So, you’re recently married and ready to enjoy your honeymoon as newlyweds. Firstly, congrats on your wedding and this new chapter of your relationship! After all the money that goes into planning a wedding, another expensive honeymoon can be daunting to think about. We want to help with that! Read on for tips and tricks to help plan an unforgettable honeymoon on a budget.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a honeymoon is defined as, “a period of harmony immediately following marriage…a trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple.”
This is a special time in a relationship following the wedding that is unique to each couple. Traditionally, the honeymoon was taken directly after the wedding reception (as depicted in movies and Hollywood). However, the modern couple often opts to take their honeymoon later in the year to have some time to save up some money or for a more convenient time that aligns with work and vacation days. Some couples even the opt for a mini moon; a shorter trip for the newlyweds that is taken over an extended long weekend rather than a week or two-week long vacation.
You may be wondering, why bother with a honeymoon anyways? This is a fair question. As the cost of living continues to increase, vacations are often the first things to get cut from our budgets. However, what should be considered is the balance between sensibility and selfcare. We are often so quick to cut joy from our lives without really considering the impact of those decisions.
A honeymoon is something planned and taken with intention. A special and intimate experience just for the two of you. Choosing each other and choosing to sacrifice time and money in order to build equity in your relationship (and that’s a special thing). You are choosing to foster your marriage, celebrate one another and grow closer to each other
Without further delay, let’s jump into it! Here are our tips for planning a honeymoon on a budget.
How to Save Money and Plan Your Honeymoon on a Budget
1. Setting a Honeymoon Budget
It’s not fun, but it’s an important starting place to begin the honeymoon planning process. How much are you able, willing and comfortable on spending on your honeymoon? Only you can determine the appropriate budget for this amazing vacation. Every couple will come up with a different value and that’s normal.
There is no sense spending way beyond your means and then struggling with debt for months afterwards. It’s also important not to compare your budget to others. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Your financial journey is your own to champion, and it is imperative that you are honest about it. Are you trying to save up for a new vehicle, or perhaps a real estate investment? Do you have dependents you are responsible for? Student loans you’re working on paying off? All these things (and more) are valid and important considerations when determining your honeymoon budget.
Once you come up with the magic number, you have to protect it! Remember your reasons for setting it in the first place and be mindful that you honor that budget moving forward. Your future self with be thankful you did!
2. Creating a Budget Spreadsheet
Now that you and your new spouse have agreed on the budget, it’s time to create a budget spreadsheet. The best way to do this is in Google Sheets. It is the perfect place to begin tracking the travel costs of your proposed honeymoon trip. When working with a budget, a spreadsheet allows you to keep track of your current expenditures, your spending plan, as well as estimate the future travel expenses you might endure. Keeping track of these numbers is the best way to stick to a tight budget.
3. Create a Honeymoon Fund
Create a separate bank account where you and your spouse can put away a little money every pay check. That dollar figure will depend on the budget you set earlier in step #1. You will want to take that budget figure and divide it by the number of pay checks you will receive before it’s time to leave for that romantic getaway. For example, if my budget is $5,000, and I have 12 pay checks until the date we leave, you would take $5,000 divided by 12 = $417. Now, every pay check until the day you leave you will need to set aside $417 and transfer that into your honeymoon savings account.
4. Create a Honeymoon Registry
Something that has become increasingly more popular over the past several years are honeymoon registries. Couples have begun utilizing these honeymoon registries as a way of supplementing their travel expenses. This makes it easy for family and friends to donate towards your honeymoon. The best part is, websites like The Knot have made it easy to set up a honeymoon registry just like you would any other gift or wedding registry.
5. Research, Research, Research
I cannot stress enough, put in the time and research your options! You quite literally have the world of opportunities for honeymoon destinations, so make sure you do your research. This is the perfect time to read online articles, utilize social media, and have conversations with people you know. Get a sense of what’s out there and what you might be interested in. Once you have a few ideas and a direction you want to move forward with, you can start to dive a little deeper into general costs and budgeting. Spend a little bit of time researching major airlines, google flights, hotel rooms, room rates, lesser-known destinations, and best places to spend a budget honeymoon. You can keep your research organized with this honeymoon planning journal.
Not all destinations are made equally. So depending on your priorities, you can begin making lists of honeymoon options that not only work within your budget, but of places you may be interested in actually booking.
6. Trip length
As discussed above, not all honeymoon destinations are priced the same. What you spend in 5 days at an ocean front villa could be equivalent to a month backpacking and camping in the Mid-West.
That being said, you are in control of your honeymoon schedule. There are no rules for how long a honeymoon should be. Use the timeline to your advantage to help offset costs by shortening your time away. Depending on the amount of disposable income, some couples may choose to do several day trips while other couples may choose to book a full week at an all-inclusive resorts. But there is no doubt, keeping your trip short is the easiest way to keep costs down.
7. Avoid Peak Season
When you plan to take your honeymoon will also reflect prices. Travelling around Christmas, Spring break and summer break (July and August here in North America) are typically high travel months that align with school holidays. Everything is busier and prices go up accordingly. Sometimes it’s inevitable, and your only option is to travel during the high season and that’s alright. (I see you teachers!) Or you may be going somewhere for a particular festival or event (like an F1 race, or the cherry blossoms in Japan).
