Between paying for the wedding and setting up a new household, many couples find there’s not much money left in their budget for the honeymoon. But who says you have to spend a fortune to enjoy a romantic honeymoon at your dream destination? Here are eight ideas for a more affordable, yet still romantic, honeymoon.
1. Ask for the gift of a honeymoon
You can defray the cost of your honeymoon, or perhaps even cover the cost entirely, by listing it on a honeymoon gift registry. A honeymoon registry works just like a wedding registry, but instead of buying you china your wedding guests buy you a trip to China (or the honeymoon destination of your choice). Yes, your guests could just contribute cash toward your honeymoon, but giving a particular portion of the honeymoon (dinner at a fancy restaurant, or a carriage ride through the historic district of a far-off city, for example) is somehow more meaningful. You’ll find a number of honeymoon registries online; theBigDay.com and theHoneymoon.com are two of the most established.
2. Exchange homes
If you prefer to mingle with the locals rather than other tourists, look into a home exchange for your honeymoon. In a nutshell, you go stay in someone else’s house while they stay in yours. Sound risky? Maybe—but tens of thousands of people have exchanged homes since the 1950s. For an annual membership fee (usually around $50), home exchange clubs will help you find someone willing to swap homes with you, as well as offering tips to make the exchange go smoothly. According to ExchangeHomes.com, a home exchange can cut your travel costs by as much as half. More importantly, though, you’ll get to live like locals, and perhaps make life-long friends.
3. Rely on the hospitality of others
Hospitality clubs can hook you up with people who are willing to host you in their private homes. The largest such club has more than 23,000 members in 148 countries. Membership is usually free, although you’re asked to provide hospitality to others (on a voluntary basis) in return sometime in the future. In addition to saving you money, it’s a great way to meet locals who can give you an insider’s perspective on your honeymoon destination. Other places you can look for free or reduced-cost accommodations include hostels (they’re not just for the young and single anymore) and monasteries and convents, some of which open their doors to guests for little or no charge.
4. Win a free honeymoon
"Nothing in life is free"—unless you win a free honeymoon vacation in a promotional sweepstakes or contest. Quite a few travel agencies and other companies run contests giving away honeymoon vacations as a way of promoting their services.
The odds of winning a free honeymoon may be remote, but the cost of entering is usually just the time you spend searching the web for “honeymoon contest” and filling out online entry forms.
5. Go camping
Firelight and shooting stars every night . . . breathtaking natural beauty . . . snuggling with your honey in a cocoon of zipped-together sleeping bags . . . . Yes, camping can be romantic, as long you’re well prepared and have the right equipment (warm sleeping bags, a comfortable mattress pad, and a waterproof tent are a must). Plus, it’s pretty cheap--$10 to $20 per night at most locations. It’s even cheaper if you cook your own food. You can mix a few nights of camping with a few nights in hotels to make your honeymoon more affordable. And don’t overlook the rustic (but cheap) cabins available for rent at many state and national parks. Some even offer a honeymoon cabin!
6. Travel in the off season
It may be obvious to seasoned travelers, but those with less experience may not be aware of how affordable it can be to honeymoon in the “off season”—basically, any time other than when most people travel to your destination. Certain destinations’ accommodation and airfare prices may be slashed by 30 percent or more during the off-season compared to the peak travel season.
7. Consider your airline alternatives
When booking airfare online, don’t overlook the discount airlines (Southwest, Song, jetBlue, and so on)—some are not listed on the big travel portal websites, even though they might have a lower fare to your destination. Also be sure to compare rates for alternate airports within a reasonable traveling distance. You might live half an hour from a major airport, but the smaller airport a couple hours away might have substantially lower fares, perhaps saving you hundreds of dollars. Finally, be flexible about your arrival and departure dates; the major travel portals all have options to search for the cheapest flights within a range of dates. Any one of these alternatives could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
8. Check budget travel newsletters
If you’re not picky about where you honeymoon, you can probably cash in on promotional deals offering deep discounts on airfare and lodging—if you know about them. To stay abreast of the latest offers, sign up with as many free budget travel newsletters as you can. Start by signing up with the budget travel newsletters offered by Frommers.com, About.com, and MSNBC.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
How To Plan A Romantic, Yet Affordable Honeymoon
Getting married is one of the biggest moments in anyone's life. It's the harmonious union of two people in love. However, that love can quickly start to fizzle if the honeymoon is too costly and turns into a travel nightmare. Anytime you travel or attempt to book travel plans, there is the possibility of something going wrong. And when you're traveling for the first time as a married couple, you want your getaway to be as enjoyable and trouble-free as possible.
If you're getting married soon and want to book a romantic AND trouble-free honeymoon to an international destination without leaving you broke, you need to think ahead and establish your travel budget, choose your destination carefully, and find international travel deals.
