You can make the money you’ve budgeted for your honeymoon stretch if you do your homework and to plan ahead. Check out these 10 ways to save money on your honeymoon so that you can have a great, romantic honeymoon within your budget.
Set Priorities. Consider exactly what your priorities are. Is it more important to you to save money or to get a good deal? Also, what are your priorities for the honeymoon itself: do you mostly want to downhill ski every day, or are you dreaming of cozy talks by the fireplace in an old mountain lodge?
Hire a Travel Agent. This person will go to bat for you, get to know you in order to find the best fit for you and your honeymoon, and draw on his or her own contacts and experience to help you stay within budget but book the honeymoon you want. This kind of personal service and expertise is not something you can get by booking online.
Look into Setting Up a Honeymoon Registry. Some travel agencies feature a honeymoon registry. Your wedding guests can use it to buy you individual services like special dinners, outings, and massage, or they can contribute cash to the overall cost of the honeymoon.
Go with an Off-Season Locale. You can save a lot of money by booking your honeymoon during the off-season. However, if a sunny tropical island is your wish, you may only have in-season dates to choose from.
Consider a Lower-cost Locale. You only get once chance for your honeymoon, so weigh any cost savings with getting a good value. In other words, don’t abandon what is important to you in terms of honeymoon experiences while still seeing what discounts or deals you might find.
Have a Nearby Honeymoon. One sure way to save money is to have a honeymoon close by. Is there a cabin nearby? A quaint bed-and-breakfast? A great old historic hotel? Is there a big city nearby full of museums, theater, and great cafes? You don’t have to travel a great distance to have a great honeymoon.
Be the Early Bird. For the most part, if you book flights and hotels early, the prices are lower. But prices also can change over time. Keep an eye on rates and book when you feel comfortable doing so, but it is best to book at least three months in advance.
Watch for Sales. If you are able to be somewhat flexible with the resort, the flight, or even the destination, you or your travel agent can keep an eye out for discounts and sales.
Check the Paper. You might find advertised deals or sales in your local newspaper, but most papers do not have very large travel sections anymore.
Consider Other Nearby Airports. If you compare rates flying out of another nearby airport, you may find a better deal. Also, see if the rate changes if you were to fly on different days or times. Remember to add in the cost of any addition travel expenses to and from the other airport.