Planning Your Honeymoon: Terms To Know

Here are some travel terms you should be familiar with when planning your honeymoon.


AIRLINES

Nonstop-a flight directly from one place to another with no stops in between.

Direct-the plane my stop along the way, but you will not have to get off.

Connecting-you will have to change planes somewhere along the way to reach your destination.


CAR RENTAL

Drop-off or Intercity charge-a fee for returning the vehicle in a town or location other than the one in which it was rented.

Unlimited mileage-you pay for the gas and are not charged per mile.

Additional insurance-car rental agencies always offer optional collision and damage insurance, for which you pay an additional fee, but you may already be covered; some major credit card companies, such as American Express, provide that coverage automatically when their cards are used to pay for the rental. Check to see. You can also check with your personal insurance agent to see whether your own homeowner’s policy or personal care insurance includes liability coverage for car rentals.


HOTELS

Double-occupancy rate-a per person price based on two people sharing the room.

Double-room rate-the quoted price of the room (to be occupied by two people).

Guaranteed late arrival-confirms your reservation no matter what time you arrive; typically, either cash or credit card must pay for the room in advance, to hold the room past 6 or 7 P.M. If you do not arrive, you will have paid for the room anyway.

Standard-the basic accommodation.

First class-usually a notch about the basic.

Superior-top accommodation.

Suite-a bedroom with a separate sitting room.

(NOTE: Terminology for the levels of accommodations my vary from one hotel to another; sometimes, they are designated by bed configuration: twin, double, queen, king. In Europe and Asia, you may have to specify a “matrimonial bed”-they don’t usually understand what we mean by double, queen, etc.).

Oceanfront-directly facing the ocean, but not necessarily with direct beach access.

Ocean view-you can see the water from somewhere in your room, but it probably will not be the panoramic view you expected.


MEAL PLANS

AP (American Plan)- includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

MAP (Modified American Plan)-includes two meals, usually breakfast and dinner.

EP (European Plan)-includes no meals.

BP (Bermuda Plan)-includes a full breakfast.

Continental Breakfast-includes a light breakfast of rolls, jam, and coffee or tea.


MISCELLANEOUS

Vouchers-issued by the travel agent to be exchanged for meals, rooms, tours, and so on.

Duty Free-means the items are sold free of that country’s taxes; if you exceed your U.S.

Customs limit, however, you will have to pay U.S. taxes upon return to this country.

Options-those opportunities, like sight-seeing or sports activities, that are available at extra cost and no included in your package price.

Rate of Exchange-the current equivalent of foreign currency to U.S. dollars; generally, you get the best rate of exchange at a bank, the worst at a hotel.

Traveler’s Checks-just like real money (that you paid to the issuer) but safer than carrying cash because travelers checks carry your signature; the best known are American Express, but there are many others accepted worldwide. You should each have some with your own signature.