Once the wedding and all the fun (and stress) associated with it is over, it is time for you and your spouse to have your private party – i.e., the honeymoon. For any couple, this is an extraordinary vacation as it is the first one you will take together as man and wife. When you think of your honeymoon, you are probably imagining all sorts of fun-filled adventures, going for long romantic walks on the beach, enjoying gourmet meals and sipping exotic wine as you make memories that will last a lifetime.
While a honeymoon is a heavenly once in a lifetime experience, planning it along with all the wedding preparation is nowhere near easy. Not only do you need to plan your finances well to ensure you can afford everything you have in mind, but you also need to be mindful of your partner’s travel preferences and come up with activities that you both can enjoy together. To help you execute the ultimate trip with your loved one, we have compiled a list of six things you must consider when planning your honeymoon:
1. Finances
Before you start making any plans, it is essential to sit down with your partner and discuss how much you both can contribute to this vacation in terms of money. Once you have a set budget for the trip, the rest of the planning is easy. You should first set aside the significant expenses such as flights and accommodation – the remaining amount can part into a daily budget. Depending on how much the daily budget comes down to, you can then plan the activities accordingly.
Discussing finances beforehand ensures you are both clear on your budget so that there are no unrealistic expectations and awkward situations on the trip itself.
2. Season
When planning your honeymoon, it is essential to consider what the weather will be like at your desired honeymoon destination during your travel period. For example, if you are getting married in the summer and planning to travel to a tropical beach destination, you may find the monsoon season during this period. You could decide to choose a different honeymoon destination or delay the trip.
The weather can make or break a trip, so it should always be an essential consideration. You wouldn’t want to spend a ton of money only to find you can’t do everything you planned, just because the weather didn’t allow you to.
3. Timing
The honeymoon doesn’t necessarily need to take place immediately after the wedding. Many couples nowadays consider delayed honeymoons a much better option. Weddings and all the related preparations and arrangements can get so exhausting that it becomes challenging to plan and be ready for a trip right after it – both physically and financially. By spacing out the honeymoon and wedding, you can have some time to rest and enjoy the simpler joys of being married first. You also get time to replenish your savings after paying off all the wedding expenses.
Additionally, most couples find it hard to get an extended leave approved from work for the wedding and the honeymoon all at once. Couples from different nationalities should be careful while applying for spouse visa extension to continue to live together after the marriage.
4. Your combined travel preferences as a couple
To ensure the itinerary details, you and your partner both should work it out together. If one person alone is doing all the planning, the itinerary could be around their idea of a perfect honeymoon – which can be disappointing for the other person. So the right approach is for each person to write down 3-5 of their favorite things to do on the trip – this can include things such as history, architecture, mountains, beaches, food, wine, art, theme parks, and so on. From here, you can go on to plan your itinerary for each day, ensuring both of you get to do things you enjoy.
5. Downtime
Everything is fun when you are well-rested, and this is why downtime is a must. Especially if you plan to travel soon after the wedding, it is crucial to take it slow for the first day or two of your trip. The wedding is exhausting by itself, and it helps if you plan to relax and unwind for a few days after it.
Make sure you set aside enough time for rest and get sufficient sleep. If you have too many things planned and too many places to go, you are only going to end up frustrated when you can’t enjoy it fully because you are too tired. The ideal honeymoon is a mixture of fun and relaxation.
6. Travel deals and Discounts
Just because you are on the most special trip of your life doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for ways to save money. One way to do this is to select a hotel close to the major attractions you wish to see. It will allow you to experience everything you want to, without spending unnecessary high amounts of money on transportation. Also, taxis are always expensive, no matter which country you are traveling to, so use the local buses or trains instead.
Additionally, be sure to ask your hotel for any special honeymoon packages or upgrades. You might be able to get a couples massage or the honeymoon suite for the same price as a standard room.
Last but not least, you only get one honeymoon (well, it is right for many of us), so make the most of it. Do the things you both enjoy as a couple, take as many pictures as you possibly can and have the time of your life. It will be a trip you won’t forget for a lifetime!
