You’ll be wedded to these trips: Wills and Kate should be exchanging anniversary gifts of tin next week. So where can you go to mark YOUR next romantic milestone?
- For a fifth anniversary, instead of exchanging wood, snuggle up in a luxury log cabin in Swedish Lapland
- Escape to Portugal’s Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) for a 25th silver wedding anniversary celebration
- A sapphire anniversary marks 45 years – head to Sri Lanka’s jewel capital Ratnapura to see stones being made
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate their tenth anniversary next week — presumably exchanging tokens of tin
Wedding anniversaries are traditionally marked with a gift between couples that starts with paper after the first year then progresses to diamonds at the 60th.
But why not use the associated present as an excuse to go travelling?
As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate their tenth next week — presumably exchanging tokens of tin — here’s our guide to seeing the world in the name of love…
FIVE YEARS: Wood
SPLURGE: Snuggle up in a luxury log cabin at the Arctic Retreat eco-lodge in Swedish Lapland.
Four nights including flights to Lulea, transfers and full board costs from £2,471pp (discover-the-world.com).
ON A BUDGET: Have some fun in the forest staying in an off-grid designer treehouse in the Welsh mountains near Machynlleth. From £379 for two nights, self-catering (living-room.co).
TEN YEARS: Tin
SPLURGE: Mexico is famous for its tin art, known as hojalata, crafted in creative cities such as Oaxaca.
A 14-day ‘Cultural Heartlands to Caribbean Coast’ tour flying into Mexico City and back from Cancun costs from £2,710pp (journeylatinamerica.co.uk).
ON A BUDGET: Slip away to Tintagel on the north Cornish coast, a cliff-top English Heritage site with links to King Arthur. The Landmark Trust has cottages in nearby Coombe from £321 for four nights, self-catering (landmarktrust.org.uk).
15 YEARS: Crystal
For a 15th wedding anniversary, when couples traditionally exchange crystal, head to Prague, pictured, which is renowned for its Bohemian crystal and glass
SPLURGE: Sip some Cristal champagne, the flagship cuvee of Louis Roederer, as part of a two Michelin-star dinner at Domaine les Crayeres chateau hotel in Reims, northern France.
Three nights including Eurotunnel crossings, private visits to champagne houses and breakfast costs from £2,355pp (grapeescapes.net).
ON A BUDGET: The Czech Republic is renowned for its Bohemian crystal and glass, which you can pick up on a short break to Prague. Stay at the regal Hotel NH Collection Prague Carlo IV from £122 B&B (nh-hotels.com).
20 YEARS: China
SPLURGE: This anniversary is the best reason to visit this fascinating country, with classic sights such as the Great Wall and Terracotta Army. An 11-night ‘Highlights of China’ tour costs from £2,795pp (bambootravel.co.uk).
ON A BUDGET: Potter through the Potteries on a narrowboat with a stop at Barlaston to visit the Wedgwood store and factory. Starting from Stone, near Stoke-on-Trent, a three-night self-catering break on a canal boat for two costs from £462 (canalcruising.co.uk).
25 YEARS: Silver
Escape to Portugal’s less-visited Costa de Prata (Silver Coast), pictured, to mark 25 years of marriage – a silver anniversary
SPLURGE: Celebrate with a trip-of-a-lifetime cruise to Antarctica with Silversea. A 16-day voyage aboard Silver Cloud, sailing from Punta Arenas in Chile with three days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, costs from £12,870pp (silversea.com).
ON A BUDGET: Escape to Portugal’s less-visited Costa de Prata (Silver Coast), which lies between Lisbon and Oporto. Pick up a car and explore independently, staying in pousadas (hotels of historic interest) from £103 B&B (pousadas.pt).
30 YEARS: Pearl
SPLURGE: Head to the twin islands of Ra’iatea and Taha’a in French Polynesia. Here you can visit pearl farms and buy your jewel from the source. Seven nights at Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts costs from £3,849pp B&B (turquoiseholidays.co.uk).
ON A BUDGET: Normandy’s Cote de Nacre (Mother-of-Pearl Coast) is easily reached by taking a ferry from Portsmouth to Caen then driving west. Hotel Tardif is a handsome property in Bayeux with B&B doubles from £130 (hoteltardifbayeux.com).
35 YEARS: Coral
Coral is traditionally exchanged on 35 years of marriage. The Seychelles has more than 70 coral islands. Pictured is Denis Private Island
SPLURGE: The Seychelles has more than 70 coral islands where white sands, superb snorkelling and nesting turtles are assured. Seven nights on Denis Private Island costs from £3,099pp (tropicalsky.co.uk).
ON A BUDGET: Claigan Coral Beach is one of the best sweeps of sand on the Isle of Skye. Four-and-a-half miles away, the Dunvegan hotel is a friendly base with six bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms. Doubles from £140 B&B (thedunvegan.com).
40 YEARS: Ruby
SPLURGE: India is a treasury of precious stones including glossy red rubies. A 14-day tour of Rajasthan, including a private visit to the Gem Palace in Jaipur, costs from £3,880pp (greavesindia.co.uk).
ON A BUDGET: Take a spin around the Norfolk Broads aboard Ruby Light, a 29ft luxury cruiser. A four-night break costs from £475 (herbertwoods.co.uk).
45 YEARS: Sapphire
Check into the dazzling white Sapphire suite at Adamant Suites on the Greek island of Santorini, pictured, to mark 45 years of marriage
SPLURGE: Sri Lanka has produced some outstanding sapphires. An eight-night tour of the country, including a stop in its jewel capital Ratnapura to see how the stones are made into jewellery, costs from £4,150pp (srilanka-bespoke.com).
ON A BUDGET: Fly to the Greek island of Santorini and check into the dazzling white Sapphire suite at Adamant Suites in Fira, from £242 B&B (adamantsuites.com).
50 YEARS: Gold
SPLURGE: It’s all about sunshine, sport and the beach on Australia’s Gold Coast, an hour’s drive south of Brisbane. Spend a few days here then drive north to Cairns in a motorhome exploring Queensland. Fourteen nights, including ten on the road, costs from £1,299pp (trailfinders.com).
ON A BUDGET: Kate Middleton’s wedding ring is made from Welsh gold — and you can visit the National Trust’s Dolaucothi mine in Carmarthenshire. An hour’s drive north, Nanteos is a Georgian country house hotel with suites from £139 B&B (nanteos.com).
55 YEARS: Emerald
Explore the coves and limpid waters of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast), pictured, when celebrating an emerald wedding anniversary – 55 years of marriage
SPLURGE: Head to the Emerald Isle for some fine Irish hospitality. Forty miles south of Knock airport, Ashford Castle is a splendid country estate that was once the home of the Guinness family. From £594 B&B (ashfordcastle.com).
ON A BUDGET: Explore the coves and limpid waters of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast). Petra Segreta is a secluded luxury resort in the hills above San Pantaleo, costing from £164 (petrasegretaresort.com).
60 YEARS: Diamond
SPLURGE: South Africa is a rich source of diamonds and a terrific place for a winter sun holiday with no jet lag. Seven nights combining a safari at Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve with time in Cape Town, including a tour of a diamond workshop, costs from £2,995pp (africatravel.com).
ON A BUDGET: Walk part of the Diamond Way a 60-mile trail in the Cotswolds. The route starts at Moreton-in-Marsh where the homely Manor House hotel has rooms from £145 B&B (cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk).
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