Expedia trip tips: How to have an unforgettable honeymoon
By Natalie Marusin
Summer means wedding season — reuniting with friends and family, celebrating love, partying on the dance floor. But it also means an unbelievable amount planning, plenty of stress and dealing with the soon-to-be in-laws. But, as a reward, after months, and sometimes even years of arranging, the bride and groom say “I do” and pack their bags for their first trip as husband and wife.
That’s right, we’re talking about the honeymoon, that final stage of what seemed to be eons of grueling work all comes to a close on a romantic getaway (or so we hope).
Need help choosing the perfect destination? Expedia Viewfinder travel bloggers Captain and Clark have advice on how to save, where to go and how to book an unforgettable honeymoon. Now, that’s true love.
And the most popular honeymoon destinations are… Hawaii, Ireland, the Caribbean, Cancun or Cabo and Italy are for sure the top spots we looked at when considering our own honeymoon and seem to be the most popular destinations for a lot of honeymooners. While each one offers a different take on the honeymoon, they all offer a specific thing, a slow pace. This is the time of your life where you want to savor the moment, and really get the most for your time.
Want a chill honeymoon? Our recommendation for relaxing honeymoons always starts with Hawaii — in particular, Maui. While all the islands are beautiful, Maui excels at giving you a place to melt away with one another. It isn’t as busy as Oahu or as remote as Kauai. You could avoid people all together if you like, but still find all the adventure venues or amenities you want.
Or do you seek adventure? For adventure, Mexico and Iceland are becoming incredible destinations for the thrill-seeking couple. The vast amount of fair-weather adrenaline sports in Mexico is staggering. Puerto Rico also has a lot to offer in that respect.
Puerto Rico makes a nice honeymoon destination as well, since it’s easy to navigate and you don’t need a passport. All of your adventure needs are on the island, as well as enough beaches and spas to help you unwind after you ride the world’s largest zip line.
And if we’re active? For the sporty couple, try Denver or any of the little townships outside of it. Denver makes an excellent place to find a honeymoon suite and rent a bike (perhaps a bicycle built for two) and hit the trails, slopes, river or the cliff face. Don’t underestimate the power of Denver spas either; they’ve stepped up their game in recent years, and are now competing with classic spa powerhouses like Hawaii and Bangkok.
What if we can’t decide? Really consider what it is you enjoy as a couple. Do you want to eat around Italy or bungee jump in Mexico? If you prefer spending quiet time together, then focus on that. If you are action junkies, then that should be your focus. Either way, make sure you research a place that has a reputation for your kind of activity and great weather.
OK. Let’s talk itineraries. Be sure to budget yourself free time. The common temptation of newlyweds is to book the whole trip on a schedule. This is your chance to start your life together. By leaving 50 percent of your itinerary open, you give yourself the liberty to take a sleepy morning or an impromptu walk down the beach. You’re more likely to be less stressed, and could have the chance to discover a new area if you leave yourself time to explore.
How early should we book? Anyone who has planned a wedding will tell you, it takes a lot of work and you need to plan far out in the future. Blissfully, the honeymoon is one part you can be a little lax on. Two months is a nice amount of time. However, you can book even later than that if you don’t mind a touch of adventure in your plans. In our experience, planning your honeymoon at the last minute can add a little spice and excitement, and leave you open to discover a new place you might not have found otherwise.
Do we need travel insurance? Expedia actually offers a whole range of insurance options. While nobody wants to expect delays or disasters, an unfortunate case of food poisoning or a tropical storm can derail your plans. It’s always a good idea to budget a small amount for travel insurance, so that if something does go wrong it isn’t a stress point. You’ll be able to rest assured that you’re covered and focus on what really matters, which is each other.
