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Honeymoon Planning |
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Honeymoons happen last, but they deserve first-level attention in your wedding planning. After all, this oh-so-special getaway may very well be the most romantic trip you'll ever take.
If you're too busy to research and plan this important trip, use a travel agent. He or she can recommend the most popular vacation spots in your price range. You'll also be counseled on how to get the most out of your travel dollars in any season.
Make sure your destination offers the type of vacation you're looking for - be it relaxing or fast-paced, sports-oriented or cultural. Or pick a place with a diverse mix of activities to meet both of your needs. As you weigh your options, we can offer plenty of ways to keep trip expenses down.
Just like popular wedding ceremony and reception sites, sought-after vacation spots are often booked a year or more in advance. Ready to begin planning? Escape today's pressures to discover your personal paradise - and start making your honeymoon dreams come true.
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Deciding Where |
Let's face it: lounging at the beach is not everyone's dream honeymoon. To help you conjure a vacation that suits your style, here are honeymoon ideas for varying budgets: |
- Stay in town to do all the fun things you never have time for.
- Tour Australia's Outback.
- Drive through the country, and stay at bed and breakfasts.
- Take French cooking lessons in New Orleans or Paris.
- Rent a houseboat at Lake Tahoe
- Take a cruise to Alaska. Fish or simply enjoy the seafood and the scenery.
- Go camping and white-water rafting in Idaho or one of the other Mountain states.
- Ride camels to the Egyptian pyramids.
- Trace your ancestry and follow your families' footsteps.
- Rent a cabin in Colorado for snow skiing in the winter or hiking and fly-fishing in the summer.
- Travel to the South of France during the grape harvest.
- Enjoy golf at Turnberry Isle in Florida.
- Hit some golf or tennis balls at sports camps in California or Florida.
- Take a bicycle tour through the beautiful fall foliage in Vermont or New Hampshire.
- Indulge in a chocolate tour of Europe.
- Tour old plantations in Louisiana
- Explore and taste your way through the California wine country.
- Cross the Atlantic on a luxury ocean liner.
- Go to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands to view reptiles, plants and bird life that can't be seen anywhere else in the world.
- Join an archaeological dig in Cancun, Mexico.
- Swim in a heart-shaped pool and play golf in the Pocono Mountains in Eastern Pennsylvania.
- Take in Broadway plays, musicals and shopping in New York.
- Try your luck and enjoy the nightclub acts in Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada.
- Go scuba diving in Mexico or the Caribbean.
- Enjoy sunrise yoga sessions, horseback riding and stargazing in Arizona.
- And don't forget lounging on the beach!
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Most Popular Spots |
What honeymoon spots are most popular? A recent poll published in Modern Bride Magazine tells it all. Hawaii, Tahiti and Jamaica made the overall favorites, most romantic and best value lists. |
Overall Favorites |
| 1. Hawaii |
| 2. Jamaica |
| 3. Mexico |
| 4. Tahiti |
| 5. Florida |
| 6. England |
| 7. Italy |
| 8. Bermuda |
| 9. France |
| 10. St. Lucia |
Most Romantic |
| 1. Hawaii |
| 2. Tahiti |
| 3. Italy |
| 4. France |
| 5. Jamaica |
| 6. St. Lucia |
| 7. Bermuda |
| 8. Fiji |
| 9. Greece |
| 10. Bali |
Best Value |
| 1. Las Vegas |
| 2. Mexico |
| 3. Jamaica |
| 4. Florida |
| 5. Bahamas |
| 6. England |
| 7. Costa Rica |
| 8. Hawaii |
| 9. Australia |
| 10. Tahiti |
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Costs Involved |
Just like any other trip, your honeymoon budget will likely include airfare or other transportation; lodging; food; tours and activities; and shopping. You can choose between all-inclusive packages, and pay-as-you-go vacations that you design.
Here are some considerations for both types of trips:
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Packages |
- All-inclusive packages are one price that include all of the accommodations, food, and events. You just need to decide what amount you are willing to pay.
- Most all-inclusive honeymoons are on cruises or at resorts. Resorts and cruises aren't cheap, but at least you know exactly how much you are going to spend.
- Look for package deals when honeymooning in Hawaii, Tahiti, Aruba and other popular resorts. You can find some great deals this way.
- Considering going to a couples-only resort? A trip package will likely be your best value.
- Honeymoon packages often feature "extras" such as upgraded rooms, romantic outings, airfare, a rental car and meals.
- Keep in mind that low package prices may be based on less-desirable accommodations. Your travel agent can spell out, in writing, the services and features that are and are not included at your hotel.
- Walt Disney World and Disneyland offer honeymoon packages that include pampering and fun.
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Pay As You Go |
- Pay-as-you-go vacations need more detailed planning and a specific budget.
- Planning your own honeymoon allows you more flexibility and can be cheaper than an all-inclusive package, but all of the responsibility rests on your shoulders unless you rely on a travel professional.
- You need to consider where you want to go, what hotel and transportation reservations need to be made, how long you will stay in each place and what you are going to do while you are there. You also need to decide how much you can spend on each of these variables and how much money goes toward shopping and food expenses.
- Tourist bureaus are available in cities, states and even foreign countries. They can offer pamphlets on things to do and see. If you're traveling abroad, remember to request detailed maps, currency exchange rates, customs guidelines, and railway or bus schedules and rates.
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Ways to Save |
- With their expertise and computerized systems, good travel agents almost always save you money and time. Find an agent who specializes in leisure travel and who takes the time to discover the perfect trip for your needs.
- The Internet offers an abundance of bargain-oriented travel sites.
- Begin honeymoon planning early to take advantage of early-booking incentives.
- Telling your travel agent - or any travel vendor - that you're planning your honeymoon is a 50-50 gamble. In some cases, you may be rewarded with special deals, such as a free room or seating upgrades. Or you could be charged more since people think you're too blinded by love to pay attention to your wallet.
- Opt for a long weekend trip instead of a one- or two-week stay.
- Traveling off-season - the Caribbean in the summer or Europe in spring or fall - offers perks. They include more affordable airfare and accommodations, fewer crowds and a higher level of service.
- Honeymooning in the continental United States is often less costly than traveling overseas.
- Friends and family members can help you keep your honeymoon costs down. Which ones own vacation homes or time-shares? Ask them if you can rent their property. Know any business or recreational travelers with loads of transferable frequent flyer airline miles? They may be willing to offer the use of their miles.
- It's becoming more popular to have your bridal party set up a honeymoon fund for you. Some travel agents offer honeymoon registries.
- Traveling by car is often cheaper than flying. If you live in a coastal state, plan a trip up or down the coast. Bed-and-breakfasts may be available where you can lodge at reasonable rates. If you live in a state with easy access to the Canadian or Mexican borders, you can even honeymoon abroad without incurring airfare.
- If you do honeymoon abroad, consider using your credit card to receive the best exchange rate.
- When traveling to Europe, choose one city or area instead of trekking all over the continent. You'll have a better chance of relaxing and really exploring the place. When you rent an apartment for one or two weeks, you can save as much as 30 percent over the cost of a hotel room.
- To ensure you're getting the best fares, find out if using another nearby airport, or shifting departure times or travel dates would reduce the fare. Also see if a reliable charter is available to your destination that would save you money.
- Arrange car rental in advance for the best deals. Your travel agent can help you with this. If you arrive at the airport without reservations, you'll be forced to pay premium rates.
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