Make Honeymoon Travel Plans

It's important that you and your significant other are both on the same page about how much you are willing to spend on your honeymoon. If you want to travel abroad for two weeks, but don't have an established honeymoon fund, you might need to rethink your plan. Nothing puts a strain on a new marriage like coming home to a mountain of debt.

Determine what you can comfortably spend, set up a budget and stick to it. Visit a site like this to make your travel plans. 

Establish a honeymoon fund. A little financial planning goes a long way toward a happier, stress-free trip. Here are a few ideas to start saving:

• If you already have plates, cookware, linens and other traditional wedding gifts, let guests know that you have set up a honeymoon registry. Visit a site like travelersjoy.com to get started.
• Put the money you would spend on a weekly date night into honeymoon travel savings.
• Scale back. If you are feeling the economic crunch, take a smaller trip. There are many beautiful American destinations, including national parks, wine country in California, big cities like New York and much more.
• Schedule your trip for off-season travel. Many islands in the Caribbean and Hawaii have beautiful weather all-year long, but it's significantly cheaper if you travel between May and November.
• Consider an all-inclusive hotel, tour, or cruise. Ask a lot of questions before you book so you know exactly what is included in the flat rate.
• Save on travel fees by staying close to home. There are many undiscovered gems in every region.

The best honeymoon reflects who you are as a couple. Don't get sucked into a traditional roses-and-chocolate getaway if what you really enjoy doing together is camping, hiking or biking. Here are some ideas for creative, non-traditional honeymoons:

• Use this as a time to take a class together for a hobby you both enjoy like photography or cooking.
• If theatre is your passion, travel someplace cheap in New York and hit the TKTS box every morning to see some of the best shows in America.
• Instead of a trip, do something to commemorate your wedding. Purchase season passes to a local museum, theatre, opera, symphony or other organization that you both enjoy. Make each performance or visit a celebration of your marriage.
• Donate what you would have spent on a honeymoon to a non-profit that you're both passionate about. What better way to start a marriage than to share your love by improving someone else's life?

Your honeymoon doesn't need to happen immediately after your wedding. Planning and paying for a wedding expends huge amounts of time and money. If you feel taxed, why not wait until you have been able to set aside some money or have found the perfect travel destination? Waiting doesn't mean the honeymoon isn't a priority. You will enjoy your time together so much more if you're both at ease.