CHOICES Use travel smarts to plan for a great honeymoon
Follow these tips to have a great trip.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Attention, soon-to-be-wed couples drooling over travel brochures and dreaming about leaving the wedding-planning hot seat in favor of a lounge chair on the beach: Not so fast.
You need to get practical about your honeymoon choices in advance of your big day. The Knot has developed the following tips to help your honeymoon go off without a hitch.
UMax your time: Only have time for a short getaway? Don't spend half your trip getting there and back. When all you want to do is relax, a long trip will be tortuous, ill advised and unnecessary after an exhausting wedding weekend (if you must, take a red-eye in business class to ease the pain). Likewise, don't choose a hotel two hours away from the airport. And make sure to double-check that holidays -- when stores, banks and museums may be closed -- don't fall during your mini 'moon.
UTravel off-season: Choose a destination or cruise itinerary whose off- or shoulder-season (right before and after high season) coincides with your travel dates for drastic price breaks and fewer crowds. Better yet: Choose an off-season locale where the U.S. dollar is especially strong. The drawbacks? Seasonal businesses may be closed and weather may be iffy to awful (not always -- the Caribbean has ideal temperatures year-round but rates skyrocket from January to April due to high demand from the winter-weary East Coast market).
UCash in! That credit card you've been abusing to pay for your wedding is ready to be milked for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and upgrades. (In fact, seat upgrades have a better "exchange rate" than ticket purchases and are key splurges on marathon flights.) Ask about partnerships with car or hotel companies and allow plenty of time for membership rewards or points to be transferred. Another way to optimize is through a reputable travel agency. Travel agents can save you money on air/hotel packages, wrangle a great room, share firsthand experience and let you know about last minute or ongoing sales. If you use one, be sure to tell the agent your priorities and budget, so everyone knows exactly what can be cut and what must be kept.
UCall the hotel directly: Customer service reps manning a toll-free 800-number may never have been to the hotel you're calling about and will likely not be able to tell you specifics such as which room has the best view. It's also easier to negotiate a lower rate with someone on the property. While you're on the phone, double-check that the room has at least a double bed and mention that you'll be on your honeymoon. You might get a free upgrade!
UDollars and sense: Don't let real life (theft, lost luggage, pickpockets) pop your honeymoon bubble. Do these four important things before you leave: Set a budget; know your limits (checking account balance, limits on your credit cards); carefully tailor the mix of cash, travelers checks and credit cards you take based on safety and ATM accessibility at your destination; and write down emergency contact numbers should your wallet go missing. Keep a copy of this list-and a photocopy of your passport-in your room and with someone at home.
UPrepare for boarding: Expect that checking bags and clearing airport security will take two hours or more; these days it's common for security personnel to unpack entire bags and inspect shoes on everyone boarding a plane. Full body searches are also more frequent, both at random and when suspicions are aroused for whatever reason. If you must have carry-on luggage, leave the tweezers, scissors and other sharp objects in checked baggage or, better yet, at home. Brides who prefer underwire bras also should note that metal underwire can trip security systems, so be sure to shop ahead for plane-friendly underclothes if you mind getting a breast exam from security guards. Likewise, any metal on any clothing is likely to set off the alarm, so plan your outerwear accordingly.
UCompromise is key: She wants to snorkel; he wants to golf. No problem: Divvy up your days. Tee off together in the mornings, then get friendly with the fish in the afternoon. She can plan one day; he can plan the next. Don't battle; balance! Remember, too, that splitting up for a few hours is allowed. If one of you is tired and the other wired, scout out a place for dinner or jog along the beach while the other catches a nap. Your reunion will be all the sweeter.
UDon't over-plan: This can be tough, especially if you've flown halfway around the world. Who knows when you'll return? You can sleep later, right? Wrong. Let yourself off the hook, at least just this once. You've spent months overstuffing every day with work and wedding planning; you've both earned this chance to chill.
XLooking for a romantic getaway of your own? Get inspired by dozens of destinations worldwide at www.theknot.com/honeymoons.