TIPS TO STRETCH A HONEYMOON BUDGET
ON AVERAGE, the Australian couple spends around $5000 on their honeymoon,
which does not include spending money.
That’s a hefty bill to rack up before you have barely started your life as
husband and wife.
So, how can you keep the cost down without scrimping on style?
Here is Escape Travel's list of top 5 tips for booking a dream honeymoon,
without blowing your budget.
*1. Travel during off-peak and look out for deals
*School holidays and weekends are best avoided when it comes to air travel.
These are typically the busiest times to fly. If you are flexible with your
travel dates, fly during the week and use frequent flyer points to
upgrade if you have any. It also pays to sign up for newsletters from
your local travel agent and keep an eye out for deals to take advantage of.
*2. Ask guests for the gift of a honeymoon
*The growing trend for newlyweds is to set up a honeymoon registry for their
wedding. Couples simply create the registry at their nearest Escape Travel
store and wedding guests transfer their desired gift electronically. It is a
fantastic way to pool money together to put towards the overall cost of a
honeymoon, instead of accumulating plates, cups and cutlery, which are
often not required.
*3. Think outside the box
*Five-star camping honeymoons are gaining popularity, especially in Africa
where you can sleep under the star in a luxury tent. More couples are
joining group tours too, for the ease of an organised itinerary and the
social aspect of travelling with like-minded people. Also look into parts of
Asia and the South Pacific that are lesser known and not likely to be
populated by tourists, such Palau or Boracay in the Philippines, Kota
Kinabalu in Malaysia and the beaches of Sri Lanka.
**
*4. Get advice *
Travel agents have a wealth of travel knowledge. Speak to them about where
to go, when to go and tips on places to stay. They have access to all the
cheap travel deals, news on exclusive resorts and more. Packages are great
value, with inclusions such as breakfast, airport transfers, taxes and
activities. Be sure you take out travel insurance and read the fine print so
you know exactly what you are covered for.
* *
*5. Watch the dollar*
Monitor exchange rates before you leave and change a few hundred dollars
every time the Aussie dollar hits a high. It is a good time to travel now
because the Aussie dollar is doing well against the US, UK and most other
countries. You’ll get the best bang for your buck from countries such as
Vietnam, Thailand and Bali.
**
*For more honeymoon ideas or to set up a honeymoon registry, speak to a
travel consultant at Escape Travel.*
*Phone 1300 799 783 or see
**www.escapetravel.com.au*<http://www.escapetravel.com.au/> |
