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Getting married is a special time for any couple. There is no better way to celebrate than to get away on a honeymoon. As appealing as this may sound, you may be struggling with the costs associated with a dream vacation.
You may not be able to see how after your lavish wedding, you can pull off a honeymoon too. Don’t despair! As there is hope. You can have a honeymoon on a budget, without depriving you and your new spouse of a good time. So, get your bags packed and get ready to plan that perfect honeymoon for you and your loved one with these simple money saving tips.
If you want to put even more cash in your pocket, try these moneymaking ideas.
Table of Contents
Make A Plan
One of the first steps in planning your honeymoon is to develop a plan of attack. You need to consider your budget as well as your expectations. Think about where you want to go, when you want to go, and how much you want to spend. This is the time to dream big and really develop your priorities for your dream honeymoon.
Good to Know: While you may have high hopes and grandeur ideas for your honeymoon, with a priority list in hand, you won’t have to sacrifice the things that matter to you the most. Start by planning a list of the amenities and features that you are not willing to skimp on. What matters most? Do you need a room with a view or high-end dinners? Most don’t, but some do and if these features of your honeymoon matter to you then prioritize them with the other details of your trip that don’t make that much of a difference.
Now that you have a plan in place, you’ll want to try the following tips to start saving for your honeymoon now.
Travel During The Off-Season
If you are still in the planning stages of your wedding, you may be able to plan it alongside your honeymoon. Many destinations allow for off-season travel at a reduced rate. This can save you a bundle on your honeymoon without missing anything in the process.
Extra Benefit: One of the benefits of booking your trip during the off-season is reduced crowds. You’ll avoid the lines, and the hustle and bustle as fewer travelers will be around to steal your dinner seat or favorite photo spot.
Drive To Your Destination
Sometimes, you really need to crunch the numbers to make sure that you can afford your honeymoon on a budget. One of the ways that you can maximize your honeymoon budget is to drive to your destination. Just think what fun a road trip will be as you get to take in the sights along the way. You can go at your own pace and arrive at your destination literally whenever you feel like it.
Did You Know? Driving can save a significant amount on travel as you won’t have those costly airfares to contend with or other transportation costs. It can save you a car rental and allow you to save big on a honeymoon vacation that just might be more fun than air travel.
Use Your Points And Miles
Getting to your honeymoon destination is often the hardest part of paying for your honeymoon. Airfare is expensive and can cost more than is expected. Now is the time to cash in those credit card and loyalty program points and miles. By redeeming these rewards, you can get to your destination without having to cough up the cash to pay for your travels. Just think how grateful you will be to fly for free and not have to worry about paying a big chunk out of your honeymoon budget to get where you want to go for your travels.
Look Good And Make Money
With a honeymoon planned, you may need to slip into a swimsuit, especially if you are staying at the beach. Now is the perfect time to lose a few pounds and make some money for your honeymoon fund in the process.
Pro Tip: With the HealthyWage app, you can bet others on your weight loss goals. Want to lose 15 pounds? Try this app to make a wager against another. If you reach your weight loss goal first, you take home the pot. If you lose, you lose your wager, but the competitive spirit will still be there. With the HealthyWage app it is easy to make some money for your honeymoon while getting in shape for your travels.
Think About Your Room Choice
When booking your hotel, you need to think about how much time you will actually be spending in it. Of course, you will be doing a ton of activities while on your honeymoon, which may not make it necessary to have the swankiest of hotel rooms.
Pro Tip: Forego the ocean view and instead opt for an economical room at the best hotel you can afford. Having a room without a view will not affect your honeymoon trip and will help save you money on your stay.
Tell Everyone You Are On Your Honeymoon
Spread the word that you are on your honeymoon. You will be surprised at how many perks you will receive just because of the news. Hotels may upgrade your room and airlines may give you a better seat.
You may also receive discounts on activities, complimentary desserts and drinks, and even a freebie here and there. The more people that know you are on your honeymoon, the more apt you are to receive a lower price or better accommodations and amenities just because you said, “I do.”
Try A Package Deal
Look for package deals that offer you complete travel, lodging, and meals. You may get a better price by lumping all your travel plans together rather than purchasing them separately. Plus, many package deals throw in show tickets or a free dinner. This can help you see some sights or enjoy a nice meal without having to dig into your honeymoon budget.
