Creating The Perfect Honeymoon
A honeymoon is a holiday like no other. It needs to be special; after all it’s the beginning of your life together as a married couple.
The way we approach honeymoons is that we don’t simply book them; we create them. It’s a process. There’s the holiday element, obviously. And then there are the little touches that make it extra special, the lounge passes, the dinner reservations, the couples massage, the opportunity for sunset dinner on the beach perhaps. Whatever it is that makes the experience special for both of you.
So how to get the ball rolling …
Some couples already have very clear ideas on where and when they want to honeymoon. Others may be looking for a bit of inspiration. Either way, it’s a good idea to schedule in a zoom call at an early stage. This initial call gives us an opportunity to meet with you both and to ask lots of questions about what you want from the trip. For some people that’s two weeks in a romantic beachside hideaway, for others it could be touring South East Asia or horse-riding in Montana. There really is no one size fits all – and that’s one of the reasons that we love planning honeymoons!
We’re here to help you, and our travel experience and destination knowledge really pays off. Couples may come to us with a clear idea of where they want to go … but there might be even better options that they had not considered. As an example, one lovely couple contacted us about a Maldives honeymoon – they loved the prospect of white sand beaches and a swim-up room. But they were not keen on the idea of seaplane or speedboat transfers. On holiday, they liked to be able to explore locally; trying local restaurants and bars and exploring the heritage and culture – there are very limited opportunities for this on the Maldive Atols.
We listened to their wants and concerns and in our follow up call we presented ideas for the Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius. Mauritius was the winner! It was perfect for these clients. The couple had an amazing stay in their beach front, swim up room and enjoyed some incredible special touches, including a dinner on the beach. They told us that they had the time of their lives. Which is exactly what a honeymoon should be.
What if we don’t want two weeks on a beach?
A beach holiday is not everyone’s ideal, we get that. Don’t get restricted into thinking that is the only option available to you, whatever your budget. We’ve had honeymoon couples motorhome through New Zealand, ski Japan, explore the temples of Bali. The world is your oyster … and you might be pleasantly surprised how far your money can go if you book with a travel agent.
TOP TIPS FOR HONEYMOON PLANNING
- Do it early. As soon as you have set a date for the wedding, start planning for the honeymoon. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, you’ll always get the best prices if you book ahead of time. You’ll also have the best choice of hotels and rooms – honeymooners generally want rooms with special touches, swim up for instance. Hotels only have a limited number of these. When they’re booked, they’re booked! Secondly, get it booked early and it’s off your to do list. Contact your travel agent (hopefully us at Travel Lightly) who can be researching and planning on your behalf whilst you can focus on the wedding itself. Finally, most trips are available to book with a low deposit, giving you the reassurance your honeymoon is organised and time to pay the balance.
So … booking early = best prices + more choice + time to pay. A win all round!
- Have a list or mood board where you can each add your honeymoon ideas. Really focus in on what you want – is it 5*? Is it multi-centre? Is it all inclusive? Is it beach, mountains, lakeside? Do you want to include any excursions or tours?
- Also make a note of what you don’t want … for instance does it have to be an adults only hotel, does it matter to you if it’s a big ‘branded’ hotel or do you want something more boutique.
- Think about your budget. Be realistic. You’re unlikely to get two weeks in a 5* Mauritius all inclusive for £6000. But you might get 10 days, or you might get 2 weeks if you look at 4* or half board. Decide what are your negotiables.
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Contact us. Tell us all of 1,2,3 and 4 above. Sit back and wait for us to make the magic happen!