Step 64 - Develop your Honeymoon Itinerary

(3 Months to 4 Months before the Wedding)
The top factors for a honeymoon from a 2007 study are first a dream location, followed by a reasonable price, then a comfortable room, followed by good quality and selection of food, then followed by enjoyable activities.

You need to formulate your honeymoon budget, how much discretionary funds are left after you have payed for your air fare, hotel, and transportation costs. You should also set up an emergency fund, that you plan not to touch, or use it for a special souvenir gift if it's still available the very last day of your trip.

You need to determine how much money you will need for every day expenses of your honeymoon. First you need to decide on what major activities you plan on doing on your honeymoon and what would be the costs.
You first want to learn all about your honeymoon location. What is all there? How much fine dining would you like to do? What activities would you like to do? What sightseeing excursions would you like to go on? Do you plan on any shopping? Familiarize with your honeymoon location by getting brochures and maps of the place and surrounding areas.

Stop by your travel agency or any agency and look at places near your honeymoon location that might interest you, and bring a note pad and a pen with you and jot places down. You can also stop at your local book store and look at their travel magazines and maps. Also look at online travel websites like lonely planet and Google the location and look at other travel guide websites like www.frommers.com , www.fodors.com , www.travelchannel.com, and www.tripadvisor.com . Whatever places interest you, Google and find about them further.

If you are using a travel agent, get information from your agent too. Is he a certified agent and can get special discount for you? What places to go? What are fine restaurants to eat at? What activities are there? You should make a list of all the things you plan to do while you are on your honeymoon. Mark down all the things; fine restaurants, golf, tennis, skiing, boating, scuba diving, para sailing, night clubbing, shopping, spa treatment, whatever. After you make a list of what you plan to do you want to price them out. If you are staying at a hotel, you might contact the hotel's concierge who can help you get an idea of each cost (you can arrange for reservations and directions too). Some places have websites or you can contact the facility itself and they can inform you of the costs, always ask if they have discount programs.

You want to then take your spending budget then subtract all the activity costs then subtract a reserve emergency fun and then what's left you can derive a daily expenditure budget by taking the amount left divided by the number of days. You need to take into account leaving tips for maid service too. Find out the maid's work schedule from the front desk. Leave the maid a tip on the last day she's working when you are there. If you have too much luggage, and need room for souvenirs for the trip home, you can leave some clothing behind too. Maid's in resorts tend not to make much money and they are very happy to take extra clothing left behind for themselves, or other family members.

Make a list of all things you need to include in your travel folder, all your tickets for airlines, hotel, and rental car, brochures, travel guides, maps, passport, visa, black book with all important contact numbers in it, a copy of all your important papers front can back including driver's license, any other licenses, for bride's the marriage certificate, all documents will not be in the bride's married name, will have to use her maiden name still during the honeymoon. Also the numbers and expiration dates of all credit cards as well as important people family and friend contacts too. You should have three pieces front and back of every document. One left behind with a family member, one in your carry on luggage and the other with your check in luggage.

Start making a list of all items you need for the honeymoon, for the ladies make sure you have some lingerie and fresh undergarments. For the men, fresh undergarments too. Include toiletries and include them in your carry on bag in case your luggage gets delayed. Make sure you have camera and film, batteries, stronger SPF sunscreen than usual, sun glasses, and if you are in a strong sun area bring a sun brimmed hat too. And don't forget any prescriptions and protection items too. Identify a location and phone number of a doctor in the area too.

When you pack, roll your socks and undies into your shoes. Have a couple of nicer outfits and dresses dry cleaned and bagged. Bring nice looking clothes, maybe you can borrow some, don't bring new never worn clothes and that is including shoes. Make sure you hand all your clothes up once you have your room..

Ask around, maybe some family members may have some points they can give you to help in honeymoon costs. This includes frequent flyer  miles, hotel points, car rental points, time-share, and AAA. Often you can save money at all inclusive resorts, but check out what is included. Maybe the alcohol is limited to the resorts choice of beer, wine, and the resorts cocktail. The food offered maybe buffet cafeteria style with group seating, you may have to share your table with other guests.

You might consider bringing a luggage bag of food, you can get pick up a special luggage that is lined and keeps food good. Pack with wine, gourmet coffee and creamers, snack mix, candy, nuts, dried fruit in which you can eat the food as munchies back at the room or at the pool instead which leaves extra funds for dining and activities. You will save on paying for tourist trap prices. Go find and buy goodies at an off the beat bodega around the corner, instead of paying premium prices at the hotel or next door tourist store.

When traveling have one set of clothing in each others luggage, if one of your luggage gets delayed or for heaven's sake lost at least you will have clothes to wear until the luggage arrives or you get reimbursed by the airline. You can exchange money nowadays using ATM machines. If you are a reader, invest in a Kindle so you don't have to find space for books or magazines in your luggage. They keep you entertained on a plane too.

When you arrive at your place, let the front desk know you are on your honeymoon. Work with the front desk to get you the nicest room you can get. You might ask for a room that is non-smoking, private location, convenient location, ocean view, or a high floor. Upon arrival to the room if you don't like the room, ask to see another, it's your honeymoon, make it the occasion the best you can make it. Make sure you meet the concierge in person and get their guidance at the resort, get directions, find fine dining, let the concierge make any reservations for any shows or activities, and ask any questions that you have.

