First comes love, then comes marriage… then comes the honeymoon! But, it’s more than just a trip. This is where you and your new spouse can destress from the wedding and spend some much-needed quality time together as a newly married couple. However, if you're trying to be mindful of your finances, then you may be wondering how you can honeymoon on a budget.
According to The Knot, the average cost of a honeymoon is $5,342. That’s in addition to the cost of a wedding; the average for that right now is $28,000! But don’t let these numbers scare you. The good news is that you can plan an amazing cheap honeymoon that won’t deplete your bank account or cause you to go into debt.
8 Tips for your honeymoon on a budget
Just like planning a budget-friendly wedding, a cheap honeymoon requires some creativity and flexibility. Of course, your honeymoon photos will still look really nice on Instagram, and your wallet will thank you for it later.
Here are 8 tips for your budget honeymoon!
1. Create a honeymoon budget
Just because the average honeymoon is around $5,000 doesn't mean you need to spend that much on yours. But you do need to know how much you can afford and are willing to spend on your budget honeymoon. So create a "honeymoon budget" like you would a vacation budget to ensure you don't overspend.
Make a list of all the potential expenses and include how much you are willing to spend on them. For example:
- Hotels
- Flights
- Additional transportation costs (car rentals, train tickets)
- Food
- Excursions (guided tours, snorkeling, sunset cruises)
- Pampering (Spas, massages, room service)
- Tickets (theatre, sports, events)
- Shopping (including any items you want to buy for the trip)
Be sure to include an additional subsection for unplanned purchases or events. However, there are tons of cheap honeymoon ideas you can implement and still have fun!
2. Time your purchases
One of the easiest ways to book your honeymoon on a budget is to time your purchases. Sometimes timing makes all the difference. Airfare expert and CEO of FareCompare Rick Seaney says that the best time to buy plane tickets is on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Why? “Many U.S. airlines begin airfare sales that appear on their websites late Monday or early Tuesday; the competition then matches these newly lowered prices, and this is generally finished by Tuesday afternoon.
That’s when shoppers have the most deals to choose from.” Seaney also advises travelers to shop for domestic airline tickets three months to 30 days before departure and international tickets 5 ½ to 1 ½ months before departure.
Additionally, airfare pricing can vary by season. For example, for winter flights, you can expect a good deal 94 days before traveling.
3. Be flexible with travel dates
During the summer months and on holidays, travel is much more expensive and far more congested with people. When booking your budget honeymoon, be flexible with your travel dates.
So instead, opt for low-season, non-holiday travel dates. Your honeymoon destination will have fewer travelers at the airport and thus cheaper flights.
4. Fly during the week
Similarly, weekend travel to popular vacation destinations is usually busier. Flights tend to be much cheaper if you choose to travel in the middle of the week.
CheapAir’s Airfare Study found that Tuesday and Wednesday flights are the cheapest days to fly while Sunday and Friday are the most expensive.
5. Set up alerts for deals
Nowadays, it’s easy to track prices on a variety of websites. Scott's Cheap Flights is a great resource because, unlike other airline ticket websites, they actively look for flights that airlines have made mistakes during the booking process. This could potentially result in saving almost double on airline tickets.
Google Flights works like a search engine (of course) and allows you to set up customizable alerts, and offers a lot of flexibility. Plus, the Google Flights Explore Map helps you find great deals. This is perfect if you have a general date range but aren’t set on where to go just yet.
Don’t shy away from signing up for deals sites. For example, Travelzoo sends out a weekly Top 20 list with deals for hotels, flights, vacation packages, and more.
If you’re unsure of where to go for your budget honeymoon, choose one of their best deals and go there. It’ll be an adventure no matter where you end up.
6. Choose affordable honeymoon destinations
Another way to have a honeymoon on a budget is to avoid hotspot destinations. Instead, look into affordable honeymoon destinations that will not make a major dent in your budget due to the high exchange rate.
For example, destinations in Asia, South America, and Africa can provide you with the same quality hotels and experiences at a much lower cost.
You can even forgo a trip overseas altogether and opt for beautiful locations in the United States. For example, Texas and Puerto Rico are great cheap honeymoon ideas for couples to vacation without spending excessive money.
7. Work with a travel agent
Other options you may want to consider in your budget are vacation packages and travel agents. Travel agents may be able to work with your current budget or offer packages for affordable honeymoon destinations for less than you would have originally paid.
So, rather than putting together your honeymoon package on your own, check into a travel agent for better deals.
8. Have a honeymoon on a budget by finding free things to do
When it comes to cheap honeymoon ideas, it doesn't get cheaper than free! You can find all sorts of fun places to visit, such as museums, parks, and more simply by googling what's free in the area. Finding free things to do will save you a ton of money on your trip!
Have a fabulous budget honeymoon
Use these tips to find affordable honeymoon destinations and stick with your budget. Remember, there are tons of cheap honeymoon ideas that you can try that will save you money.
Lastly, a honeymoon does not have to be an endeavor that occurs right after your wedding. You can delay taking your honeymoon until you have saved up enough money. Many people end up going on their honeymoon a year or two after the wedding, which is still just as enjoyable.