What Every Newlywed Should Know About Holiday Honeymoons

Beautiful light displays in Gothenburg, cinnamon cookies and hot cocoa from a coffee shop in Prague and a festive fashion show in Barbados sound like beautiful ideas for a holiday honeymoon — but how do you get to that point?

Here’s what to know about planning your holiday honeymoon.

 

Research Is Essential

While you think about your destination, look for reviews and other people’s experiences. If you have friends who have traveled to a place you’re interested in, ask them about their experiences. Another great way to get reliable and up-to-date information about travel packages and destinations is through travel agents.

Some research points that will help you plan the holiday honeymoon of a lifetime include:

• Popular places, sightseeing and top romantic spots
• Festivals, carnivals and light displays
• Ideal dates with good weather conditions
• Where to stay, what to pack
• How to get around, where to exchange money and where to eat

 

Plan Accordingly With the Holiday Schedule

While traveling during the holidays can be fun, keep in mind that many sights and attractions may be closed on Christmas Day. Fortunately, most destinations have festivals and markets leading up to and after the holiday.

Research which attractions will be open, and plan your trip around them. You could order dinner from a restaurant the night before and have a cozy night with your spouse on Christmas Day, then enjoy the festivities and Christmas markets in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve.

 

Booking Early Gets You the Best Deals

Once you’ve chosen your destination, you can start looking at flights. Check out deals and discounts for Christmas or Thanksgiving flights at least three months before, depending on your chosen dates. Another great way to find good flight deals is to watch for flash sales. These sales usually happen at the same time each year, so find out when your airline last had a flash sale, and when the date comes, you can buy the tickets.

 

Your Wedding Hotel Can Give You Discounts for Your Honeymoon

Are you getting married at a hotel? Find out if they have any holiday honeymoon packages available. They may also refer you to a sister hotel and you may find yourself in a different country with a hotel stay at discounted rates. Luxury hotels usually do this, but you may have to ask them if you don’t see it advertised.

 

It Helps to Travel During Off Peak Times

If you’re planning to leave for your honeymoon over Christmas, travel on the actual day. Most people travel before or after Christmas day. Additionally, the first and last flights of the day are usually less expensive. It may be worth waking up extra early to save a few hundred dollars for Christmas shopping or a special romantic dinner at a five-star hotel.

Traveling on the actual holiday means less crowds and shorter lines. You won’t miss out on a lot from your destination since most places shut down or close early on Christmas day.

A Prep Schedule Can Prevent Stress

A planning checklist will help you to enjoy your holiday with no hassles and stress by the time it comes, especially since you will be traveling during the holidays. That time of the year gets busy, so it will help you to have checklists to plan ahead.

Six months before:

• Set a budget. Write down details for transport, hotel costs, activities, shopping and accommodation. Include any entrance costs for special festive shows, markets or carnivals.
• Hire a travel agent if you need help with booking everything.

Three months before:

• Apply for your visas and get travel insurance.
• Book your flights.
• Book your hotel.
• Schedule airport and hotel transport if not included in your holiday package.

One month before:

• Confirm all flight, hotel and transport bookings. Double-checking will ensure that nothing is missed or confused when you arrive at your destination.
• Plan your itinerary– with time for activities and rest.
• Shop for all necessities like sunscreen, bathing suits, mobile chargers, cameras and power banks.

A few days before:

• Check the weather and pack accordingly.
• Photocopy all of your documents.
• Print out any vouchers or discounts.
• Pack a first aid kit and medication you may need.

 

A Honeyfund Can Help You Cover Costs

A Honeyfund is a crowdfund to raise money for your dream honeymoon. The Honeyfund platform has helped over 1.2 million couples fund their romantic getaways since 2006. You choose an experience in advance, post about it on your wedding website or have it as part of your registry and people can contribute towards the experience.

If you’re having a micro wedding, you could give guests the option to help you choose where to go since it will be people who know you both well.

 

Make Your Holiday Honeymoon What You Want

While this is your first holiday as a married couple, remember it’s also your honeymoon. When you sit down to plan your trip, ask yourself what you expect from your honeymoon. Do you want a traditional Christmas or a more private holiday celebration in a bungalow with a mini pool and a candlelit dinner?

You might even want to take a road trip and visit different Christmas markets in various cities. In this case, rotate driving duty every two hours to give you both a chance to rest and have snacks. You will also need essentials like a first aid kit, a gallon of water per person per day, a spare tire and blankets.

A road trip is not limited to your home country. You could fly to Germany and start your road trip in Dresden, where you can visit the oldest Christmas Market. Stay at a boutique hotel for the night before driving to Prague to see the Old Town Square’s 60-foot Christmas tree. Prague is a huge tourist destination, with coffee shops and food tours to enjoy. You can end your tour in Cesky Krumlov, a quiet bohemian town with a 13th-century castle and Baroque theatre.

Other holiday destination favorites include Gothenburg in Sweden, an amusement park that transforms into a stunning Christmas market with lights and boutiques. If you want to celebrate in warmer weather Bridgetown in Barbados with its warm sunny weather and beautiful light displays. Locals gather in Queen’s Park on Christmas morning for a festive fashion show with music and dancing.

 

Enjoy Your Holiday Honeymoon

Whether you want to take a road trip for your honeymoon or jet off to see the giant Christmas Tree in Prague, these tips will help you plan the romantic holiday honeymoon of a lifetime.

 

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about a broad spectrum of topics. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 

 

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