After months, maybe even years of military precision planning, performing budgeting balancing acts and going through every emotion under the sun, the big day has been and gone. Sad face. But thankfully now it’s time to relax, recover and enjoy your first holiday as Mr and Mrs. Hurray. All smiles again!
But where do you go, when and for how long? There is so much to think about and you can easily get a little confuzzled. Maybe the below will help a little..
1) Where in the World? The world is quite literally your oyster. Don’t feel you have to go with the typical honeymoon destinations like Mauritius or Seychelles, it should be an experience of a lifetime. If you and your new hubby/wife are more about adventure than lazing on the beach then why not book a trip to race skidoos under the northern lights in Iceland, hit the Canadian Rockies or sleep under the stars in an Igloo in Finland. Start comparing bucket lists, is there somewhere you’d both love to see or experience together?
Kaksluttanen Igloo Hotel, Finland
2) Listen to Mother [Nature]! When to travel will often depend on where you want to go. If you have your heart set on an exotic beach escape in a far flung destination it’s likely to be their winter season during our summer so you may need to postpone until later in the year if you want to maximise your time in the sun.
Thinking of the Caribbean, Miami or Mexico? Then you are best to avoid travelling between June and October unless you want to risk being blown back to the UK as it’s peak hurricane season! Likewise, summer also sees monsoon season sweep across most of Asia. Then at the other extreme Dubai can see temperatures rise to over 45 in August with humidity levels too high for even the locals. Ouch, that is too hot for even a chef to handle and we are used to heat.
3) In the Zone. Think about the duration of your trip and don’t forget to factor in travel days. If you can only get ten days off work do you really want to spend three or four days in transit and don’t forget to allow for jet lag. Some destinations like Australia, Asia or Fiji really need at least two weeks on the ground or you risk spending much of the trip in bed (with jet lag not for the reason you should be in bed on a honeymoon).
4) Leaving so soon? If you’ve picked a destination that’s perfect to visit in the summer, the next question is do you head off straight away the day after the wedding or give it a few days? The consensus is to give it at least a day, that way you don’t board a plane hungover, exhusted and snapping at each other about who packed the passports. Enjoy the day after the wedding with your family and friends, especially if they’ve travelled and you don’t see them much. Then head to the airport refreshed and ready to drink all the complimentary champers you’ll be offered.
Cave Apartments, Santorini, Greece
5) Go on a bargain hunt. Honeymoons can be very expensive especially if you want to go to really treat yourselves. You can however shop smart:
- Book early as possible, you’ll have more bargaining power
- Consider a resort closer to home and use the money you’ll save on airfare to splash out on a more luxury hotel
- Consider all inclusive resorts (after all some nights you might just want to stay in with room service)
- Shop around, don’t just take the first quote. Look for a bargain even using sites such as Groupon
- Consider shoulder months which may be classed at low season, for example Fiji and Maldives are bordering rainy season in June/July but this may well just be the occasional tropical downpour that soon dries up
- Put a watch on the flights you are considering on Skyscanner.net to alert you when fares are lowest, Tuesday tend to be a good day to book flights as airlines often release their deals
6) With a little help from your friends. If you already have your home kitted out you are unlikely to need another toaster or kettle so why not replace the traditional wedding list with a honeymoon wish list. Sites like Honeyfund let you set up an account where guests can contribute to your honeymoon such as paying for an excursion or a home upgrade. Alternatively, you can ask for the currency of the country you are going to in place of gifts.
7) Miss, Ms or Mrs? You can apply for your passport to be changed to your married name up to three months before your wedding if you want to travel in your new name. However, make sure everything is in the same name as name change fees can be expensive stuff.
8) Ask the experts. If you want to really make the most of a destination it can pay to use a travel agent, not only will they help you plan your perfect itinerary but they can also arrange extras such as upgrades, spa treatments and bubbly in your room. Much less cringe than you annoucing loudly at check-in that it’s your honeymoon.
9) Make time to do nothing. Leave at least a couple of days completely free so that you can just be spontaneous and enjoy the destination. You don’t want to pack too much in and not get to just appreciate spending time together as a couple.
10) Stay Safe. Always check the foreign office website for advice and check if any vaccinations are required. If you need a visa apply for this as soon as possible and don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover yourself and all valuables (especially your sparkly new wedding rings).
