On November 4th, we’ll take off on a 17-hour journey from Cancún to LA to Papeete, our (Maria’s) dream honeymoon destination in French Polynesia ! Along the way, Nico will embrace his favorite in-flight hobby: hours of uninterrupted movie marathons.We’ll land nearly on the other side of the world, just around the International Date Line (GMT-10).On the way home, it’s a 22-hour return via LA to London—just enough time for Nico to catch up on every single 2025 Oscar contender.

For island hopping, we’ll be taking regional planes—one of the top items on Nicolò’s “mildly terrifying but necessary” list. Luckily, these tiny mosquito-sized aircraft are surprisingly good at staying in the air and not nosediving into the ocean (so far, so good).Each short flight brings us to a new slice of paradise—white sands, turquoise waters, and the occasional dramatic landing strip —hopefully with all luggage included.

Our first and last stop will be Papeete, home to French Polynesia’s international airport and the “bustling capital” of island life. Here, we’ll explore black sand beaches, sample local street food, and enjoy the lively rhythm of the biggest island in the Society Islands.It’s the perfect place to ease into (and out of) honeymoon mode—with a bit more traffic and a lot more ukuleles.

Shaped like a trident and nicknamed Tahiti’s “sister island,” Moorea is just a short hop away—but feels like a world apart. Known for its lush green mountains, crystal-clear lagoons, and friendly locals.We’ll be soaking up the views, snorkeling with tropical fish, and possibly befriending some small, and big, marine residents.

This secluded, flower-shaped gem has no airport of its own—so we’ll fly into nearby Raiatea and take a boat ride to reach our resort, which holds the same name as the island itself.Famous for its fragrant vanilla plantations and peaceful lagoons, Taha’a is an amazing tropical hideaway. We’ll spend our days snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, sampling locally grown vanilla, and doing “very important research” at the island’s rum distilleries.

We’ll spend the longest stretch of our honeymoon in iconic Bora Bora, with postcard-perfect views of Mount Otemanu as our backdrop. And as if that weren’t dreamy enough, we’ll be celebrating Maria’s birthday here on November 7—because what better place to turn a year older than paradise?Our days will be filled with snorkeling, lagoon swims, sunbathing, 4x4 island adventures, sunset cocktails, and maybe even befriending a turtle or two.

On November 6th, we’ll embark on a breathtaking whale watching adventure in Moorea. This area is a key migratory destination for humpback whales, who travel to these warm waters each year to breed and nurse their young. While rare, French Polynesia is one of the few places where, on occasion, you can have the incredible opportunity to swim with these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

Because staying in shape is crucial, especially when beginning this new chapter of life (and recovering from all the wedding cake), we’ll be embracing the great outdoors—paradise style! From paddleboarding and kayaking to jet skiing and maybe even a little windsurfing, we’ll be working out in the most scenic gym imaginable.

After all the wedding excitement, it’s time for some well-deserved pampering.