Friday, March 21, 2008

How to Choose a Honeymoon Destination

So you’ve picked the dress of your dreams, placed the order for the exquisite cake and the stunning flowers and now can’t put your finger on what to choose as your honeymoon destination? Well, fret no more; read these tips and hopefully you’ll be booking tickets to the honeymoon destination of your dreams pretty soon.

Don’t let the plethora of information on honeymoon destinations overwhelm you. Approach this the other way around. Instead of looking at bridal magazines and websites about the various honeymoon destinations, talk to your spouse-to-be about where you would like to go and take it from there.

Step One: What Are Your Interests?

What do the two of you do when you have time together? Water sports? Hiking? Antiquing? Beaches? Casinos? Look back and see where you were the last time you had a great vacation together? Was it a Vegas-like nightlife setting or something more tranquil such as Tahiti?

Step Two: Allot a Budget

Once you’ve decided whether you want to hit the beach or the discotheque, then figure out how much of your wedding budget are you going to devote to the honeymoon. Set a dollar amount and skip the bridal registry in favor of a honeymoon registry if you would rather have friends and family contribute to your honeymoon destination instead of more sandwich makers and microwave ovens.

Step Three: National or International?

If you want to save some money, try a local place; preferably a drivable distance from where you live. However, if you can splurge, then experience some place new. If you do have the budget to go international, enquire about visas and passport information before hand so that you are not disappointed later on.

If crossing borders is part of your plan, Canada and Mexico are great options but if a longer flight is what you fancy, Europe must top your list. Whether its breathtaking Austria, romantic France or some other European nation, such a honeymoon destination will surely be different from the usual and something you will cherish for a long time.

Step Four: Fix Dates

Figure out whether you want to leave for the honeymoon immediately following the reception or wait a few days? Either way, have your dates firm and book accordingly. The earlier you do so, the better changes you have of scoring a great deal. If you are going for the sun and sand, try some less popular beaches to save some money. The water will be the same; just some of the amenities will be different and if you’re not into parasailing or water sports and just want time alone, a less crowded, less touristy place would be the better choice anyways.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Guidelines In Finding The Right Honeymoon Deal

We all want to make our wedding day special and memorable, but aside from that, we also want to make our honeymoon as magical and as romantic as well. On the other hand, it really is such a great task if you are planning your wedding and your honeymoon at the same time that is why there are some tips that you may want to take note of to make the task less stressful for you and your partner. One thing for sure, communication will be the key in finding the best honeymoon deals that you two are dreaming of experiencing. For sure, once you have followed all these tips and recommendations in finding the right honeymoon deal, you and your partner will feel like everything just fell into place and you will have the memory that will last for a lifetime if not, forever.

Tips For Magic

Again, what you may want to remember when you are planning to get a great honeymoon deal is to talk it all out and I promise you, it would be a long process. Talk to each other and see what you both want to experience during your honeymoon so that when you look for honeymoon deals that you could find online, you have an idea what you want to do during those moments. Would you prefer the beach or go to places where they have world-class museums and see the greatest creations of artists? Would you like to enjoy fine dining or would you both want to feel like a local in the new place and dine in all the local restaurants in the area?

Once you have already established what kind of experiences you want to have during your honeymoon, what is best to do is research more about the place and plan all the activities that you would like to experience. If you are going at an exotic location where there are beaches, you may want to check out if they have snorkeling or kayaking teachers around the area so you could already book a reservation or book tickets if you want to see Broadway shows or operas.

With all of these things that you have in mind, once you and your partner have already decided what to do and where to go, what you may want to do is look in the internet what are the best honeymoon deals that fit your standards. But remember, timing is everything so you may want to make all of these months before your wedding day and guaranteed, you will feel like you never stressed out about it.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Finding Honeymoon Cabins

A great way for a couple to have some time alone and celebrate their marriage is to rent a honeymoon cabin. Cabins are nice for a honeymoon because they usually offer seclusion in a scenic area where the couple can relax and enjoy each other after the hectic pre-ceremony days. Cabins are also nice because they have all the amenities including kitchens so the couple can hideaway from the world for the full length of the honeymoon stay. For the couple who likes privacy and isolation a honeymoon cabin will be a great choice. There are many honeymoon cabins available for rent and the internet provides a good place to find the best cabin in a choice location.

