommodation, changing flights and evacuation procedures put in place to return clients to their home country.

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Honeymoon destinations for: Art & History lovers

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If both you and your partner are art and history lovers, then a honeymoon destination filled with museums is perfect for you.  Museums are actually quite romantic places and a great way for the newlywed couple to spend quality time together – you’ll end up learning a lot more about your partner through your discussions of the art that you see.

These are the best places to visit if you’d like to spend your days trawling through museums:

USA

Filled with museums all over the country, the most famous American museums being in New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently voted as the world’s top museum and contains more than 2 million works of art and pieces by some renowned artists. The Museum of Modern Art has an incredibly influential collection of modern art as well as performance art, architecture and design. The Guggenheim is famous for its shape alone and also has impressionist, modern and contemporary art. The National Gallery of Art in Washington features artists such as Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Spain

Spain has one of the best collections of art in Europe. It is also the birthplace of famous artists such as Picasso, Dalí and Velázquez. The Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado museum) in Madrid is the most famous museum in Spain and contains works by El Greco, Goya, Velázquez, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. The Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid has Picasso’s Guernica and works by Dalí. The Picasso museum in Barcelona has a broad collection of work by the artist after whom it was named, Pablo Picasso, with over 4000 pieces. The museum itself is located within adjoining medieval palaces and the gothic architecture is also a sight to see.

Prado Museum

France

The beauty of France alone is a pull-factor but the quality of museums should be too. The French are known for their romance which is another reason France is a great honeymoon destination. The Louvre, that houses the famous Mona Lisa, is the most famous museum in France but there are many other noteworthy galleries to visit, as well as street art and famous landmarks. The Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet has the world’s largest collection of works by Monet. The Orangerie Museum boasts Monet’s Waterlillies. The Musée d’Orsay is filled with impressionist and post-impressionist art and holds pieces by Monet, Van Gogh and Munch. The Pompidou Centre houses paintings by Dalí, Munch, Picasso and Matisse.

The Louvre

England

The National Gallery has over 2000 paintings including works by Van Gogh,  Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Monet. The Tate Modern has great contemporary art featuring Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych as well as pieces by Lichtenstein, Dalí and Picasso. The British Museum has the largest collection of artefacts in the world and works by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Van Gogh can be found here as well. The Natural History Museum consists of dinosaur skeletons and fossils as well as a mind-blowing skeleton of a blue whale.

Natural History Museum

Netherlands

The Netherlands has a wide range of museums making the country a world leader in terms of art and culture. The Van Gogh Museum is appropriately named due to the fact that it has the largest collection of works by Van Gogh. The Rijksmuseum has masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt. The Anne Frank museum, located in the actual house where she and her family hid during the Nazi occupation, serves to educate visitors about her story.

Rijksmuseum

South Africa

South Africa is a beautiful country and popular honeymoon destination on its own but it made this list thanks to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCCA). The building itself was made from a converted grain silo and serves to celebrate the structure’s industrial heritage. The Zeitz is the biggest contemporary art museum in Africa and the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world.

Zeitz MOCCA at the Silo Hotel

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Honeymoon destinations for: Hiking

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After the stress and excitement of the wedding, we can’t think of a better way to give your soul some therapy than to get into nature. Hiking is a great way to explore, reconnect with and appreciate the beauty of nature.

These are some of the best places to go hiking around the world, thanks to the variety and diversity within them.

Canada

With sky-high mountains and an endless number of different landscapes, Canada provides an exceptional hiking experience. Within the landscapes you will find lakes, mountains, forests and lots of wildlife. Due to the vast land area, there are hiking opportunities that range from easy to difficult.

Banff, Canada

USA

Consists of hundreds of thousands of hiking trails and is extremely diverse in terms of landscapes. There are deserts, mountains, rainforests etc. Hiking in the U.S. is protected by the National Park Service and they ensure the preservation of the trails and scenery. You’ll be able to experience ample views, mighty trees, rocky ledges and endless canyons.

Yosemite National Park

Norway

Norway has a reputation for being one of the best hiking destinations in the world, and it is well deserved. There is no better way to experience and see all of Norway’s beauty than by foot. It has jagged mountains and a large scenic variety that is so beautiful it will take your breath away.

Trolltunga, Norway

South Africa

Known for its diverse landscapes and stunning views, South Africa has hiking trails that suit every fitness level. There is no better way to explore the terrain and discover indigenous flora and fauna than by trekking through it.

Otter Trail, South Africa

Nepal

A famous hiking destination thanks to Mount Everest with people travelling from all over the world to get a glimpse of the world’s highest mountain. But hiking in Nepal is not only limited to Mount Everest. In fact, Nepal is home to 8 of the top 10 highest mountains in the world. Hiking in Nepal is a truly unique experience as many of the beautiful landscapes are only accessible by foot.

