The joy of being newlyweds on your honeymoon is a total high. Friends and family may urge you to splurge on an exceptional honeymoon, but you’ll be surprised how many great deals are out there and tricks you can try to get some fantastic frugal alternatives.
Browse travel literature in bookstores and travel Web sites to shave hundreds of dollars off your trip by meticulous planning.
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Don’t rely solely on glossy hotel brochures to give you all of the information that you need. Remember that these brochures are simply marketing pieces and you still need to do your homework.
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When you have narrowed down your hotels or regions, compare what travel critics from books and magazines have to say about specific properties.
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At check-in, remind the hotel attendant that you are on your honeymoon. You may get a complimentary bottle of champagne or be upgraded to an especially private corner room or suite.
If you don’t have the time or interest to plan it yourself, hand it over to a pro. Find a travel agent you can trust or who has been recommended by other honeymooners.
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Agents have traveled to many honeymoon destinations. Just be wary of them dictating properties to you that they may have a vested interest in because they get kickbacks or special treatment.
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Take your travel agent’s emergency contact number with you on your honeymoon, just in case any complications arise.
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Follow up with your travel agent to make sure he or she booked your flight tickets and hotel.
Consider a “couples-only” resort where everyone there will be in love and showing it! Plus, most activities at those types of resorts revolve around romance, and many offer great package deals.
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Go to an all-inclusive resort where you pay one flat fee up front, so there will be no surprises at checkout. Most offer accommodations, meals, activities, drinks, and even honeymoon goodies for one fixed price.
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Seek out a spot that is not viewed as a typical honeymoon destination such as Costa Rica, domestic bed and breakfasts, a European cooking school class in Italy, or a national park such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon.
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Hawaii is a super destination if you want to feel exotic yet remain in the United States. The Hawaiians love honeymooners and will demonstrate their aloha spirit time and again.
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Europe in low season and by rail from country to country works very well on a budget. Use the Let’s Go budget travel books, and purchase a Eurail pass to prepay for your travel while there.
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South America and Mexico are also popular honeymoon destinations, especially when the U.S. dollar is strong.
Walt Disney World in Florida offers fun and discounted packages if you do your homework.
Daring Unconventional, or Off-the-Beaten-Path Budget Destinations
Head to the Poconos for an inexpensive, romantic, and fun honeymoon. Many hotels offer heart-shaped bathtubs, private swimming pools, and fireplaces in the rooms, and the prices are truly out of this world.
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Las Vegas is very doable on budget, and if you are lucky in the casinos, your honeymoon may pay for itself!
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For total affordable privacy and some do-it-yourself expectations, how about renting a houseboat? Call your local visitors’ bureau and ask for names of marinas and agencies that handle such rentals.
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Borrow or rent an RV and drive around the country. Maybe you have generous relatives or friends who will let you convert their RV into your own honeymoon love nest. Chill champagne in the refrigerator daily and enjoy!
If you get married in the United States, staying domestic and driving instead of flying is a good, frugal alternative. How about combining sightseeing major landmarks and hitting romantic bed and breakfasts or inexpensive hotels along the way?
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Rent a private cabin in the woods, or go camping to get away from it all.
Get travelers’ checks for your trip instead of carrying lots of cash or using credit cards. If you are unable to pay off your credit cards in full, the high interest rates will add significantly to the cost of your honeymoon.
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Make photocopies of your tickets, passports, travelers’ check receipts, and any emergency phone numbers or other information you may need. Take these with you on your trip, in a separate place from the originals.
Find a friend or relative who wants to give you their frequent-flyer miles as a wedding gift. Your honeymoon airfare will then be free.
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See if you or your parents have a friend who has a second home, time-share, or other location you could borrow for your honeymoon. They could loan you the location as your wedding gift.
Look into hotel and car rental discounts to see which may apply based on your frequent-flyer airline account.
My advice to honeymooners on a budget? Try to get a free airline upgrade. Here’s how: Be sure to bring your bouquet with you to the airport if you are flying somewhere for your honeymoon. The bridal bouquet alone can assist in getting you upgrades or at least complimentary champagne on the flight. It did for me!
—Kate L., Atlanta, GA
If your wedding date permits or if you choose to postpone your honeymoon until a few months after the wedding, plan to travel during your destination’s off or low season for cheaper rates. Seasonal discounts are not offered everywhere and differ by destination, so consult your hotel and plan your honeymoon travel accordingly. Many honeymoon destinations cost at least 50 percent less during off season.
Super Duper Deal
If you are traveling by air, fly on off-peak days of the week—that is, Sunday through Wednesday.
Have your honeymoon in the city where you were married, and save up for a bigger trip that is lengthier and costlier at a later date when your budget allows.
Frugal Freebie
Use frequent-flyer miles to fly away for your honeymoon. They are free and offer great flexibility (except for high-season blackout dates that may apply).
Whenever you book a hotel (or car rental), ask for all possible discounts. For example, check to see if they take the Entertainment card; have any promotions related to Diners Club, Visa, or another credit card; offer any frequent-flyer-mile deals; or give student, AAA, military, or government discounts or reduced honeymoon rates.
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Read the fine print when booking any hotel’s honeymoon package. Often, the added perks, such as airport transfers, champagne, and hotel robes, wind up costing more than if you just booked directly with the hotel and paid separately for the specific extras that you really want.
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Ask if any meals, such as continental breakfast, are included with your hotel room.
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Don’t worry about booking the honeymoon suite—or any suite, for that matter. You often pay for lots more than you really need.
One of our wedding guests was a manager at an upscale hotel. I was friendly with his daughter who was also going to be attending the wedding and was asking me about what kinds of things were on our wish list for wedding gifts. I hinted to her that we were seeking wedding night locations and had basically blown our wad on the honeymoon. For our wedding gift, her father gave us our wedding night in a gorgeous suite in the hotel, complete with 360-degree panoramic view of the city and champagne to boot!
—Carol M., St. Louis, MO
Avoid minibar temptations and instead stock your in-room fridge with beverages and snacks from a nearby grocery or convenience store. They’ll cost significantly less!
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If you are unhappy with your room, speak up immediately. Where you sleep (and play!) makes a lot of difference in the mood and tone of your honeymoon.
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Honeymoon disasters have been known to occur. If you experience one, document what happens, speak to managers, remind them you are honeymooners, and write letters after-the-fact if necessary. Just be sure to keep your sense of humor. These experiences make for great stories!
Ask yourself some of these questions to help decide where you want to go and what you are willing to spend on your honeymoon:
1. What is your budget for this trip? Then add 10 percent for a cushion.
2. Do you like lots of other people around, or do you prefer to be isolated?
3. Do you like adventure and the outdoors or prefer a quiet escape?
4. Do you have different interests and vacation goals?
5. Do you want to plan your trip together or let one of you do most of the planning?
6. Do you want to use a travel agent?
Q. We basically have no money left over in our budget to pay for our honeymoon. We’ve heard about registering at travel agencies, but we’re wondering if that is tacky.
A. Registering for honeymoons and even cash toward a down payment on your future home is becoming more and more acceptable and common. Many guests recognize that finances may be tight for you, especially when you are paying for your own wedding. While some guests may be put off by your request, many will be happy to contribute to your honeymoon fund, especially if that is what you really want and need. Just be sure to have a registry of some items as well for those guests who want to go the more traditional route.
