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Budgeting for Your Honeymoon

You can picture the perfect honeymoon. The elegant room. The sumptuous meals. The romantic setting. Then along comes that four-letter word.

Cost.

Budgeting for your honeymoon is a necessary part of the whole process, just like budgeting for the wedding itself. How much you will spend depends on many factors: where you honeymoon, when you travel, the length of your stay, and more.

According to the most recent figures of the Travel Industry Association of America, honeymooners spend an average of $1,402 per couple compared to $421 spent annually on regular trips. Young couples, age 18 to 24 years, spend the most on honeymoons, averaging $1,873. And as many as one-third of all honeymooners spend over $2,500 for that once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Shopping for a Bargain

So where do you start? Begin by doing a little comparison shopping. Prices vary greatly, not just from destination to destination but from resort to resort. And within the same resort, you'll find a full menu of price options, depending on factors like room view and length of stay. The "rack rate" or price you are quoted if you call a property is usually the highest; through tour operators and wholesalers you can often receive substantial discounts.

The price of air travel to your honeymoon destination also varies greatly. On any given flight, there are far more price classes than just first and coach. That traveler sitting beside you may have paid far less—or more—for his ticket. Factors like Saturday night stayovers influence price; also the cost of a seat can change daily.

Check with travel agents for special deals only they can access, try different days if you have some flexibility in travel times, and don't forget online travel services. And, if you have more than one airport in your area, it pays to compare the price of departing from various gateways. The difference can sometimes be several hundred dollars.

Money Talks

Another boost to the honeymoon budget are changing currency prices. Mexico has long been popular with honeymoon travelers looking to capitalize on a devaluated peso. Similarly, Canada is also gaining popularity as a honeymoon hotspot. The current strength of the American dollar against the Canadian makes our northern neighbor an attractive honeymoon destination. "Canada is extremely popular as a honeymoon destination," explains Judy Love Rondeau, spokesperson for the Canadian Consulate General in Dallas. "Your money goes further in Canada. Also, honeymooners like the cities of Montréal and Québec City because they are like going to Paris without going so far and spending so much money."

While it might not be enough to make you select a destination, favorable exchange rates can certainly help the two of you afford to splurge on an upgraded room or an extra special dinner during your honeymoon.

High Season vs. Low Season

When you travel also greatly influences the cost of your honeymoon. Every destination

has a high season and a low season when prices reflect demand. In the Caribbean, for example, high season runs from mid-December through mid-April, the coldest months in the Northeast, the Caribbean's biggest market. Low season coincides with hurricane season, from June through November. In Europe, high season falls during the summer months when both price and crowds are at a peak.

The difference between high and low season prices can vary as much as 40%. Resorts and hotels that seem out of reach during peak season may be right in your price range during off season.

Regardless of the month of your honeymoon, you’ll find both high and low seasons around the world. One destination's high season may well be another destination's low season. For example, the winter months are low season for Bermuda, which falls outside the Caribbean's boundaries. Honeymooners enjoy lower prices during the winter months when temperatures are usually too chilly for sea swimming but perfect for kissing beneath the island's legendary moongates or walking hand-in-hand on those pink sand beaches.

Another option are "shoulder" seasons, those months just before and after high season. During this period, you’ll find lighter crowds than during high season, good weather, but prices somewhere between those found during high and low seasons.

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