Convictions don't take a holiday when you get hitched. Your commitment to fighting climate change and animal cruelty might have brought you and your beloved together. Are there any all-inclusive honeymoon resorts that cater to the vegan crowd?
There are, and their ranks are growing. This lifestyle isn't a mere Western fad but a practice embraced by people worldwide for various reasons. Such an establishment is the perfect place to celebrate your love. Here are the 10 best all-inclusive honeymoon resorts for vegans.
What Makes a Resort All-Inclusive and Vegan?
Honeymooners and recreational travelers have long enjoyed the convenience all-inclusive resorts provide. They protect vacationers' wallets by including food, beverages and entertainment in the trip's price, giving you a better idea of what you'll spend.
All-inclusive vegan honeymoon destinations make one additional promise. They ensure their food is free of animal products and derivatives and use no animal products, like leather, in their room furnishings or complimentary hygiene products. You can feel safe ordering anything you like from the menu and washing your hair without scouring the label, letting you relax and enjoy your special time together.
1. What to Look for in an All-Inclusive Resort
Although "all-inclusive" sounds terrific, paying attention to the fine print when you book ensures the best experience. For example, some resorts include only nonalcoholic beverages or select brands -- those who want something different must pay extra.
Additionally, many all-inclusive packages do not include airfare. This situation can work to your advantage -- you're free to choose one that suits you best, be that a layover or direct flight. Remain aware that getting to your destination is your responsibility unless your travel agent tells you differently. Fortunately, many international flights feature vegan meals if you preorder them at least 24 hours before departure.
2. Vegan or Vegan-Friendly?
You have many choices for your vegan-friendly honeymoon. The establishments listed below are exclusively vegan, meaning you won't have to worry about animal products or derivatives on your vacation.
However, you'll also find numerous all-inclusive vegan-friendly resorts. While these offer multiple vegan options on menus and tend toward cruelty-free hygiene products, it pays to ask about ingredients and read labels if you worry about accidental contamination.
Benefits of Choosing a Vegan Honeymoon Resort
You probably don't need much prompting to explain why choosing an all-inclusive vegan honeymoon destination matters. However, what if you have to convince your significant other? Gently remind them of the following benefits.
1. Environmental Sustainability
As world leaders gather at COP28, one thing remains clear -- people remain woefully short of achieving climate change goals, according to leading researchers. Although no one is exactly sure how this will change daily life, it won't be good. Already, air pollution causes 7 million unnecessary deaths annually. While many things decrease your footprint, people who eliminate meat from their diets create 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Social Sustainability
It isn't only the planet but humans, too, who need green economies and practices to support future generations. Social sustainability entails supporting local communities' health, well-being and overall quality of life. Many vegan resorts take this responsibility as seriously as their commitment to planetary ecology, creating meaningful lives for those who work there and live nearby.
3. Animal Welfare
All-inclusive, vegan-friendly resorts do more to protect animal welfare. Those that are fully vegan ensure no animals contribute to the products used to delight their guests. However, places that aren't completely vegan typically source the select meats and derivatives they include from reputable vendors who care for their livestock.
10 Best All-Inclusive Vegan Honeymoon Resorts and What to Do While There
Are you ready to book your vegan-friendly honeymoon? Whether you want to stay in the U.S. or travel the globe, you can set your sights on one of these all-inclusive resorts.
Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York
If you love animals, there's no more peaceful place to relax than among them. The Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses found on factory farms and currently houses over 600 rescued animals, each with a unique tale to tell.
Visitors can choose to stay in one of the tiny homes, which are particularly cozy in winter -- you may be the only guest during your stay. The Finger Lakes region of New York gets plenty of snow, so bundle up if you visit during this season to spend a special vacation with the sanctuary animals. Bring your skis to hit the nearby slopes or hike area trails in snowshoes.
Although there are no on-site restaurants, plenty of vegan dining options are available nearby, including the following: Grandma's Kitchen, Green Elephant's Thai Vegan Restaurant, AngelHeart, and Parlor City Vegan.
Palmaia House of AïA Wellness, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
If warm-weather vacations are more your thing, head south of the border to Palmaia House of AïA Wellness in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The sanctuary has an air of seclusion and an aura reminiscent of a yoga retreat. It's a wise choice if you and your beloved enjoy nurturing each other, body, mind and soul.
The resort features 234 cruelty-free suites with no products containing animal derivatives or tested on animals. Honeymooners with children can select a separate bedroom with bunk beds to give them privacy. They also have swim-out meditation suites that take you from your morning yoga practice to a dip in a private infinity pool in a few short steps.
You won't need to leave the resort to have a good time. Your stay includes 24-hour room service and access to amenities, including:
A kid's center, fitness center, poolside service, health trail, bike service, stand up paddleboards, mixology, sound rituals, and an Architect of Life program.
Koukoumi Hotel, Athens, Greece
Head across the ocean to Greece's only all-inclusive vegan honeymoon resort, the Koukoumi Hotel. It's situated in the heart of the island of Mykonos amid the traditional village of Ano Mera.