Make sure the honeymoon has devotion time to your partner. Lay out an itinery but include some time dedicated to yourselves. You want a couple of days to really get intimate, relax and enjoy each others company. Don't feel pressure on the sex thing, couples are new at it and it may take time getting comfortable with one another in the beginning, don't feel disappointed. Don't be afraid to get comfortable with it by watching adult movies or reading magazines or books together back at your home. The important thing is to get cozy and have romantic moments on your honeymoon.

Below is the 5-3-1 Honeymoon Quiz. It's designed to help honeymoon couples understand each other's preference for the honeymoon. Both the engaged bride and engaged groom pick their top 3 choices of preferences without consulting the other giving the top choice 5 points, the next choice 3 points, and the third choice 1 point. Combine the scores for each item, whatever combined score has the highest total, you use that information to help guide your honeymoon decisions. Remember no cheating, get independent answers!

5-3-1 Honeymoon Quiz

1. My Preferred Honeymoon Environment is
    Beach
    City
    Cruise Ship
    Desert
    Lake
    Mountains
    Resort Pool
    River
    Safari
    Several Towns
    Sightseeing

2. I would Like to Take our Honeymoon
    Immediately following the reception
    Within a few days of the wedding
    A week after the wedding
    A month after the wedding
    The following year
    At our wedding location
    In the Spring
    In the Summer
    In the Fall
    In the Winter

3. I would like the Honeymoon to Last
    Just one night
    2-3 days
    4-6 days
    One week
    A week and a half
    Two weeks
    More than two weeks

4. My preferred location
    Africa
    Asia
    Australia
    Canada
    Caribbean
    Europe
    Latin or South America
    Mediterranean or Middle East
    Mexico
    South Pacific
    United States

5. My Ideal Hotel
    Is in a secluded location
    Small with few rooms or villas
    Large with a lot of amenities
    All-inclusive
    Couples or adults only (no children)
     In the heart of a city
    Close to nightclubs or entertainment
    One with a Casino
    Mountain or Ranch Resort
    Beach Resort
    Time-Share Location
    Bed and Breakfast

6. My Favorite Water Activity
    Boating
    Fishing
    Jet Skiing
    Kayaking
    Para Sailing
    Sailing
    Scuba Diving  
    Snorkeling
    Sun Bathing
    Surfing
    Water Skiing
    Water Tubing
    Yachting
 
7. My Preferred Activities are
    Art & Museum Appreciation
    Bicycling
    Dinner Show
    Golf
    Jogging
    Hiking
    Reading
    Shopping
    Sightseeing
    Skiing/Snowboarding
    Sleeping and Hanging Out
    Spa Treatments
    Tennis
    Watching Sports
    Watching Movies

8. Most of our Meals will Be From
    Preparing Romantic Dinners in our Room
    Cheap Local Cuisine
    Door Service or Resort Food
    All-Inclusive Package from resort
    Fine Dining
    Eating at Shops, Local Restaurants, and Malls
    Food service at the Beach or Pool

9. At Night, I would Enjoy
    Live entertainment
    Bars and clubs
    Hanging at the Casino
    Take Walks in the Moonlight
    Stay in our Room and Watch a Movie
    Go to a Movie Theatre
    Take a Stroll on a Beach

10.Type of Food I most Prefer
     American
     Asian/Sushi/Thai/Vietnamese/Indian/Japanese
     Cajun/Creole/Barbecue  
     Chinese
     Delicatessen
     French
     German
     Greek/Mediterranean/Middle East
     Italian/Pizza
     Sea food
     Steak
     Vegetarian/salad

11. My Favorite Types of Desserts
      Assorted Pies    
      Bakery goods (Cannolis, Eclairs, Puffed Oastries, Tarts)    
      Brownies
      Cakes and Cupcakes
      Candies and Cookies
      Cheesecake
       Fruits/Cheese/Nuts
       Ice Cream
       Petit Fours
       Pies
       Pudding and Jellos

12. My Favorite Types of Movies to Watch
      Action & Adventure
      Adult
      Comedy
      Documentary and War
      Drama
      Foreign
      Horror
      Music and Performing Arts
      Mystery & Suspense
      Romance
      Sci-Fi & Fantasy
      Sports & Fitness
      Western

Make sure your documents are up to date such as your driver's license for a rental car and your passport has blank pages for each country you plan to visit. Make sure you get your shots needed for the countries you plan to travel to. If you bring jewelry, always keep it in your sign of vision, and keep it in a room safe or resort safety deposit box. Get exercise and eat balanced meals.

It's your honeymoon, have the time of your life and see you on the other side!







     

   
   

Step 39 - Reserve a Bridal Suite for your Wedding Night

(6 Months to 9 Months before the Wedding)
It's of utmost importance to have your first private moments together as husband and wife in a romantic situation. Finding a romantic honeymoon suite to celebrate your first night together will get the marriage off to a rousing start. Whether you'll be staying in a special honeymoon suite for a single night or a week or more, it will be at a place and time loaded with idyllic bliss making you feel like you're in heaven and bring a special memory that will always have with you honey in your lifetime.

