“Mega-Moons” Are the Next Big Vacation Trend, According to Expedia

Travel may be back in full swing once more, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry hard over the last two years.

Another thing that was put on the backburner for many was weddings, and 97 percent of honeymoon plans were abandoned, with nearly every couple forced to cancel, pare down or postpone their post-nuptial trips since 2020. Now, new research from Expedia has revealed that the humble honeymoon is to experience a post-pandemic glow up. The result? A mega-moon adventure to make up for it.

Surveying 1,500 couples, Expedia identified a number of trends relating to trip types and budgets.  65 percent of respondents are more likely to add a honeymoon fund to their wedding registry, prompted by the pandemic to prioritize their once-in-a-lifetime trip — coined a “mega-moon” — over traditional registry items. More than half (53 percent) plan to spend more on their honeymoons than they originally budgeted, while 59 percent are more interested now in going to a bucket list destination.

“Coming out of the pandemic, couples are clearly determined to have an epic honeymoon,” commented Christie Hudson, head of U.S. public relations for Expedia, in a press release. “For many couples that will include flights, luxurious accommodations and even romantic in-destination activities.”

According to the survey, the most popular itinerary for honeymooners includes an all-inclusive resort (45 percent), romantic activities such as hot air balloon rides or sunset boat cruises (54 percent) and pampering (52 percent).

In terms of destinations, the study found that the most sought-after mega-moon destinations include the United Kingdom, Dubai, Paris, Florida, Los Angeles, Spain, and Italy. However, couples are split on the type of destination they desire, with beach and tropical destinations (19 percent) scarcely more popular than a multi-destination trip (18 percent). 16 percent of respondents prefer a city escape, while 15 percent of newlyweds would prefer a national park visit.