How To Plan the Perfect Honeymoon...
So you have started planning your wedding and now you're thinking about a honeymoon. A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by a newly married couple to celebrate 
their marriage in seclusion. These trips usually involve going somewhere exotic or special or romantic. It's a time for both you and your fiancé to relax, unwind, explore and enjoy each other. Your dream honeymoon will take some time and effort to arrange. But your vision can come to life if you do the 5 musts for your Perfect Honeymoon.
1) Budget. Surely, you two have discussed how much you plan on spending on your wedding day. That task was daunting, I'm sure. This decision is no less important as your previous discussions. But you must come to a consensus now. You need to take into consideration not only the costs of travel, but the cost of accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment. You'll need to check with a travel specialist. Many companies also now offer honeymoon registries, which allow your family and friends to assist in paying for this occasion.
2) Destination. You two need to decide what type of honeymoon you want. Are you "adrenaline-holics" (you know bungee jumpers, zip line flyers or helicopter divers?) Or are you eco-adventurers (people who want to explore white-water rapids or watch whales frolic up close and personal, or would you enjoy spying sea lions on a rocky shoreline, or bald eagles soaring, or glimpsing blue herons in a photographer's paradise?) Or could you two be serious romantics looking forward to relaxing next to a calming sea, discovering historic sites and reveling in an afterglow of your festivities on a white sand beach?
You are also going to have to decide on your accommodations. The choice will probably be between a resort, a cruise, a hotel or a B&B. An all-inclusive resort will include meals and many options of activities; it may also include any bar bills you incur. This is a great option, if you think that bill might be high. But if not, you are paying for those drinks regardless. A cruise will cover all meals as well as most activities, although shore excursions are usually extra. But that doesn't mean that you two can't just leave the ship and explore on your own. Also, on most cruises, your bar bill is extra. A hotel may include an evening and/or breakfast but that is highly unusual. And, of course, you are on your own as far as activities go. And at a B&B it's just that-- you will pay for a bed and a breakfast. Everything else will be extra. Or you two may decide to take a tour--visiting historic sites in Israel would qualify. Or perhaps taking an African safari would be more to your liking. You should realize, however, that you will spend a lot if time grouped with the other folks on the tour. Depending on your couple style, you may opt to go hiking and camping. Of course, you won't have many champagne breakfasts in bed here. Just remember, this is a time when you want to get the most out of your dollar without over spending.
3) Duration. Most couples take from 5 to 12 days for a honeymoon. Depending upon how many days you require before your big day, it will determine how much time you have to spend on a honeymoon. But remember, you two don't need to depart the day following your nuptials. As a matter of fact, more and more couples are holding off on their honeymoon from a few days to a few months. This allows them to pay for their perfect honeymoon as well as have the time to enjoy it. You know how much time is realistically available for this fantastic holiday. Plan, plan, plan.
4) When to Go. Dependent upon your destination of choice, you can always opt for the prime season. For the Caribbean that means mid-winter. For Europe high season is definitely summer. If your ideal destination is Alaska or southern South America, that too is mid-summer. The issue in traveling to these places during their primary season is, that is when the prices are the absolute highest. Any agent can tell you when the cusps of the season begins and ends. You may decide to go then but you will have the advantage of understanding the differences in costs. Going during shoulder season, as this time is called, may allow you to shrink your costs by as much as 25%. Or it may allow you to do more on your honeymoon than you would otherwise be able to do. Your agent can tell you the most cost effective time to travel to your desired destination.
5) Assistance. At this point, you need to contact a professional. Most agents do not charge for their services. So do not be deterred from contacting someone who can truly help you. By all means surf the internet and check out the possibilities; everyone does. It will help your agent to know that you have done your homework and are ready to make some decisions. An agent knows all the ins and outs of resorts, B&Bs, cruise ships, and available activities.
Their experience is worth its weight in gold. Additionally, oftentimes, they have deals, discounts, upgrades and amenities that just aren't available to the public. (One couple I worked with really wanted a balcony stateroom, but their budget just wouldn't handle it. I am always on the lookout for upgrades available until the last moment before departure. Then about 2 weeks before their departure, I was able to get them an upgrade at a tiny fraction of the original balcony costs.) This doesn't always work but most travel professionals really do work hard to get you what you want at a price you can afford..
Planning your perfect honeymoon is not unlike finding your perfect wedding dress or coming up with a perfect signature cocktail for your reception. You need to decide how much to spend and where to go, then speak to a travel professional in whom you have confidence. Having your dream honeymoon is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.