In your lifetime, you'll go on numerous vacations, but only one trip will truly be a lifetime trip: your honeymoon. You’ve had your perfect wedding day, now it’s time to celebrate your new life and depart for one of the greatest honeymoon locations after you say "I do"). The world is full of inspiration, whether you're planning on taking a trip or snorkeling at a Mexican beach resort, or planning a trip to Europe to see Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia, and other top destinations.

Of course, paying for everything can be one of the biggest issues. Your trip can quickly become pricey when you add up the costs of the airfare, lodging, excursions (such as horseback riding, kayaking, and so on), as well as food and beverages. But, there are affordable ways to have a romantic honeymoon that you can tell your grandchildren about.

Here is a list of tips and tricks that will help you keep your honeymoon budget-friendly:

Choose your location right away

 

Do you fantasize about Hawaii's or the Caribbean's stunning beaches? Are ancient temples in Bali or Thailand inspiring awe? Maybe taking a long road trip across California's national parks, one after the other? Maybe you are looking to explore Canada.  Whatever romantic vacation destinations have caught your eye and heart, start looking into them right away.

It is wise to sit down with your prospective partner and discuss the kind of honeymoon you both want before the stress of planning a perfect wedding day overwhelms you both. What season is it? or in a city in Europe? Is zip-lining and skydiving adventure-seeking? Or is it tranquil like the Cancun white sand beaches? After everyone is on the same page, try making a spreadsheet with the names of your resorts, pluses, minuses, warning signs from customer reviews, etc. This will enable you to evaluate each package and eventually select your top pick.

 

Quickly establish your honeymoon fund

Many couples who marry later in life already have all of the essentials for a home. As a result, it is becoming less and less customary to ask for a toaster or china set. What's hot? establishing a honeymoon fund in which you invite friends and family to help you celebrate your perfect wedding day by assisting in paying for your trip. You can sign up on several websites for things like whale viewing, golf course day tickets, couples massages, scuba diving trips, narrated hikes, and so on.

Who, however, is to say that you must wait till your perfect wedding day? As soon as you decide to become engaged, start your fund. You can include cash funds for your honeymoon on your registry if you start saving early. This will allow loved ones to contribute to your honeymoon fund as an engagement present, bridal shower gift, or even on your perfect wedding day. Although some family members may still give you money, listing goods for your vacation or honeymoon on your registry lets your guests know what matters most to you. If you'd rather have something than an air fryer, don't be shy about prioritizing your registry accordingly. They might be more likely to donate to your honeymoon fund for activities than write you a check.

 

Inform everyone of your honeymoons

There is no getting around the fact that costs for goods and services tend to increase once the word "wedding" is mentioned. The converse is true, though, when the word "honeymoon" is used. One of the best wedding-related travel advice is to let everyone know that you are planning a honeymoon outside of Canada.

It can truly pay off in terms of upgrades and other perks that result in cost savings to mention that you are on your honeymoon to everyone you talk with, from the airline representative to the concierge at the hotel. You might secure upgrades or perks by doing this well in advance. There are only so many free room upgrades that a hotel may be able to provide, even though they want you to have a memorable stay. (Consider a hotel room on the beachfront with palm trees blowing in the breeze. Perhaps a glass of champagne when you get there as you take in Waikiki's natural beauty.)

You just need to let them know about your big occasion because the greatest honeymoon places know how to cater to couples. To increase your chances of receiving free meals or an upgrade to first class, start spreading the news.

 

Inquire about early-bird discounts

Hotels and resorts frequently provide what they refer to as "Early Booking Bonuses," which indicates that the earlier you book, the better deal you'll get. Knowing this is essential for 2023 honeymooners since it implies that scheduling their stay now could result in significant savings.

We advise beginning your research as soon as you can to help you narrow down your top choices in advance. Next, keep an eye out for specials and special sales that your preferred resorts may be offering so you may be ready to snag it. It is in your best interest to start looking for these offers right away because early booking specials may also include extra benefits like hotel upgrades, spa credits, and more.

Increase your mileage

 

If you want to use your miles to cut costs, apply the same strategy. Choose a credit card that gives travel rewards, especially if your suppliers let you book one. This will provide you early miles or points for travel or lodging when you pay off the balance in full at the end of the month. For many couples, this is one of the finest inexpensive honeymoon ideas since it almost feels like getting something in return for organizing a perfect wedding day. The catch, as with anything, is that hotels and airlines frequently only let a specific number of reservations be booked using points, so booking long in advance will increase your chances of getting the dates and flights you want.

By using this strategy, you can also make the hotel or airline the lowest-priced reservation possible. Hence, if a luxury hotel is what you want, reserve the cheapest room as soon as it becomes available. If you hesitate and someone else gets it, you'll either have to stay somewhere else or go over your available budget.