Polka Dot Travel Lounge With Dave And Deb From The Planet D

We’re so excited that full time adventure travel couple and founders of The Planet D, Dave and Deb made some time recently to share with us some of their top honeymoon recommendations.

Dave and Deb live by their motto “adventure is for everyone,” and are living proof that ordinary people can have extraordinary lives. For the past eight years, Dave and Deb have been travelling the world sharing their experiences with over 166,000 Instagram followers and the 2.8 million people who follow The Planet D.

Dave and Deb have visited 105 countries on all seven continents taking on adventures like cycling from Cairo to Cape Town, trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp and kayaking in both the North and South Polar regions. Their expertise is sure to help you decide where to spend your next romantic trip. Follow on below to get the scoop.

What is your favourite region?
Dave will always say Antarctica. He loves photographing that continent and loves the wildlife encounters there. It is the final frontier. Animals aren’t afraid of humans so when you visit Antarctica, you have intimate encounters with penguins, whales and seals. We’ve had a whale breach right beside us while kayaking and several whales surface to take a closer look at our team on zodiacs. When walking on the continent, curious penguins come right up to you to say hello, peck at your bootleg and if you are very still while sitting down, they’ll walk on you and sit on your lap! It’s incredible.

Deb loves Africa. I always say there is a reason so many people say they left their heart in Africa. We have travelled the continent extensively, but my two favourite locations are Tanzania and Kenya. The energy is so positive and friendly in these two nations. The wildlife encounters are second to none. It is here that you’ll see the ‘Big 5’ enjoying life in their natural habitat.

Seeing the Masai Mara and Serengeti is awe-inspiring. But I also love how diverse they are. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was an experience we’ll never forget. Going to relax on the incredibly beautiful beaches of Zanzibar is breathtaking and meeting the locals and tribes of the region is humbling and a great learning experience. Some of my best memories was staying in a Masai Village in Kenya and meeting our guide’s family at a local village there as well. We visited our guide Makau’s own charity; he is building a school and bringing water to his childhood village which makes their lives easier and gives both boys and girls hope for the future.

Top resort recommendation?

We have so many places that we love, but what’s fresh in my mind right now is the Ritz Carlton on Grand Cayman Island. There is so much to do on Grand Cayman and the Ritz is located directly on Seven Mile Beach. It’s luxurious yet relaxed. We love luxury, but we don’t like visiting places that make us feel uncomfortable. The Ritz Grand Cayman has that island vibe with an upscale setting.

In Australia we love the Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree Rainforest. This luxurious lodge is filled with decadent tree houses weaving through the jungle path. It’s located in the heart of nature and you can spend the day sitting by the pool doing absolutely nothing, or you can take part in the many activities around the area. Our jungle suite even had an outdoor king size bed should we choose to enjoy a night sleeping under the rainforest canopy. The bed is surrounded by mosquito netting and enclosed balcony so you don’t have to worry about critters joining you in the night. Take a couple’s massage and enjoy a picnic lunch at the billabong.

Suggestions for great honeymoon activities?
The Maldives was one of our favourite romantic destinations; the watersports were fun and the setting was so extraordinary that snorkelling with sea turtles was so romantic. We love going on adventures by day and turning up the heat at night. I find that when you’ve spent the day enjoying activities, it makes for an exciting evening because you have so much to talk about and you have so much to share.

On your honeymoon during the day, take a scuba diving course together if you’ve never done it before. Or go on an island hopping sailing trip. Stand up paddle boarding is easy to get the hang of and is a fun couple’s activity. Maybe you want to up the adrenaline factor a bit? Not too much as this is your honeymoon, but beach destinations always have paragliding or parasailing. Nothing gets your heart pounding more than soaring through the air. Or spend the afternoon at the spa enjoying a couple’s massage before taking a long nap before dinner. At night, book a private beach side dinner where you have a table all to yourselves with a private chef and waiter taking care of your every need.

The ideal location for a proposal
Santorini is the ideal spot for a proposal. The setting is picture perfect with white stone washed buildings weaving down the steep cliffs of the caldera. This Greek Island is at the top of our list for romantic destinations and if you propose here, there’s no way anyone could say no! Stay in a cave hotel in a room with its own private balcony and hot tub. Most hotels serve fresh breakfast on your balcony each morning so you can take in the view of the Aegean Sea. Take a dip in the infinity pool and simply lose yourself in romance and luxury.

Best kept secret honeymoon location
We are going to choose Udaipur, India. Located in Rajastan, it’s India’s romance capital. Situated on Lake Pichola Udaipur, it is such a picturesque setting. The city surrounds the lake that houses the Lake Palace made famous by James Bond’s ‘Octopussy’. You can stay in the Lake Palace or choose a luxury hotel along the river’s edge. Get up early in the morning and see the narrow streets come alive with people getting ready for the day and women washing their colourful clothes on the Ghats.