FREE HONEYMOON PLANNING GUIDE
8 Things You Need to Know to Get More and
Spend Less on Your Dream Honeymoon
Eliminate the Stress of Overspending • Avoid Settling for Less Because of Your Budget • Get Your Planning Done in a Snap
Planning a wedding can be stressful. Vows, invitations, table arrangements, flowers, food, music, photos... the list builds and builds. Add planning a honeymoon, and an engaged couple can be sent into planning overload, not to mention the budget stress!
But the perfect honeymoon can set your marriage on to the best foot possible, so it’s very important to get this right.
While you begin the process of planning your honeymoon, keep these eight things in mind to get more out of your honeymoon and spend less!
1. Start your honeymoon planning early. The earlier you plan the better. Most couples get swept away by the wedding planning frenzy and put the honeymoon at the bottom of their priority list. To get more and spend less, begin the honeymoon planning as soon as you set your date and book your reception. Why? This will ensure you get not only the specific resort you want, but also the correct room category. The most highly desired room categories get booked up well in advance. Airfares have a good chance of being lower too.
Definitely, book at least 6-9 months in advance to make sure you get your must-haves such as a private plunge pool or a quiet beachfront suite with outdoor shower. Often, you’ll also be able to take advantage of early booking deals.
2. Pick your destination wisely. The Destination Can Make or Break the Bank. If budget is a major priority, consider places like Mexico and Jamaica where airfares tend to be lower and accommodation rates can be great values.
If you are dreaming of romantic, far away places like Fiji and Tahiti, adjust your budget accordingly as airfares and accommodations tend to be far more expensive than one expects. Also note that while Bora Bora, Maldives, and Fiji are amazing honeymoon destinations, these are not ideal if you have less than one week for your honeymoon. Consider European destinations such as the south of France, Italy’s Amalfi coast, or Spain instead.
An exotic destination is awesome if you have enough travel time and don’t mind long flights. Some destinations require over a day traveling time and you also need adjust to time difference. A travel expert can advise you on off-season times for these destinations if you are flexible on your honeymoon’s timing.
3. Budget for your honeymoon early. Before you get caught up in planning the wedding, discuss with your partner what are the must-have experiences for both of you while on your honeymoon: a particular honeymoon suite, adventure, relaxation, touring, food and wine? Make a list together and come up with a realistic budget (a travel expert will gladly help with this) before you get swept up in the moment and spend extra on the wedding. If you are a frequent flyer, save your mileage and try to use your accumulated points for your flights. Also, many credit cards offer airline mileage awards that may assist you.
4. Consider an all-inclusive or cruise. All-inclusive resorts and cruises offer great value. It also takes the stress off of mentally adding up your bill while on vacation. Vacation budgets can get out of hand quickly when you start running into unexpected parking charges, taxes, large drink bills, and shuttling… just like with those wedding budgets, the list goes on. The benefit of an all-inclusive is knowing that your trip is paid for. With small exceptions, you have paid the expense of your honeymoon upfront. That will make it easier not to let your budget get away from you!
Not every all-inclusive or cruise is the same. Do your research or work with a travel consultant that knows and has experienced the resorts and cruises you are considering.
5. Work with a romantic travel expert. This is hands down the BEST way to get more and spend less on your honeymoon. Your honeymoon is one of the most romantic vacations you’ll ever take with your sweetheart; you really want to go with complete peace of mind, secure in the knowledge that every little detail has been taken care of. A good expert will steer you in the right direction, help you select the resort that is perfect for you, save you tons of time researching places on the internet, answer all of your questions, take care of all the details, get you upgrades and special treatment you could not get on your own. Working with a travel professional further provides the peace of mind that you are not alone if any problems should come up. Just call your travel professional and relax while they work their magic!
Here is how one happy bride explains her experience.
“I was planning a wedding, and crunched for time. I gave the travel pro a call. We talked for 30 minutes about how much we wanted to spend, what type of honeymoon we were looking for, the range of dates we were shooting for, and couple other important details. She took what I gave her and came back with 3 great options that all fit the bill! And all before we committed to her or paid her anything. We booked our dream honeymoon through her. Our dream honeymoon planned in an hour of my time!
It was beautiful and relaxing. We were treated to the romantic extras, since our travel agent made it clear we were on our honeymoon. We met up with a couple that was on the same vacation we were, they had arrived and were leaving the same day as us, by booking through a travel agent we had spent hundreds less than our new friends! We are so happy we spent the time getting to know a travel expert.”
6. Make sure that both you and your partner have a valid 10-year passport. Note that most countries now require that passports be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Check your passports now before you get caught up with planning the wedding. If you do require a new passport, be sure to allow plenty of time to get your new passport.
7. Buy travel insurance. There are all sorts of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Travel insurance provides protection against unforeseen circumstances and is often relatively cheap compared to what you’ve already invested in your trip.
8. Pack before the wedding and plan your wardrobe, especially if you are planning to visit multiple destinations that might involve city/beach/countryside and so on. Shorts, sunhats, and sunscreen are strongly recommended for hot sunny destinations. And you’ll be surprised how often people forget to pack that sexy bikini they’ve been dying to wear and/or swim trunks! Also, don’t forget to pack evening wear for nights on the city (restaurants, theater, clubbing, etc.).
Congratulations and good luck with your wedding and honeymoon plans!
Please contact me with any questions and to find out if I’m a good match for your honeymoon plans.
Jessie
