“How do we choose the right honeymoon destination?” “What’s the ideal length of a honeymoon?” “Who pays?” There’s a reason Google searches about honeymoon travel are so high. The people have questions!
And understandably so — a lot of them are going about this for the first time. Not to mention, honeymoon planning is a whole lot to think about on top of that little to-do of planning an entire wedding.
The real post-wedding vibe: Exhaustion. (Photo Credit: @peterwynnthompson)
Google and your married friends can tell you lots about plotting a honeymoon trip, but having a one-stop guide for honeymoon travel planning is downright time-saving. And we know engaged couples are bu-sy!
So, consider this a small wedding gift, from us to you: Your burning honeymoon travel planning questions answered, below.
1. How do we choose the right honeymoon destination?
Communication, communication, communication. Selecting a mutually desirable honeymoon destination is a crash course in one of the most important foundational aspects of marriage: Open communication (even when it’s hard).
But first, the destination. Where on Earth will you go? (Photo Credit: @theparisphotographer)
Perhaps you will choose to explore a famous city as newlyweds. (Photo Credit: Louis Paulin)
Here’s how to do it:
- Schedule a time to sit down and discuss honeymoon destinations with your partner
- In advance of your sit-down, you should each write down 5 things:
- How you want to feel while you’re on your honeymoon (ex: carefree)
- During your waking hours there, what percentage of relaxing you want to do versus exploration and activities (ex: 75% relaxing, 25% exploration & activities)
- Your ideal honeymoon climate (ex: not too hot, but often sunny)
- Activities you would love to do with your partner on your honeymoon (anything from snorkeling to food tours to sipping cocktails in a hammock together)
- Your ideal budget range for the trip
- Bring your notes to the sit-down and share answers with one another
- Do a little cursory research on regions that offer a mix of what you’re both looking for
Remember, if you don’t have a strong opinion on something, note that! For example, if you’re down for just about any climate with your partner as long as there are some adventurous activities involved, that’s great!
Welcome to Paris. (Photo Credit: Ilnur Kalimullin)
Plus, compromise is another one of those bedrock aspects of a healthy partnership, so you’ll just remind your partner how smart they are to have picked you.
2. Once we know our travel vibe and budget, how do we find the perfect destination?
More Pinterest? We’re already planning a wedding! We know, but believe it or not, Pinterest can be great for nailing down the perfect travel destination once you have an idea of the climate and activities you’re looking for.
Start searching based on these keywords. For instance, you might search “hiking Europe” or “warm foodie destinations.” Think of Pinterest not as a social network, but as a search engine that produces visual results, which can be totally inspiring… and, often, unexpected.
Maybe you just want to share a swing on a beach in the Maldives. (Photo Credit: Ismail Mohamed Sovile)
Get vetted ideas by posting a question on Facebook or Instagram: “Planning our honeymoon trip. Can anyone recommend an international destination with a great culinary scene that’s not too chilly in late fall?”
The answers that come in will likely be ones shared from personal experience, and if one of them sounds interesting, you can ask that person more questions about their experience in that destination.
3. How long should the honeymoon trip be?
10 days. Just go for it.
According to the wedding experts at Zola, the average honeymoon is 7-10 days. This is lengthier than your average trip, and for good reason: A 2017 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that 8 days is the amount of time it takes to actually relax on vacation.
How about lounging on a beach in the Mediterranean? (Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt)
Welcome to Greece. (Photo Credit: Nadine Marfurt)
And, not to state the obvious, but you recently had a wedding, which can have you operating on a high-stress frequency that you’ll need a few days (weeks, really) to come down from.
This is your honeymoon, so if you can, take the 10 day trip. You won’t regret it.
4. Should we go right after the wedding or delay our honeymoon?
The days of leaving for your honeymoon right after your wedding are o-ver. And rightly so. There’s still a lot to do after the wedding: Logistics to sort, friends and family to spend a little extra time with, thank you cards to write, paperwork to fill out (hope you like standing in line at the social security office), and just general decompression to take effect.
Your honeymoon is the perfect time for some adventurous exploration. (Photo Credit: Wayan Parmana)
Welcome to Padar Island, Indonesia. (Photo Credit: Bagus Dwi Ananda)
Give. Yourself. Some. Time. Delaying your honeymoon by anywhere from a few weeks to 18 months is perfectly acceptable and common these days. When considering a delayed honeymoon, ticks in the “pro” column abound: You’ll have another big occasion to look forward to, you won’t be rushed, you can spread out your PTO, and there’s less money to spend all at once.
5. Who pays?
This may be a bit of an antiquated question, but it’s still fair to ask. And the answer involves the art of open communication, yet again. Look at you go!
Years ago, the groom’s family sometimes paid for the honeymoon. That tradition got the boot, in part, because the cost of weddings and rehearsal dinners has skyrocketed in the last 20-30 years. So now, it’s typically up to the couple to pay.
Perhaps you simply want to enjoy the view in a new part of the world. (Photo Credit: @caleb)
Welcome to Bali, Indonesia. (Photo Credit: Alexa West)
Here are a few of tips for tackling that minor (just kidding) expense:
- Instead of (or in addition to) a registry, consider a honeymoon fund. Honeyfund is the original in this space, but Zola has options for this too. If you live in a small apartment, plan to move in the next few years, or just don’t need fancy place settings for 12 at this stage in your life, a honeymoon fund might be preferable to your traditional Macy’s registry. You can pick up the housewares you need later, when you need them.
- Set a trip savings goal. Then, consider income and discuss a fair arrangement. Maybe one partner pays for 70% of the trip because they earn more than the other partner right now.
- Ask around. Maybe someone in your network knows a stellar place to stay that won’t break the bank in the destination you’ve got your hearts set on. Maybe someone has had a great experience on an island near the one you were thinking about, and there are actually direct (read: lower cost) flights there.
6. How far out should we book?
When it comes to ideating, the sooner the better. Get a sense of where you want to go, where you want to stay, and what activities you want to do.
No matter where you go, just remember that you will be with your best friend — it’s going to be a good trip. (Photo Credit: Nathan Dumlao)
But when it comes to actually booking, here are a few pointers:
- Flights are typically most affordable 2-3 months in advance.
- Try to fly on a weekday. Note that for business travel, Mondays and Fridays are peak travel days, so the airports will be busier.
- For international travel, flying on weekdays is typically more affordable than flying on weekends.
- Set a price alert and keep an eye on fares. Hopper is an excellent app for this.
- If you have your heart set on a specific hotel, reach out to them to ask if they do any discounts for longer lengths of stay.
- If you’re hoping to schedule specific activities (tours, excursions, adventures, classes), note that these are often hosted by small, local businesses or even sole proprietors. Reach out to them directly, sharing that it’s your honeymoon, and see if they offer anything (discounts, extras) for honeymooners. They just might.
7. Will a hotel do anything special for us if they know it’s our honeymoon?
Often, yes. Especially if you give them lots of advance notice. Some hotels have specific honeymoon packages you can book, and some don’t.
Check with hotels for honeymoon (and wedding!) packages. (Photo Credit: @esthersun)
The wedding is just the beginning. (Photo Credit: @nextadventure805)
Emailing or calling the property in advance can be really helpful, to get your special occasion on their radar. It never hurts to have something specific (and reasonable) in mind, like a bottle of bubbles upon checking into your room.
Your honeymoon is one of those “we don’t get very many of these in life” occasions you want to get absolutely right, so we understand the pressure and decision fatigue some couples feel when it comes time to plan. We hope this honeymoon travel planning guide has helped a bit.
You’ve got this. Happy honeymooning, lovebirds!
