Honeymoon Planning

Your engaged, and your planning a wedding, and now a honeymoon right?

Cruises? All inclusive resorts? Maybe afraid of planes?

Honeymoon planning can definitely be daunting. I mean you have to figure out do you want a cold place, or are you more warm natured? If so, do you want a beach, dessert, or maybe neither. Do you just want to flirt with the cocktails and be poolside all day? Also, sometimes ya both don’t want to go to the same place.

I’ve gathered some tips and places I wish I could go on my pretend honeymoon. So.. I felt it was only fair if I share these places with you, so that maybe you can go there for me! (Or, bring me along, I mean I can take photos there too!)

I think you should definitely try and lock down your honeymoon literally after getting engaged. Or start the process of choosing what you want.

International bound?

So now think about the passport process. The time frame is about two to three weeks for you to get your passport. Yup, so if you want to go out of the country for your honeymoon take notes, and go to your local university visit their travel department (it’s usually like the foreign affairs office) or visit your local post office. Each post office has a form you can pick up, fill it out at home while you Netflix, and send it out the next day.  You can even go to CVS or Walgreens, and have one of their photo techs snap your photo within minutes.  Than, attach your little bite size photo onto your passport.  It’s pretty easy.

If you are traveling internationally also invest in a phone that you can buy an international sim card. I found this to be super helpful when I traveled to Italy. It’s so much better than coming back home to a 1k phone bill. (trust me, not fun). You can get these at Walmart, Target or even at your local phone providers store. This is a lot better to do and you don’t have to worry about loosing something that holds your life in it. And whoever is important, give them that number.

Also if you have time, go check out some books about the country.  Maybe buy some maps, and if it’s a country you don’t speak the language spruce up with some Rosetta Stone or Duolingo. Duolingo is free, its an app on your phone, and it’s super fantastical and you can impress the locals. And usually this will only make your time in their country that much better! I know Spanish fluently so luckily for me Italian sounded the same, but I do regret not being able to communicate better with the locals. It just seems like a respect thing too. So definitely a plus if you can accommodate it into your planning.

Thinking cruising is a better option than jet setting on a plane?

Well double check you don’t need your passport for this too, and also I found that if your a risk taker you can actually get your cruise accommodations wicked cheap if you wait the month before the sailing date. Yes, it’s kinda crazy but you could save almost 75%. Why you ask, well it turns out that in most cases the companies will offer either upgrades or discounts to fill the boats! So, you could definitely get a great steal if you are risky enough to wait.

If not, I get it. I don’t think I’m ballsy enough to do so, but always price shop and actually sometimes your airlines have the best deals. We bundled are Alaska honeymoon with airfare and for a flight from ILM to Seattle, Washington. A week long cruise to Alaska and we spent 2100 for two people. (I know right.. crazy) Ridiculously fair price when you compare east coast to west coast flights. We got lucky and flew with Delta and their partners, and got a really good deal bundling our vacation.

One thing also to consider hopefully you won’t be in your room the whole time. Ultimately yes an ocean view room is ideal but if this means no excursion, I would compromise with a port hole, or something similar. Your excursions will be one in the lifetime type of activities you don’t want to miss out on these opportunities.

Staying local?

Let’s say you can’t go to a far away place, you can still have a nice honeymoon locally. Be a tourist in your own town. We frequently bypass these experiences because it’s our town and we figure we live here. Why would I do touristy stuff? I guarantee there are things that are in your hometown that you have never done. Take a dinner boat cruise, watch foreign films at a small theater, become a foodie and food hop from restaurant to restaurant.

And if all fails, just relax. This is the time in your life that is meant to start new experiences and moments. Capitalize on those moments! They go by too quickly! So as long as your with your love, I don’t think it’ll matter if you decide to hibernate and watch your favorite movies and order in. Or, if you decide to lay out in a tropical beach together. The possibilities are endless.

 

Alright the good stuff, check out some really pretty spots to look more into 🙂

New Zealand– My favorite country. I’m super obsessed with this country. It’s one of the only places in the world you can jet ski in the morning and snowboard at night. Lord of the rings was filmed here, I mean is that not enough of an excuse to go and visit? And they speak English, so your covered if you feel like this is a worrisome thing.

Verona, Italy– Romeo and Juliet, nuff said.

Cinque de terre- You can either stay in Rome, or Florence and travel here. Or, just go ahead and fly into Milan I believe and drive to this spot. It’s gorgeous! And while you are there, take a boat into Lake Como.. you won’t regret it.

Iceland– I mean why not, right?

Bar Harbor– If you want a Maine experience and want to be adventurous but not too adventurous (not leaving our country); Literally 2 hours from the Canadian border. You could totally drive right into a new country! You can also get here by a cruise, and probably see some more of the Canadian coastline. Either way, it’s a beautiful fairytale town. It’s actually one of my favorite towns in the New England area.

England coast, small towns– I love these little quaint spots. I’ve always wanted to visit these towns, and would love to hear if they are as pretty as they seem.

 

-Cheers to opening up your honeymoon horizons!

(A photo of the beautiful downtown in Bar Harbor)