Congratulations! You’re getting married.
Part of the fun in planning your big day is also plotting out your honeymoon.
“It can be easy to push honeymoon planning to the back burner when you have a wedding on your mind, but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, it’s best to start planning your travels early on,” said Megan Velez of Destination Weddings Travel Group.
Velez advises the happy couple to keep their eye out for travel and accommodation rates well before booking, so they can have a better idea of what is most competitive.
“Think about what excursions and activities you’d like to take on, so you can start creating a budget and an itinerary that you can stick to,” she said.
Before you start a search for the perfect destination, discuss your honeymoon ideas, says Beth Johnston, a travel designer with Beth’s Beautiful Getaways:
“Talk to each other about your must-haves and non-negotiables,” she said. “Be willing to compromise. You want it to be memorable for the right reasons.”
Planning a wedding can be stressful, so Johnston suggests hiring a travel designer: “It’s to help you figure out what is best for both of you and to take the stress off your plate,” she said.
Know how much you want to spend as well.
“Come up with a realistic budget for what you are looking to do,” said Katie E. Levent, vice president of Elite Travel. “This is very important for not only the couple but for the travel agent to qualify them better and not waste time sending them a proposal on Bora Bora if they have a budget better suited for the Caribbean.”
Don’t forget to let people know you’re on your honeymoon!
“See what the resorts offer honeymooners,” said Levent. “Some resorts have great honeymoon packages and benefits, some even for free.”
With some planning and creativity, you can have a nice honeymoon even on a smaller budget.
“Save big by redeeming frequent flier miles or travel rewards from a credit card ? there’s no better time to use them than on your honeymoon,” said Velez.
Velez also said that all-inclusive properties are the best way to maximize your stay at any destination.
Most importantly, buy trip insurance.
“It is worth the peace of mind,” said Johnston. “Honeymoons often cost a bit more than a regular vacation. They are often on an island where an evacuation for an emergency would be costly. Better to be safe than sorry.”
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(TravelPulse is a leading travel authority on the Web, providing consumer travel news and insider tips and advice for an ever-changing travel world. Read more stories at travelpulse.com)
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