We have another blog from Penny who works at her family run independent travel agency Suitcase Travel in Bedfordshire. She is giving us her top tips to help you plan your honeymoon because when you start thinking about the honeymoon, it can be a little daunting for many. There are so many places to choose, so many different hotel options and it is not always the clearest on where is the best place to go at certain times of the year. So many questions but do not panic, with these tips it will make the honeymoon planning a breeze!

Answer these questions honestly and separately

Planning your honeymoon should be done together but more often than not, you both want something slightly different and it can get a little frustrating in choosing the destination. It might be the destination, the style of hotel or the activities that you want to do whilst away. Don’t worry though because there is a honeymoon that will be perfect for both of you. However, to get this, you both need to answer the following questions honestly. I personally advise for you to answer them separately and to write them down for you to discuss together later. 

These questions will help you narrow down the destinations and will definitely help with the rest of the planning:

• Do you want to travel straight after the wedding or are you happy to delay it for a little while?

  • The summer months in the UK are the most popular for weddings here as it tends to have the best weather however, there are lots of destinations in the world where the weather is not so good at this time of year.

  • If you both answer that it is important to have your honeymoon straight after the wedding as this will narrow down the destinations straight away. 

  • If you choose to wait a while after your wedding, you can still enjoy a small break straight after the wedding, also known as a mini-moon.

• Are there any destinations you do not want to go to?

• What 3 things that are a must have at your destination and/or hotel? And what 3 things you definitely do not want to have at your destination and/or hotel?

  • Write done a maximum of 3 things that you definitely want and do not want for your honeymoon and in order of importance. I wouldn’t write down more than 3 as that becomes too much, especially if you have both written completely different answers.

• What 3 activities would you like to do on your honeymoon?

  • Again write up to 3 answers so there isn’t too much choice causing confusion and write them in order of importance.

  • If snorkelling and scuba diving are important for you, then that will narrow down the choice of destinations and hotels for you. 

Now you have the answers, we can stat the fun part of planning. Don’t worry if you both have completely different answers as there will still be somewhere that you will both love. It is good having the answers as it gives you a focus.

Have a budget in mind

Having a budget in mind is essential when it comes to planning your honeymoon. I understand that you may never have planned a holiday like this before so are not sure how much it will cost but being vague will not help with narrowing your options. I often get told by couples we want the best value and best price but this is still vague. 

For example, I have recently organised a honeymoon to the Maldives that came to £8,000. However, with all the honeymoon saving options, we saved over £6,000 so it was great value for this hotel and the best price. However, for some this might be still too much, which is totally fine, and we can then look at other options, which there are often plenty to still choose from. 

Do not copy someone else’s honeymoon

It is not uncommon for friends and family wanting to get involved with the wedding planning that at times it might be a little interfering. This can be the same with your honeymoon. If someone has been to a certain place, stayed in a specific accommodation and they said it was perfect so you should definitely do it as well, you don’t have to do it. Obviously if this is exactly what you want, go for it! However, please do not feel pressured into copying that honeymoon as you may regret it because it might not be perfect for you. Everyone is different and there are always lots of options to suit you, whether it is different destinations or simply different accommodation. 

Just remember, it is your honeymoon and no one else’s.

Book early but not necessarily too early

We always advise to book as early as possible because this is when you often get the best prices. Hotels often have early booking offers as well as their honeymoon offers and flights are always cheapest when they are first available to book. The norm is that for anything outside of Europe, flights are released 11 months in advance and Europe is done around 6-9 months in advance. 

There are some exceptions, especially for anything outside Europe. Some companies can book your honeymoon out of date range but it is not necessarily the cheapest as they are often guessing what the price of the flights will be and adding a little extra to make sure they do not lose out. As a result in this case, it is worth waiting a little while as you might get an extra saving. 

There are also certain companies who have advance allocation meaning that they get an advanced confirmed price from the airlines before the flights are officially released meaning again you can grab a bargain. So it is always best asking when booking far in advance whether the flights are on advance registration or advanced allocation as it can make a difference in the price for you.

Use a travel agent

A travel agent is worth their weight in gold, especially when booking honeymoons and I am genuinely not saying that because I am one also. I have mentioned already that your honeymoon is often like no other holiday you have organised before and you really need to make it perfect. Doing it yourself can be overwhelming and with the stress of organising the rest of the wedding you may miss out on something.

This is where a travel agent comes into their own. I like to say we are like Google in human form when it comes to honeymoons and holidays generally. If you give us the answers from my first tip in this blog, we will be able to contact a variety of different travel companies on your behalf to give you the best price and all the honeymoon offers for you. The best part is that we do not charge for our services either! So if you went to any of the companies we use directly, you will find that the price is exactly the same. It just means the travel agent has saved you a lot of time and stress without costing you anymore.

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with Penny on 01582 349480 or holidays@suitcasetravel.co.uk and let’s get planning your honeymoon.