Himalayas, Nepal

New Zealand

Home to the ‘Great Walks’ – amazing trails that allow one to experience the diverse and breathtaking scenery. There are walking and hiking options for all levels. Discover the range of scenery from snowcapped mountains to lush forests.

Tongariro National Park

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Honeymoon destinations for: Safari

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Going on safari for your honeymoon will be one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences. It is the perfect trip to take after a wedding as it is a chance for the newlyweds to really relax and escape from the city life. A real safari is of course only accessible within Africa and while there are so many places one can visit, these safari spots have the most to offer. And of course, there’s nothing quite like an African sunset.

Uganda

Although you might not be able to see the big 5, there is plenty to see on a Ugandan safari. Uganda’s volcanic past is visible in the landscape and there are over 600 species of bird, tree climbing lions, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and many primate species – after all, Uganda is best known for its gorilla trekking.

Tree-climbing lion

Kenya

It’s very possible that you will see the big 5 as well as the rare black rhino and, if you’re lucky, lions on the hunt during the wildebeest migration from August to November. Kenya is also famous for its big cat populations and is extremely focused on ecotourism. All in all, a great safari option.

Wildebeest migration

Tanzania

While there are not many elephants and rhinos, the large open grasslands provide a grazing spot for zebras and wildebeest, as well as allow for easier predator sightings and the lack of trees makes leopard spotting much easier. It’s also likely that you will see a lion kill between the months of November to July, during the migration.

Leopard

Zimbabwe

A Zimbabwean safari is not very well known which makes for uncrowded parks. You can expect to see plenty of elephants, the black rhino, African wild dogs and bat-eared foxes. Other animals that are also often spotted are lions and large herds of buffalo. It’s also a lovely place for bird watching with over 400 species of bird.

Elephant

Botswana

Having one of the highest quantities of wildlife, Botswana is a pretty safe safari option. With the reintroduction of the white and black rhino, it is possible to see the big 5. It’s home to the largest elephant herds in Africa and a great deal of lion, buffalo, leopard and wild dogs. You also might be fortunate enough to see some interactions between the lions and buffalos. Another perk is that it is just a day’s trip away from Victoria falls.

Buffalo

South Africa

The most reliable safari destination for sightings of the big 5 thanks to having more mammals than all other African game reserves. There are also over 500 bird species. Other notable animals include cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, and many more. South Africa is the best option for first timers.

Lilac-breasted roller

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Honeymoon destinations for: Culture

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If you want to experience a different life from your everyday, immerse yourself and learn about other cultures, then these are the honeymoon destinations for you.

Singapore

Where East meets West – Singapore is a fusion of Asian, European and Middle Eastern cultures. With many different religions existing harmoniously, Singapore sees its diversity as a strength, and you will see it too.

Sri Mariamman Temple

Cambodia

Filled with ancient temples, rice paddies and a surprisingly sophisticated urban scene, Cambodia is where ancient and modern worlds collide.

Angkor Wat

Brazil

Brazil has a colourful culture with countless festivals across the country that celebrate its diversity, the most famous being the Carnaval. Music is a large part of Brazilian culture as it allows the people to express their joy of life.

Carnival of Brazil

Greece

Known as the birthplace of Western culture and democracy as Greek beliefs in democratic governments and equality influenced our modern democracies. Besides that, Greece is flush with ancient ruins, festivals and holidays.

Meteora

Turkey

Thanks to the multi-ethnic and religious Ottoman empire, traditions of Mediterranean and Central Asian cultures were brought together. Turkey is also home to world-famous ruins and monuments.

Ephesus

Morocco 

Having ties to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Morocco has done very well in taking the best traditions and making them new. You will be able to see the cultural diversity in the many different architectural wonders.

Hassan II Mosque

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Honeymoon destinations for: Skiing

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For those that can ski or want to learn, a ski trip is arguably one of the best holidays one can take. Your days are filled with fun activity and at night you can do as you please – go for a nice meal, relax and get cosy.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in to do on your honeymoon, take a look at these great ski destinations:

Canada

If you’re looking for spectacular terrain, wide and quiet slopes and knee deep powder, then Canada is the place for you.

USA

The US is known for world class skiing as the large variety of resorts means you can find whatever you’re looking for, as well as pistes for every level of skiing.

France

France is the most popular skiing destination in Europe due to its high altitudes and, as a result, reliable conditions.

Switzerland

Filled with classic ski towns, high altitudes and great snow records. The only downside is the cost as Switzerland is the most expensive skiing destination in Europe.

