Did I ever mention how I spent a good 4 hours of my honeymoon stuck on a day cruise with 50 cult members who were involved in a pyramid scheme? Yes, they sent us on the wrong journey. Instead of our romantic sunset cruise with strawberries and champagne, we got to enjoy a Scientology charter cruise. They happened to be handing out awards for the top vitamin and nutritional supplement sellers of the year. Woo Hoo? My husband and I were the only two people who had not “gotten in on the ground floor of this amazing moneymaking venture.” But we got to hear all about it. How would a franchise change our lives? I learned: Vitamins…not just for expensive, colorful pee.
The most tedious 4 hours of my life, has led me to my passion: ensuring that your dream honeymoon becomes a reality. I am sharing several quick tips that will help you along the way. This week I am starting with honeymoon planning tips.
Dream apart.
Before talking to each other about your honeymoon, separately make a list of everything your perfect honeymoon would entail. Then have a special date night where you reconcile the records.
Plan a reasonable budget and stick to it!
Pick a destination you will both enjoy. If you want culture and history, and your fiancee wants downtime at the beach, find a place where that satisfies both of you. Consider Spain or Italy. You could spend a few days strolling through the Colosseum or Sagrada Familia and then a few days in Amalfi Coast or Ibiza.
Consider a honeymoon registry. Great idea if you already have a toaster! And a honeymoon registry is a great way to ask for money without coming out and asking for money.
Start the honeymoon fund and tell everyone about it as early as possible.
Consult a travel agent. The right agent will lead you to curated options that will fit that reasonable budget you set.
Prioritize your activities.
1. Must Do’s: if your heart will break if you miss it, consider it a "Must Do." For instance: a gondola cruise in Venice. Book these activities before you leave!
2. Like to Do’s: these are things that you want to see, but you wouldn’t be devastated if you didn’t get to do it. DON’T book these before you go. You might find that you want to stay in, duh!
Do your research. Read reviews and look at all the pictures you can. Professional travel bloggers and travel agents are going to have the most reliable reviews.
Allow for adequate travel time.
Maximize your vacation time. If possible, get flights that will get you to the destination early in the day and one that returns home late in the afternoon.
Plan surprises. The honeymoon is the time to be extra romantic (even if you’re not the passionate type!) You will never be more focused on your relationship.
These are quick tips for the honeymoon planning stage. Coming up are tips for getting ready for the honeymoon you just booked.