Smoky Mountain Honeymoon Cabins

The Smoky Mountains are beautiful and scenic. Planning a honeymoon to these mountains will be very memorable for the couple. One internet site that offers honeymoon cabins for rent in the Gatlinburg area of the smoky mountains is www.gatlinburgromance.com. These cabins come in a variety of sizes and offer different options with each cabin. Some of the cabins have heart shaped hot tubs and beds to increase the romance. These cabins are located near ski areas and such vacation attractions as Dollywood and Pigeon Forge. For a honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains this site may provide a good option for a cabin rental.

Big Bear Honeymoon Cabins

People who want to honeymoon in the mountains of the west coast will enjoy a visit to the resort location in Big Bear, California. There are a large number of cabins available in this area. Many of the cabins are privately owned but are available for rent. One site that offers several cabins of different sizes and amenities is www.bigbearcoolcabins.com/honeymoon. Some cabins on this site are in the woods and very secluded while others are located nearer to the town and Big Bear Lake. The cabins can be somewhat rustic or come with full amenities. The couple looking for a honeymoon cabin in the Big Bear area will be able to find what to fit their needs and desires.

Yellowstone Honeymoon Cabins

The Yellowstone area of Montana and Wyoming is a spectacular place for anyone to visit and sure to be a great honeymoon location. The Yellowstone National Park has several lodging facilities that are very nice but, for a more private location, a couple will want to look outside the park. Www.adreamhoneymoon.com offers some nice honeymoon cabins in the location with several options for seasonal activities. Cabins can come with mountain bikes for the summer or snow mobiles for the winter. The honeymoon couple can stay in a secluded area and still have plenty to do.

Beautiful Honeymoon Cruises

As you begin to plan your honeymoon, and you start doing some research, you begin to realize that there are a lot of honeymoon options out there for you to choose from. Hopefully you only get one chance to plan your honeymoon so why not consider one of the many honeymoon cruises to choose from? A honeymoon cruise can be a romantic getaway to a tropical island somewhere or even up to see the beauty of the Alaskan sunsets. Your choices are endless with a honeymoon cruise so do some research and get ready to sail.

Honeymoon cruises can be booked one of two ways and either way is just as effective as the other as long as you do your homework. The first way is directly through the cruise company. Many cruise companies offer honeymoon cruises that are all inclusive as far as the ship and the accommodations for any stops may be concerned. It is always a good idea to inquire about flights to and from the port to make sure you are covered there as many cruise lines do not offer flight arrangements. The second way to book your honeymoon cruise is through a travel agent. A travel agent will cost you a fee but they will also do a complete honeymoon cruise package that will include everything you need including airfare and all accommodations.

Where To Go

To me there has always been a variety of destinations for a honeymoon cruise and, in the end, your final choice will solely depend on your own personal preference. If you prefer the warm weather then you can visit the Bahamas, or maybe Mexico, or even plan a cruise to visit the islands of Greece and all of the treasures they have for you to experience. If you are looking for a cooler climate then consider a cruise to Alaska. I hear that there is no more beautiful sunset anywhere in the world than in Alaska and what is more romantic than a beautiful sunset?

You have a lot of choices to make when it comes to planning your honeymoon cruise and there is one more factor you will need to consider in order to make your planning successful. All types of cruises usually book well in advance so if you want to take the guessing and the worry out of booking your cruise then I suggest you begin looking into it at least one year in advance.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Plan a Honeymoon without Breaking the Bank

With wedding costs skyrocketing, so many couples have to skip the honeymoon in favor of inviting 50 more guests or getting the designer dress of their dreams. While priorities vary for each couple, once the wedding day is over and done with, many newlyweds wished they had spent less time, effort and money on the D-day details and more on each other.