Austria

Home of Après-ski: a fun and cheaper European ski holiday, as well as tree-lined slopes and the best ski lift systems. The lower altitudes mean less snow but this is combatted with snowmaking.

Japan

With consistent light powdered snow, uncrowded slopes and beautiful mountain vistas, it’s understandable that Japan has some of the best ski resorts in the world.

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Honeymoon destinations for: Food and Wine

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Some couples want to relax on the beach, others want an adventure-filled honeymoon and some want the food and wine experience. If that’s you, take a look at these places known for their excellent food and wine.

France

With gastronomy and champagne originating in France as well as being one of the largest wine producing countries in the world, it is an obvious choice for a honeymoon destination.

French vineyard

Italy

You’ll find Italian food all over the world, but no-one does it quite like the locals. Italy also has a large variety of unique wines and of course, prosecco.

Italian winery

Spain

Food and wine is a part of the Spanish culture and with its mixture of traditional and experimental recipes, its easy to see why.

Spanish food market

Argentina

Argentina is famous for its grilling, new-world cuisine and wine production with Spanish roots making for a great honeymoon destination.

Argentine vineyard

South Africa

Although not necessarily known for its food and wine, South Africa boasts world class cuisine and is filled with wine farms and reasonable pricing.

South African wine region

Tunisia

With French and African influenced food combinations, fully flavoured and spiced dishes, and a full history of wine production, Tunisia is an overlooked destination for foodies and wine lovers.

Tunisian spice market

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Pros and cons of a destination wedding

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Destination weddings are quickly becoming a popular option, but as with any wedding choice, they come with their own pros and cons.

Guests

The biggest appeal of having a destination wedding is being able to get married in a beautiful setting and potentially having a much smaller guest list as not everyone will have the time or money to make the trip. However, this also means that some people that you would have wanted to be there might not be able to make it.

Before settling on the idea of a destination wedding, chat to the people that you absolutely have to have at your wedding and see if they are able to make it. You can also consider covering a portion of their costs if your budget allows. For example, you could pay for their accommodation and then they are just responsible for their flights.

Costs

While your guest list may be smaller, meaning your ceremony and reception will cost less, you will have to spend more money on events surrounding the wedding to thank your guests for attending and making their trip worthwhile, and again, if you decide to cover their accommodation or some other costs, you will be spending even more.

Gifts

The biggest gift you will receive from your guests is their presence; if you are having a destination wedding, that should be enough. Since most of your guests’ budgets will go towards flights and possibly accommodation, you need to be okay with receiving smaller or fewer gifts.

Planning

Some resorts at popular destination wedding locations offer all-inclusive packages which means that most of the planning and execution will be done for you, which takes a lot of the stress off. But leaving the fate of your wedding day in the hands of others, especially when you are not able to be there to oversee planning and preparations, can also be very stressful. One way to combat this is to be flexible and to find reputable vendors.

Legality

Do your research on marriage laws in the location of your wedding and find out if the marriage licence you obtain is also legal in your home country. A way to get around this potential hassle is to get legally married in your home country and use your destination wedding as your celebration. You can decide whether or not to tell your guests about your legal marriage before the wedding, but since your destination wedding will be the main event and look exactly like any other wedding it might not be necessary.

Honeymoon

A big pro that comes with having a destination wedding is that you will save on your honeymoon as you will already be in the setting of your dreams. Although, this also means that your wedding guests will potentially be on your honeymoon with you as they have already travelled quite a way. You can consider travelling a short distance from your wedding location for a more private honeymoon. For example, if you decide to host your wedding in Santorini, you and your partner can travel to one of the other Greek islands for your honeymoon.

Things to consider:

– Whether the location of your destination wedding is easily accessible
– Sending out save the dates way before the recommended time to give your guests enough time to look at flights and book at cheaper rates
– Whether you are able to contribute towards any of the costs that come with a destination wedding like flights, accommodation or food
– The fact that not everyone will be able to make it… and that some people you were hoping wouldn’t come will think this is a great excuse to take a little vacation.

At the end of the day, it is your wedding and you decide where you get married, so you just need to see if the pros outweigh the cons based on your personal preferences.

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Budget honeymoons

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The wedding is over and it’s finally time for your intimate getaway, a chance for you and your partner to spend some quality time together before heading back to reality. So where do you go? Well unless you’re Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, you may need to budget and plan for your great escape. Honeymoons can be expensive, so to help you along, we’ve gathered a few spots for a budget-friendly honeymoon:

Proudly South African

With so much beauty around the corner, you may want to opt for a local honeymoon. Do you know your own town, city or province?

