How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon
I have a confession.
When we had to postpone our wedding in April of 2020, I was more devastated that we had to cancel our HONEYMOON. I mean - come on. What a beautiful excuse to spoil yourselves, and spend quality time together as newlyweds. On a friggin beach.
I’ve always been under the impression that if you don’t go on a honeymoon right away, it can be dangerously easy to push it off. That’s life! So that made this even more heart breaking for us to postpone our time away in Punta Cana. Spoiler alert: it’s been 2.5 years, and we still haven’t made it back to our honeymoon spot because now there’s 138471 other places we want to visit 😉 It also turns out that life is expensive. Sigh.
With that being said,
Go on a honeymoon. Just make it happen.
Okay, so you’re on board. Whew!
But WHERE?!
I remember googling like a crazy person. “Best places to honeymoon”, “honeymoon spots for adventure seekers” and so many other questions that seemed to just get lost somewhere in the universe. So instead of sending yourself into a black hole with the name of Google, let’s back up, and talk through the process.
Choose a Destination Together
Talk through your travel preferences. The perfect destination for you, may not be the idea your fiance has in mind. It’s all about your shared value system.
Do you get bored laying on a beach? Then perhaps let’s avoid certain resorts Mexico. Do you love nightlife, and want to be part of the buzzing party scene? Do you enjoy hiking? Do you find joy in learning about history, or exploring big cities? Would you prefer to experience the beach AND the jungle with adventures galore, or stay in one spot at an all-inclusive and soak up the sun? Do you want to experience beautiful adventure, and not break the bank? Maybe Thailand is for you! Want to truly kick back, and be steps away from the ocean? Try Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos. For a mix of relaxation and nightlife, I often recommend St. Barts. Adrenaline junkies will want to consider Costa Rica, Patagonia, or New Zealand.
Think about trips you’ve been on together. What did you love or NOT love? Your fiance’s family trips growing up were likely very different than yours. What memories were your favorites from these? Does your favorite location’s season align with your ideal honeymoon dates?
The best way to bring all of these preferences and expectations to life? A human being. Talking with a travel advisor (hint hint, ME😉) may make you realize you actually have a different travel style than you thought. I can’t wait to hear about your goals and align you with the most fabulous destination.
Start Planning Early
Be sure to plan ahead, as many destinations will book up or have higher rates as the dates become closer, or it’s in peak season.
Pro-tip: There’s always a wedding planning lull, where you think, “what should I be doing right now?” “Am I missing something?!” If you haven’t had this, you will. This typically happens after booking in your vendors, locking down deposits, finalizing your guest list and budget management etc. Before the nitty gritty details need to be decided for your wedding, spend this time on honeymoon decisions! This will ideally be several months before your wedding, so you’ll be able to lock in your resort rates and have something beautiful to look forward to together.
Think about the Timeframe
Talk with your travel advisor about the best time of year to go to your dream destination. Perhaps you book your honeymoon to be 2 months after your wedding if that destination is important, or your advisor will likely have an idea to better suit your dates.
It might be better to stick to shoulder-season travel to save on inflated rates. Of course, the weather may be less predictable, but don’t be afraid to dance in the rain. If Amalfi Coast is on your list, you do not want to attempt a visit in the middle of summer, as rates will be outrageous. Try May, or even September to avoid the crazy crowds, and save a few dollars. Looking to visit Costa Rica? Peak season is January and February, and rates will go down in April.
Don’t fall into the ‘review black hole'
Google can be a scary place. There’s a whole lot of humans out there, all with different backgrounds, expectations, travel styles, tastes, and opinions . So why should their opinions automatically mean you’ll feel the same way?
Treat Yourself
You deserve to spoil yourself after accomplishing such a HUGE milestone in life. Celebrate that! Maybe I’m a bad influence, but I always say, “you don’t go on vacation to SAVE money!”
Life’s short, my friend. If you feel secure and comfortable enough to splurge on something that would add value to your life, then I give you permission to do so.
Allow your travel advisor to VIP you on your honeymoon - advisors have the ability to get you complimentary upgrades, resort credit, and even free breakfast as they have built partnerships for you. And trust me when I say, we LOVE making you feel special.
Alexandra Stockton, a luxury honeymoon consultant, was interviewed by “Brides” . She said, “While old movies might have you believing otherwise, telling a gate agent or front desk associate that it’s your honeymoon will most likely not score you a spur-of-the-moment upgrade. Bumps to business class are mostly reserved for passengers with status on that airline, and hotels often use an internal hierarchy to determine who gets perks first. At the top of that pyramid, though, are the clients of travel agents. "We have relationships with the hotel teams, and we foster those relationships to make sure our clients are treated as VIPS and are the first in line to receive upgrades.””
Use the Right Names
Important item here! Make sure the name on your passport will match the name you book your flights on. I’ve heard of people getting denied boarding - yikes. I know how excited you’ll be to see that new name in writing, but just hold off until it’s legally changed to do so.
The Legalities
If your dream is to honeymoon outside of the states, make sure your passport is valid for 6 months AFTER your arrival date back home. Sounds goofy, I know. But that’s the rule now. Does your destination require a Visa? Are there Covid restrictions?
Be Smart
Make sure your travel advisor sends you a travel insurance rate.
There could be a flight cancellation, or your bags could get lost. There could be a hurricane at your destination and you have to reschedule your flight. (I just had this happen to a client! Luckily they purchased insurance, or they would’ve had to settle for an airline voucher, and cough up another $1000+ on new flights.)
Happy Honeymoonin’!
All in all - I just hope with all of my heart you get to ENJOY this time of your life. I can’t wait to hear all about the destination that captured your hearts as you began marriage together.