tips & advice
Avoiding Honeymoon Hang-ups
Everyone’s ideal honeymoon is different. Whether you and your groom-to-be are tropical trippers, European enthusiasts, or camp crazies you can certainly find your ideal vacation. But, can you find it for the right price? And at the right time? With our down economy, many couples are looking for a discounted destination. Deep discounts online seem tempting, but are they always a good deal? With so many companies going out of business, how can you be sure your trip won’t tank?
Talking with a travel agent is the first must. There are many areas in your wedding planning where you can “do it yourself” to save money, but when it comes to your honeymoon you’ll want to be sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Surprisingly, most travel agents don’t charge you. They are paid on a commission from whomever they book your stay with, so if it’s no change out of your pocket why are you avoiding their help?? You may feel that you’ve got the street smarts to go online and book your own flights through Expedia or Travelocity and that’s all well and good for a trip to grandma’s in Florida…but an agent has the background knowledge to get you the best deals at the best accommodations within your budget. Their connections and clout can get you upgrades on hotel rooms, discounts on rental cars, even champagne delivery. They can also tell you what resorts to avoid and when not to drink the water.
I spoke with travel agents Jessica Wrobel from Get Traveling and Ann Barbi from Ann Barbi’s Travel Solutions to get the scoop on what’s hot and not in honeymoon’s today. Both agree that honeymoon registries are a great way to bank the coin to book your trip. It works just like a normal registry, except instead of silverware and china, guests chip in for your trip and can even opt to pay for fun excursions for you like parasailing or scuba diving. This is an especially great route to go if you, like many couples these days, are already living with your mate and have most of the necessary household items already. If you do go this route, be sure to take lots of photos and share them with gift givers later so they can see the joy the helped you to experience.
There are many vacation venues for every budget, so where you go depends largely on what you and hubby-to-be are interested in. All inclusive packages tend to be the cheapest. Cruises and clubs like Sandals let you pay one price for your food and lodging, often offering a drinks and entertainment option as well. Jessica recommends cruising rather than land locals if you’ll be vacationing during the height of hurricane season, which runs May thru November, but is strongest at the end of the summer. A cruise ship can avoid the path of a hurricane, resulting in potentially different stops, but a smooth sail. If you’re not a seafaring folk, Ann recommends trying a jaunt to the French Riviera via Paris for a unique and non-hurricane holiday full of romance. A hotel overlooking the Eiffel tower and explorations of the Louvre and Notre Dame can exercise the beauty membranes of your brains and then you can both relax on the beach.
Travel insurance is a good idea regardless of your final destination. Especially with many companies going under, it’s good to have a fallback plan that covers your assets. Insurance will have your back whether hang ups are hurricane related or bankruptcy blowouts. Another way your agent can help is that they tend to know who’s having trouble in the industry. Even major players can be struggling without the general public catching on.
With proper planning your honeymoon can be over the moon and not over budget. Just keep in mind the changing tides and you’ll keep both your heads above water. Wherever you decide to recline, remember it’s the person by your side that makes it all worthwhile. If you keep that in mind, you’re guaranteed to have one heck of a time.