5 top tips to plan your dream honeymoon
What springs to mind when you think of your honeymoon? For some it evokes images of overwater villas off idyllic Maldives islands and lazy evenings spent watching the sun slowly sink into the azure sea. To others, its thoughts of trekking the Inca Trail in Peru or snorkelling with sea turtles in the Galapagos Islands. What unites all honeymooners is that this holiday should be a once in a lifetime experience. So how do you start planning? Read on for our top tips for planning a dream honeymoon.
1. Start planning early
For many couples, the honeymoon is a well-deserved reward at the end of the marathon that is wedding planning. So while it can feel overzealous to start planning your trip around the same time you start planning your nuptials, it totally makes sense, especially if you’re undecided on the destination. Start planning your honeymoon eight to 12 months in advance to give ample time for settling on a destination, booking travel and accommodation, and, if you’ll be using a travel agent, ensuring you can get on their schedule.
2. Decide on the type of trip you'd like
Agreeing on the type of trip you'd like to take is crucial to planning a honeymoon that you'll both enjoy. For example, do you want to explore art galleries and cute restaurants in a European city, or are you looking for pure relaxation with an on-site spa and nothing more taxing than sipping a cocktail and turning the pages of a great novel? Perhaps you are more of an adventurous couple who would be bored lying by a pool and are instead for picturesque hikes and adrenaline pumping activities instead? Each write a honeymoon wishlist as this will help to narrow down the options.
3. Decide on your budget
While there are countless dreamy honeymoon destinations to choose from, it's important to take a close look at both income and expenses, as well as long-term financial goals, to determine an amount that fits your overall budget.
4. Choose your dream destination
If you have no preference on location or flight times, choose a destination neither of you have been to that offers activities you both enjoy. If your goal is total relaxation, consider dreamy beach destinations like Cayo Espanto in Belize, Guana Island in the British Virgin Islands, and Como Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos.
Adrenaline junkies should consider Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Patagonia or New Zealand. Those who don’t mind being constantly on the go might consider touring Japan or safari-hopping in Africa with a final stop in Rwanda, where you can trek through mountains to see gorillas in the wild.
Wherever you choose, check that your dates work for your destination and you're not planning to arrive in off season. Equally, peak season often means the best weather, but you’ll also be dealing with larger crowds and higher prices so you'll need to factor this into your plans.
5. Be flexible on travel dates
The tradition of leaving for honeymoon the day after the wedding isn't so popular these days as couples deal with busy schedules and social commitments. So if a different season makes more sense for your dream destination, don’t worry about waiting until several months after your wedding to head out on the trip. It will also give you something else to look forward to after the post-wedding high starts to fade and every day life kicks back in.
