When you get engaged and start the wedding planning process, planning a honeymoon is not typically the highest priority for couples. There are so many big things to consider during the planning such as hiring a wedding planner, deciding on a location, choosing a church. The little things, such as deciding on the flowers, what to serve at dinner, and what to give members of you bridal party as favors, are even greater in number. If you’re not careful, planning a honeymoon may get lost in the shuffle.
The honeymoon is an important activity, though, and planning it in advance is critical in terms of getting a good deal. Often times, though, couples simply call a travel agent or book a trip online without thinking about some of the important details. It goes without saying that a honeymoon is a special trip; as such, a honeymoon has special considerations. Treating a honeymoon like any other trip can be a big mistake. This Web site is meant to serve as a resource for those in search of a harmonious honeymoon.
Before jumping on the Web to look at honeymoon destinations, it’s a good idea to decide on the type of honeymoon you would like to take. The following factors are helpful in deciding what type of honeymoon would be best for you. Run through this list of honeymoon factors as individuals first—and then as a couple.
1. Time of year – It is important to think about the time you will be traveling on your honeymoon and the weather you might encounter at your destination. If you are getting married during the winter, you might want to rule out northern destinations unless you want to go skiing. If you are getting married in the summer, you may wish to consider destinations that are not terribly hot.
2. Plan to rest – Your wedding is an exhausting time—physically, emotionally, and mentally. When booking your trip and/or activities, it may be a good idea to limit planned activities during the first day or two of your trip to give yourselves enough time to rest and recover.
3. Leaving the day after – Many couples are excited to leave for their honeymoon the morning after the wedding and reception. This is not always a good idea, however, because newly-married couples are typically exhausted and not happy to have to wake up early after a long night of celebrating. Consider leaving for your honeymoon two days after your wedding reception.
4. Activity level/type – When deciding on a honeymoon destination, think about what types of activities you might want to do. Some might simply want to lounge on a beach for a week. Others might want to tour historical sites or attractions. Others might want a honeymoon consisting of outdoor activities, whether golfing, biking, or skiing. Be sure to think about how you might want to spend your days.
5. Emotional expectations – Because of the physical, mental, and emotional drain of a wedding, it is wise to assume that the emotional toll may be considerable. It might be a good idea to plan for some emotional discussions and episodes—whether positive or negative—to materialize during the honeymoon. Going on a honeymoon with the assumption that emotions will be ‘business as usual’ may lead to some disappointment.
6. Length of travel – When considering a honeymoon, think about the duration of the trip itself as an important factor. Some trips have long layovers, battles through traffic jams, and even airport stays; think about how much time is required from the moment you depart from your front door to the time you will arrive at your destination.
7. Time Zone changes – When honeymoon planning, one thing that may be good to think about is the number of time zones you will have to traverse to get to your destination. Since a wedding can be exhausting, adding jet lag to the equation may be something to consider.
8. Direct flights/layovers – Because a destination is fairly close does not mean that it is easy to get to. Some exotic honeymoon plans call for a flight and/or ferry ride that is three or four legs. While this type of adventurous traveling may be up your alley, keep in mind that a single mechanical or weather delay at any one of the legs may throw your trip off by several hours (or days, depending upon the circumstances). While planning a honeymoon, it may be wise to consider the risk of unplanned schedule changes.
9. Length of stays - Consider how long you might want to be away on your honeymoon. Some couples find that a weekend honeymoon is adequate, others find that two weeks are required. A good rule of thumb for planning your honeymoon is 7-10 days.
10. Budget – Budgeting for a honeymoon is not always an easy thing. Unforeseen wedding expenses can really add up. Throwing a honeymoon expense on top of the whole thing can be a stressor. Consider setting aside a sinking fund for your honeymoon early to be prepared for an expense. Naturally, it will be important to determine a budget for your honeymoon that accounts for transportation, parking, lodging, food, drinks, tours, and souvenirs.
11. Travel class – Your honeymoon is a very special trip. Many choose this particular time in their lives to splurge on first class airfare or a high-class hotel. This is an important factor to consider in making the trip memorable. Naturally, it depends upon other priorities of your honeymoon.
12. Hotel type – Think about the type of hotel you wish to stay at. It may make sense to avoid a typical resort if you might like more privacy. There are several hotels that cater to adults only that create a more restful, intimate atmosphere that is more relaxing. Consider this important characteristic as a part of your honeymoon plan.
Every couple’s honeymoon will be slightly different. Ideally, it should be a combination of both his wants and hers. Start by talking about the above factors as a couple. You will quickly find out that certain factors are important to one but not the other. For example, work constraints may force one member of the couple to limit the trip’s duration or length of stay. Other considerations are less obvious but worth thinking about. For example, one member of the couple may really want an active honeymoon with lots of things to do during the day while the other might want nothing but lounging in the sun. It is best to talk about these factors early in the planning process.
It is important that each member of the couple talk about these factors and listen to the other’s wishes and expectations. There may be some ‘non-negotiables’ in the discussion where a member of the couple feels very strongly about one factor or another. For example, one member of the couple simply does not want to stay at a large resort, preferring a smaller, quieter bed and breakfast. It is important for that member of the couple to voice that desire and for the other member of the couple to listen and try to accommodate. Likewise, it is critical that the person voicing the non-negotiable recognize that it may impact other factors such as budget and length of stay.
Discussing these concepts as a couple will go a long way toward deciding what type of trip makes sense. After a general consensus is arrived at (which may take several days of discussion), generating trip ideas is your next step.
Once you have determined the important factors in your ideal honeymoon, it is wise idea to generate ideas and investigate them thoroughly. The following are some general ideas for doing so.
1. Talk to recent honeymooners – If you know anyone who recently honeymooned, ask them about their trip and what they liked/disliked about it. Ask them for tips and thing that they would have done differently.
2. Check out travel review sites – Sites like TripAdvisor give you reviews from actual travelers who visited particular destinations and/or hotels. Take a moment to see what others are saying about the honeymoon destinations you are considering. You will learn a lot more than by reading the brochures written by the hotels!
3. Look for candid traveler photos and videos – Sites like YouTube , Google Images, and Flickr have a host of user-generated videos and photos of destinations. Take a look at these sites and search for honeymoon destination names and even hotel rooms. This will give you a great idea of what you can expect from your honeymoon destination.
4. Thumb through travel magazines and Web sites - There are many great travel magazines in circulation, including some that specialize in honeymoon travel. Visit your nearest bookstore and check the travel section for available honeymoon and/or travel titles.