As gay marriage becomes legal next weekend, the co-founder of Further Afield selects romantic stays for gay honeymooners, from city hotels to island getaways and a Scottish boathouse
• The changing face of gay travel
*Vouni Hideaways, Cyprus*
The interior designer owners have worked their magic on this stone village house for two with private pool. Vouni is a quiet village in the hills at the heart of the wine region, but the coast is just 20 minutes away by car. If you need to turn up the volume, the city of Limassol, brimming with stylish cafes in the Old City and exuberant nightlife in the tourist area, is just 30 minutes' drive away.
• From £586 a week
*Above Blue Suites, Santorini *
The Greek island of Santorini is fast becoming known as the new gay-friendly destination for couples. At these top-notch suites scattered across a steep, rocky slope on the highest point of the world's largest caldera, old-fashioned romantics can soak up the iconic sunsets, gaze out over the Aegean sea and feast on fine dinners served on their private terrace.
• From £105 B&B
*Rue Quincampoix Paris*
Owner JJ has an eye for design classics, and many are on show in this stylish apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows near the heart of gay Paris: the Marais district. Flick through art and fashion magazines while luxuriating on Fendi cushions, Ralph Lauren bedlinen and cashmere wraps, then follow JJ's tips for places to eat.
• From £209 a night (minimum three-night stay)
*La Grande Maison, Loire Valley*
There is not much that the owners of this guesthouse don't know about wine. Their bespoke wine tours and tastings are fun, informal and informative, and kick off at their beautiful 17th-century manor. Couples who prefer to take off alone can grab a picnic and walk along the riverbanks and in the vineyards. There are also bikes available.
• Doubles £80 B&B
*The Secret Garden, Amalfi Coast*
This architect-designed villa for two, with a glass-brick roof, is perched 450m above sea level in the hamlet of Nocelle. Artists, poets, musicians and film stars have been coming here for 100 years, and it's easy to see why. Apart from the amazing view, there are Michelin-starred restaurants, designer shops, galleries and bars in Positano, reached by 1,800 steps or a 5km drive.
• From £1,055 a week
*Duane Street Hotel, New York*
Cool urban design and loft-inspired bedrooms reflect the industrial warehouse history of this hotel in Tribeca, just a short hop from some great eateries on Greenwich Street's Restaurant Row. For a honeymoon to remember, stroll to Little Italy, Chinatown, SoHo or Wall Street and take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Although it's in the thick of the action, this hotel is also wonderfully quiet.
• Doubles from £125 B&B
*Modern Houseboat, Berlin*
You can't get much cooler than this floating, minimalist-design dream moored on Lake Rummelsburg in central Berlin. It's surrounded by nature but with spectacular views of – and access to – the city. The houseboat rocks gently from time to time but it's a lovely way to fall asleep. For active romantics, there are two Bella Ciao bikes on which to explore the city.
• From £150. Reduced rates for week-long stays
*Mindfulness Retreat Valencia
*
Yoga and meditation could be just the thing to get married life off to a calm start. This B&B with yoga studio is a haven of calm in the heart of a vibrant city. Or you can just bolster your wellbeing by opting for the special honeymoon pampering package, which includes a glass of cava at breakfast followed by a 45-minute massage, then simply soaking up the relaxing ambience.
• Doubles £84 B&B
*Boathouses, Perthshire*
After all the excitement of your Big Day, you may just want to head for the hills and seek peace in nature. At these two wooden one-bedroom cottages on the shores of Loch Tay, you can listen to the gently lapping water as the sun goes down or snuggle up with a dram in front of the woodburning stove. The interiors are a smart mix of antique and contemporary, and outside you can spot rare red squirrels.
• Three-night weekends from £377
*Rival Hotel, Stockholm *
Frequently voted the most gay-friendly and stylish city in the world, Stockholm also has a strong cinematic back story. Gay icon Greta Garbo was one of Sweden's most famous movie exports. And who better than Abba's Benny Andersson to restore a 1930s cinematic landmark into a glamorous hotel?
• Doubles from £110 B&B
All properties are available through furtherafield.com, a collection of 250 places to stay in Europe and beyond that genuinely welcome gay and lesbian travellers – and are straight-friendly too Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.
