After you have spent a fortune planning your wedding, it can be hard to set aside much money for what comes next - the honeymoon. It can cost thousands for a luxury vacation, but the truth is that your honeymoon can be as expensive as you want it. Though some newlyweds may spend thousands on a trip across Europe, you could also choose something as simple as a long weekend staying in a B&B. The most important thing is that you get to spend some time alone with your new husband or wife, as well as relaxing and connecting. Here are some tips that will help you save money whilst still letting you get the best out of your honeymoon.



Careful Research: Research is top of the list because this can really save you money in the long run. Many people focus primarily on the planning of their wedding and forget about their honeymoon. Whilst this is understandable, as soon as you have set a wedding date you should try to keep an eye out for any great deals in the lead up to the big day. Buy newspapers or travel magazines to make sure you learn of any offers, and this will also give you time to compare the deals from different agents.

Off-Season: You should also carefully consider when you want to go away for your honeymoon. Travelling off-season will make your trip a lot cheaper, and this will not necessarily mean the weather will be bad. For example, you could choose to visit a tropical destination that has good weather all year round. The most popular, and therefore most expensive, time to visit these destinations is when the weather is cold at home, but going off-season can really save you money. If there is a particular place you want to visit then try to be flexible about when you can go, but if you do not mind where you go then choose somewhere off-season.

Credit Card Rewards: These can often help you to save money on your honeymoon by rewarding those who travel frequently. If you have a good enough credit score you can take out a credit card using one of these schemes, which will pay you points according to any wedding expenses that you may charge to the card. Once you start getting your points you can exchange them for tickets, hotel rooms, upgrades and other holiday essentials. This can be a great way to save; just make sure that you are in a financially stable position to be able to pay it off quickly when the bill comes through.

Expert Advice: When planning your honeymoon, expert advice can really help you to get the biggest savings. Visit the travel agents who will let you know about any last-minute deals or ongoing sales for honeymoon vacations. They will often try to help you as much s possible in saving you money and finding you the best package available within your budget.

Other Help: As well as making savings as above, you could consider setting up a honeymoon register that will allow your wedding guests to contribute toward your honeymoon expenses, or specific activities, instead of buying gifts. This can be a great idea, with some honeymoon gifts including scuba diving and other exciting activities.

As mentioned above, you can try to find ways to save that involve not going on your average honeymoon holiday. Compare all of the advantages and disadvantages of your honeymoon options. For example, bed and breakfasts can be extremely romantic, but less private than you may have hoped for. All-inclusive packages can take away from your worries by offering a flat rate for all food and so on. The best thing to do is to compare all your choices and take some time and careful research to decide which one is the best for you. If you follow all of these instructions then you will soon see that it really is possible to have a great honeymoon on a budget.

Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan