Is going to a honeymoon destination on your mind? You may be thinking of enjoying a romantic getaway if you’ve just set a date for your wedding. After all, love birds do need to fly! That doesn’t erase the fact that the thought of planning a honeymoon can seem a little intimidating for some couples as they try to keep wedding costs under control. Others simply want to splurge on what could be the most amazing trip of a person’s lifetime. Where do you fit on the honeymoon scale? Let’s consider some things that may help you to decide on the right honeymoon destination.

Start With a Budget

It’s really important to start with a budget when choosing a destination. The reality is that some destinations are just really hard to do when the cost is a concern. However, you can never know what’s possible until you start your research.

Some couples may find that they can have an amazing holiday if they’re willing to compromise just a little bit. For instance, a trip to a specific island in the Caribbean may be out of your budget due to high airfare and hotel costs. That doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find deals to another island that is dropping rates due to low demand. The same can apply for regions and cities within specific countries. For instance, booking a trip to Rome may look too expensive at first glance. However, you may find that grabbing a connecting flight to Rome after booking a cheap flight to another hub suddenly puts the cost within reach. What’s more, deciding to stay in a quiet part of the Italian countryside instead of booking a hotel right next to the Vatican could drastically reduce the price of your trip. The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be afraid to sit down with your partner to play around with the numbers.

You also have to be realistic about how much debt you want to accumulate through a honeymoon. Are you comfortable with paying off a trip for several years to come if it means you get to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing animals on safari in Africa? Is a week in Paris worth pulling from the down payment you’ve been saving for a first home? The answer is going to be different for each couple.

Talk About Time Off

Work, schooling and other obligations can make a honeymoon something that’s pretty hard to pull off. Are you and your partner on the same page when it comes to the expectation for the length of your honeymoon? You might be surprised to learn that the idea of taking time off from work or school is actually extremely stressful for your partner. Trying to book a “surprise” honeymoon may not be something that goes over well if you have an extremely busy partner. Of course, a surprise trip may be exactly what your partner wants if you’re familiar enough with their schedule to know that there’s some freedom to plan a long trip.

Decide What You Want From Your Trip

Is the focus of your honeymoon going to be time spent together or experiences had together? Work out your honeymooning style before you book anything! You might be able to get away with simply booking an Airbnb rental in a small mountain town that’s just a few hours from where you live if you and your partner primarily want some time to be away from the world together. However, a trip that looks like a secluded romantic getaway for one couple could look like a boring trip for another couple. Do you want to work in as many amazing experiences and adventures as possible during your trip? You may need to focus on eco-tour options in Asia or excursion-heavy cruises in the Caribbean if that’s the case.

Plan for Rest Days

Anyone who has been through it can tell you that the period leading up to and during your wedding is hectic. All of that planning, preparing and being the center of attention can leave you feeling wiped out by the time the cake has been cut, the bouquet has been tossed and the lights get turned off at your venue. One of the best things you can do is to build in a few rest days. You may want to build in that rest period before you even depart for your trip by simply decompressing at home for two to three days. You can also simply build those days in once you arrive at your honeymoon destination. The same goes for the return side. It can be very difficult to jump back into the realities of work and everyday life right after landing back in town from your honeymoon. Try to build in a day or two for preparing to return to the grind.

Consider the Weather

Don’t forget to factor weather into your honeymoon plans. The time of year when you get married could determine which honeymoon spots are ideal. For instance, a couple planning a summer or late-fall wedding should know that monsoon season throughout much of Southeast Asia takes place between June and October. That could put a damper on your plans. However, anyone planning a winter wedding would be happy to know that this is a great season for visiting spots throughout Southeast Asia. It is also important to take dry seasons into consideration if you’re planning a trip to a place like Africa. Different countries throughout Africa experience dry seasons at different times. It’s important to plan your trip for the right time to enjoy prime viewing conditions and avoid potentially dangerous floods.

Need Inspiration? Check Where the Celebs Are Going

Are you curious to discover where celebrity couples spend their honeymoons? It’s not surprising that most famous couples spend their post-nuptial holidays in tropical spots. However, some opt for classic spots like Italy. Here’s a look at how the stars do honeymoons:

• Chrissy Teigen and John Legend honeymooned in Portofino, Italy.
• Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra honeymooned in the Caribbean.
• Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian honeymooned in the Bahamas.
• Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello honeymooned in Turks and Caicos.
• Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz honeymooned in Capri.
• Nick Jonas and Sophie Turner honeymooned in the Maldives.
• Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith honeymooned in Chile.
• Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin honeymooned on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Spots like St. Maarten, Seychelles, Anguilla, Necker Island and Hawaii are also popular among both celebrity couples and everyday love birds. You don’t necessarily have to have the budget and resources of a celebrity to be able to afford an exotic vacation. In fact, many of the spots that are popular with celebrities feature all-inclusive resorts that are affordable on non-celebrity budgets.

Do You Have to Take a Honeymoon?

There’s no rule that says couples need to take honeymoons. Some couples may prefer to wait until time and finances align to create the perfect conditions for a honeymoon. Others simply cannot wait to explore the world as a married couple for the first time. The big takeaway is that you should never have to justify your decision to take, skip or delay a honeymoon. Just make sure the trip you plan is the trip you want!

Source: frugal travel guy