4 Tips to Plan an Amazing Honeymoon
You are halfway through you wedding planning and your checklist is shrinking. Yay! Wedding planner-check, Florist-check, Cake-check. Then it happens. . . someone says, “Where are you going on your honeymoon”? At that moment you realize you completely forgot about the honeymoon and you don’t know where to start planning another major life event. It’s okay this doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Your honeymoon is an important part of the wedding process. It’s a time to relax, rejuvenate and most importantly celebrate your new life together. It’s a great opportunity to share and enjoy the romance with your new spouse. No worries though I am here to help you with some honeymoon planning tips.
By Kavonda L. Rogers
1. What Locations Interest You?
There are many places that say they are the “best honeymoon destination”. The truth of the matter is the best honeymoon destination is whatever destination you chose. Honeymoon destinations are as varied as the locations on a map. Are you interested in island hoping on a Mediterranean cruise, relaxing on the beach in the Caribbean on catching a wave in Hawaii? The best honeymoon destination is the one that offers you the activities you want to indulge in during your time there.
Most couples can have an amazing honeymoon anywhere, but you should still choose your destination wisely. Before you start researching possible honeymoon locations make sure you and your partner list their honeymoon desires. This will give you a good starting point and the ability to eliminate locations that do not fit the bill. Some things to think about are:
- What activities you want to do?
- Do you want to travel domestically or internationally?
- Do you have a passport and if you do not do you have time to apply?
- Do you want a secluded getaway at a boutique location or a more spacious resort?
Answering these basic questions will help you.
2. When Should You Start Your Honeymoon?
When you should start your honeymoon depends on many factors. The first thing to think about is how long elaborate your wedding will be. The last thing you want to do is spend 12+ hours at your wedding and try to board a plane 5 hours after that. Try to give yourself a little time to rest and recuperate before your travel plans. Also, you may want to consider the season. If your wedding takes place during any school holidays you may want to schedule your honeymoon when school resumes season.
You may also want to consider weather as well. For example, Las Vegas can be in excess of 100 degrees in June and July. So, if you choose this as your honeymoon destination you may consider traveling there during September or October when the temperature is a more manageable 75-85 degrees.
3. How Long Should Your Honeymoon Be?
The length of your honeymoon will depend on three factors: travel guidelines, budget (which I will discuss next) and honestly how long you can take off from your job. Travel guidelines are the written (and sometimes unwritten) rules on how long you should visit a specific location without raising TSA flags. If you are traveling to a domestic location this is not an issue as much as when traveling internationally. If you are visiting some areas, you will want to be there at least seventy-two plus hours in order to not raise any flags.
Don’t forget about that unfortunate return to reality when considering your honeymoon plans. I know I hate to say it, but work duty will call. So, when it does you want to be sure you have had at least a day or two to rest before it happens.
4. How Much Is Your Budget?
I always get asked why I bring up budget last. Well, it’s because it helps to make decisions we sometimes do not want to. The most important thing is to make sure that your budget is realistic and won’t put you in a mountain of debt. In general, you should expect to pay at least $2000 for a short honeymoon. Also, don’t think you can’t postpone your honeymoon in order to save more money to have a bigger budget. Also, make sure that you and your partner are in agreement for how much you should spend on your honeymoon.
