Feature photo by Today is a good day. Photo above by iamhenry.

You don’t need to head to an expensive tropical island to have a good time with your new spouse. Go obscure. Impress and confuse your friends.

The current economic downturn dollar has actually opened up new opportunities for newlyweds looking to save some extra money for their wedding champagne budget. And services like Our Honeymoon Registry help other people fund your trip!

Photo by anna.andres.

1. Iceland

Iceland’s economic pain –a looming national default and the collapse of the currency and the national banking system– is your gain. Expect to find out-of-this-world deals in Iceland until the country gets back on its feet.

2. Turkey

Straddling Europe and the Middle East, this country was the melting pot of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. It has mountains, forests, museums, lovely cities, world-class cuisine and luxurious hotel accommodations.

3. Lima, Peru

The weather is almost permanently overcast during the winter, but you’ll be hard pressed to find better restaurants. Think you’ve had ceviche? You haven’t had ceviche until you’ve been to Lima.

Photo by www.fotohuta.pl.

4. Krakow, Poland

Want a European fairy tale vacation without the high cost? Krakow survived World War II and the Soviet era mostly intact. Like Polish food? Visit some of the best restaurants in the former Eastern bloc.

5. Singapore

If you like glitzy nightlife vacations with a warm and moist climate, Singapore is an excellent destination. The food is an eclectic mix of Southeast Asian, Japanese and Chinese.

6. Mexico

The dollar still goes a long way in Mexico. Want to get local expert advice on where to go? Check out Matador’s Mexico page.

Photo by Kıvanç.

7. British Columbia, Canada

As long as you get out of Vancouver as quickly as possible, you can have an amazing time camping, biking or skiing in British Columbia. The forests are among the most beautiful in the world.

8. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest still has the flavor of old Byzantium. Stroll along the cobbled streets with your new spouse and admire the old architecture. Then bed down in a fantastic but inexpensive hotel.

9. Estonia

Estonia is one of the best kept secrets of Eastern Europe. This country has enjoyed considerable economic success in the past decade or two, but it has yet to be entirely discovered by the tourist hordes. The west coast on the Baltic Sea is particularly good to go.

Photo by shaindlin.

10. Greece

As long as you get past the relatively annoying flight or boat ride out of Athens, the wonders of the Greek islands start opening up.

11. Alice Springs, Australia

Are you an adventure-couple? Heading out to the Australian outback might be right up your alley. Visit Ayers Rock and explore the surrounding deserts. Watch out for wild dogs, horses, and scorpions.

12. Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the safest and most beautiful countries in East Africa. Brave the monsoon rains and go on safari, or consider hiking around Mt. Kilimanjaro.

13. Dominican Republic

Island vacation? Blue waters? Friendly locals? All for cheap? Yes, the Dominican Republic is for you, particularly if you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort vacation.

Photo by Space Ritual.

14. Arizona, United States

Heading on your honeymoon during the winter? Escape the cold in sunny and naturally beautiful Arizona.

15. European Tour

It’s not a particular country, but with the Euro tanking, flitting around Europe has become a fantastic honeymoon option once again. Travel by discount plane, like Ryanair, or by train.

16. Egypt

Egypt has beaches, warm weather, and some of the most stunning historical sites from the ancient world that you will find anywhere. There are no other countries like Egypt, and perhaps no other has been as radically altered through the ages by the sweep of the past.

Community Connection:

If you haven’t thought about your honeymoon yet because you still need help planning your destination wedding, check out managing editor Julie Schwietert Collazo’s article, The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Destination Wedding over at Brave New Traveler.

Want some more honeymoon destination options and planning tools? Check out The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Best Wedding & Honeymoon Destinations, Beyond Vegas: 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around the World, or 101 Top Honeymoon Destinations: The Guide to Perfect Places for Passion (Little Black Books) (Little Black Book).

Are you married? Where did you go for your honeymoon? Share your favorite destination in the comments below!

Whether you’re looking for a horrifying walking tour, a haunt to curl up inside your coffin and spend the night, or a scary museum, check out some of these spooky places this Halloween:

1. La Rundel Mental Asylum – Melbourne, Australia

While on a tour of this abandoned red-brick building, especially at night, visitors report hearing strange music, howling, and laughter. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes; the former inhabitants did not clean up after leaving.

2. Ghosts of the East Village – New York City, United States

Ordinary ghosts aren’t enough for you? Prefer to visit celebrity undead? This Halloween, go on a tour of New York City’s historic East Village with Ghosts of New York Tours.

You’ll come across the old haunts of famous ghouls like Gothic-Romantic writer Edgar Allan Poe, former rough-riding President Theodore Roosevelt, and legendary escape artist Harry Houdini. It’ll frighten you more than hearing the price of a drink at one of the local bars.

London Dungeon photo by Victius

3. The London Dungeon – London, United Kingdom

The London Dungeon is a popular museum showcasing the real horrors of not-so-Jolly Old England year-round, and they have special events for Halloween.

Whether you’re a history buff or merely seasonally interested in wretched Medieval torture, it’s certainly worth a visit.

Performers and tour guides bring England’s cruel past to life for visitors of all ages. Try not to eat too much before traipsing into the torch-lit authentic dungeon.

4. The Paris Sewer Museum / Paris Catacombs Museum – Paris, France

That foul smell isn’t old camembert – it’s the old Parisian sewer! The sewers of Paris are some of the oldest in the world. Sections of the Parisian underground date back to the Roman Empire. Travel the same icky pathways as ancient French waste.

The Catacombs are even more eerie, as they are the resting place of literally thousands of ancient corpses. These catacombs were built in the 18th century as a repository for plague victims.

If you’re worried about encountering any French zombies, don’t worry too much – they amble after foreign brains about 15 hours a week. Try to go during lunch if you are concerned for your safety.

Empty Chernobyl school photo by Stuck In Customs

5. Chernobyl – Kiev, Ukraine

Believe it or not, the site of the catastrophic 1986 nuclear disaster is open for guided tours. The entire city was abandoned in the wake of the meltdown, leaving it frozen in the Gorbachev era.

A total of 135,000 people in the area had to evacuate permanently due to the dangers of radioactive fallout. It’s the ultimate urban exploration site, and one of the most dangerous.

Tours leave Kiev on a regular basis. Unless you have special expertise or a guide to bring you along, it could be a deadly mistake to travel there on your own. Pockets of radiation are still trapped within certain buildings, and unless cancer and devastating radiation sickness sound like fun to you, it’s better to visit with a local.

Bring your own candy. Eating anything you find lying around isn’t advisable unless you are interested in seeing if radiation can give you super powers.

Photo by darek.zon

What are the scariest places you’ve visited on the planet?