I hate to keep discussing how the current economy is affecting everyone’s wedding plans, but it is a reality that most people are facing right now. Many of my clients are worried about what to do on their honeymoons. The exotic European vacations are becoming out of reach thanks to the weak dollar, and because of high oil prices airline flights have become outrageously expensive (although you can find some great bargains if you do some research). So what’s a newlywed couple to do?
- “Staycations” are becoming very popular. Find a hotel in your home town to get away for a few days. Make sure not to tell anyone you are staying close-to-home, you don’t want anyone infringing on your quiet time. This also means, no laptop, no cell phone and certainly no checking voicemail. You have to pretend you are far, far away!
- Take a cruise. There are some fantastic deals to be had, particularly if you live close to a port. The nicest feature of a cruise is that meals and transportation are included; just watch out for alcohol which can be very expensive if you aren’t careful.
- Put off your honeymoon until you can save some money. Combine the “staycation” with a longer more exotic honeymoon after you regroup from paying for the wedding.
- Look into a honeymoon registry. There are many companies you can find on the Internet who have registries where your guests can contribute money to your honeymoon. Who needs another blender anyway?
- Consider hiring a travel agent. Having someone who is very knowledgeable about the location where you want to honeymoon can be very helpful. Your travel agent may have access to deals that aren’t widely known.
Of course the Internet is a great place to shop for a honeymoon. My two favorite places to search are kayak.com for airline tickets and tripadvisor.com is a great place to get other travelers’ opinions on hotels and tourist destinations.
Remember that the most important part of the honeymoon is spending quality time with your new spouse. Even if you can’t have the trip of your dreams, you can have a beautiful honeymoon. Look in my next blog for tips on spending a romantic honeymoon at home.
