Trip of a lifetime
TRAVEL EXPERTS CAN GET BEST DEALS, DESTINATIONS FOR HONEYMOONERS
Real life can sneak up on newlyweds quickly after the wedding, and while an unforgettable honeymoon won’t keep laundry and bills at bay, it can keep that wedded bliss going a little longer. Whether you want to relax with your toes in warm sand or zipline across a rainforest floor, honeymoon options are limitless, which can make them overwhelming, especially if you’re already veil-deep in wedding planning. The perfect honeymoon, after all, is in the details — a room with a view, a romantic dinner on the beach, a sunset cruise — and cobbling those experiences together online can be a shot in the dark. Enter the travel agent.
“Many honeymooners today hire professionals for every aspect of the wedding experience, and travel agents are the one professional they get for free, yet they try to be their own travel agent,” said Salem, N.H.-based Bill Walsh of Discount Vacation Center. Travel agents don’t just provide a free, personalized way to book your honeymoon, they’re experts who can leverage their experience, contacts and relationships — not to mention special discounts and promotions — to come
up with a unique and memorable honeymoon getaway. Walsh and his team have been planning vacations for 25 years, and the Discount Vacation Center has an A+ rating with the BBB.
Oh the places you’ll go Popular honeymoon destinations in 2018 include Hawaii, Costa Rica, Isla Mujeres and Tulum and Los Cabos in Mexico. Brittany Wahhab from Funjet Vacations, which offers wedding and honeymoon vacation packages, recommends consulting with your travel agent and booking early to get the very best deal — and the best rooms and amenities. Funjet Vacations, based in Milwaukee, Wis., has been around since 1974, and they’ve mastered the deal plus magical experience, especially for honeymooners, whether they’re the adventurous sort or the couplesspa type. Why book early? Booking in advance lets couples get the best deals out there so they don’t have to stress whether the hotel and type of room they want is available.
You need a budget
The cost of a honeymoon depends on quite a few factors, such as the destination, travel dates, length of stay, hotel and room category, Wahhab says. Working with a travel agent can help you maximize your budget and fun by taking advantage of exclusive deals as low as $1,600 for three nights in Cancun, or by upgrading to Diamond Club at Royalton Resorts in Jamaica for a luxurious vacation after all the wedding craze.
Treat yourself
Walsh says that for this once-in-a-lifetime trip, newlyweds should consider a honeymoon suite, a room with a private plunge pool, and splurging on special experiences such as couples massages. A seasoned travel agent with insider knowledge can help honeymooners put together a bucket list of activities that are off the beaten path. Don’t go it alone
With so many elements coming together, from flights to hotel rooms and activities, a travel agent who knows the ins and outs of your vacation destination can save your honeymoon should something go awry. You can relax knowing you have a dedicated professional just a phone call away.