A honeymoon is usually a week long and the memories you get to make while bonding with each other as man and wife far outweigh the lace on the placemats or the name of the band playing at the reception. Here are some tips on making sure you get o go on a great honeymoon

Plan Ahead

Make a firm wedding budget and allot your desired amount for the honeymoon. Don’t let cake, flowers or bridesmaids gifts eat up any part of that budget. Don’t postpone the honeymoon saying that you’ll take it later; tomorrow never comes for honeymoons. Now is the time; later work, kids, family and everything piles up and the charm of a honeymoon at the right time fizzles out.

Go Local

If airfare is eating up your entire budget, forget about Hawaii or Europe and save the flying time and airport hassles by going away some place local. Not only will you save big money, you won’t get lost as much, you’ll have a honeymoon memory you can visit again if you like and you can even come home early if the place doesn’t turn out to be as you expected.

Stay Savvy

The least expensive way of going on a honeymoon is to stay at someone’s house while they are away. Look into home exchanges where someone can stay at your place while you see a different locale. Similar to the Cameron Diaz- Kate Winslet movie, you might snag a great deal on seeing a new city without spending a dime on hotels.

If you can’t find a time share or other free accommodation, you can still have a great honeymoon by skipping the five star hotels and staying at a bed and breakfast instead. The rates are much lower, the policies less stringent and the innkeepers more friendly.

Souvenirs

There is no need for you to get souvenirs from your honeymoon for all your friends and family. Chances are you threw a great wedding and everyone got a favor; pick up a trinket or two for your new place together but leave it at that.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

How to Register for a Great Honey Moon

So many people register for baby showers and weddings, that the concept of a honey moon registry seems only but logical. This is because wedding costs are rising and many couples often have to sacrifice their own honey moon in favor of other wedding ‘necessities’.

The honey moon registry idea is perfect for couples who have careers and their own separate places and therefore have all the basic stuff one would need to start living together. If they are practical enough to think that he has silverware and she has silverware; why register for another set, then they can opt for a honey moon registry instead.

This way their friends and family can buy gift certificates in any amount they choose which will go towards their trip. There are several companies and websites such as the Wedding Channel that offer such registries. However terms and conditions vary; therefore be careful in reading the fine print as service charges may apply and certificates may expire should you choose not to honey moon immediately.

Spread the Word

After selecting which honey moon registry appeals to you the most, ask your maid of honor or best man to spread the word in the shower invites or choose the email option where the registry service sends the announcement on your behalf. This way you’ll be helping friends and family who are stumped as to what to get you and it will prevent you from getting yet another toaster or place setting.

Many times close friends and relatives want to give the couple something meaningful and something they are sure to use. With a honey moon registry they can be sure that their money was well spent and appreciated. You could send a picture of you and your spouse on the trip as a thank you note instead of the traditional cards.

Cruise Options

This new registry business has branched out in to the seas as well and you can even register for honey moon cruise registry if you so wish. Honeymoon Voyages and other such companies can make it very easy for you to set up a registry and gift givers can purchase certificates in increments of $50 or $100.

However, honey moon cruises also have their pros and cons. While you only have to unpack once and cruises are usually all-inclusive, they might not provide you with as much privacy as you would like. If you want time alone with your spouse, you would want to choose a balcony cabin so that you don’t feel cramped in an inside cabin. Some cruises have the option for you to dine alone, but many don’t. So find out all the details before signing on with a cruise for your honey moon.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Enjoying Your Honeymoon With Disney Honeymoon Packages

Your wedding is one of those milestone days that help to usher in the adult stage of your life. All of the responsibility of the real world, real life, and a family are suddenly taking shape on your wedding day. Soon you will be buried in the reality of finding a job, paying bills, raising kids, and having to think about the future. So what better way to ring in your adulthood that to enjoy a Disney Honeymoon Package?

