The question of when to book your honeymoon really is a rather subjective matter. In all honestly it comes down to a question of suitability and timing. You don’t want to feel rushed into arranging your honeymoon because after all bearing in mind the significance of the event your decision should be a thoughtful and considered one and yet neither do you want to have the stress of leaving it to the last minute; which could be both a headache and rather expensive.
Finding a happy medium and something that suits you’re individual needs and wants is without doubt the best approach to organising your trip. Although first and foremost the more fundamental aspects of your wedding may take precedence; the date, location, reception venue and guest list etc, it is useful to start to think about the kind of honeymoon you want as soon as possible.
The style and destination of your honeymoon is likely to be dictated by a number of key factors; including the time of year, how long you intend to honeymoon for and of course, budget. Depending upon the date you set for your wedding if you are in favour of honeymooning immediately after the ceremony then where you go is likely to be defined by seasonal changes. Summer weddings (June, July, August) generally lend themselves to more perennial destinations such as the Indian Ocean Islands or Pacific Islands; a visit to Northern Australia and the Great Barrier Reef would also be suitable or perhaps even to Kenya or Tanzania and Zanzibar for a safari and beach honeymoon.
Conversely, during the winter places such as South Africa, areas of South East Asia such as Vietnam and Thailand and the Caribbean islands offer a pleasant climate. You can visit www.expedia.com.vn for fantastic deals on hotel accommodations in Vung-Tau or Nha-Trang, as well as Bankok and Chiang Mai.
Travelling at peak times can of course be costly and so a great way to save a little money if you are working to financial plan is to travel just either side of the ‘high season’ when the crowds are less and the rates are a little lower. You and your partner may also decide that either you would rather wait a little why after the wedding before you go on your honeymoon; or perhaps have your hearts set on a particular destination that is out of season relative to the date when you get married.
It is not so unusual today to see couples wait weeks are even a few months after their wedding before they go on honeymoon either through prior commitments or through choice. Although I wouldn’t generally recommend waiting much more than 3 months while the thrill of marriage and the memory of the ceremony are still fresh in mind, delaying your honeymoon a few weeks is perfectly normal.
Don’t feel too pressured to book with the first agent our tour operator you approach. Leave plenty of time to do some research; reading bridal and honeymoon magazines, check online reviews of hotels, destinations and tour operators. Although more experienced travellers may endeavour to plan their honeymoon in separate stages i.e. book the flights, the hotel, insurance and whatever activities you may want; for less confident holidaymakers or simply for those who don’t want the added pressure I would recommend approaching a honeymoon specialist who should also be ATTOL protected so that the money you invest in the experience is safe.
Although if you’re wedding is set for a date a couple of years in advance booking your honeymoon might not be an immediate priority, some companies do offer early booking discounts and this can save you a significant amount. I would suggest that you have most things arranged with at least six months to spare but for some more niche encounters such as Kenyan safari during the Great Wildebeest Migration you may need to book up to a year in advance to ensure that the accommodation you would prefer is available.
There is no exact science to when and how to book your honeymoon but if you invest some time and effort into researching the destinations you have in mind as well as the tour operators, flights or hotels you want then the whole process can become a much more straightforward and stress free exercise.