Not everyone has the same thoughts in mind when they think about a “perfect honeymoon.”  For some couples, the ideal honeymoon means relaxing on a beach with cocktails in hand.  Other couples prefer to go somewhere with plenty of sightseeing options.  And some couples, you’ll know who you are, just want to party their pants off.  In this installment of my “Where To Go” series of posts, I’ll share my top 3 honeymoon destinations for party animals.

1) Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza may be naturally gorgeous, but I think the Spanish island is most famous for its unparalleled club scene.  I haven’t been there myself, but friends of mine who have gone there recently raved about the fresh seafood, indulgent spas, and breathtaking hotels on the island.  But of course, the real draw is the nightlife.  Ibiza Spotlight has a great informational page for Ibiza Virgins that is helpful for navigating the club scene and buying advance tickets.

Ibiza is just a 50 minute flight from Barcelona, and I definitely recommend spending a few days there either on your way to or from the island.  Barcelona also has a surprisingly good man-made beach that was created for the 1992 Olympics, so you can split your days between sightseeing and sunbathing.

2) Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

Full Moon Party drink buckets via A.Haldun ONUK

You’ve probably heard about Full Moon Parties before, but did you know that they originated on the small island of Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand?  There are plenty of imitation parties now throughout Southeast Asia (and “Half Moon Parties” too), but nothing compares to the original.

These parties occur once a month (duh), so either make hotel reservations in advance or plan on arriving to the island a few days before the party in order to arrange your lodging.  Some people even take the ferry over from one of the neighboring islands like Koh Samui or Koh Tao just for the night of the party, but believe me, you won’t feel like getting on a ferry too soon afterward.

Full Moon Party dos and don’ts:

Do: use common sense, buy yourself a drink bucket or two, and check out the ladyboys.  (Yes, those hot Thai ladies are probably not women after all.)

Don’t: accept food or drinks from strangers, bring too much cash or any valuables with you, or wear nice clothing.  Someone is bound to spill drinks or rub body paint on you at some point during the night.

3) Ios, Greece

Milopotas Beach, Ios via Davide Taviani

Oh, Ios.  I definitely have a love/hate relationship with this island because I thought my first six nights there were amazing, but when my ferry was cancelled and I was stuck on the island for a seventh night, I (specifically my liver) was more than ready to leave.  Again, the island of Ios is naturally beautiful and it has a nice, albeit crowded, beach.  But the difference between Ios and most other Greek islands is the nightlife.   There are countless bars and restaurants to check out each night, and there’s nothing as delicious as a fresh gyro at 6 am when you’re walking back to your hotel.

The best time to visit the island is late Spring and early Summer.  The month of August is by far the most crowded, as Ios is extremely popular with Italian tourists then.  By the time September rolls around, the Aegean Sea begins to cool down and the locals head back to the mainland.

The crowd in Ios is a bit on the younger side, but man are they good looking.  You can take a ferry to Ios from Athens or from Santorini, another island that’s extremely popular with honeymooners.