Many people would not think of Disney as a place to go for a honeymoon but Disney Honeymoon packages are extremely popular and they draw people from all over the world. Disney honeymoon packages offer you the choice of staying in any of the Disney resorts, enjoying all of the Disney parks, and also not having to worry about a thing as Disney will not only pick you up from the airport but they will also take you to anywhere in Disney you want to go for no extra charge. Disney honeymoon packages are a great idea and they give you the chance to feel like a kid just one more time before you return home to take on the task of becoming a responsible adult.

The Happiest Place On Earth

Plus let’s face it, it is really difficult to have a bad time in Disney. A Disney honeymoon package is an invitation to the happiest place on earth and they call it that for a reason. Everybody has their favorite part of Disney and when you get your Disney honeymoon package you begin to realize that there is more to Disney than you could have ever imagined and more than you have probably ever seen on television. Disneyworld is the kind of place that would take you weeks to see all of it and months to experience all there is to experience so a Disney honeymoon package promises to be exciting as well as a lot of fun.

Thousands of couples take their honeymoon at Disney every year and Disney attracts millions of visitors from all over the world. With so many people wanting to visit Disney every year it is natural to assume that Disney is doing something right. A trip to Disney is an invitation to let all of your cares go for a little while and be a kid again. When you are standing on the threshold of all of the responsibilities of being an adult there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting all of that responsibility to the side for a few days and having a good time in Disney.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Everyone Has a Different Answer for the Best Honeymoon Destination

The best honeymoon destination is the one that you and your new spouse thoroughly enjoy together. That doesn’t sound like much of an answer but the fact of the matter is that everyone will have a different answer for the best honeymoon destination. Therefore, any answer you or anyone else comes up with is purely subjective and greatly influences by your likes and dislikes.

To choose the best honeymoon destination, you and your significant other should sit down together and decide where you both have always want to travel. Once you both have compiled a list of your dream destinations, reality sets in with creating your budget for your honeymoon. Will your dreams and reality clash when choosing the best honeymoon destination for you and your intended?

The Best Honeymoon Destination on a Budget – Cruise Style

Perhaps the best bang for your buck these days is a cruise, especially if you live near a port of call and can bypass the cost of airfare that it takes to get there. Wherever the cruise goes is your best honeymoon destination and with the different ports along the way, you can see quite a few of them.

Cruises can be anywhere from a few hours to several days to even several weeks. The great thing about a cruise is that you only have to unpack once and practically everything from accommodations, food and activities is all included in one price. Plus, based on your budget, you can choose from a variety of destinations such as Mexico, Alaska, Jamaica, Tahiti, Hawaii and even farther places like the Greek Islands.

The Best Honeymoon Destination Closer to Home

Sometimes the best honeymoon destination is close to home, within just a few hours by car or plane. The United States boasts quite a few places that are popular with honeymooners such as Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, various Hawaiian destinations, Orlando and even Aspen. You can even find all-inclusive hotels and resorts in these places as well as points close to home.

Snow skiing, white water rafting, going to Disneyworld or doing a bit of gambling could be in your future, depending on the best honeymoon destination based on your interests and budget. You see, that is the beauty of it all … there is no right or wrong answers when choosing the best honeymoon destination.

Compromise is the best solution for choosing the best honeymoon destination, especially when who knows when you both might emerge from your rooms for a bit of a honeymoon breather! The bottom line is to have fun and enjoy the fact that you are with your new spouse and starting a new life together as one cohesive unit.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A One Stop Shop with All Inclusive Honeymoon Packages

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You have probably had quite the time coordinating the church, reception hall, caterers, florists and DJ, not to mention tux and bridal gown fittings, gifts for the attendants and …. Whew! That is quite a running list of wedding details that you have to oversee isn’t it? Are you sure you want to plan a honeymoon in the same meticulous detail? Give yourself a break and choose one of many available all inclusive honeymoon packages.