Establish Your Honeymoon Travel Budget
One thing that many couples don't do before they start planning their honeymoon is establish what they can afford to spend on the trip. When dealing with international travel, travel expenses such as international airfare, car rentals, hotel rooms, and other items can add up very quickly. And since it's a honeymoon rather than a student travel trip, you don't want to end up staying in a hostel because you ran out of money. So, before you even select a destination, establish exactly how much you have to spend on all items involved in your honeymoon. This includes meals, travel expenses, souvenirs, and any other high-priced items. Remember, traveling internationally can be costly; so if you don't want to end up sleeping on a park bench on your honeymoon, establish your travel budget before you choose a destination.
Choose Your Honeymoon Destination Wisely
Once you have established your honeymoon travel budget, the next step is to choose your destination. When selecting a honeymoon destination, it's a good idea to first list what activities you'd like to do. Are you interested in scuba diving? Do you want to visit museums? If so, what types of museums? After you've created your list, compare it to your spouse's list; see what activities you both have in common, and create a final list.
After your list is finalized, decide when you're going to go. The time of year you travel will dictate what countries/cities you can visit to complete as many items on your list as possible. For example, if you want to layout on the beach every day during your honeymoon, but you're getting married in February, you want to find a honeymoon destination that is sunny and warm in February. The key to choosing the ideal honeymoon destination is selecting a location that satisfies your travel activities, offers the optimal climate to complete those activities, and is within your travel budget.
Find International Travel Deals
Most newly wed couples don't have a fortune to spend on their honeymoon. However, many couples still want to have a honeymoon that's exotic, international, and romantic. So the solution to having the most romantic, yet affordable honeymoon possible is to find international travel deals. The Internet is a great place to look for international travel deals and discounts on airfare. Discounted travel rates and cheap airfare deals can be found online on travel web sites and through online travel consolidators, like cFares. These travel sites contract with the different airlines and use airfare search engine technology to get the best international travel deals on flights around the world. So if you're looking for a way to save a bundle on your honeymoon, search the Internet for international travel deals.
Top International Travel Deals and Destinations for Your Honeymoon
Discount Travel to Milan
There are few places in the world where shopping and eating could be considered religious experiences. Milan's boutique-lined streets offer some of the world's most exquisite and exclusive styles, dominating the cutting-edge of design. Travel to Milan to pamper yourself, but keep a keen eye for how you might redecorate your outdated (by Milan standards) living room. Brera is the most sophisticated and elite shopping area, centrally located and also home to the Pinacoteca de Brera, one of the most coveted museum collections in Europe. Read more about travel to Milan and find international travel deals to Milan at http://www.cfares.com/milan/.
Discount Travel to Brazil
Brazil is the largest and most dynamic South American country, bordering all but two of the continent's other nations. In Brazil, wild Amazon adventures can be coupled with stimulating city sights and leisurely beach escapades. Read more about travel to Brazil and find international travel deals to Brazil at http://www.cfares.com/brazil/.
If you're getting married soon and want to book a romantic AND trouble-free honeymoon to an international destination without leaving you broke, you need to think ahead and establish your travel budget, choose your destination carefully, and find international travel deals.
Establish Your Honeymoon Travel Budget
One thing that many couples don't do before they start planning their honeymoon is establish what they can afford to spend on the trip. When dealing with international travel, travel expenses such as international airfare, car rentals, hotel rooms, and other items can add up very quickly. And since it's a honeymoon rather than a student travel trip, you don't want to end up staying in a hostel because you ran out of money. So, before you even select a destination, establish exactly how much you have to spend on all items involved in your honeymoon. This includes meals, travel expenses, souvenirs, and any other high-priced items. Remember, traveling internationally can be costly; so if you don't want to end up sleeping on a park bench on your honeymoon, establish your travel budget before you choose a destination.
Choose Your Honeymoon Destination Wisely
Once you have established your honeymoon travel budget, the next step is to choose your destination. When selecting a honeymoon destination, it's a good idea to first list what activities you'd like to do. Are you interested in scuba diving? Do you want to visit museums? If so, what types of museums? After you've created your list, compare it to your spouse's list; see what activities you both have in common, and create a final list.
After your list is finalized, decide when you're going to go. The time of year you travel will dictate what countries/cities you can visit to complete as many items on your list as possible. For example, if you want to layout on the beach every day during your honeymoon, but you're getting married in February, you want to find a honeymoon destination that is sunny and warm in February. The key to choosing the ideal honeymoon destination is selecting a location that satisfies your travel activities, offers the optimal climate to complete those activities, and is within your travel budget.
Find International Travel Deals
Most newly wed couples don't have a fortune to spend on their honeymoon. However, many couples still want to have a honeymoon that's exotic, international, and romantic. So the solution to having the most romantic, yet affordable honeymoon possible is to find international travel deals. The Internet is a great place to look for international travel deals and discounts on airfare. Discounted travel rates and cheap airfare deals can be found online on travel web sites and through online travel consolidators, like cFares. These travel sites contract with the different airlines and use airfare search engine technology to get the best international travel deals on flights around the world. So if you're looking for a way to save a bundle on your honeymoon, search the Internet for international travel deals.
