Travel Tips

(ARA) – The date is set, the dress is bought and the tuxes are rented — now you get to plan your first vacation together as husband and wife. Whether your ideal honeymoon is traveling to the Swiss Alps for some mountain fun or relaxing on an exotic beach in the Caribbean, it’s a special time you’ll never forget. So what do you need to know to plan the perfect honeymoon that goes off without a hitch?

“Everyone wants the greatest honeymoon possible, but be sure to review the little details so they don’t turn into big problems,” says Michael Kelly, president of On Call International, a medical and travel assistance company. “The best thing you can do is research, plan and prepare together as a team.”

Here are some things to consider when planning the perfect honeymoon:

1. Choose a destination together.
Pick a destination that you both really want to visit. Each person should choose the top three places they would like to honeymoon and then compare lists. If you both want something relaxing, a traditional spa vacation in the tropics is a good choice. If you are adventure junkies, be sure to visit a location that offers lots of fun activities.

2. Prep ahead of time.
Make a checklist of things you need to do before your trip. Research the laws of the country to where you will be traveling and see what rules are different. It’s a good idea to check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find out what types of immunizations are recommended for Americans at that specific destination. And remember, if you don’t have a passport or need to renew, allow ample time for processing. If you’re changing your name after your wedding, make sure that the name on your travel documents matches what is on your passport so that you don’t experience any delays through security and customs.

3. Get medical and travel assistance services.
No one plans on getting sick or having other problems on their honeymoon, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the peace of mind to know that if something happens, you’re covered? That’s why it’s important to get medical and travel assistance.

Your health insurance might not cover you while you travel, so a company like On Call International is there to help. On Call members get access to a 24-hour emergency response center to find doctors in their travel area, a 24-hour English-speaking nurse line to help identify symptoms, and coverage should a traveler need to return home for medical reasons.

In addition, On Call can help you with other travel woes such as a lost passport, misplaced credit card, lost baggage or the need to reschedule a delayed or cancelled flight.

4. Pack the right stuff.
Sure you want to look great for your spouse, but sometimes looking chic and dressing appropriately for the location you’re visiting might not be the same thing. Research what tourists usually wear at your chosen location. If you’re traveling internationally, different cultures might have different expectations. Also remember that extreme weather, hot and cold, requires different types of clothing, so pack accordingly and you won’t have to buy something at an exorbitant price when you get there.

5. Eat, drink and be merry.
No one wants to be stuck in their hotel bathroom with a stomachache on their honeymoon. Food and water in different countries can be contaminated so do your research before celebrating at the local restaurant. When in doubt, ask your hotel concierge for advice. If you are buying your own food, sealed products are usually safer options because they come directly from the distribution center.

“These planning tips should help you have the honeymoon of your dreams. If something does go wrong, remember to work through it and enjoy the time you have together. After all, it’s one of the most important and special vacations you’ll ever take,” says Kelly.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Plan Your Dream Honeymoon

Research – 10 Months Before Your Wedding
Book – 8 Months Before Your Wedding

A honeymoon is sure to be the trip of a lifetime! This is the one trip that you want to make more special than any other. If possible you may even go for some of the extra amenities that are sure to make this a truly memorable trip. Before you run to the travel agent’s office and book your trip, it can be quite helpful for you to discuss the honeymoon as a couple. You want to be sure that you are on the same page with your beloved in what you envision your honeymoon to be. If one of you pictures yourself lying on a beach with an umbrella drink in hand and the other envisions strolling the streets of Italy, then you need to come up with an option that suits you both. Honeymoons can be expensive so you want to be sure that you budget appropriately for this, and doing some initial research can come in handy in this capacity.

After you discuss some possible options as a couple, then you’ll want to use some well known travel websites to gather possible pricing. Whether you choose to book your trip online or through a travel agent, pricing out online can be quite helpful as you develop a budget. This can also help to narrow down your options in terms of where you might go, and can make finding a trip that both of you are happy with so much easier. A small hut in Fiji may sound nice, but it may not be in the budget after you run the numbers. You want to decide how much you want to spend and how important certain amenities are to you. If you want to take a cruise for example, then you may find that one which visits three islands is a better option in terms of price and timing. You’ll learn so much more after you check out possible options and see what could be in store for you.

Start a list as a couple of a few possible destinations that would make you both happy. This will give you a starting point for your research and will give you some ideas to compare in price. You want to be sure that you take into consideration how long of a vacation you will be taking, how soon after the wedding you intend on leaving, and what you want to do. Looking into destinations is a good starting point, but you also want to research what there is to do once you get to your selected honeymoon spot. Not only will this help you to plan for cost, but it can help you to decide if a destination is a fit for you as a couple. Research can really help you to narrow in on the perfect vacation spot, and this is sure to make your honeymoon as magical as it should be!