Defining All Inclusive Honeymoon Packages

Micromanagers beware – all inclusive honeymoon packages are not for those who have the need to have their fingers in every gory detail! Instead, with all inclusive honeymoon packages, you leave all those gory details such as booking flights, hotels, rental cars, activities and more to the travel company. Why bother with a veritable jigsaw of honeymoon pieces when someone else can put them together for you?

With all inclusive honeymoon packages, the only thing you need to decide really is where you want to go and perhaps how you want to get there. These all inclusive deals not only apply to beach resorts but also to ski destinations, outdoor adventures and even cruises. Travel companies have an endless list of preferred vendors with special price lists that they often turn to for creating the perfect all inclusive packages so that means your honeymoon will end up being cheaper than booking each part of the trip individually.

What is Included in All Inclusive Honeymoon Packages?

Many all inclusive honeymoon packages differ in varying ways but typically, you will get better rates and discounts on hotel, airfare, car rentals, activities and entertainment and even restaurants. Some resorts and cruises will even incorporate the tipping into the pricing of these all inclusive honeymoon packages so that you do not even have to worry about tipping the waiter each time he brings you a Mai Tai on the beach.

Another winning detail of all inclusive honeymoon packages is that everything is planned for you so that you don’t have to make any decisions, except perhaps whether or not you decide on room service rather than a restaurant! Hotel check-in, car rental check-in, restaurant reservations, booking those jet skis or scuba gear … all that is taken care of in advance and all you have to do is kick back and relax with your new spouse. No worry is the name of the game when it comes to all inclusive honeymoon packages.

The best way to find these all inclusive honeymoon packages is to frequent the popular travel websites as well as your local newspapers in the travel section. Great deals can be had but you have to sometimes be perusing the internet or your newspaper at the right time and place. Your local friendly travel agent is also a great resource for planning all inclusive honeymoon packages.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Affordable Honeymoon Packages Ease The Budget

One man’s affordable honeymoon package might be another man’s budget buster. There are so many expenses for weddings that the affordable honeymoon package might not get the happy couple very far from home. Although the expenses of a wedding are substantial, there are some great affordable honeymoon packages available. One idea for an affordable honeymoon package requires getting someone else to pay for the honeymoon as a wedding gift. People often ask what the couple would like to have as a gift, and a contribution toward part of the honeymoon might be an option.

Some of the cruise ships have some very affordable honeymoon packages, and life on a cruise ship can be a great way to unwind from the hectic schedule and duties of planning a wedding. The cruise ships go to all the corners of the world so the possibilities are most attractive. There are some affordable honeymoon packages that go to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. A cruise on a luxury ship is always a good way to relax while visiting interesting ports of call. Sunbathing on the deck or swimming in the pool on the way to fabulous destinations is a great way to spend part of the honeymoon. There should be a cruise available for many different wedding budgets.

Affordable Honeymoon Packages Include Many Venues

Affordable honeymoon packages are available for many different goals and objectives. Those who want to go to the beach will probably find that the closer the beach the more affordable the honeymoon package. Those with a large budget might hit the beach in Tahiti while those with the smaller budget will want to go to the East Coast or the West Coast depending on the proximity to the starting point. Those who want to play golf on their honeymoon might go to Scotland if the budget permits but Phoenix if funds are more limited. There are great golf courses in both places, and some package tours available to each destination.

Honeymoon packages might be more affordable if these are booked far in advance of the departure dates. A couple might be able to arrange a house exchange to save some money on their honeymoon. There are homes available for exchange all around the world for those with a home to exchange. These exchanges often include cars and other amenities as well. This type of deal would save all funds needed for housing while on the honeymoon. Accommodations are often a large part of any honeymoon bill. A camping trip is another way to save on accommodations for those who enjoy the great outdoors.