Top International Travel Deals and Destinations for Your Honeymoon
Discount Travel to Milan
There are few places in the world where shopping and eating could be considered religious experiences. Milan's boutique-lined streets offer some of the world's most exquisite and exclusive styles, dominating the cutting-edge of design. Travel to Milan to pamper yourself, but keep a keen eye for how you might redecorate your outdated (by Milan standards) living room. Brera is the most sophisticated and elite shopping area, centrally located and also home to the Pinacoteca de Brera, one of the most coveted museum collections in Europe. Read more about travel to Milan and find international travel deals to Milan at http://www.cfares.com/milan/.
Discount Travel to Brazil
Brazil is the largest and most dynamic South American country, bordering all but two of the continent's other nations. In Brazil, wild Amazon adventures can be coupled with stimulating city sights and leisurely beach escapades. Read more about travel to Brazil and find international travel deals to Brazil at http://www.cfares.com/brazil/.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Affordable Honeymoon Packages Ease The Budget
One man's affordable honeymoon package might be another man's budget buster. There are so many expenses for weddings that the affordable honeymoon package might not get the happy couple very far from home. Although the expenses of a wedding are substantial, there are some great affordable honeymoon packages available. One idea for an affordable honeymoon package requires getting someone else to pay for the honeymoon as a wedding gift. People often ask what the couple would like to have as a gift, and a contribution toward part of the honeymoon might be an option.
Some of the cruise ships have some very affordable honeymoon packages, and life on a cruise ship can be a great way to unwind from the hectic schedule and duties of planning a wedding. The cruise ships go to all the corners of the world so the possibilities are most attractive. There are some affordable honeymoon packages that go to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. A cruise on a luxury ship is always a good way to relax while visiting interesting ports of call. Sunbathing on the deck or swimming in the pool on the way to fabulous destinations is a great way to spend part of the honeymoon. There should be a cruise available for many different wedding budgets.
Affordable Honeymoon Packages Include Many Venues
Affordable honeymoon packages are available for many different goals and objectives. Those who want to go to the beach will probably find that the closer the beach the more affordable the honeymoon package. Those with a large budget might hit the beach in Tahiti while those with the smaller budget will want to go to the East Coast or the West Coast depending on the proximity to the starting point. Those who want to play golf on their honeymoon might go to Scotland if the budget permits but Phoenix if funds are more limited. There are great golf courses in both places, and some package tours available to each destination.
Honeymoon packages might be more affordable if these are booked far in advance of the departure dates. A couple might be able to arrange a house exchange to save some money on their honeymoon. There are homes available for exchange all around the world for those with a home to exchange. These exchanges often include cars and other amenities as well. This type of deal would save all funds needed for housing while on the honeymoon. Accommodations are often a large part of any honeymoon bill. A camping trip is another way to save on accommodations for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
Low Jeremy provides more of such articles relating to honeymoon like guidelines in finding the right honeymoon deal.
Visit http://www.techonlinebar.com/honeymoon for more info.
Some of the cruise ships have some very affordable honeymoon packages, and life on a cruise ship can be a great way to unwind from the hectic schedule and duties of planning a wedding. The cruise ships go to all the corners of the world so the possibilities are most attractive. There are some affordable honeymoon packages that go to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe. A cruise on a luxury ship is always a good way to relax while visiting interesting ports of call. Sunbathing on the deck or swimming in the pool on the way to fabulous destinations is a great way to spend part of the honeymoon. There should be a cruise available for many different wedding budgets.
Affordable Honeymoon Packages Include Many Venues
Affordable honeymoon packages are available for many different goals and objectives. Those who want to go to the beach will probably find that the closer the beach the more affordable the honeymoon package. Those with a large budget might hit the beach in Tahiti while those with the smaller budget will want to go to the East Coast or the West Coast depending on the proximity to the starting point. Those who want to play golf on their honeymoon might go to Scotland if the budget permits but Phoenix if funds are more limited. There are great golf courses in both places, and some package tours available to each destination.
Honeymoon packages might be more affordable if these are booked far in advance of the departure dates. A couple might be able to arrange a house exchange to save some money on their honeymoon. There are homes available for exchange all around the world for those with a home to exchange. These exchanges often include cars and other amenities as well. This type of deal would save all funds needed for housing while on the honeymoon. Accommodations are often a large part of any honeymoon bill. A camping trip is another way to save on accommodations for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
Low Jeremy provides more of such articles relating to honeymoon like guidelines in finding the right honeymoon deal.
Visit http://www.techonlinebar.com/honeymoon for more info.
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