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How to Plan a Budget-Savvy Honeymoon

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Looking for ways to cut costs on your post-wedding vacay? Check out these tips to help you plan a budget-savvy honeymoon!

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You could argue that the honeymoon is the best part of the wedding. Yes, you’re excited to finally say “I do” to the person you love and celebrate with your friends and family. But when all is said and done, you’re really looking forward to that much-needed downtime with your new spouse. But you still want to do it without spending a fortune, right?

We love helping our readers save money on everything for the wedding and beyond– including the honeymoon, obviously. We’re big believers in the importance of that special post-wedding time. The best wedding present we can give to you, dear reader, is advice on how to save money and make the most of what you have to spend. Check out these tips below for planning a budget-savvy honeymoon!

Use a Great Travel Agent

Once thought to be a shrinking industry, travel agencies are, in fact, alive and well. Why? If you visit Google and search “honeymoon,” you will be welcomed with 115 million responses.  And yes, they will save you money.

With their knowledge of the industry, travel agents are able to match you with the vacation best suited to your needs. For example, choosing a cruise is not the same as selecting a flight or hotel. You will also receive insider tips for your destination, including, but not limited to, excursion ideas, ways to save while traveling, and suggestions on what to pack.

A good travel agent also has close relationships with hotel and cruise suppliers, so they are able to offer fares and discount cruises that you might be unable to find on your own. They also have representatives and contacts they can contact on your behalf if you encounter any problems.

Know the Right Tools to Use

If you’re turned off by the idea of a travel agent and have some time (or some great friends) to help you do some bargain hunting, there are some fantastic tools that you can use to ensure you get the best price.

For a savvy honeymoon option, you may find that a 10-day cruise ends up being the best deal for you. Pro tip: Don’t go directly through the cruise lines. There are some great cruise deal websites that with a little digging, you can find a great price.

If you need a flight, definitely use a price comparison website or travel apps to save money. Some even have a Price Predictor that will tell you if you should wait to buy because fares will be dropping. It’ll tell you how much they expect it to drop by and how confident they are, so you can better gauge. And from experience, they’re usually right. 

Consider Budget-Friendly Destinations  

When you are planning a honeymoon on a budget, you want your dollar to stretch, so think about traveling where the currency conversion is in your favor. A European honeymoon, while dreamy, might not be realistic when you consider that you will pay almost twice as much.

Mexico and Canada are popular honeymoon destinations, as the dollar goes a long way, and they are closer to home so the travel to and from your vacation is convenient. All-inclusive resorts in Mexico are packed with value, or honeymooners like cities such as Montreal and Quebec as they are like Paris, but you don’t have to go so far and spend as much money.

Also, think about proximity to where you are. Hawaii isn’t a good option if you’re living on the east coast because of the flight itself, but it can be fairly reasonable if you’re already in California.

Take Advantage of Booking Early

Booking early allows you to choose the room you want. For example, you can book a cruise 12-18 months in advance, giving you a chance to secure your honeymoon by simply putting down a small deposit and making payments throughout the year.

Planning your honeymoon early also lets you take advantage of booking during off or shoulder seasons (the period right before and after high season). During this period you can still find good weather in most places, but enjoy fewer crowds and lower prices.

Welcome the Value of All-Inclusive

On your honeymoon you want to enjoy each other, you don’t want to worry about taking out your wallet at every turn, or hidden fees and surprises. While the up-front cost can sometimes seem expensive, an all-inclusive vacation offers the most for your money.

Most all-inclusive rates include your accommodations, dining, activities, and entertainment. Some will even include alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and transfers. Call the cruise line or resort (or talk to your travel agent) so you know exactly what’s included in all-inclusive.

We hope these savvy honeymoon tips help you in planning your special post-wedding vacay! Join us in the community to share money-saving tips for travel and more!


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The Budget Savvy Bride is the #1 Online Wedding Planning Resource for couples who want to plan a beautiful wedding on a budget they can actually afford. Check out our best-selling book on Amazon, The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer!