Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

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Photo by: Edwin Fotheringham

1. Price out airfare first. Before you settle on a wedding or honeymoon destination, remember that a major factor in comparing destinations is the airfare. For example, say you want to go to an island in the Caribbean. Some isles, such as Jamaica and Puerto Rico, get plenty of nonstop service from the United States, while others, like Anguilla and Nevis, require a connection, often on a smaller local airline. Decide if you’re willing to pay for another travel leg, and work that expense into your spending plan.

2. Use common sense. While your dream destination may have been beyond your budget in the past, the global recession has hit some spots harder than others. So check if your favored locale has suddenly come into reach. With last year’s economic crisis, usually expensive Iceland has become much more affordable against the U.S. dollar. Fantasizing about French Polynesia? Air Tahiti Nui has recently been offering some surprisingly good deals.

3. Beware of holidays and other special events. Nothing jacks up prices more than a holiday or major event. Expect to pay top rates during the winter season around Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. If you’re planning a springtime soiree, be sure to check when Easter and spring break fall in your particular destination. Look for local seasonality as well; wine-country rates rise during the grape-harvest season, while New England asks a premium during autumn leaf-peeping time.

4. Consider shoulder season. Working with a tight budget and feeling priced out of your choice spot? Look into similar locales that are in shoulder season (in between high and low seasons). For example, peak season in Bermuda starts later than in the Caribbean because it’s located farther north. Have your heart set on a locale but are more flexible with timing? Hawaii has better deals in spring and fall, when family travel is limited due to school schedules.

5. Be prepared for low season. While some great low-season bargains are out there, you need to know the risks. Head to the Caribbean during hurricane season or to the Pacific during the monsoon months, and you’ll get amazing deals — but you also have a higher chance of encountering storms. If you want to take your chances, ask about guarantees or travel insurance; brands like Access America offer various levels of coverage to offset the odds.

6. Look into travel registries. Couples who already have a fully stocked household may find that registering for their trip is a great way to cancel out some of the costs of activities, meals and more. Choose from many programs, including those offered through a resort (Marriott, Starwood, Sandals), a destination (Aruba), a tour operator (Backroads, Mountain Travel Sobek), a cruise line (Carnival) or an online booking agency (HoneyLuna).

7. Price out packages. As a rule of thumb, travel packages that combine flights, hotel stays and extras like excursions and airport transfers are a great way to get more for less — if you want everything they offer. Don’t assume you’ve found a good deal before you price out the pieces a la carte. The same is true for all-inclusives and cruises: travelers who don’t drink and just want to sun all day may find that an all-inclusive resort is more expensive than a pay-as-you-go one.

8. Factor in all the costs. The biggest mistake you can make is assuming that airfare plus hotel price equals the total cost. You have to get yourselves to and from both airports, pay taxes along the way, and account for food, drinks, tips, transportation and activities (unless those are included in your package). You’ll probably also want a souvenir, a spa treatment and maybe a nice bottle of wine one night, so be sure to do all the math before determining which trip is right for you.

9. Use flight aggregators. Websites like kayak.com and orbitz.com scan the Web for deals, then send you directly to the airline or booking engine. They’re a good place to start your search.

10. Be flexible with timing. Check out alternative travel dates surrounding your wedding day, both on the front and the back end. if you marry on a Saturday, you may find that the fares are much higher on Sunday than the following Tuesday.