Prices will vary depending on the time of year and so we suggest the best time to enjoy a honeymoon on a budget is during the low season. That being said, if you have the flexibility to travel during the shoulder season (November, April, May), do it! Not only will there likely be fewer tourists, but you might be shocked by the price differences and be able to get just a little bit more for your budget.
8. Discounts and Deals
Planning in advance often leads to scoring awesome flight deals and hotel discounts. If you can, channel your inner coupon champion and look for promo codes and sales. Money saved can be money spent on extras and that’s a great feeling. You may also benefit from using specific credit cards or joining travel programs that offer cash back or rewards. Taking advantage and signing up for a travel reward credit card that is tied to a frequent flier program is a great way to help pay for a trip while making purchases that you would be making anyways!
The good news is, if you’re located in a country such as the United States or Canada, there are several credit cards that do just that and provide some great value to you as a traveler. Being in the right place at the right time can lead to some better deals.
9. Choose Alternative Accommodation
There’s no doubt that 5-star hotels are spectacular. They’re fancy and make you feel like royalty. However, we are also aware that spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars per night on a luxury hotel just doesn’t make sense for many people. Instead, a great place to book accommodation is with VRBO, Air BnB or even a 3-4 star hotel. You may be able to find a sweet spot between price and luxury and save yourself some money to spend elsewhere.
You may also consider dividing your time between different kinds of accommodation facilities. This is also a great way to balance your budget and maximize your experience. Remember, you don’t need a luxurious honeymoon. It’s the experience and who you’re spending the time with that matters most.
10. Alternative Transportation
Along with waiting for flight sales and using your miles/rewards points, you can also get creative with transportation options. This is largely dependent on where you visit for your honeymoon, but often there are cost savvy alternatives. For example, it can be a lot cheaper renting a car ahead of time rather than taking a taxi or private tour service. We love having the flexibility and control of having a vehicle as well, check out rentals HERE. Taking trains or trams is another way to save some money over flying or private car/taxi.
Most Popular Honeymoon Destinations
Best Honeymoon Destinations
If you’re looking for the Best Honeymoon Destinations 2024, look no further!
Affordable Honeymoon Destinations
If you’re looking for affordable or cheap honeymoon destinations, check out our top 5 recommendations below:
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Book your honeymoon package at a luxury resort in Las Vegas and enjoy some amazing entertainment! With venues offering live music, amazing food, and a chance to win some money at one of the casinos, Las Vegas has a little bit of everything for everyone. You may even want to take a scenic day trip out to one of the national parks and see the Grand Canyon.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Mexico is always a great choice when it comes to affordability, and the Riviera Maya is one of the most popular destinations in the country. Enjoy the beautiful beaches, the hot sun, and explore the cities of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The area offers plenty of inexpensive all-inclusive accommodations for your perfect honeymoon.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the perfect honeymoon destination and offers everything you can want in a tropical honeymoon without the big price tag of other nearby Caribbean islands. Staying at one of the many all-inclusive resorts is a great way to stay on budget at a fixed price. You’ll definitely enjoy spending some time on those white sandy beaches.
Koh Samui, Thailand
With its beautiful white sand and crystal blue water, Koh Samui is the perfect romantic hotspot for any honeymoon. The islands romantic yet private atmosphere allows honeymooners to enjoy a private beach picnic or even a relaxing spa treatment without being disturbed, Koh Samui is one of our favorites.
Bali, Indonesia
Where serenity meets romance, the island of Bali allows you to spend your days enjoying couples massages, practicing yoga, and enjoying romantic meals together. One of the advantages of visiting Bali is that you’re able to book a 5-star accommodation with an infinity pool and modern finishes for a fraction of the price it would cost you here in North America.
Affordable Ideas for a Honeymoon on a Budget
Road Trip
Pack your bags, get in the car, and get ready to hit the road! Some of our best memories were made on road trips and spending your honeymoon doing just that can be no different. Perfect for nature lovers or those looking to explore a national park, we live in a beautiful country that has so much to see! Choose to spend the night camping, or if camping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of accommodations you can find at an affordable price.
Staycation
Just because you aren’t going far, doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing! Planning a staycation and staying close to home is one of the best ways to keep your honeymoon cost down. Make a reservation at a local restaurant for some fine dining and then spend the night a local hotel. Now I know it’s no white-sand beaches (unless you’re lucky enough to live in a beach town), but you’re in full control as you’ll be able to make it as fancy or as simple as you’d like.
Last Minute Deals
With so many deals popping up everyday, there might be a last minute dream honeymoon calling your name! Contact your local travel agent or check out the deals online. You never know, you might see palm trees in your near future.
Final Thoughts on Planning a Honeymoon on a Budget
We hope this blog has given you a strong starting place for planning your honeymoon on a budget. It’s not going to plan itself overnight, but if you get started today and plug away at your research bit by bit you may just surprise yourself.
We wish you success planning your honeymoon and hope you have the most magical time together. We LOVE love and want the best for you and your partner in your travel life! Enjoy your honeymoon!