The facility features multiple suite styles, an on-site spa, and a full gym with training and private yoga and meditation sessions available. After your workout, indulge in a menu designed by Chef Aggeliki Charami, who whips up everything from snacks and starters to full meals and desserts. Learn about the island's rich history as you tour it by day or relax on one of the gorgeous beaches.
Fivelements Retreat, Bali, Indonesia
Do you and your sweetheart want a personalized wellness retreat on your vegan-friendly honeymoon? You can book such an experience at Fivelements in Bali, Indonesia. Choose from three signature experiences or simply come and enjoy this all-inclusive honeymoon resort.
Book a romantic day experience to enjoy with your new partner. Each morning, rise to a sunrise vinyasa yoga flow, followed by a delicious breakfast overlooking the ocean. Participate in various healing rituals in the attached spa or get a personalized wellness consultation.
Stanford Inn, Mendocino, CA
This establishment received the prestigious Conde Nast Readers Choice award for best getaway for a good reason. It's on a historic farm and is the only Mendocino destination offering amenities like a massage in the forest.
The on-site Ravens restaurant is only one highlight, featuring gourmet vegan cuisine so good it caught Oprah's attention. However, the kitchen goes a step further than eliminating meat in its sustainability efforts. It also composts and recycles, eliminating waste that contributes to global warming.
The site is popular for Northern California weddings, so make your reservations early. While there, enjoy spa services, wellness classes, mushroom and nature walks, and education in Chinese tradition and environmental leadership.
Mother Earth Vegan Hotel, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has established a reputation as a mecca for healing resorts. Mother Earth lets you reconnect with what matters while avoiding cruelty and unsustainable practices.
The healing studio offers nearly any yoga style available, along with Reiki, massage, sound healing and meditation workshops. You can also revitalize your skin after a day at the beach with a 30-minute hydration facial.
The menu truly shines, featuring five-hour slow simmered chili and a gluten-free vegan cheesesteak with portobello and sauteed oyster mushrooms. Each of the 14 guest rooms contains a private balcony overlooking the tropical scenery.
Aro Ha, Glenorchy, New Zealand
When you want to transform yourself on your all-inclusive vegan honeymoon, head to Aro Ha in New Zealand. This innovative resort features packages that immerse you in wellness activities from morning until evening, punctuated by cruelty-free meals.
Your activities might include hydrotherapy, hygiene treatments and classes, functional movement sessions and cooking classes. Relax in the spa after a guided hike amid New Zealand's stunning scenery -- the backdrop of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movies.
Pini, San Gimignano, Italy
The glory of the Mediterranean shines at Pini, an all-inclusive honeymoon resort offering a look at the Tuscan bioregion and culture. This establishment also pairs other sustainability measures with its vegan commitment. The walls of this farmhouse use clay, hemp and rice husks for insulation and the decor features handmade items from local artisans.
You can tour the medieval city of San Gimignano during the day, then return to practice yoga by the saltwater pool in the evening. Many of the ingredients for the organic vegan cuisine Pini serves come from the surrounding farmland -- be sure to enjoy a hike through them to whet your appetite. Then, head to the dining room to enjoy seasonal freshness you simply can't top.
Anse Chastanet Resort, Soufriere, St. Lucia
The Caribbean has long been a haven for lovers, but until now, it hasn't been considered a particularly vegan honeymoon destination. However, the Anse Chastanet Resort aims to change that, with 600 acres dedicated to sustainability and a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Each octagonal cottage has flower-laden balconies and louvered windows to emulate Mediterranean architecture. Relax on one of two soft sand beaches or go sailing on the resort's yacht. Enjoy a jungle mountain biking adventure on one of its Cannondale rentals.
Ahead Burghotel, Lenzen, Germany
Don't overlook Europe for your honeymoon destination. Enjoy an all-inclusive honeymoon getaway to an enchanted castle surrounded by five acres of organic gardens full of goodness to stock the restaurant's kitchen. It's located in the UNESCO Biosphere River Landscape, and the entire establishment devotes itself to sustainability.
Enjoy yoga in a tea house featuring a heated floor to keep those bare toes cozy. During the day, participate in biking, hiking, swimming, paddleboarding and canoeing. Satisfy your appetite from noon to 9 p.m. at Place to V and indulge in the Winter Garden vegan breakfast, included in your room rate.
Vegan Extras to Remember for Your All-Inclusive Honeymoon
Remember, you'll need to book a flight to your destination. Be sure to preorder your vegan meal to enjoy in-flight dining that suits your lifestyle.
Additionally, stay sustainable on your journey. Ensure you pack the following:
-A reusable bag for souvenir shopping
-A reusable water bottle for staying hydrated throughout your adventures
-Solar chargers for your phones and other electronic devices
All-Inclusive Vegan Honeymoon Resorts
Your commitment to sustainability and preventing animal cruelty doesn't go on vacation when you do. It's a 24/7 commitment, but today's hospitality teams make it easier to stick with your guns with vegan-friendly honeymoon destinations.
Consider one of these all-inclusive honeymoon resorts for your vegan nuptials. You and your new partner can start married life on the right foot by honoring your other commitments together.
In case you missed it: