For many couples, honeymoons are not only a great way to kick off the rest of their lives together, but they’re also the best excuse to go on an amazing trip. If you want to plan the perfect honeymoon in paradise (wherever that may be) there are certain steps you should take to make sure it goes smoothly. A magical honeymoon just doesn’t appear on it’s own – It takes the right kind of planning. You plan and hire the proper wedding vendors to make sure everything goes as planned, therefore your honeymoon should be no exception.
Whether you’re about to get hitched or you’re planning for next year, here are our best tips to help you plan the perfect honeymoon in paradise.
Start Planning Early
People spend months, sometimes years, preparing and saving for their dream wedding. Your honeymoon planning should also be just as important. Starting as early as possible with the planning process for your honeymoon is essential. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to find out your dream resort is booked full and the flights there are costing an arm and a leg.
When is the Best Time to Start Planning?
We recommend starting it as early as possible. About 6-8 months prior is the sweet spot for booking, so getting started on working out the details for your honeymoon as early as possible is ideal. Flight routes sometimes aren’t available more than nine months out, so keeping this in mind is helpful when you’re ready to book.
Figure Out What Your Honeymoon Budget Will Be
First things first, you’ll need to decide how much you can spend on your honeymoon, and where the honeymoon fund is coming from. Are you being gifted with a honeymoon fund from your parents? Are you setting up a HoneyFund website for guests to contribute as their gift to you? Do you have savings set aside to pay for it? All of these options are possible, so it’s best to figure out how you’re going to pay for it ahead of time.
Knowing your budget amount will also help you find realistic destinations for your honeymoon. If you only have $4000, you’re not going to be able to have a honeymoon in an over the water bungalow in Tahiti for a week. However, that budget would be suitable for a modest honeymoon in Hawaii, or a very lovely honeymoon in Mexico.
Always keep in mind that this is YOUR honeymoon. You’re going to remember this forever. You’re much better off splurging for the 4 or 5-star hotel that you absolutely love rather than going for a budget hotel that you hate or aren’t impressed with. This is why figuring out a realistic budget is essential.
Decide Where You Want to Go
There’s something romantic about sandy beaches, palm trees, and salty ocean breezes. Of the 1.4 million US couples that honeymoon each year, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean are some of the top rated honeymoon destinations. They are also on the more affordable side for tropical destinations year round. Which is great news for those on a tighter budget.
However, it’s not all about the destination. It should also be about what you want to experience while you’re at your destination. Do you have any bucket list items you want to check off? Is there something you really want to experience for the first time together? These things are important to help you figure out what destinations offer these activities so you can make lasting memories while you’re there. Anyone can go to any tropical resort, and sip mai tai’s at the beach, but not everyone can say they experienced bioluminescence waters or skydiving over a waterfall just anywhere.
Figuring out what you want to experience helps narrow down the options so you can dial in on a couple of different destinations to pick from.
How Do I Figure This Out?
If you’re unsure about the activities and experiences in different destination, don’t rely entirely on web research alone. Starting with some Google searches to get ideas is totally fine, but don’t rely on everything you see online to be the truth. Reach out to a Travel Agent who specializes in the area you are looking to travel to. They will have your best interests in mind and will give you the reality of what these places are really like and what they have to offer.
Rely on Expertise
While at first, it might seem like a good idea to take on booking your honeymoon yourself, it’s not in your best interest to do that for your honeymoon. You won’t be saving yourself any money, and definitely not any time. By the way, it’s a myth that Travel Agents cost you more money, so why not take advantage of their expertise to help you? Without taking advantage of your Agent’s expertise and insider knowledge of the destination, you could be missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity with the love of your life.
Travel Agents have extensive knowledge about your destination of choice and cultivate personal relationships with hotels, tour companies, and other vendors in the destinations they specialize in. Your Travel Agent has most likely been to your desired destination, so they can tell you what it’s really like there, and even give you some tips for the best restaurants, activities, sights, and other hidden gems you probably won’t find online yourself. They also know the truth behind the photos you see online.
Having the extra guidance with planning your honeymoon lets you focus more on the wedding details by saving you tons of time. A good Travel Agent also has your back in the event something goes wrong while you’re traveling. Plus, Travel Agents sometimes have the ability to add honeymoon inclusions to your hotel room. (see photo below) Free bottle of champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries anyone? *wink wink* You won’t get that by booking it yourself.
Are You Ready to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon?
Whether you’re in the early planning stages or are trying to get things done last minute, Rebecca with Wanderland Escapes is here to help you every step of the way. Don’t let a lack of planning or knowledge of your destination ruin your honeymoon. We love planning honeymoons and sharing our knowledge of our areas of expertise and are more than happy to help you.
Contact Rebecca at Wanderland Escapes for a free honeymoon or destination wedding consultation. She specializes in curating the absolute perfect dream vacation for your wedding or honeymoon. She has dedicated much of her life to finding the best activities to fit your needs and wants to make this time in your life memorable for decades to come.
