Planning a Honeymoon

So you’ve bagged your man, wrestled with your mother-in-law and survived the nightmare that everyone calls a wedding! Now it’s time for the best part of this marital journey, the honeymoon! On a serious note this is a holiday for you and your new husband to get away, and really get to know each other.

To ensure your honeymoon is perfect, you have to do your homework, so here’s a guide to help you plan the ultimate honeymoon.

Although traditionally the honeymoon is the groom’s forte, these days customs are changing and both parties have an equal say. Your celebratory vacation is probably going to be the first project you work on together as a couple, so the most important thing to remember is communication. Discuss with your partner your desires and expectations for this trip, whilst remembering to listen as well.

Important questions you need to ask

Going on honeymoon is not about getting into debt, but about spending quality time with your partner and building a foundation for your marriage. To make sure you spend with your pockets and not with your eyes, it’s important to have an estimate of how much you both wish to spend. Your budget should include:

• Transportation (including airfares, airport transfers, rental cars)
• Accommodation
• Meals/Drinks
• Activities (excursions, tours, attractions)
• Money (shopping, gifts)
• Insurance

Finally ensure to add 10% to 15% of your total, to arrive at a final estimate. This should cover any extra extravagances or sudden impulse buys.

No matter how much you believe you know what your partner wants - ask him! While you might love the idea of hiking up mountains and scuba diving in Belize, your partner may wish you spend days relaxing on the sandy beaches of the Maldives. Oh the horror of compromise!

Although you and your partner may wish to disappear together for months on end, it might not be the fantastic idea you imagine it is. More couples break up on holiday than you suppose, unable to cope with being in each others company twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. This is nothing to be ashamed of, instead of trying to be the ultimate conjugal couple, limit your holiday to a few weeks. After all, you have the rest of your lives to spend together.

Final tips to remember

Make sure you specify everything you want to your travel agent, whether you would like an ocean view or rose petals sprinkled on the bed; your honeymoon is not the time to compromise. Bear in mind to tell everyone it’s your honeymoon, you’ll be surprised at to see how many perks it can get you, from champagne to complimentary dinner and nights at your chosen hotel.

Also, ask your married family and friends for suggestions. Where did they go? Where did they stay? This will stop you making any mistakes that they may have made.

Hopefully this will be the only honeymoon you go on so while you’re away, aim to forget about the rest of the world and truly enjoy your time with you partner.