Ok, I recognize this is a very VERY broad question, but please throw out some ideas for a 2.5 week honeymoon in mid-late September. I was thinking Spain/Portugal or Croatia, or Italy, or ???? We want some sunshine if possible, some warm water, if possible, and some history (which is luckily inevitable and things to do exploration-wise. I'd love to rent a car and drive around from place to place but don't want to plan more than we can handle! Thanks in advance for suggestions!

I haven't been to Croatia for many years, but the island of Korcula where we stayed was beautiful.Our hotel was just behind a pebble beach and some of the clearest waters we have ever seen.Dubrovnik wasn't far on the ferry,but there are many other resorts on the mainland worth looking into.

What about Cyprus or Malta? Certainly plenty of history in both and all the other things you're looking for (wouldn't recommend driving in Malta though,they're a bit wild on the roads!). Malta is small enough to get around easily on public transport or on the very cheap mini-bus trips available.

In Cyprus the driving is easy and there are many beautiful villages to visit, and the Troodos mountains are wonderful.

We have had villa holidays in Cyprus for the last two years.
Last year for my 40th birthday my mother-in-law paid for my family to stay in a villa with a private pool. It was part of a conservation area with a bird sanctuary, the birds used to swoop on the pool for a drink the same time every evening and we had fabulous views down to the sea.
Even though it was very private, it was only 5 minutes drive to local shops/bars and about 15 to the lively nightlife of Paphos.

This year we had a two-centre holiday in Cyprus as I couldn't decide between two villas! We stayed one week in a little village on the way to Latchi/Polis, and the other in Peyia,with fabulous views overlooking Coral Bay and Paphos.

The village villa was hundreds of years old with arched stone walls,high ceilings,a couple of orange trees and a beautiful walled garden around the large private pool.
There were also alcoves around the garden that were lit up and had speakers from the CD player in the living room.

Talk about romantic! That's where I'd like to spend a honeymoon

I think Cyprus is a great idea, and certainly the Coral Bay area. There is a great looking hotel there (never stayed but it is rated) called the St. Georges which is right on the beach. Cyprus was my all time favourite Mediteranean holiday destination, until I discovered Rhodes, and then Crete (even better) but head for the West around Heraklion if you decide to go there, I have also stayed over on the East of the Island and wasnt too keen, although Elounda is beautiful. The Greek Island of Santorini seems to be a big favourite on Fodors - but Ive never been there; also I have had great reports about Madeira, and it looks great in the brochures. Let us know where you pick - and have a great time.

Another vote for Crete and/or Santorini. On Crete, stay west of Heraklion for sure; I'd go so far as to say Rethymnon and west.

We're doing our June/July honeymoon in Italy. My fiancé has never been to Europe, and I have never been to Italy, so we'll be doing more of a standard tour of it. We're doing probably 2-3 nights in Venice, 3 nights in Florence, 3-4 nights in Positano, Capri, or somewhere on the coast, and 4-5 nights in Rome. That might be a pretty busy schedule for some honeymooners, but we don't really like sitting still for long.

For a more leisurely trip, you might want to do a week in Positano or on the Cinque Terre and 10 days driving through Tuscany and staying in B&Bs.

I have friends who did their honeymoon at Santorini, and their pictures and stories are fabulous. It sounds like they had total relaxation.