As you begin your search for a special honeymoon suite, your decisions will be based on your honeymoon plans. If you find yourself in the area of the wedding the day after your wedding you want to start your search by searching for hotels that are within 15-20 minutes of the wedding reception or near one of your parent's homes. If you are leaving for you honeymoon on the day after your wedding, then you might look for a suite in a hotel near the airport or if it's a cruise at a hotel near the cruise line point of departure. The hotel suite may even be located in a destination city, where you can find a honeymoon suite in a four or five star resort, and see the city sights some.

First you want to identify a number of hotels in the area you want to be, first check out different hotels online. You can find hotels from wedding related websites, some are elsewhere in this blog, or you could put the city you are in into a search engine with the word "hotel". You may get a general idea of the bridal suite online but what you see is not always what you get.

Most hotels have more than one honeymoon suite. It's important to find a bridal suite that's just right so it's really important to see for yourself what the bridal suites are truly like. Make sure the hotel arranges for you to see the bridal suite is really like, don't go by pictures and their word. It's important that you love the place and compare bridal suites from a number of different places and pick the best place that fits your budget. Make sure also, the place is in a good convenient location and there are no noisy projects happening during the day or week of your honeymoon.

When you are interviewing the hotel, you want to inquire about the check in and check out policy. Some bridal suites require checkout by 11:00 in the morning and you were out late the night before. The hotel might look great but it just might not work for your plans. Make sure you know and understand hotel policies before you book a room. Is the hotel accommodating and can check out be rearranged without incurring a penalty?

Check out the amenities the bridal suite itself has to offer and check out what the hotel has in the way of services in addition. What amenities are important to you and your love? Honeymoon and bridal suites are all over the board in how nice they are and what services they provide. A "suite" may consist of pure elegance in one hotel and may consist of an extra bedroom and bath and nothing really special at another. That's why you need to check them out in person to really know what you are really getting.

Check out the room itself and see what the suite has to offer. Inquire with the hotel, to schedule a time you can stop by to check out the room in person. Does it offer impressive niceties, really nice furniture, a private hot tub, fresh robes, spacious rooms, a king sized bed, a home theatre room with comfortable lounge chairs, a library, an eloquent dining area with butler service, and a built in bar. A place of romance where you have to battle your family and friends, who want to stop by and say I just got to see it!

You want to check the hotel out too, does it offer amenities that you want? Do the restaurants offer the type of meals that you like and can meet your budget? Does it offer shows? Do they provide tours? Does the hotel have a health spa to get a wonderful massage? Does it have a scenic pool, sauna, and gym? Remember your wedding night and honeymoon period is a once in a lifetime experience, you can never get that experience back if you don't do it and it sets the marriage on the right foot!

If the hotel bridal suite is out of the realm of possibilities and you just can't afford it you might want to check out get away cabins or bed and breakfasts or locking yourself in your bedroom home for a couple of days. The important thing is to spend quality time together to really get to know each other and if it's important to the guy, brides don't forget the romantic moment with the lingerie and the negligee. Also be sure to shut the world out with no phone, IPhone, IPad, Blackberry, computer, or internet, and concentrate on each other especially during your honeymoon.

When people care about you enough to take time off from their work, travel, and spend money just to be part of your special day, be sure to show them how grateful you are. Let guests arriving from out-of-town know you appreciate them coming and do something for them to show your appreciation.

If you have a group of guests travelling to your wedding, you should reserve a block of rooms for them so they can enjoy a discounted group rate. The block of rooms should be reserved at least 6 months in advance of the wedding date at a hotel in proximity to the wedding site.

Many hotels require you to reserve a minimum number block of rooms could be 6, 10, or 15 or other to reserve the space. If you have more than 30 rooms, you might need book some additional block of rooms in a  hotel nearby. You may need to consider finding a hotel that is a lot less expensive for guests that have a tight budget too. Some guests may come into town without a car, you should check if the hotels have shuttle service to and from the airport and find where the shuttle can go, between other hotels and to and from some of the city landmarks. Relay what you find to out-of-town guests and again when wedding invitations go out.

As an extra treat for your guests, prepare welcoming bags for each of them. You can have them waiting in their rooms or have attendants hand them out at the front desk. If your guests are from other areas you may consider a gift basket  filled with a lot of locally produced goodies including sweet and salty snacks and may include beverages such as bottle water. You might include a welcome note with a map and another paper filled with the wedding weekend's itinerary. You might invite them to the rehearsal dinner, or have a cocktail in their honor, and leave a coupon for a spa treatment and another for a dinner for two in the hotel. Maybe leave a list of phone numbers and room numbers, and leave suggestions of sights to check out and things to do in the area. Lastly provide a contact person their name and phone number, in the event a person needs something or a ride somewhere.

Remember it's your honeymoon, a period of your life where life doesn't get any better than this. You do have to live within your means, but for your honeymoon if you can, you need to splurge a little. Enjoy the special time, reserve a bridal suite for your wedding night. See you on the other side!