The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Happy honeymoon
Once all the festivities are over you’ll be looking forward to your first trip as a married couple. Here are some top planning tips...
Once the big day is over it’s time to go on your first holiday as a married couple. Here are some suggestions.
Preparing for your honeymoon is one of the most exciting parts of organising your wedding. It’s a time to look forward to being together and also a treat for all the hard work you have put into the day.
If you are jetting off to foreign climes then remember to take time to plan for your trip. All too often flowers and favours can get in the way of important travel preparations such as documents and vaccinations.
Make sure you choose the trip that is right for you and talk about the things you want to get out of it. If you feel like you’ll be on a high after your big day then why not treat yourself to the bustling streets and bright lights of a city break in a destination such as Paris, New York or Tokyo?
Perhaps if the wedding planning has been stressful enough you might be in need of a relaxing trip to unwind. Try out some of the beaches and luxury resorts on St Lucia, Hawaii or Bali.
And if you’re an adventurous thrillseeker looking for a honeymoon to remember, then there’s the safaris of Namibia and Zambia, the geysers of Iceland or even the Dolomites of northeastern Italy.
It might seem an obvious point, but be sure to check your passport will be valid at the time of travel – these things can often slip through the net when you’re busy with wedding matters!
If you wish to change your passport to your married name before you go, remember to book your tickets under that name and send off your application in plenty of time.
Arrange comprehensive travel insurance – hopefully everything will go smoothly, but your honeymoon is not the time to scrimp on cover just in case something does go wrong.
If you are travelling outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world. Vaccinations are available to protect you against infections such as yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A.
In the UK, the childhood vaccination programme protects you against a number of diseases, but doesn’t cover most of the infectious diseases found overseas.
If you’re only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you’re unlikely to need any vaccinations.
If, however, you’re going to places like South America, Thailand and Africa there’s more of a chance you may need to take precautions.
If possible, see your GP at least eight weeks before you’re due to travel. Some vaccinations need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity. Some also involve multiple doses spread over several weeks.
Organise your currency in plenty of time, make a packing list so that you don’t forget essentials in a flap and, lastly, make sure you swap some wedding magazines for guidebooks so that you can find out more about the place you are going and – most importantly – get excited about it!