1. The Garden Route

With 300km worth of beauty, the options are endless. Make a road trip of it. Check in to a local lodge or hotel and become a tourist in your own town. Make sure you don’t miss out on whale watching in Hermanus and the nature reserves along the Garden Route. Enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches of Plettenberg Bay. Get your surf on in J Bay, or pop in to the Addo Elephant Park.

2. Cape Town

It is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With so much to see and do, you and your partner will have plenty to keep you busy and connecting in a special way. Be sure to checkout Table Mountain, Bo Kaap, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope, and Chapman’s Peak Drive.

 

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Me dragging Erik to another photo shoot like… ? He likes to act like he hates taking photos, mostly because we took about a million our wedding weekend. But honestly, is there anything better than going on vacation, especially your honeymoon, and having a photographer there to get some incredible shots? ? I don’t think so. So we scheduled a shoot in Cape Town using @flytographer. They set you up with amazing photographers all over the world to capture those special moments for you. Our photos were taken by Nadine with #flytographer and we could not be happier with the results ?. If you’d like to use them for a photo shoot as well, you can use the code ‘DoctorDiaries50’ for $50 off either a photo shoot or a gift card, which will be valid until the end of the year (‪December 31st, 2019‬). I hope you love these photos (and this company) as much as we do! ?

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3. Hazyview, Mpumalanga

There are tons of adventurous things to do, such as horse riding, abseiling, river rafting and visiting the area’s incredible elephant sanctuary. You can even hop in a hot air balloon for a tour with a whole different view!

Venturing out of the South

1. Mauritius

Sit back and relax while enjoying the picturesque beaches. The beautiful island is known for boasting great hiking trails, exquisite waterfalls, and lovely fresh seafood.

2. Kenya

Get the best of both worlds in this beautiful country. Enjoy the great safaris and stunning beaches.

 

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Into the wild ✨

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3. Zanzibar

Soak up the sun on their gorgeous beaches and have a dive while you’re there! Be sure to check out Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park too.

Up up and away

1. Bali

This magnificent Indonesian island offers many affordable packages which can include your accommodation and activities. Take a look at the exquisite temples and breathtaking beaches.

 

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Kesayangan❤ . . . #honeymoonbali #balihoneymoon #bali

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2. Brazil

Take advantage of Brazil’s visa-free entry for South Africans! This magnificent and culturally-rich country offers much to see. From stunning beaches to the famous picture-perfect moment at Christ the Redeemer. Enjoy the beautiful mountains and snap a pic at the Escadaria Selaron.

3. Sri Lanka

While flights to Sri Lanka may be a bit steep, the country itself is inexpensive. Accommodation is affordable and there’s a lot to see, from ancient city ruins and temples to epic national parks.

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Diamonds: Understanding the 4 C’s

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You’ve  heard about the 4 C’s in diamonds, especially when choosing an engagement ring, but what do they actually mean?

The 4 C’s – cut, colour, clarity and carat – refer to the standards by which  the quality of diamonds are assessed and allows one to compare diamonds.

Cut

The cut is important for the diamond’s overall beauty, as it determines how well the diamond unleashes light. This is not to be confused with the shape of the diamond. Cut refers to the diamond’s light performance (in layman’s terms, how much it sparkles). The cut will determine how the stone refracts and reflects light. A perfect stone (balanced and symmetrical) will be cut in such a way that the light that enters it will only reflect out the top of the stone, therefore making it very sparkly. A diamond that is cut too shallow or too deep will cause the light to leak out of the sides or bottom of the stone which causes a loss of shine. The sparkle of a well cut diamond can make it appear larger and you can therefore opt for a smaller carat weight. Who knew, right?!

Colour

Strangely enough, this actually refers to the lack of colour found in a diamond. The less colour, the more rate it is. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D-Z; with D (or white diamonds) being completely colourless. D-F are considered colourless and are therefore the most expensive. G-I are near colourless and slightly less expensive while J-Z have noticeable colour in the stone. Only diamond experts can actually tell the difference in anything higher than a G grading, so if budget is a consideration but you still want a white-looking diamond, a G or H grade diamond will be perfectly fine.

Clarity

Measures the imperfections found in the diamond in terms of number, size and position on a scale that ranges from imperfect to flawless. Internal imperfections are referred to as inclusions and external as blemishes. Clarity is often considered the least important of the 4 C’s due to the fact that the imperfections are often microscopic and depending on the location of the inclusions found in the stone, they can be hidden with the right ring setting.

Carat

Refers to the weight of the diamond, not the size. Two different shaped diamonds can have the same carat weight but appear slightly different in size. With a larger carat weight, the colour becomes more visible and therefore needs to be taken into consideration.

Once you understand the 4 C’s, you will need to think about which one is the most important to you when choosing your ring.

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