After the Wedding Comes The Honeymoon

Summer is the height of wedding season. Luckily for me, I have no weddings this year. However, next year is a different story.

Photo Credit: http://www.onscreenweddings.com

As a traveler, I am excited about where the couple is headed for their honeymoon more than the wedding. For many couples, their honeymoon is the first time they travel outside the United States. Its an exciting time for the new couple. Add in a foreign location and the experiences to be had a numerous.

A survey by Hipmunk and Yahoo, revels that Fiji, Italy, Hawaii, New Zealand and Greece are the top Honeymoon Destinations. No real surprises there.

(Graphic: Jinah Kim)

What I like about the survey is that Disneyland, Mexico and California are the "least ideal honeymoon destinations." I had a college friend have here honeymoon at Disneyland, but the couple were major "Disney geeks." There description of themselves, not mine.

The survey reveled that 70% of men were more excited about the honeymoon than the actual wedding compared to 36% of women.

(Graphic: Jinah Kim)

Almost all couples would spend less on the wedding for a fancier honeymoon.

(Graphic: Jinah Kim)

This is where points and miles can help. Typically, weddings/honeymoons are planned a year or more in advance. A few strategic credit card applications by your fiance and you, can result in a significant portion of your honeymoon being paid for.

For instance, the Hyatt credit card offers 2 free nights worldwide. If both your fiance and you apply for the Hyatt credit cards separately, you can earn 4 free nights. For many couples, 4 nights is almost the entire honeymoon. Add in an airline credit card or 2, you could help reduce or eliminate the cost of the airfare to the honeymoon destination.

How will you hit the minimum spend on the credit card to earn the bonus miles?

Don't you have expenses for the wedding. Probably lots of expenses!

Parents paying for the wedding?

Ask them to allow you to put the charges on your credit card and give you a check. If you tell them its to help pay for the honeymoon, they might be more willing to help out twice!

A small amount of planning can result in significant savings on your honeymoon.

If you are married, do you wish you could have taken a fancier honeymoon?

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Book Now and Worry Later

One of the most important lessons learn in this community is to book now and worry later. In the travel world, fare and hotel mistakes happen all the time. The problem is that these mistakes happen quickly and last a few hours if not minutes.

To grab some of the best deals, you need to be at the right places at the right time. But more importantly, you need to book quickly. Think about it to long, the deal might be gone.

Early in February, a deal appeared for 1 night at the Williamsburg, VA Hampton Inn for $10 via Bookingcom. Yes $10.

The catch was that the deal was only good for Thanksgiving Weekend. I decided to book a room, because I am a big fan of the Williamsburg Outlets. Am I going to be in the Virginia for Thanksgiving? Who Knows? I booked it anyways. Worse that happen is that I lost $10.

A few days ago, Booking.com contact me with the following email:

The $10 rate was a mistake. No shit. And the hotel normally charges $129, but are willing to give me a rate of $116. That's nice. I told them to cancel the reservation.

Am I bummed about not getting the deal? No. Would it have been cool to get a $10 night? Yes, but in the scheme of things it isn't important. You win some in this game and you lose some in this game. The key is to celebrate the wins and not get upset at the ones that don't work out. With the new 24 hour cancellation rule on airfares, you have nothing to lose in booking that $100 flight to Hawaii. Book the flight, talk to the boss tomorrow, and cancel if he/she doesn't give you time off.

Book Now and Worry Later! It will save you time, frustration and may work out in the end.

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