Planning a wedding is very costly. You can get a shock when you finally see the total amount that you have spent on the wedding. A grand honeymoon sounds like a blissful ending after the hectic and chaotic wedding preparations, but of course, that too can cost a lot of money. The purpose of the honeymoon is to establish a closer relationship between you and your husband, as the first step towards a new family life. A honeymoon need not be expensive to be romantic and exciting. You just have to plan early and do your basic research to come up with something that will be memorable without costing you an arm and a leg. Here are some ideas.
Find great resorts and honeymoon destinations closer to your home. There are several places worth exploring and staying in. Driving 4 to 5 hours away is far better than a 10-hour long drive or a long flight that will last for several hours. It is not only costly; it can be very tiring and exhausting. When you choose a honeymoon destination that is closer to home, you not only save on transportation expenses, you also arrive at your honeymoon locale less-stressed and fresher.
Look at honeymoon packages that are all-inclusive. These types of packages will be less costly than when you plan and book you honeymoon trip by yourself. Look for one that includes hotel rooms, airfare, meals, activities and entertainment as well as airport transfers and taxes. Make sure that the activities included in the package at those that you and your spouse will enjoy participating in.
If you can delay your honeymoon trip for a bit, consider traveling in the off-season when fares are lower and there are many off-season packages that are being sold. You can get great discounts when you travel off-season and still avail of great values. You can still have several destinations options even if you avoided the height of the travel season after April.
You can either include a honeymoon trip in your wedding registry or consider using a honeymoon registry. Travel agencies are now offering several honeymoon registry options wherein your wedding guests can share in the cost of your honeymoon trip. An extended weekend get-away is a good alternative to an expensive overseas trip.
Consider closer countries that can offer a lot more in terms of amenities at a lower cost. Check out honeymoon packages in Mexico and Canada. Even a trip to a neighboring state will be ideal, as long as the two of you share the same idea on how to spend you honeymoon. Avoid popular tourist spots. Not only will these places be crowded, they can be quite expensive. If you and your spouse are adventurous, then some off-the-beaten tracks destinations are ideal. You might consider camping or going on a mountain retreat that can prove to be very romantic settings for you.
Consult with a travel agent who can take the task of planning a honeymoon on a budget for you. You can avail of the package tours that are on offer and they can make suggestions on best places to go based on your budget and your interests. If you travel quite a bit, you may have earned several frequent flier points that you can now use.
A honeymoon in the French Quarter can be exciting and romantic. You have the choice of apartment style bed and breakfast where you can either cook some of your meals or have it prepared for you. This will not cost you that much and you two can enjoy different forms of entertainment every night and tour the historical area during the day.
A honeymoon does not have to be expensive. You can plan one on a budget, as long as you make a plan before hand and did your research. Your objective is to start getting closer together as husband and wife and discover more about each other during your honeymoon.
Martin Wynn
