Your honeymoon – the trip of a lifetime!! No pressure in planning, right? Seriously though, your honeymoon vacation is the single most memorable trip that you will take for years to come. This is the trip that you will talk about with your future children and with friends you might not even have yet! There is a lot riding on this very important milestone vacation.

Having planned hundreds of honeymoon vacations, all in varied destinations and for clients with different expectations and budgets, the travel consultants at Travel by Beth would like to share their tips for bringing your dream vacation to life.

1. Start planning early. The early bird catches the worm as is often the case when planning travel. Most airlines release airfare and schedules 330 days prior to departure, so you can really score some great deals for international travel if you plan early in the game. Planning early also gives you the opportunity to design your payment plan between the time you deposit on your honeymoon vacation and the time the final balance is due.
2. Plan your honeymoon together. Discuss ideas for the destination and settle on a budget that is reasonable for you. Compare travel styles. If you find you aren’t on the same page, be prepared to compromise and make sure that you both have an amazing experience.
3. Consider using a reputable Travel Consultant. Check local reviews and schedule a time to meet with a professional for an initial consultation, if possible. Most consultants do not charge fees for their services, but have a great deal of information regarding destinations, resorts and activities that you would have to research extensively on your own otherwise. Travel consultants can provide an objective opinion on what might be a good fit for your vacation personality and budget. An experienced and savvy travel consultant will have connections in destinations, resorts and travel suppliers that you do not.
4. Don’t copy a friend’s honeymoon. While a specific destination or hotel may have been great for them, it may not be a fit for you. That’s where tip 2 and 3 become very important!
5. Consider the time of year that you are traveling. Is it hurricane or cyclone season? Is there a distinct rainy time of year? Does the destination you are considering have reversed seasons? These factors can greatly impact your enjoyment of a honeymoon vacation.
6. Accommodations DO matter! You may think that you don’t need anything but a clean place to lay your head, however, if you have room in your budget to spend more on a nicer room category, you likely will fall in love with the amenities that it provides and you are more likely to spend time in your room relaxing.
7. Don’t over schedule (or under schedule for that matter) your vacation with activities. Recovering from a wedding is serious business and it will take a few days if you travel right after the big event. If you are active people you may want to book an excursion prior to travel through a reputable excursion company. Some resorts include lots of activity, which is even better!
8. Latermoons are a great idea. If the idea of traveling somewhere right after your wedding seems too big a task or you don’t have the time off work, or even if you would just rather travel during a different season, then a Latermoon is for you! It’s becoming a common request in the business of honeymoon travel.
9. Mix it up! There are all sorts of fun new trends with honeymoon vacations. How about a “buddymoon”? This is when the bride and groom travel for a few days to a honeymoon destination and ask friends to join them for the final few days to celebrate. Or another popular concept is the “megamoon”. Weddings can be exhausting so, if possible, a retreat for an extended period may be perfect for newlyweds. If you are traveling to any destination you might consider a “split stay”. For example, if you are traveling to Jamaica, consider spending time in Montego Bay AND Negril at different resorts. You can even island hop in some instances.
10. Schedule a surprise! This makes a wonderful wedding gift. Ideas and options are plentiful – a private candlelight dinner on the beach, a cooking class, or how about a couple’s massage or wine tasting! These are just a few of the recommendations we share with our couples planning a trip as important as a honeymoon vacation. It’s all about celebrating this special time in your relationship!

These are just a few of the recommendations we share with our couples planning a trip as important as a honeymoon vacation. It’s all about celebrating this special time in your relationship!