Tips For Planning Your Dream Honeymoon

Coordinating your wedding takes months of planning. You will be asked to make more decisions than you ever imagined.

The "perfect" honeymoon is different for every bride and groom. A professional travel agent will be able to answer questions, offer suggestions and make reservations, but he or she will be of much more help to you and your mate if you have made some basic decisions first. The following are some things to consider prior to meeting with a travel agent to plan your honeymoon.

Length of the Honeymoon:

• Determine how long your vacation itself will last.


• Then, when calculating your vacation time from your employment, leave yourself a few extra days for unexpected days you might need off. Remember that you will need
  time during the last few weeks before the wedding to finalize some plans with caterers and florists, etc.


• If at all possible, leave one day between the wedding date and your departure date to allow you to organize yourself and visit with out-of-town guests.


• When you return from your honeymoon, it may be advantageous to leave an extra day prior to returning to work to unpack and get "back to reality."

The Pace and Style of Honeymoon:

Do you envision an adventurous honeymoon or relaxing carefree honeymoon? Have you and your fiancé each shared your "dream" vacation with each other? Since many honeymooners have never taken an extended vacation together, it's important to discuss your vision of your
perfect honeymoon. Below are some examples of some popular honeymoons and what to expect.

• Cruising: For the more adventurous, a cruise is typically a faster paced honeymoon. You experience several islands in one week. A cruise is considered a semi-all-inclusive vacation. 90% of your vacation is paid for prior to departing. All meals and activities are included in the cost of the cruise.


• The only expenses you'll pay on the cruise are drinks, shore excursions (what you do when the ship is docked), and gratuities.


• Hawaii: We recommend a minimum of 10 days on the islands, and one-day when you return to adjust to the time difference. This is for the adventurous, as you will most likely visit several islands. Breakfast is often included with many hotels, but lunch and dinner
  is at your expense. There are a limited number of options to have your meals paid in advance. Honeymooners going to Hawaii need to budget for meals and excursions on
  the islands. Discuss your budget with your travel agent to determine the best options for you.


• Walt Disney World: Disney has always appealed to adults as much as kids. It is easy to get to, and has numerous options to suit any honeymoon taste and budget.You can plan for three days to two weeks at Disney.


• Caribbean Islands: Perhaps the most popular destination for honeymooners from the Northeast.Each island is very unique. Sitting down with a travel agent will help you determine which island has what you’re looking for. You should be aware that hurricane season is from late summer through the fall.


• Sandals Resorts: Sandals are our favorite. They offer 10 unique resorts on four Caribbean islands. Everything is included, from top shelf alcohol, meals, snacks, water-skiing, snorkeling, volleyball, and lots more. They will even resort certify you to SCUBA and bring you out every day. You have access to no less than 6 gourmet restaurants at each resort. No tipping is allowed, so you really do not need to worry about money during your entire stay. It is the ultimate in stress free vacations. To match yourself up with the right resort for you, set up an appointment to meet with a Certified Sandals Representative.

The Budget for your Honeymoon:

Decide on the total amount you are willing to spend on the honeymoon. Include what you are planning to spend on meals and spending money. This will allow you to more accurately compare the cost of all-inclusive vacations, semi-all-inclusive vacations and non-inclusive vacations.

Consider enrolling in a travel agency's Bridal Registry. This allows guests to purchase gift certificates for the bride and groom to be applied toward the balance of the honeymoon.