There are plenty of great Honeymoon packages available making the walk down the aisle well worth! Warmly recommended for all those smitten with love, married or not ….

“I would love to go on a honeymoon – but alone”, said Sacha Guitry (1885-1957), a French actor and writer. This good man has probably never honeymooned in Austria, a country with an abundance of romantic places and quixotic spots where you can practice for married life – or escape from its reality, as some cynics say.

One thing is for sure: even if you do not register anything around you anyway it is still of major importance to choose the right location for this special occasion. The essential ingredients: a secluded lodging, a large bed without a gap between the mattresses and breakfast in bed any time of the day.

A refuge that offers everything you need for a memorable honeymoon is Hotel Gams in Bezau in the Bregenzerwald region. The “Flower Castle on the Water Lily Pond” (www.romantik.cc) offers both old-fashioned and modern rooms as well as suites with four-post beds, balcony, king-size beds, DVD players and whirlpools. Breakfast is available until midday in the restaurant or your room.

Rustic Alpine Ambiance or Lavish Royal Setting
How about a quaint log cabin amid lush alpine pastures? The only background noise is the ringing of the cow bells, the twittering birds and the murmuring of the brooks. Breakfast will have to be served by your hubby though (ideally he would get fresh rolls from the next village bakery some two kilometers away), but nothing beats that cozy ambiance of seclusion, peace and privacy. One such place is "Bretei Hüttn" in Großarl in Salzburg: a wooden stove, a wooden double bed and wooden balconies amid the scenic and peaceful Salzburg mountains. What could be more romantic?

If you prefer it a bit more stylish and chic then how about a honeymoon setting à la Empress Sisi? The Junior Suite of Hotel Römischer Kaiser in downtown Vienna is just perfect for discriminating honeymooners: crystal chandeliers, gilded furniture, plush seating and very comfortable and luxurious beds designed by Gianni Versace.
Is there still anyone against tying the knot?

(By: Gabriele Schöngruber)