Weddings are insanely expensive, so when it comes time for the honeymoon, your budget may be a little bare. Don’t worry! There are plenty of ways you can plan your getaway without damaging your finances too severely. Here are ten tips for planning your first vacation together as newlyweds.
Use Accumulated Airline Points
If you’ve used a credit card to help pay for your wedding, or just to buy life's necessities, you have probably racked up a nice amount of points that can get you free airfare. Even if you don’t have enough points to get you all the way, maybe you can get a free upgrade to first class.
Choose Cheap Places
More affordable places don’t mean you’re stuck within the United States. There are plenty of locations you can choose from that are inexpensive and will provide a fantastic honeymoon for you and your new spouse. Rather than huge tourist areas like Paris, choose places like Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Book as Early as Possible
Whether it’s a hotel or a cruise, booking early can save you quite a bit of money. Booking a few months in advance, you get first pick at the cheapest rooms a hotel or cruise has to offer. Plus, you can often get major savings of up to 50%!
Check Smaller Airports
Large airports charge more than smaller airports. You can get great discounts if you fly in or out of an airport that is further away from tourist areas. Try to find an airport that is further away and weigh the cost of airfare at the location. Be sure to calculate taxi cost and call your hotel to make sure you can get to your room without spending an arm and a leg.
Research Alternative Modes of Travel
Flying can drain your budget quickly, so consider another mode of transportation. Driving is perfect if you’re planning to go somewhere in the Americas. If you need to go across the ocean, book a freighter cruise. While it’s not the first class cruise you dream of, it’s far from rugged. Booking a freighter cruise can provide a great experience at a low cost.
Look for All-Inclusive Resorts
One of the best ways to save money on your honeymoon is to take an all-inclusive resort vacation. These resorts include room, food, and entertainment all in one price. Many resorts will even include the price of alcoholic drinks and other services (like a couples massage). These resorts are located all around the world and run for various prices.
Go During the Off Season
If you have your heart set on a major tourist destination like Hawaii, go during the off season. Figure out when the major tourist season is for your dream locale and go when people are less likely to visit. Because tourism is such a huge part of the economy, places like Hawaii will drop the price during seasons when people visit less—like during the spring and fall when schools aren't on vacation.
Have Flexible Timing
If you want the lowest price possible, you need to have a flexible schedule. Airfare, hotel costs, and other various transportation and accommodation costs are lower during certain months. The price can even vary between days of the week and hour! Tuesday around midnight is the cheapest time to book your flight but play around with dates to find the most inexpensive option.
Avoid Holiday Seasons
Holidays are the most expensive time of the year for transportation and tourism. If you want to go on your honeymoon during New Year's, Valentine’s Day, or other huge holidays such as this, you should expect to pay much more than you would during other times of the year.
Use Public/Mass Transportation
Renting a car and grabbing a cab when you need to go somewhere can be expensive. If it’s too far to walk, consider using public transportation. It may be difficult to familiarize yourself with the closest subway, tram, or bus, but you can save a lot of money, and it’s often the quickest way across town.
