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HONEYMOON & TRAVEL
70 | FALL & WINTER 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMGET THE MOST BANG FOR
YOUR BUCK
To keep costs in check, as with planning
your wedding, decide your honeymoon
must-haves (keeping in mind that
everything cannot be a must-have) and
plan your trip around those details.
You both want to spend time lying on
a beach watching palm trees sway?
Terrific. Realize that you don’t have to go
to Hawaii to have that.
There are places on the planet where
the dollar is strong and you’ll get a lot
for your money. There are also places on
the planet where the dollar is weak and
a couple of lattes will set you back the
equivalent of $15. If you venture beyond
the preconceived borders of where you
always thought you’d honeymoon, you
may find some sites that will be new and
interesting to explore and offer a lot more
bang for your buck.
If you’re jetting off to a faraway
destination, now would be the time to
cash in those frequent-flier miles for
upgrades to business class or first class.
You’ll be more pampered, which will be
nice, but you’ll actually be able to get
some rest on the plane, and after the
whirlwind wedding planning and actual
day, you’ll need it.
If you’re planning a really long trip (think
Los Angeles to New York then New York
to London), don’t try to complete all your
travel at once. Plan on spending a day in
the layover city. No one will be in a good
mood after 12 or more hours of flying.
BOOK SMARTS
Is a rate per person, per night or per
package? Never assume anything.
Know what is – and isn’t – included in
quoted costs, minimum and maximum
stays, and other conditions and terms
that affect the total price. Airport and
room taxes and fees, and other charges,
can up seemingly low-cost advertised
package or per-night rates.
You can save a lot of money by planning
your honeymoon yourself and scouring
the web for great deals, but you’ll also
eat up a lot of precious time. Sometimes,
it’s more prudent to pay a professional.
Consider whether paying a travel agent to
take care of all your arrangements might
be money well spent.
To get the most out of your lodging
dollars, ask about packages. Most
hotels have a variety of packages
available featuring perks such as theater
tickets or spa services, and the rates are
often lower than if you booked a room
alone.
DEAL WITH THE DETAILS
If you’re traveling abroad for your
honeymoon, verify what forms of
identification you’ll need to enter that
country, then plan accordingly to have
those documents or IDs in hand two
weeks before your departure.
If you’re traveling abroad, exchange
some cash for the currency of your
destination country. You’ll have one
less thing to think about when you land
and need to take a cab or train to your
hotel. Airports generally have exchange
kiosks, but you’ll pay a surcharge for
the convenience.Unless you’re traveling
somewhere remote, use your ATM card
to get more cash when you arrive. The
exchange rate will be more favorable
through your bank than if you visit a local
currency exchange abroad.
Is your wallet the size of most purses?
Pare it down before you depart. Take
your ATM card, one or two credit cards,
travelers’ checks, health insurance
cards, some U.S. currency, some local
currency, driver’s license (you can’t rent
a car without one – anywhere), passport,
and any relevant numbers for hotels,
airlines, car rental agencies and travel
offices. Make copies of all the contents
(front and backs of cards), keep one with
you, keep one in the hotel safe and give
a copy to a friend or family member you
can call in case of an emergency.
No one’s making any promises, but you
never know what you might receive by
simply mentioned that you’re planning
your honeymoon. Hotels, for example,
might upgrade your room or have a
bottle of champagne waiting for you
when you arrive.
© CTW Features
How to Plan
a Honeymoon
Maui Visitors Bureau
6-9 Months in Advance -
Your Honeymoon
She wants
a timeless
romance;
he wants an
epic adventure.
Why not have
the best of
both?
TOP 10
ROMANTIC
HONEYMOON
SPOTS
1. Hawaii
2. Tahiti
3. Italy
4. St. Lucia
5. Mexico
6. Jamaica
7. Bali
8. France
9. Fiji
10. U.S. Virgin
Islands
TOP 10
ADVENTURE
HONEYMOON
SPOTS
1. Costa Rica
2. Australia
3. Alaska
4. Belize
5. New Zealand
6. South Africa
7. Hawaii
8. South America
9. Colorado
10. Mexico
Source: Modern Bride’s
8th Annual Survey of
Travel Professionals