Even if you’re not currently planning a wedding, it’s easy to get distracted thinking about romantic holiday destinations. From tropical escapes like Bali and Bora Bora to European hotspots like Greece and Rome, a lot of us have some idea of where we would like to go for our Honeymoon, but have you ever considered where to avoid?
Here are the seven countries you should avoid if you’re looking to get down and dirty on your Honeymoon.
United Arab Emirates
There are several strict public decency laws that tourists must adhere to when visiting, which predominantly limit physical contact in public to hand-holding.
Hugs are acceptable if discreet, but anything further could result in a fine or further legal action.
Although the enforcement of these laws varies across the UAE, there is a culture of modesty there that must be respected.
Qatar
The country's Zina laws criminalise public displays of affection, sex outside of marriage, and adultery.
One Dutch woman famously found herself convicted of having sex outside of marriage while visiting Qatar after going to the local authorities to report that she had been raped.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia maintains strict laws on public affection and having sex outside of marriage.
Proof of marriage is required for opposite sex couples when booking hotel rooms.
However, in order to boost the tourism industry, this was amended in 2019 to allow mixed tourist groups to book rooms together.
Iran
Public affection is illegal here, and something as simple as holding hands may even be deemed inappropriate.
Under the Islamic penal code, it is a criminal offence for Iranian citizens to engage in sex outside of marriage.
The penalty for this is “100 strokes of the lash,” which may seem harsh, but when stoning to death is still an available sentence here, it’s certainly the lesser of two evils.
Afghanistan
Sex outside of marriage is prohibited here, and although it isn’t illegal, public displays of affection would be met with disapproval, which definitely does not pass the vibe check for loved-up newlyweds.
Egypt
Other than hand-holding, public displays of affection should be avoided to respect local customs.
Even though it is unlikely for tourists to be jailed over minor infractions, if you’re hoping for some sex on the beach, this is not the holiday hotspot for you.
India
Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code criminalises any obscene act that occurs in a public space.
India is still a predominantly conservative country, even though attitudes are evolving in urban areas and this means that depending on where you are, you could be reported by anyone for almost anything!
Do you agree with us, or do some of these still make your honeymoon hit list? Let us know in the comments!
Written by Leah Marie Cox
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