Planning a spring wedding? Then it is also time to make your honeymoon arrangements. Take a look at these great ideas for spring honeymoons.
Outdoor enthusiasts have lots of fun options for springtime adventures. One of the best is to take a trip out West for spring skiing. On many of the big mountains in Colorado, Utah, and British Columbia, there is plenty of good skiing left well into April. It can be a lot of fun too, as you will have lots of snow combined with sunny days and pleasant temperatures. Not only that, but lift tickets can be less expensive in the spring than in the peak winter season.
To promote the spring skiing season, many of the large resorts have festivals and special events in March and April. There are concerts, parades, and even Easter egg hunts! Combine that with the fantastic shopping and restaurants at some of the more posh ski destinations like Aspen, and you will have a honeymoon that offers endless fun things to do. Dining at ski resorts is not limited to burgers grabbed in the ski lodge, either. Plan on some romantic dinners in cozy little bistros. Dress up a cashmere sweater with a couple of Swarovski crystal bracelets for the perfect ski resort chic dinner outfit. (If you wore Swarovski crystal bracelets for your wedding, it will be especially fun to wear them again on your honeymoon.)
For those who are tired of chilly early spring weather, think about a honeymoon to a warm weather destination. By late spring, south Florida and some of the closer Caribbean islands will be reaching very comfortable temperatures. If you want to be assured of perfect beach weather, plan on heading further south to a spot like Aruba, which has highs well into the mid-80s by March. Just try to avoid scheduling any trips to popular destinations that will be overrun with college students on spring break!
The dessert Southwest is also very beautiful in the spring. Well past the monsoon season, but before the oppressive summer heat sets in, Arizona and New Mexico are extremely pleasant. Chill out by the pool at a fabulous resort, or visit the artists' galleries in Taos, Santa Fe, or Albuquerque. Maybe you can even pick up a unique piece of pottery or a painting to display in your new home. That would make a wonderful honeymoon souvenir.
Culture lovers may wish to consider a spring honeymoon in Europe. You are not guaranteed fantastic weather, but as long as you avoid Easter week, you should be assured of much smaller crowds than in the summer months. If you want to get close enough to the Mona Lisa to see the brushstokes or spend a few minutes admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome without being jostled by a swarm of tourists, going in the spring is your best bet. And who cares if the weather is not perfect when you can spend your evenings enjoying romantic dinners in some of the best restaurants in Europe? Bon Voyage!
Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ideas. Show all posts
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Eight Cheap Honeymoon Ideas for Couples on a Budget
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.
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.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Honeymoon Ideas You Can Do
If you simply would like your honeymoon to turn out a little more unique than the usual, then the following should give you some helpful ideas:
Go for Luxury...
Taking on a cruise is one honeymoon idea you can do. You can choose from several honeymoon cruise and travel places of your choice while enjoying each other's company in a luxurious ship packed with everything you need. Better yet, exchange vows in the middle of the seas and spend the rest of the night watching stars and walking on the ship deck.
Booking on a most luxurious suite on the highest floor of the hotel. Here, you are pampered with the best services you can get while seeing the city up high. Booking for a luxurious hotel accommodation is always money well spent.
Staying at a luxurious resort in one of the islands of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Fiji or Asia is another honeymoon idea you can do. Spend the week at a tropical paradise while enjoying the resort amenities. Take the waters and head for the sun during the day. Spend hours in the open sea either doing some water sports or seeing the underwater world with a scuba or snorkel.
Another honeymoon idea is booking for an exclusive villa in a secluded island resort. Here, the freedom is yours to do everything you want to and you can experience the total privacy you've wanted to have.
Roaming the city street of Europe and tasting the food and culture of its countries is another honeymoon idea you can do. Go to England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and other European nation and experience the magnificence of the cities established centuries back.
Budget conscious...
Spend the week in your house with champagne or wine would be enough to complete your honeymoon experience. Do nothing. Sleep anytime of the day. Lie on the bed together the whole day. Watch movies together. Do everything you want. After all the beauty of your honeymoon rests on both of you alone.
Go to one of your weekend getaways and spend the day doing something special. You can re-live your first days of dating or reminisce the early days of your relationship. You can also go to the place where you first met or dine at the restaurant where you first dated. These things could be enough to say that your honeymoon is complete.
Go for Luxury...
Taking on a cruise is one honeymoon idea you can do. You can choose from several honeymoon cruise and travel places of your choice while enjoying each other's company in a luxurious ship packed with everything you need. Better yet, exchange vows in the middle of the seas and spend the rest of the night watching stars and walking on the ship deck.
Booking on a most luxurious suite on the highest floor of the hotel. Here, you are pampered with the best services you can get while seeing the city up high. Booking for a luxurious hotel accommodation is always money well spent.
Staying at a luxurious resort in one of the islands of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Fiji or Asia is another honeymoon idea you can do. Spend the week at a tropical paradise while enjoying the resort amenities. Take the waters and head for the sun during the day. Spend hours in the open sea either doing some water sports or seeing the underwater world with a scuba or snorkel.
Another honeymoon idea is booking for an exclusive villa in a secluded island resort. Here, the freedom is yours to do everything you want to and you can experience the total privacy you've wanted to have.
Roaming the city street of Europe and tasting the food and culture of its countries is another honeymoon idea you can do. Go to England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and other European nation and experience the magnificence of the cities established centuries back.
Budget conscious...
Spend the week in your house with champagne or wine would be enough to complete your honeymoon experience. Do nothing. Sleep anytime of the day. Lie on the bed together the whole day. Watch movies together. Do everything you want. After all the beauty of your honeymoon rests on both of you alone.
Go to one of your weekend getaways and spend the day doing something special. You can re-live your first days of dating or reminisce the early days of your relationship. You can also go to the place where you first met or dine at the restaurant where you first dated. These things could be enough to say that your honeymoon is complete.
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