Good to Know: Packaged deals come and go, so be sure to be on the lookout for them as soon as you know that you are heading out on a honeymoon.
Earn Gift Cards To Pay For Your Honeymoon Dinners
Now, not every meal that you have on your honeymoon has to be paid from your own pocket. You can get discounted or even free gift cards to fine dining establishments around the world. Check out this guide to free gift cards.
Use Public Transportation
Another way to plan a honeymoon on a budget is to use public transportation while at your destination. Many destinations offer public bus services or subway systems that can get you to all the top sites as well as the airport and your hotel at a fraction of the price. Taxis, trains, and rental cars can add up quickly and take a big chunk out of your honeymoon budget. Plus, it is easy to get around with public transportation as route maps are available online and as apps that you can use to figure out what lines you need to take to get where you want to go.
Cook At Home
During your honeymoon, you may want to think about having a meal or two at your hotel. If you book a room that has a kitchen, it can be easy to prepare a nice meal and enjoy the company of your new spouse.
Pro Tip: Think about preparing breakfast in your room or packing a nice picnic lunch for your day of sightseeing. This can prevent you from shelling out some serious cash to keep you both fed while on your honeymoon travels.
Negotiate Your Travel Costs
There is nothing set in stone when it comes to the cost of your honeymoon. It may feel awkward at first but negotiating a better rate can keep more of that money that you have saved for your honeymoon in your pocket.
Pro Tip: Never take the first price offered to you. Always ask for a better rate. Remember the worst that they can say is no. Negotiations of prices for hotels, airfare, activities, and souvenirs are commonplace. You won’t be out of line asking for a lower rate, and in many places, it is expected.
You can make even more money with these easy-to-follow tips.
Think About An All-Inclusive Trip
If you are really looking for a way to really start saving for a honeymoon, you’ll want to consider an all-inclusive trip. You’ll be quoted one price that will cover virtually everything you want to do on your honeymoon.
Good to Know: All-inclusive trips typically includes your hotel, food, taxes, transportation, tips, and all other fees. This is packaged into one bundled price that can eliminate those add-on costs that add up fast.
Save On Your Everyday Purchases
Another way to make some cash that can help fund your honeymoon is to use the Ibotta app. With this app, you’ll need to take a photo of your shopping receipt, which Ibotta will match up with offers and give you the money back.
Pro Tip: Link a loyalty card to save even more or shop directly through the app to cash in on savings for items that you would purchase normally. The Ibotta app is a great way to put aside some extra money for your honeymoon without depriving yourself.
Look For Deals
Now is the time to start shopping for deals. Airlines run special promotions during certain times of the year, and you need to be on your toes looking for them. Keep an eye on airline prices, hotel specials, and other promotions where you can get a price break that can save you money on your honeymoon. When you see a deal or special price, don’t hesitate. Book it. The deal could sell out, and you may miss your chance to keep your honeymoon on a budget.
Book Ahead
You’ll want to book your airfare and hotel as far out as possible. This will ensure you get the best deals. Booking last minute will cost you a fortune as airlines and hotels typically increase their rates as it gets closer to the date.
Good to Know: Many airlines and hotels take bookings 10 to 12 months out, giving you plenty of time to book your honeymoon as soon as you start the planning process.
Stay Close By
One option to make sure that your honeymoon doesn’t go over budget is to stay in a locale that is close to your home. Not only will you save on travel costs, but it may be a destination that you have not explored even though it is right in your backyard. Staying nearby can provide you a fun-filled honeymoon, even if it means skipping the beach until next year.
Book A Mini Honeymoon
Not everyone can afford to have that extravagant honeymoon abroad immediately after they are married. Booking a mini version of your honeymoon now can help you save on the total costs of the trip. You can easily get away to a cheaper destination and plan for that blowout vacation on your anniversary. Plus, it will give you something to look forward to as you start to spend time together with your new spouse.
Shorten Your Trip
There’s no hard rule that your honeymoon has to last an eternity. Planning a shorter tip can actually help you save money on the overall cost of the trip. Booking a few days shorter of a trip will save you on hotel stays, meals, and more. A honeymoon that is three or four days instead of 10 can make a significant difference in your overall honeymoon budget. And you’ll have just as much fun without worrying about the finances to get there.
