CWPR 2015 Fall/Winter

H O N E Y M O O N & T R A V E L

C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E

W W W . C H I C A G O W E D D I N G R E S O U R C E . C O M

8 Ways to Have the Best Honeymoon Ever

Follow these travel

and budget tips for

the trip of a lifetime

By Brooke Showell, CTW Features

1. CHOOSE A

DESTINATION YOU’LL

BOTH LOVE

She dreams of a “foodiemoon” in

France, he wants to sail the Florida

Keys. What’s the compromise? Sit

down together with a map and look at

the places you both have considered.

Say the names aloud to each other

and see how it makes you feel. Hap-

py? Excited? You will internally know

what place will nourish you the most.

If that doesn’t work, take the top four

places on both your lists and name

the pros and cons.

2. BE TRENDY

According to the experts, current hot

honeymoon destinations include

•The Dominican Republic, with its

plethora of affordable but high-end

all-inclusive resorts

•Smaller European cities like Rome

or Barcelona that may be less ex-

pensive than London and Paris

•Thailand for its mix of culture and

beaches, and safaris for adventur-

ous types.

•Closer to home, a “minimoon” –

think a quick jaunt to a nearby lo-

cale – is a popular wedding buzz-

word.

3. THINK EXPERIENTIAL

More people want to encompass

more experiences as their honey-

moon together, instead of just laying

on a beach and getting a tan. Many

couples look for a combination of

off-the-beaten path destinations, ad-

venture and culture with a little relax-

ation at the end. Mix with the locals

and get a true sense of your destina-

tion beyond the guidebook. An easy

trick: Get off the tourist grid and

stay at an off-the-beaten-path bed

and breakfast, where the owners will

serve the local specialty and point out

favorite neighborhood haunts.

4. ENLIST HELP

The right travel planner has inside

access to score a hard-to-get restau-

rant reservation and troubleshoot

any problems that pop up. This could

include details down to when to wear

layers, cultural dress norms, and

which rooms have the best views. To

find the right person, ask a potential

travel pro questions like what rela-

tionships they have with hotels and

resorts, and what are some examples

of honeymoons they’ve planned.

5. BOOK EARLY

Travel booked more than 100 days

in advance often equals a better deal.

Also, booking flights and hotel at the

same time can save on average about

$540, but up to $1,500 in larger mar-

kets like the Caribbean and Hawaii.

Monday and Tuesday are the days

when many fare sales launch, so trav-

elers should look to book early in the

week to snatch up a good deal.

6. MAKE THE MOST OF

YOUR BUDGET

Traveling in low season, for example

to Mexico or the Caribbean in fall

(typically known as hurricane sea-

son), could yield a 50-percent low-

er cost. Research and consider the

risks – check the area’s weather pat-

terns over the past few years, inquire

whether restaurants remain open

– and weigh against potential perks

such as fewer crowds and more access

to exclusive venues.

Another idea gaining momentum is

to invite the wedding party for part of

the trip and book a private villa for

the group, where you can cook to-

gether and save on hotel costs.

7. BEFRIEND THE

CONCIERGE

When booking your hotel room, let

the agent know it’s your honeymoon

so the staff can make your stay extra

special. A honeymooner’s best friend

is often the hotel concierge. Reach

out even before your arrival to dis-

cuss any desires like concert tickets or

restaurant reservations (for truly top-

notch service look out for the coveted

Clefs d’Or status, which many of the

Palace’s concierges hold). The more

notice they have the better able they

are to make dreams come true.

8. PLAN A SURPRISE

The romance didn’t end at “I do,” so

incorporate a few extras into your trip

to make it extra memorable. Instead

of the typical fancy dinner for two on

the beach, plan an early morning hot-

air balloon ride followed by a cham-

pagne breakfast. Need inspiration?

Top this: one groom booked a special

suite for a private dinner on the hotel

rooftop terrace, complete with a ser-

enade by a Spanish guitarist followed

by a rose-petal turndown.