Honeymoon in February: Where to Go

February gives you two rather different ways to plan a honeymoon. You could choose your dates around Venice Carnival, the wildebeest calving season in Tanzania or humpback whales off the Dominican Republic. Or you could find a beautiful beach, a hotel you love and spend the week together without organising your days around an event.

Both are good reasons to travel in February. And if you simply want warm water and time to yourselves, Mauritius, the Maldives, Thailand and Zanzibar are still excellent places to consider. A destination does not become less romantic because it was also a good choice in January.

For a honeymoon worth planning around a particular date

Venice: Carnival, masks and a city made for an evening stroll

Picture a walk through Venice after dark, with masked figures appearing among the old buildings and the canals just around the corner. If you would rather share an extraordinary cultural evening than spend every day on a beach, Carnival could be a wonderful reason to visit.

Check the dates before you book. The Venice Carnival calendar changes from year to year, and its events may occupy only part of February. You might find the atmosphere you came for on one set of dates and an entirely different city later in the month. The official programme is the place to start.

Some masked dinners and gala events are separately ticketed experiences, not part of a hotel stay. Carnival also brings crowds. Choose it for the spectacle and energy, not for an empty city or a quiet seaside escape.

Southern Serengeti: wildebeest calves, followed by the beaches of Zanzibar

February coincides with the wildebeest calving season on the southern Serengeti plains around Ndutu. It is a compelling time to think about a safari if watching wildlife is a big part of your dream honeymoon. The season gives you a chance to see the herds and their young, though no particular wildlife encounter is guaranteed.

That safari is a different experience from watching the migration during Tanzania's drier months. Afterwards, you can unwind on Zanzibar, where January and February are generally a less rainy spell between the island's rainy seasons.

Ndutu is on the mainland, not a quick excursion from your Zanzibar beach. Allow plenty of time and budget for the safari, transfers and your stay on Zanzibar. For a couple who want adventure first and relaxation afterwards, those two chapters could make the trip.

On Zanzibar, think about the actual beach outside your hotel. Kendwa and Nungwi in the northwest are generally less affected by low tide when it comes to swimming than some of the shallow beaches on the east coast, where the sea can retreat a long way. If you're considering an east-coast hotel, check what swimming is like at low tide before you book.

Samaná: humpback whales rather than another week at a resort

February is right in the humpback whale-watching season around Samaná in the Dominican Republic. For couples who enjoy wildlife, that is a genuine reason to consider travelling now. You may not see whales on every outing, so build the holiday around a place you would enjoy in its own right.

Samaná and Punta Cana or Bávaro are different parts of the country and offer different kinds of honeymoon. If your priority is a comfortable beachfront resort and plenty of time together, Punta Cana or Bávaro may be the better fit. If the whale-watching experience is what draws you, plan around Samaná rather than assuming the two areas are interchangeable.

For a February honeymoon beside the sea

Thailand: February brings a useful change on both coasts

February is a particularly attractive month to look at Phuket and Thailand's Andaman coast. Historical weather records for Phuket show noticeably less rainfall in February than in January, making beach days and excursions an appealing combination.

Ko Samui, on the Gulf of Thailand, also typically sees less rain in February than in January, even though it follows a different seasonal pattern from Phuket. This gives you a reason to consider both coasts, rather than assuming all of Thailand shares the same weather.

Compare the region first, then the individual hotel and beach. An island's monthly rainfall average cannot tell you exactly what the bay outside your room will be like.

Mauritius: hot summer is still a very good honeymoon choice

I would certainly keep Mauritius on the February shortlist. It is summer on the island: hot days, warm sea water and evenings made for staying outside. For couples who want a tropical beach hotel and time to explore a larger island, it offers something very different from a small Maldivian resort island.

February is among the wetter months in Mauritius's long-term national rainfall figures. The central highlands are often wetter than the coast: you may have sunshine by the sea while it rains inland. A passing shower can be welcome in the heat, while a longer spell of rain can change your plans.

That is why I would choose the specific resort and coastline rather than dismiss Mauritius because of a countrywide rainfall figure. I would also think about how much hiking or full-day sightseeing you want to do in that heat. A milder month may be more comfortable for a very active trip.

February is within the official cyclone season, and severe weather can disrupt travel. It is a real consideration when planning the holiday, not a reason to declare that a February honeymoon on Mauritius is a bad idea.

The Maldives: still a very good time to go

February remains a strong month for a honeymoon in the Maldives. It is part of the relatively drier northeast monsoon period, just as January is. If your idea of a honeymoon is a small island, privacy and days beside the ocean, the attraction has not changed with the calendar.

If you're choosing between January and February, look first at the atoll, resort and transfer arrangements. Both months offer much the same kind of island honeymoon.

If tropical heat is not what you want

The Egyptian Red Sea coast and parts of the United Arab Emirates offer another kind of February honeymoon: a comfortable hotel, opportunities to go out and explore, and weather that may be more pleasant for people who do not enjoy tropical humidity. On the Red Sea, pay attention to wind, the hotel's beach and conditions for swimming. A resort overlooking the sea is not necessarily the same experience as a warm Indian Ocean lagoon.

Southern Tenerife is also worth considering if you picture your honeymoon as a mixture of walks, sightseeing and time together in milder temperatures. Think of it as an active island escape, not a tropical beach holiday.

And if you have your heart set on somewhere else, including Bali or the Seychelles, a shorter February shortlist is not a reason to rule it out automatically. Look at the part of the island you actually want to visit and the sort of days you hope to spend there.

How I would choose a honeymoon in February

If a particular experience matters most, start with its calendar. Check the Venice Carnival programme, explore the timing and logistics of a southern Serengeti safari, or plan a stay near Samaná for the whale-watching season. Those choices can be worth arranging the journey around.

If you want time together at the beach, start with the place rather than the spectacle. Thailand offers a useful February improvement in rainfall on both its main island coasts. Mauritius brings genuine tropical summer, with the right resort location and an understanding of the season. The Maldives remain excellent for privacy and a small-island stay. Zanzibar gives you a beach honeymoon whether or not you add a safari.

You do not need an elaborate itinerary to make February special. Choose the experience you genuinely want, then give it the right dates, coast and hotel.