How To Plan Your Dream Honeymoon: Where, How, What to Consider
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Once some of the big wedding details are figured out, many couples start looking into planning the honeymoon. There are so many options out there, and depending on what kind of trip you are looking for, it can be very overwhelming. We talked to Mary Alice Sublett of A Delightful Day Event Planning to get some advice on honeymoon planning. Not only does Mary Alice plan amazing events in the Nashville area, she is also a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist, which means she can help couples with every last detail, down to the honeymoon!
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ABG: How far in advance should a bride and groom begin planning the honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Depending on your engagement and the amount of time prior to your wedding, I would suggest booking a honeymoon anywhere from 6-9 months in advance, sometimes further in advance depending on the location, resort, and size of the resort that you’re most interested in. Also, when considering different locations, consider the season for that location and if hurricanes would be an issue at all. Resorts and airlines will not reimburse you for this should you not be able to travel, and there is honeymoon insurance, however Sandals does now offer hurricane insurance should this be an issue for your travel dates. This gives you the ability to travel on alternative dates, if needed.
ABG: What types of things should a couple think about when choosing a destination?
Mary Alice: When choosing the right location for you and your soon to be husband/wife, consider what locations you both or individually have been to at one time or another. Do you want to revisit one of those locations? If not, what areas of the world are you both interested in? Also, consider how much time you both have off of work, as you might not want to go to a location that requires extensive travel therefore taking time out of your relaxation time. When your time of the year has been chosen, also consider if the location you want to go to is prone to hurricanes. The typical hurricane season time is June 1st through November 30th, however there is never a guarantee that a hurricane will hit during those specific dates. One other thing to decide is whether you want a location that is all about relaxation with beach, cocktails, and spas, or do you want something adventurous.
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ABG: What are the most popular destinations?
Mary Alice: With the couples that we have choosing Sandals resorts, a lot of them are most traveling to St. Lucia, Antigua, and Jamaica. Other couples are choosing locations such as the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Belize.
ABG: Are there certain times of year that are more popular for honeymoon travel? Are there times that are cheaper to travel?
Mary Alice: Certainly the most popular times are those that coincide with the most popular wedding dates, May-July and you will have your popular Fall dates as well. For cheaper times of travel, that will depend on the location and it’s always good to invest in a travel agent that can make suggestions on cheaper times to travel depending on air fares and an on or off season time for the location.
ABG: Is it OK to plan a honeymoon without a travel agent? What are the benefits to using an agent?
Mary Alice: It is certainly okay to plan without a travel agent, however they can certainly be a guide as to what locations to choose and when, if someone has had a bad experience at a location, and can provide guidance for discounted or reduced rates at different resorts and times of year.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
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ABG: If a resort is all-inclusive, what does that generally include? And what types of things might cost extra?
Mary Alice: For the Sandals resorts, the all-inclusive pertains to your lodging, food/beverage, and tips. Most all-inclusive resorts operate under this inclusivity. Under the Sandals resorts, if your reservation/room is in the Butler category, this also includes your butler tips. Also, if you’re at a Sandals location that includes exchange privileges with another Sandals resort, you have the ability to enjoy other genres of food and nightlife under your all-inclusive incentives. Other extras to consider would be: transfer from airport to resorts, water sports, spa trips, and any off resort or off island excursions.
ABG: Are there different levels of Sandals resorts? If so, what are the differences between them?
Mary Alice: There are a variety of Sandals resorts and they each have their own individual incentives and themes. The resorts are located in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. For the resorts, they each have their own particular levels of stay, however the levels are mostly the same at all resorts. There are some resorts that are butler category only, meaning that you have a butler available to you 24/7 for the remainder of your stay. They offer one-bedroom suites, villas, and plunge pool suites, beach-front suites, and the Millionaire suites for those have no limit to their honeymoon budgets.
ABG: What papers or documents should a couple take with them on their honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Every location is going to be different, so certainly make sure to check with your destination location to see if they require something different. However, for the Sandals resorts and their honeymooners privileges you need to have a copy of your marriage certificate and/or fax a copy of your wedding invitation, as this will get you a night of turndown service and a breakfast in bed. For all overseas/out of the country traveling you need to take with you a copy of your marriage certificate, passports, visas (if needed), some locations will require vaccinations, travelers cheques to prevent cash or cards being stolen, any foreign currency if needed, all of your flight and honeymoon confirmations printed, and any travel guides/books that you might need. Also, be sure to share all of your itinerary and travel information with several people at home so that they know where you are and what you’re planning to do for “just in case”.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
ABG: What things should a couple keep in mind when traveling internationally?
Mary Alice: It’s always good to research ahead of time about the location that you’re traveling to and any tips/suggestions to keep in mind. I think some good tips would be; respect the land, people, and customs of the country that you’re traveling in; be cautious about who you travel with and who you trust to get you from place to place; make sure to fill in your emergency information in your passport and travel information should it be needed; talk to your insurance companies about overseas insurance, as you never know when an accident or sickness might occur; familiarize yourself with their local laws; don’t make yourself a target, don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear lots of jewelry, as that can only entice.
All image courtesy of Sandals.com
ABG: What do you think about travel registries instead of gift registries?
Mary Alice: Sandals offers a honeymoon registry option for their guests and I certainly think it’s a great idea, especially if you’re a couple that is older and has a lot of the “household” items you might receive from family and friends, or have already lived together for a while and have made your home, and you want to have a wonderful honeymoon instead! It gives you the ability to know that you have cash to spend while you’re away or use it for activities or paying for portions of your honeymoon.
We hope this information will help you plan the honeymoon of your dreams!
About the Author:
Newlywed Sara
I was so excited when I came across Ashley’s Bride Guide during my wedding planning process. I had been in a bunch of weddings, but hardly any in Nashville so I was starting from scratch. It was a great resource for us to get ideas and find vendors as we planned our big day. I am so excited to be able to add to the information for Nashville brides and help them create the day of their dreams! As a newlywed (3 weeks down!), I hope I can bring a fresh perspective to all those brides-to-be out there! I loved weddings before, and after going through the planning and execution of our own wedding, I feel blessed to be able to share everything we learned with other Nashville couples!
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Posted on June 8, 2011 |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos , Wedding Planners & Coordinators