Earn Points For Those Vacation Outfits
Of course, you want some extra money to get a few key outfits to wear when you are on the beach. Maybe you need a new swimsuit or some formal wear for the occasion. You can earn points that can pay for the things you need for your honeymoon with the Drop app.
Pro Tip: Just by linking your credit card or debit card, the Drop app tracks your purchases and gives you points for the items that you buy on a daily basis. You’ll earn points which you can redeem for the things that you really want. This is the ideal way to start saving for a honeymoon without even realizing you are doing it.
Book Off-Peak Days And Hours
Booking your hotel and airfare during the days and hours that are the least in demand can also save you on your honeymoon budget. Monday mornings are a busy day at airports because of business travelers. This also holds true for Friday afternoons. Saturdays are also a busy day for vacation travelers as well as Sundays when everyone is looking to arrive home.
Good to Know: Planning a trip during the non-peak airline days can reduce the price of your airfare. Also, keep in mind that many people like to travel early in the morning, so if you are not on a time schedule, booking later can save you more.
Pro Tip: For hotels, you’ll want to think about if you really want to book on a Friday or Saturday. The cost of hotels on these nights can easily triple in cost, throwing your honeymoon budget totally out of whack. You may want to book a honeymoon midweek to save the most money on airfare and lodging. You’ll also be dealing with fewer crowds during your stay, which can make the entire trip more enjoyable.
Try An Airbnb
One of the best things about staying at an Airbnb rental is the amount of space you get combined with the low price of accommodations. Many Airbnb rentals are in the heart of a city, which would cost you a fortune to book with a hotel. Airbnb stays can get you to any destination you are dreaming of at a fraction of the price.
Good to Know: Many Airbnb owners offer week discounts, which can save you more than a traditional hotel stay. Think about Airbnb as a possible lodging option when you are planning your honeymoon.
Fly To A Different Airport
Sometimes flying to or from a different airport can save you a significant amount of money that can help you save big when planning your honeymoon. Airports that are a short distance from your destination may cost more than a smaller airport that is a little farther away. It is a small inconvenience to make sure that you stick to your plan of having a honeymoon on a budget.
Stay Away From The Tourist Traps
Booking your stay out of touristy areas can also help to reduce your total honeymoon costs. You’ll be away from the buzz of the crowds and find that you are off the beaten path lodging can help you to immerse yourself in the culture of the city better. You’ll meet the locals and find out their hotspots that you never would have uncovered had you been booked in a tourist trap.
Pro Tip: Ask around and find out what others know about a destination so you can choose a place to stay that is peaceful and affordable.
Save More When You Shop For Your Honeymoon
You can also plan a honeymoon on a budget by buying everything you need for your trip through the Rakuten (formerly Ebates) site. Rakuten gives you up to 40 percent back on everything you buy through the site. Just simply the site to buy the things you want from your favorite store. Rakuten will determine your saving and pay you cash through your PayPal account or buy check.
It doesn’t get any easier to save for a honeymoon than to use this site as you buy what you need for your wedding or trip away.
Get Money Back On What You Buy
You will no doubt be making some hefty purchases while you plan your honeymoon.
There is airfare, rental cars, lodging, and activities to burden the cost of.
You can plan a honeymoon on a budget by using Rakuten, where you can get up to 20% cash back on various hotel and airfare deals.
Wrapping It Up
You don’t have to cut corners or sacrifice your good time to plan a honeymoon on a budget. You can have the time of your life with your new husband or wife just by following these tips to save money on your honeymoon vacation.
So, get ready to celebrate your nuptials and plan that dream honeymoon. It doesn’t have to cost you a bundle, and you can still enjoy every single minute of your trip.
Like what you see here? Let us know. Have another money-saving tip for honeymooners? Tell us. We want to hear from you.
Author:
Logan is a practicing CPA and founder of Choice Tax Relief and Money Done Right. After spending nearly a decade in the corporate world helping big businesses save money, he launched his blog with the goal of helping everyday Americans earn, save, and invest more money. Learn more about Logan.
