Photos: 5 exotic honeymoon destinations

Many newly married couples have asked us this question: "We're getting married in October/November and need help picking a destination. Our budget is Rs 1 lakh per person." (Believe it or not, most have the exact same budget. I don't know how!)

So we thought we'd put together 5 romantic destinations that are perfect for the October-November season and can be done within the Rs 2 lakh (per couple) budget for a 7 night stay.

Click on NEXT to see the top 5 on our list...

Contributed by Aashish Gupta, founder of Yellowleg.com -- The Discerning Traveller's Bookstore.

I know what you're thinking, "Paris!? Budget? You gotta be kidding."

But think about it... you can find a pretty good hotel (no, not the Ritz, but a nice place to stay) in downtown for about Rs 7,000 a night, spend about Rs 4,000 a day on food, and get round-trip tickets for about Rs 35,000 per person, taking the total to Rs 1.47 lakh.

And you're still left with Rs 53,000 to play around with. And you just had a honeymoon in Paris!

Ho Chi Minh's colonial elegance, bustling energy and excellent nightlife; Hanoi's crumbling temples and quaint craft shops; the verdant countryside, Halong Bay's ethereal landscape; the shimmering coastline -- Vietnam offers a perfect mix of experiences for couples, and it remains one of the most affordable destinations in the world.

Kayak through limestone caves, dive in the Andaman Sea, and trek through lush jungles -- then relax with a Rs 400 beachfront massage.

Hotels that range from fancy mansions to desert-island eco-lodges to quirky art hotels.

Rich cream cakes in a chandelier-lit Gerbeaud coffee house; a sumptuous steam in a Gellert thermal bath. But beyond all the history and elegance, this is one party-loving city.

Live to party is the ethos of young Budapesters. It also has some of the finest dining along the river or on one of the hip floating restaurants.

All this and it is about half as expensive as Paris or London (not considering the airfare to get there).

Although it can be as expensive to get there as getting to some Southeast Asian destinations, a 7-day trip can be done comfortably within the Rs 2 lakh budget.

These islands are simply tropical bliss. Every shade of blue imaginable, primeval jungles, villages as old as India itself, snow-white beaches, dolphins cavorting in front of your boat.

(PS: Don't fall for the mouthwateringly priced package tours that make you spend most of your time in Port Blair. Go independently and spend the bulk of your time on Havelock Island and Neil Island).

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