Modern Bride Magazine Reveals Winners of Its 8th Annual World's Best Honeymoons Survey

    NEW YORK, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern Bride magazine unveils the World's
 50 Best Honeymoons, as featured in the August/September issue's eighth annual
 honeymoon survey of 3,000 of America's top travel agents.  Travel agents
 ranked good value, cruise lines, sports/adventure, over-the-top luxury, and
 resorts with spas as the main trends honeymooners seek.  The overall top ten
 honeymoon destinations in 2004 are:
 
     1.  Hawaii continues to rank as the number one honeymoon spot for the 8th
         year in a row.
     2.  Jamaica is now in second place (3rd in 2003)  as the sexiest honeymoon
         destination in the Caribbean.
     3.  Mexico is in the top 3 offering affordability and new hotels and
         resorts.
     4.  Tahiti including Moorea and Bora Bora seduce newlyweds to the
         seclusion of the South Pacific.
     5.  St. Lucia in the Caribbean is secluded and sexy.
     6.  Italy tops the list in food and culture.
     7.  U.S. Virgin Islands give honeymooners 3-for-1 with beautiful St.
         Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.
     8.  Aruba's sunny weather ensures it a top spot for beaches and water
         sport lovers.
     9.  Las Vegas and its 130,000 hotel rooms and titillating nightlife make
         it a top hotspot.
     10. Bermuda with all its British refinement beckons honeymooners seeking
         true serenity.
 
     Travel experts also named places with the most luxurious amenities,
 including:
      Ultimate honeymoon suite:        Overwater bungalow, Bora Bora Lagoon
                                        Resort, French Polynesia
      Ultimate resort for seclusion:   Bora Bora Lagoon Resort,
                                        French Polynesia
      Most luxurious bathroom:         Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai, Hawaii
      Best resort spa:                 Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui
 
     The most popular major honeymoon cities (ranked in order) are:  Paris,
 Honolulu, Venice, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia.  The top destination
 wedding locations (ranked in order) include:  Hawaii, Jamaica, Fiji, Bermuda,
 and Las Vegas.
 
     The following research compiled by the Fairchild Bridal Infobank
 summarizes the economic impact newlyweds have on the travel industry:
     > Average honeymoon costs $3,700    > Average length of honeymoon is eight
                                           days
     > 10% of newlyweds take cruises     > 10% of marriages are destination
       for their honeymoon                 weddings
     > 40% of honeymooners will stay at a resort vs. 27% at a large hotel vs.
       10% at a small hotel
 
     The August/September issue of Modern Bride is available on newsstands June
 15, 2004.  For more information visit http://www.modernbride.com.
 
 

SOURCE  Modern Bride Magazine