Milan Style

Thoughtful planning is key for a perfect honeymoon getaway after the rush of organizing the wedding ceremony.

Chad Cotter of Cotter Travel in St. Joseph says the secret to getting the most bang for your honeymoon buck is to determine the budget prior to planning. After a destination is selected, he recommends couples shop around for the best deals and book rates ahead of time.

He says the most common honeymoon locations selected by customers are Mexico, Colorado and Hawaii.

For one-stop, stress-free trip planning, a travel agent can aid in saving money while scheduling travel packages after couples have determined what priorities they want met during the trip. Travel agents have relationships with hotels that will offer upgrades or travel perks, and they can have access to rooms even when the website says they’re full. Due to their experience booking trips, many may be aware of extra charges that often can be overlooked, such as resort fees that are added to the standard room rate along with costs like car rental parking.

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Here are seven money-saving tips to help plan a dream honeymoon at a discount:

1. Book the trip early

Cotter says this reduces the likelihood that inexpensive hotel rooms or airplane tickets will be sold out. In the case of cruises, which typically announce itineraries 10 to 14 months in advance, this also can mean savings off the booking price.

For those planning to head to a foreign destination, time also may need to be allotted to acquire a passport.

2. Choose an off-season location

He says if the departure date is fixed, choose a destination whose off-the-shoulder-season (the period right before and after the high-traffic season) coincides with your travel dates for drastic price breaks and fewer crowds.

The off season is not always synonymous with bad weather. For example, the islands in the Caribbean have ideal temperatures year-round, but rates increase from January to April due to more travelers.

However, travelers should be cautious since the off season can mean weather conditions that result in tourism activities closing down until more comfortable weather returns.

He also says flights mid-week on Tuesday or Wednesday can be the least expensive days to travel.

“Most of the time, honeymooners leave right after they get married, but if they’re able to be flexible and leave two or three days later, it’ll help on price too,” Cotter says.

3. Create a honeymoon or bridal registry

Online registry services allow couples to collect, track and apply financial contributions from their wedding guests toward their honeymoon expenses. This feature also allows guests to “sponsor” specific activities such as a cruise, scuba trip or a meal at a restaurant.

4. Consider an all-inclusive tour or trip

Teri Berry, travel agent for AAA, says most all-inclusive rates cover all aspects of the trip and leave no surprises to how much the trip will cost.

She says the deals include hotel rooms, all meals, tips, activities, entertainment and airport transfers. The only aspect of the trip not included in advance is souvenirs or gift purchases.

Berry says this prevents couples from going over budget, allows them to plan in advance and lets them know what to expect.

5. Consider honeymoontrip packages

For locations where all-inclusive rates aren’t available, purchasing trip packages can be the best option. Berry says tour companies often offer discounts if the airplane, hotel and car rentals are purchased together.

When booking a package, the couple is required to pay a deposit but can create a monthly payment plan before the departure.

6. Bring the marriage license for a discount

When inquiring about a rate or making a reservation, let the person know it’s for a honeymoon.

Hotels, restaurants and other businesses may offer perks or added bonuses if a couple tells them they’re recently married and bring the certificate as proof.

7. Use mass transit instead of renting a vehicle

Depending on the location of the honeymoon, using hop-on and hop-off day passes on the mass transit may be the most cost effective mode of transportation.

Cotter says couples should compare mass transit rates with renting a vehicle because the savings varies according to the location selected.

“There are also cases when I get honeymooners that want to go to Colorado and go skiing,” Cotter says. “When they fly into Denver, the bus transfer from the airport to the ski resorts in the mountains is usually more expensive than renting a car. It really depends on where you’re going for the trip.”

In European countries, the cost of a city pass for transit also may include access to well-known museums and tourist hot spots. In the case of Hawaii, visitors to Honolulu may not need a car, but a rental could be necessary on the other islands.

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