The
honeymoon is the transition period between the stress of the
wedding and the commencement of your lives together. Which
is why you and your man should plan the trip together. The
compromises you will be called upon to make in order to
satisfy your respective desires will be good practice for
the kind of compromises that lead to long and happy
marriages.
There are so many vacation options
that you really should start the process by visiting a
travel agent. A seasoned professional will spend time
finding out about your ideal holiday and come up with a
number of suggestions to suit your interests and your
budget. There is no charge for this service.
A good travel agent will be glad to
relieve you of many of the details associated with going
away. Leave it to the professionals. You will have enough to
worry about in seeing that your wedding goes off smoothly.
VALUE
If you're looking for the best value for the money,
honeymoon at your dream destination during the off-season.
June and July are peak season just about anywhere except the
Caribbean. The summer months are popular because that's when
the kids are off school. With families taking their summer
vacations at that time, the availability of flights and
accommodations is limited and airfares are at their highest.
The Caribbean offers good values
during the summer months but beware of the extremely hot
temperatures and the possibility of hurricanes. November and
December are peak season for tropical locations like Hawaii
and the Caribbean, especially for Canadians who want to
escape the cold.
European honeymoons are ideal
during the winter. School children are back home and the
temperature is milder. Spain, Portugal, and other
Mediterranean countries are popular and affordable. To get
the lowest fares the best time to travel is between November
and March.
After Easter vacation, travel
expenses start to rise for the summer vacation travelers.
Your best values are found in Canada or the continental
United States. If you haven't seen the Grand Canyon, Niagara
Falls, or Disney World, this is a great time to honeymoon
without the crowds or heat.
If you're looking for a tropical,
romantic honeymoon with the best values, the fall is the
best time to go. The Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico have all
kinds of packages for the honeymooners. If your budget
allows, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe offer
great values between September and November.
BONUS
When you get to your hotel, don't be shy about telling the
management that you are newlyweds. Often this will get you
extra courtesies like complimentary champagne or breakfast
in bed.
When setting up the various gift
registries for your wedding, consider a honeymoon registry.
Offered by some travel specialists, it permits friends and
relatives to contribute to the cost of your honeymoon. For a
guest, such a system is less crass then sending you a cheque
and less onerous than choosing the right gift. For you, the
letters of acknowledgment provided by the travel agent keep
you current on who sent what so that you can respond with
timely thank-you notes.
