Essential Tips for Planning Your Dream Honeymoon

Getting hitched is one of the best reasons to take a break and undertake your longest, splurge-iest trip ever. However, before you dive headfirst into checking off items on your travel bucket list, take a few minutes to consider the practical aspects—because the trip of your dreams won’t just magically come together on its own.

Indeed, poor accommodations, missed flights, lackluster meals, and unfavorable weather can significantly disrupt a happy holiday, essentially wasting your hard-earned money. While we can’t predict the future, we can assure you that proper planning will undoubtedly enhance your odds of enjoying the getaway of your dreams.

Timing is Everything

You’ve set aside your vacation days—now it’s time to determine how to spend them on your honeymoon. It’s crucial to balance the allotted time for your trip against your destination choice, ensuring that your adventure is spent enjoying rather than just commuting.

With two to three weeks, you’ll have ample time to explore distant destinations and recover from long-haul journeys and jet lag. Conversely, a week-long holiday often becomes unfulfilling if you spend two full days traveling between continents only to return shortly thereafter.

Moreover, consider the impact of seasonality. Planning your honeymoon right after the wedding may limit your travel options depending on the time of year. Large sections of the Caribbean are prone to hurricanes in September and October, while other destinations like Thailand experience heavy rains during the latter part of the year.

Therefore, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the high and low seasons of your preferred honeymoon destinations. Prices generally rise during peak seasons with favorable climates and busy travel times, whereas low seasons—or ideally, ‘shoulder’ or ‘green’ seasons—can offer significant savings at the expense of uncertain weather.

Benefits of DIY Planning

When selecting your honeymoon destination, there’s certainly merit in focusing on one particular location. However, many honeymoons often lend themselves to a multi-destination approach. All-inclusive resorts may suggest otherwise, attempting to capitalize on your lack of destination knowledge with preset tours.

Nevertheless, a DIY trip can be more straightforward than you might expect, and the rewards are significantly greater than opting for a pre-packaged tour. Engaging in hands-on planning is essential to immersing yourself in the destination, leading to a rich experience filled with the top attractions and activities that resonate with you.

How to Create a Multi-Stop Honeymoon

As the creator of your multi-stop adventure, visualize your honeymoon as a narrative; the flow of your vacation should build and unwind accordingly. Embark on your journey with a relaxing phase—adjusting to your new environment and managing any jet lag—before increasing the excitement through various activities and explorations. Finally, wind down at the end of your holiday, ensuring you feel rejuvenated rather than worn out.

Consider the beach in Bahia after exploring Rio and São Paulo, or concluding in a serene ryokan in Hakone after visiting Kyoto and Tokyo. You deserve a chance to unwind, allowing you to return from your trip feeling refreshed.

Selecting Hotels

Now, with your storybook itinerary in hand, it’s time to incorporate accommodations. Choose hotels that align with the pacing of each segment of your trip, but also plan strategically. It’s important to select options that enhance your overall experience. As you transition from one accommodation to the next, aim for improvements in quality—or at least a similar standard—to evoke a sense of progression as you explore your destinations.

The culmination of your journey should ideally coincide with a memorable, luxurious stay, reflecting the celebratory nature of your honeymoon.

Honeymoon Planning Timeline

One year before your honeymoon: Dream big. Contemplate your ideal locations to celebrate your marriage, seeking inspiration from , magazines, and travel websites.

Nine months before your honeymoon: If you’re allocating funds for your holiday alongside wedding expenses, you should have a clearer idea of your budget by now, enabling you to evaluate potential destinations.

Six months before your honeymoon: Finalize your travel dates after considering personal commitments and determining the optimal timing for your chosen destination.

Four months before your honeymoon (or earlier): Begin solidifying your plans by searching for flights, securing essential items from your checklist (hotels, visas, entry permits), and crafting a rough itinerary if you’re planning a multi-stop trip.

Two months before your wedding (note: wedding, not necessarily honeymoon): If you wish to ask your guests to help fund your dream getaway, it’s appropriate to create a registry detailing activities at varying price ranges to accommodate different budgets.

One month before your honeymoon: As the countdown begins, leverage social media to discover upcoming events, popular bars, and even connect with friends who might be traveling along similar routes.

This article was first published Jan 11, 2017 and updated Dec 27, 2021.