Tips for Preparing & Planning a Honeymoon
Congratulations! It’s finally time to embark on a new chapter of your life with your spouse. What better way to kick that off than the honeymoon of your dreams? Here are nine tips to consider when planning for your dream vacation!
- Get planning!
If you’re engaged and reading this, you should have already started planning – after all, this is a vacation you will always remember and is a huge part of the celebration of your new marriage. The sooner you start planning, the better! Planning for your honeymoon well ahead of time will allow you time to budget accordingly and get the best opportunity for savings and placement on airfare.
- Pick the resort right for you and your spouse.
Think about what type of resort is right for your vacation. Is it all-inclusive or would you rather venture outside of the resort for restaurants, bars, etc.? Consider weighing out the pros and cons of each option. Keep in mind, not every all-inclusive is going to be adult-only.
- Use your maiden name.
When purchasing airfare and other necessary tickets, be sure to use your maiden name. You may be very excited about taking on that new last name, but legally you won’t have it until you receive your official Marriage License weeks after your wedding. Believe it or not, this happens frequently and can be disastrous at the airport!
- Be sure to include a rest day.
Take this as a piece of advice, don’t leave for your honeymoon the day after your wedding. If you’re getting married on a Friday, leave on Sunday morning – same goes for a Saturday evening wedding. Including that day of rest will make the first day of your honeymoon much more enjoyable. You’ll be running around on your wedding day, so give yourself a day to unwind and soak in the feeling of being newlywed.
- And then another rest day.
Arrive home from your honeymoon a full day before heading back to work. Coming back from your paradise and going straight back to work without a day to adjust can be very difficult (even if you’re not traveling out of your typical time zone)! Give yourself that one extra day, you won’t regret it.
- Purchase Travel Insurance.
It may seem like an extra vacation expense, but for peace of mind alone, it’s worth every penny. Whether you need insurance or not depends on how much you could stand to lose or shell out for unexpected emergencies without crying the blues. You’re probably thinking, “I know for certain I will not be cancelling my honeymoon” – but some things are simply out of your control.
- Maximize packing space.
Roll your clothes and stuff your shoes! Rolling your clothes will not only maximize space, but can avoid wrinkling if done correctly. If you’re worried about a piece that wrinkles easily, try placing tissue paper on top before rolling the item. Pack up tightly and you’ll be surprised how much room you save! Stuff your socks inside of your shoes – this saves space and helps your shoes keep shape.
- Put down your cell phone.
I know it may be a hard thing to do but put down the cell phone. You’ll obviously want to have your cell phone on you for emergencies, but steer clear of social media and the constant checking in and posting of pictures. We’ll all be jealous of your vacation while we are at work – but your honeymoon is rare moment in life when it’s just the two of you. Enjoy it and savor the moments, just the two of you!
- Utilize a Travel Advisor.
Although we may be biased on this recommendation – it’s one that should not be overlooked! Not only have the AAA South Jersey Travel Advisor planned hundreds of other couples’ perfect honeymoons, they also don’t cost a dime extra. In fact, in most cases they save you money by finding the best deals that are out there. So, before you start planning your honeymoon – give AAA Travel a call and let the experts help you put together the honeymoon of your dreams! Your experience will be truly hassle-free.