Your honeymoon is a great chance to spend time with each other before returning to the hustle and bustle of daily life. Nevertheless, you’re probably contending with a couple of obstacles in arranging your getaway. Writing for Bustle, Bibi Dietz revealed that the average honeymoon cost around $3,800 in 2015. Not only that, you also have a wedding to plan and a life to live. Thankfully, you needn’t despair. You can make your post-wedding travels happen with some strategic hacks designed to save you time and money.
Keep an Open Mind
Travel Channel writer Meredith Rosenberg advises soon-to-be-newlyweds to consider their own desires when envisioning their ideal trips. The typical honeymoon usually includes a week at the beach, but don’t rule out backpacking excursions, short jaunts to Niagara Falls or even an Alaskan cruise if these are more your speed. Bustle writer Chelsey Grasso suggests that some couples may get more mileage out of a “stay-cation” since less time and money is spent on traveling and more can be allocated toward getting the most out of your experience.
Timing Is Everything
If you do decide on a faraway trek, you may want to schedule it during “shoulder seasons.” TripSavvy expert Charlyn Keating explains that these are short periods during which off-peak rates are available. Whether you’re arranging your travels yourself or relying on a travel agent for assistance, it might be worth your while to check into when your destination’s shoulder seasons occur. In many locales, these usually fall between spring and autumn. Also, consider schedule in a day or two to relax between your wedding and your honeymoon departure. You’ll sidestep the stress and worry of having to catch a flight the same evening or the next morning.
Get App-Happy
The Knot writer Anne Roderique-Jones recommends that you don’t leave home without downloading some useful apps onto your mobile device. Those that provide translations, maps and restaurant reviews may be the most beneficial, but don’t forget about secure payment options such as PayPal, ApplePay or GooglePay that allow you to avoid carrying your debit or credit cards around in public. Finally, be sure to install a transportation app such as Lyft or Uber, especially if you’re roaming stateside and need to hitch a ride.
Try a Honeymoon Registry
Although some people turn their noses up at honeymoon crowdfunding and declare it to be “tacky” or tasteless, a travel registry can be a wonderful alternative to the traditional versions. This is especially true if you’re already up to your ears in cookware and linens. When The Knot contributor Celia Shatzman reviewed a few popular crowdfunding sites, she included both travel-specific registries and platforms for digital cash receipt such as Honeyfund. Depending on your crowd, these can pave the way for you and your sweetie to get the trip of your dreams.
If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It
Throwing around your “just married” status may gain you some additional discounts. In her article for The Knot, Roderique-Jones further explains that mentioning your honeymoon travel plans to hotel, resort or restaurant reservation staff may result in significant product upgrades at regular prices. Chelsey Grasso over at Bustle concurs, giving examples of potential savings, upgrades and extra freebies that staff may include to make your stay more pleasant.
You likely face a few challenges when it comes to planning your honeymoon. Whether you’ve got a ton of priorities that demand your attention, you’re woefully short on funds or both conditions are true in your life, it may feel like your romantic escape is out of reach. However, some planning, time-saving and price-slashing hacks may help make your journeys the most memorable ones of your lives.
Add Your Comment