• The changing face of gay travel
*Vouni Hideaways, Cyprus*
The interior designer owners have worked their magic on this stone village house for two with private pool. Vouni is a quiet village in the hills at the heart of the wine region, but the coast is just 20 minutes away by car. If you need to turn up the volume, the city of Limassol, brimming with stylish cafes in the Old City and exuberant nightlife in the tourist area, is just 30 minutes' drive away.
• From £586 a week
*Above Blue Suites, Santorini *
The Greek island of Santorini is fast becoming known as the new gay-friendly destination for couples. At these top-notch suites scattered across a steep, rocky slope on the highest point of the world's largest caldera, old-fashioned romantics can soak up the iconic sunsets, gaze out over the Aegean sea and feast on fine dinners served on their private terrace.
• From £105 B&B
*Rue Quincampoix Paris*
Owner JJ has an eye for design classics, and many are on show in this stylish apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows near the heart of gay Paris: the Marais district. Flick through art and fashion magazines while luxuriating on Fendi cushions, Ralph Lauren bedlinen and cashmere wraps, then follow JJ's tips for places to eat.
• From £209 a night (minimum three-night stay)
*La Grande Maison, Loire Valley*
There is not much that the owners of this guesthouse don't know about wine. Their bespoke wine tours and tastings are fun, informal and informative, and kick off at their beautiful 17th-century manor. Couples who prefer to take off alone can grab a picnic and walk along the riverbanks and in the vineyards. There are also bikes available.
• Doubles £80 B&B
*The Secret Garden, Amalfi Coast*
This architect-designed villa for two, with a glass-brick roof, is perched 450m above sea level in the hamlet of Nocelle. Artists, poets, musicians and film stars have been coming here for 100 years, and it's easy to see why. Apart from the amazing view, there are Michelin-starred restaurants, designer shops, galleries and bars in Positano, reached by 1,800 steps or a 5km drive.
• From £1,055 a week
*Duane Street Hotel, New York*
Cool urban design and loft-inspired bedrooms reflect the industrial warehouse history of this hotel in Tribeca, just a short hop from some great eateries on Greenwich Street's Restaurant Row. For a honeymoon to remember, stroll to Little Italy, Chinatown, SoHo or Wall Street and take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. Although it's in the thick of the action, this hotel is also wonderfully quiet.
• Doubles from £125 B&B
*Modern Houseboat, Berlin*
You can't get much cooler than this floating, minimalist-design dream moored on Lake Rummelsburg in central Berlin. It's surrounded by nature but with spectacular views of – and access to – the city. The houseboat rocks gently from time to time but it's a lovely way to fall asleep. For active romantics, there are two Bella Ciao bikes on which to explore the city.
• From £150. Reduced rates for week-long stays
*Mindfulness Retreat Valencia
*
Yoga and meditation could be just the thing to get married life off to a calm start. This B&B with yoga studio is a haven of calm in the heart of a vibrant city. Or you can just bolster your wellbeing by opting for the special honeymoon pampering package, which includes a glass of cava at breakfast followed by a 45-minute massage, then simply soaking up the relaxing ambience.
• Doubles £84 B&B
*Boathouses, Perthshire*
After all the excitement of your Big Day, you may just want to head for the hills and seek peace in nature. At these two wooden one-bedroom cottages on the shores of Loch Tay, you can listen to the gently lapping water as the sun goes down or snuggle up with a dram in front of the woodburning stove. The interiors are a smart mix of antique and contemporary, and outside you can spot rare red squirrels.
• Three-night weekends from £377
*Rival Hotel, Stockholm *
Frequently voted the most gay-friendly and stylish city in the world, Stockholm also has a strong cinematic back story. Gay icon Greta Garbo was one of Sweden's most famous movie exports. And who better than Abba's Benny Andersson to restore a 1930s cinematic landmark into a glamorous hotel?
• Doubles from £110 B&B
All properties are available through furtherafield.com, a collection of 250 places to stay in Europe and beyond that genuinely welcome gay and lesbian travellers – and are straight-friendly too Reported by guardian.co.uk 7 hours ago.