After splurging on a wedding, many couples prefer to plan their honeymoon on a stricter budget. There are lots of tricks you can utilise to help you plan some fun honeymoon activities in a great location, all while keeping costs down.
Honeymoon closer to home
One of the best ways to stretch your budget further is to honeymoon closer to home. The UK offers a range of beautiful, relaxing spots to visit. These include the gorgeous natural scenery of the Peak District, or the beauty of the Welsh and Scottish countryside. You can enjoy a great honeymoon getaway within the UK, saving yourself the costs of flights, travel insurance and expensive accommodation away from home.
However, there are superb options on the continent too. A flight to one of Europe’s romantic cities, such as Venice or Paris, can cost as little as £100. Europe embraces a range of inexpensive, high-quality accommodation options, including Airbnb.
Keep activities free
Embracing free activities is an effective way of reducing costs on your honeymoon. Picnics and hikes are both examples of fun (and free) honeymoon activities. The Guardian featured a reader Q&A tackling this very subject:
“Having enjoyed walking the Cleveland Way – a 110-mile horseshoe shaped walk between Helmsley and Filey – a couple of years previously, for our honeymoon my husband and I decided to walk the missing link: the 60 miles that join the beginning and the end of the horseshoe. For most of the time it felt like we were the only two people in the world. The honeymoon was relaxing, life-affirming (we saw a lamb being born), rewarding and cheap. Oh, and nine months later our first-born made an appearance – not bad to say I was 37.”
Book flights and accommodation at the right time
Booking your flights and hotel early are two of the best ways to save money on your honeymoon. With flight bookings, there is a booking sweet spot of three months – any earlier, or later than this and you will see an increase in fare prices.
In contrast, hotels and apartments can be booked at any time, but they get more and more expensive around peak holiday season. This is generally in the spring and summer months, so if you’re planning to go on your honeymoon during this time, be sure to book far in advance to save yourself money.
In addition to strategically booking your flights and accommodation in advance, consider which season would be best to set off on your honeymoon. Low season and shoulder season are the two most cost-effective seasons. Low-season will leave you with less than ideal weather conditions, but you’ll likelier to get a bargain on your accommodation. Shoulder season is a great option to go for, as it offers both good weather and cheap accommodation – without the crowds of high season.
Score a deal
There are many honeymoon and holiday deals to be found on the internet. Most travel companies and resorts offer enviable package deals for a range of locations. Be sure to research all of the different options available to you before deciding on a final choice. Coupon sites like Groupon offer package deals, and you can also find savings on activities. This might include spa pamper sessions, adventurous outdoor activities or romantic three-course meals at luxury restaurants.
You can save yourself money on your honeymoon by booking early, doing your research, and honeymooning closer to home.
