The honeymoon dates back to the 16th century. The tradition can still be a valuable experience today. A honeymoon provides the opportunity to solidify the identity as a married couple. This time together can start the marriage on a positive note which can set up positive beliefs in the brain about married life according to Psychology Today.
Jody Allee and her husband, Dane, were married in August. They hopped a plane the next morning to the Bahamas(Opens in a new Window) for an experience of a lifetime. A highlight included an excursion to Exumas(Opens in a new Window) where they snorkeled, fed sting rays, swam with pigs, watched sharks, and feasted on conch salad.
Jody shared her insider tips for planning a great honeymoon getaway without going in debt.
GET A PASSPORT
Staying at an all-inclusive resort outside the country can sometimes be less expensive than state-side destinations. Having a current passport will allow you to explore a larger variety of honeymooning options.
START SAVING EARLY
“I started saving for our honeymoon as soon as we got engaged,” Jody said.
She admits that she is intentional about saving in general and that was a huge help. She utilized her Christmas Club account as a primary way of saving because the funds can’t be withdrawn until October. Consider setting up automatic electronic deposits to stay on track with your saving goals.
RATE SHOP AND BE PATIENT
Utilize the wide variety of local and online travel agencies.
“I made sure the honeymoon was all-inclusive and looked to see if the round-trip shuttle was included,” Jody said. “I ended up booking our all-inclusive resort, round-trip airfare, the shuttle to and from the resort, travel insurance and day excursion for $600 less than one of the other agencies I was shopping.”
Jody and Dane began exploring their location options four months prior to the wedding, but waited until the first of August to see if prices dropped.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
“Don’t buy the first good deal you see and consider reviews,” Jody shared. “The resort we stayed in was cheaper and a little more dated than another resort we considered. The other resort was more modern, but had lower guest ratings.”
PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Rarely does anything go 100% as planned. Pay the extra for travel insurance and always travel with at least two forms of payment. Jody and Dane’s surprise occurred on their first stop –the airport.
They arrived at the airport at 4 a.m. only to discover that the travel agency had not booked Dane’s plane ticket despite confirmation provided two days prior.
“I was pretty upset thinking that we were not going to be able to go on our honeymoon. Thankfully, I decided to bring my credit card because I did not want to use my debit card internationally. The travel agency told me that if we paid for the ticket up front, they would reimburse us. It was $1500 for his round-trip ticket to keep us on the same flights,” Jody shared.
The rest of the trip went off without a hitch.
A great honeymoon getaway is possible on any budget. It doesn’t matter if it is three days or three weeks. Open that savings account and enjoy exploring your options.