Saving Money on Your Honeymoon

For most, planning the dream honeymoon vacation is lots of fun and can be very exciting. It's an opportunity for you and your sweetheart to finally have some alone time after the chaos that ensues during your wedding day. However, for some people with a small budget, planning a honeymoon can be quite stressful and you're forced to spend your money very wisely. There are methods to cutting costs and saving money when planning your dream vacation without sacrificing a lot. Remember, being persistent and conducting the right research will give you the much needed savings. Here are just a few areas on how to do that:

Booking your hotel reservations

Besides airfare, your hotel reservation is the other big opportunity to save money on your honeymoon. The best way to go about doing it is the same as you do for everything else, by comparison shopping on the internet. By going to a search portal you can type in your destination and a few keywords and it will retrieve results. Compare all the rates that you are given, as well as the rating and reviews provided by travelers that have stayed in the hotel.

When you're conducting your research, take into consideration the location of your destination. Most of the time if you choose a hotel that is located just outside of the heart of the city or tourist hot spot then you can save money. You'll then be required to find convenient travel methods to and from the city, but the savings will certainly be worth it. Also, don't always look for familiar names when it comes to hotels. You'd be surprised with the amount of smaller, mom and pop hotels that will offer discount savings and are, for the most part, very comparable to the larger chains. If you decide to go this route then you must check the reviews before booking a room.

Consider renting out a town home, condo, or hostel for your stay. Most of the time the seasonal rentals for such a condo are much lower than the average hotel. The reason being is that with hotels you're paying for convenience and the service of having your own sheets changed, room cleaned, and other inclusive services. However, with a condo or hostel you'll typically have much more room. No matter what style of lodging you choose be sure that it features a kitchen. I'll discuss later on why that's important.

Once you've narrowed your list down, always follow up with a phone call. When you're talking with a representative from the hotel be sure to tell them that it's for your honeymoon and make sure you inquire if there are any sales or special promotions for honeymooners. Remember, it's important to ask because most hotel representatives won't offer anything unless you inquire about it. This could something as small as a free bottle of wine to free shuttle services, but if you don't ask you won't receive.

Booking your airfare.

Again, use the same train of thought with booking your airfare as you did with the hotels. By constantly comparison shopping on the web, you're sure to run across the rates that fit more into your budget. Before you start researching, however, consider what day you want to fly out. For instance, the rates for flying on the weekend can be considerably higher than if you decided to wait until Monday. I know you'll be anxious to get to your honeymoon, but if you wait then it means more money you can spend on other items.

When you research, keep in mind that tour packages would be a better bargain. By booking everything all together, you're saving time, money, and stress. Always book your airfare online because you can save money by not doing it over the phone. Like you did with booking your hotel, follow up with a phone call and get on the line with a representative. Ask if there are any specials, including discounts on car rental services if you are connected to any specific club or organization.

Food and activities on your trip.

Part of the excitement with going on your honeymoon trip is to eat the local food. If your budget doesn't allow fancy dining then you're forced to reconsider. Before you leave, I recommend looking up recipes that go with the style of food that is offered at your destination. Once you arrive, pick up fresh vegetables, fruit, and other items to make the recipe. Remember how I mentioned needing a kitchen earlier? Well, instead of eating out every night, choose to stay in and cook the majority of nights. You're still using local food and keeping in the theme of the local cuisine.

If you go out to eat, only eat out a few times during the week. When you do go, choose to eat at smaller establishments that aren't necessarily hot spots. With most of the hot spots on you're paying for the ambiance and environment, so the smaller restaurants will cut out that cost and will save you money. Also, ask your hotel if they have any coupons, discounts, or arrangements with any of the local restaurants.

My last bit of advice has to do with the activities on your honeymoon. Most couples go to a tropical location for their honeymoon. If that's the case, let the scenery and beach do the work for you. You don't necessarily have to go scuba diving or on a helicopter tour of the island. Though it would be nice, you paid to have the chance to sit on the beaches so enjoy it.

If you're going out for a few drinks, I recommend drinking at home before you go out so that you won't drink as much when you get to the bar. One of the most expensive activities when traveling is drinking alcohol and it's an unnecessary cost if you decide to do it the smart way.

Those are just a few tips on how to save money. Good luck and have a great honeymoon!