The Best Honeymoons for Less

Think about it: once the frantic year of planning and the wedding-day flurry are finished, what are the two things you need most? Some R&R and quality time with your new partner-in-crime, of course. Throw in a few cocktails and a candlelight dinner or two and you’ve got yourself the basic recipe for a honeymoon.

Notice what’s missing? How about an expensive flight, fancy beachwear, and yard-glass margaritas. Not that we’re knocking a tropical getaway, but these days they come at a hefty price. Considering less costly alternatives is not only smart, but also just might guarantee you a truly unique honeymoon whose memories you’ll cherish and talk about forever. 

Hit the Road

No matter where you live, you can jump behind the wheel and be somewhere interesting in no time. Load up the car with CDs, pack a blanket and supplies for impromptu picnics, and take off in whatever direction suits your fancy. On-line mapping tools make it easy to do all of your research and carefully plan your trip ahead of time, or for an even more spontaneous escapade, feel free to just wing it. Either way, you’re going to have lots of time to unwind and relive every favorite wedding-day moment as you cruise the open road together. 

You don’t necessarily have to do it dirt-cheap, either; road trips are adaptable to every budget. Whether you’re staying in fancy hotels in world-class cities or connecting the dots between KOA campgrounds, you’re bound to cozy up and get to know each other even better along the way. If you do go the super-frugal route, make sure to budget at least one nice dinner or swanky hotel along the way, however – you won’t regret it. 

Volunteer Programs

Aruba is great, but what’s to make your experience stand out from that of every other honeymooner you’ve ever met? Think about volunteering your time for a charitable organization like Habitat for Humanity. Not only will the two of you get to travel together to an interesting place you’ve never been, but you’ll also experience the heartwarming satisfaction of pooling your talents and giving back. Many volunteer programs provide room and board and other benefits in exchange for your labor. You’ll end up spending less than you would have on Aruba, and leave with a new bond and meaningful memories that will last you your lifetime together.

Stay-cations

Thanks to the state of the economy, much has been made recently of the relatively affordable delights of the stay-cation. We want to add a rousing endorsement. Think of what you can spring for once you decide to forego the costs of travel: for the price of two tickets to Hawaii, you can have a taste of the good life at a five-star hotel, as well as upscale dining experiences you might only previously have dreamed of. Theater tickets, tours, cooking classes, spa treatments…by treating yourselves to what you would not otherwise have been able to afford, you just might pull off the highlife of your dreams. And even if it only lasts for a week, you’re bound to talk about and remember it forever.

Stating the Obvious

It’s never a good idea to start off your married life with honeymoon-incurred debt. On the other hand, the time away from the world together is an irreplaceable experience that you don’t want to miss out on. It’s worthwhile to put your heads together and think creatively about how you might pull off a vacation both that you can afford and that will set you up you with those romantic memories that only a honeymoon can furnish.

Look into off-season travel deals, of course, but also last-minute deals and standby tickets – you can budget vacation time without committing to a location in advance, and the excitement of finding out your honeymoon destination at the last minute is up there with winning a game show. Also think about off-season summer or ski places that friends or family members might be willing to lend, as well as home swaps and discount package tours.

Never forget that the most important quality of your honeymoon is that it will allow you lots of unstructured time together to unwind, share and compare wedding stories, dream about your future, and to get to know each other all over again. Planning a getaway that’s well within your means will allow you to truly relax and enjoy your time together, rather than worry about the bills that will greet you on the other side.