How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon

One of the best bets for honeymoons is the all-inclusive resort. For one price, you get meals, drinks and maybe even activities. If your goal is to lounge pool-side or sea-side in a tropical paradise, the all-inclusive is a honeymoon dream.

But which resort do you choose? And how do you determine the final destination from all the lush palm tree paradises? For us, our options were lowered by my fear of flying. While we wanted to head to St. Lucia, the 12-hour (or more) time in the sky didn’t appeal to my nerves. So we opted for the same resort name we loved in St. Lucia…only much closer. Our final destination was Nassau, and the week-long vacation was absolute bliss.

When you’re looking to book an all-inclusive honeymoon, make your planning a bit less chaotic by following a few tips that we learned from our trip:

The Destination

Before you look at resorts, discover where you want to venture for a honeymoon adventure. Do you want a resort with lots of available activities? Do you want to explore outside of the resort? Your personality will help you find the perfect destination for a week to begin your happily ever after.

Use a Travel Agent

Sure those online deals and easy clicks on web sites make booking easy, but sometimes easy isn’t always the smartest choice. We liked working with a travel agent who could help us discover the best deals and give us feedback about different resorts. She knew the differences between room grades and how they fit into our final budget. She also was the one who told my husband about St. Lucia’s long travel time. In the end, her advice and expertise helped us book the most ideal flights and the best room for our budget at our top choice resort. Forbes has a three-part series detailing exactly why travel agents are worthwhile…and it is a great read for couples who may be considering using an agent.

Inquire about Tipping

At our resort, tipping was covered in the final cost. We didn’t have to worry about how much to tip everyone at the resort, and it made the trip much less stressful. Not every all-inclusive resort figures tips into their final prices, though, and you may end up with lots of extra costs if tipping isn’t included. Make sure you prepare for tipping or ensure that you book a resort that includes gratuity into their prices.

All You Can Eat…and Drink

We loved that when we made reservations for lunch or dinner that the meal was already covered. And paying in advance made those pool-side swim up bars much more enticing. Of course, the downside to all-you-can-drink deals is that you may overindulge in sugar-laden Pina Coladas! While the bottomless margarita might appeal to you at first, don’t go crazy…you don’t want to nurse a hangover on your honeymoon!

You also might not always like the food that is served at the resort. Some all-inclusive resorts offer a variety of restaurants, while others might just have a few restaurants on site. Research your resort to find out what that package includes before you finalize your reservations.

The Nitty Gritty Details

Traveling abroad—even to the loveliest tropical locales—sometimes comes with a few bumps and pains. During our trip, we either caught a virus…or had a minor issue from being in another country (that our digestive system didn’t like). Prepare for situations that might have your tummy in knots. Pack some medicine for motion sickness, digestion issues or other stomach issues…if you’re one with sensitivities (that’s me!). Be prepared…so you don’t get stuck in bed for all the wrong reasons!

Wherever you book your all-inclusive honeymoon, enjoy the time together as newlyweds and bask in the happiness of the two of you and the beauty of the destination. Happily ever after feels destined when you begin married life in paradise!

Guest Author: Shannon Lochwood

See Shannon’s infographic on How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon here.

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Many thanks to the wedding creative team who helped in the celebration of two souls committing the promise of forever:

Venue: Papago Park | St. Louis Missouri Botanical Garden | Engagement at The Paseo | Superstition Mountains | University of Arizona engagement session | Inspiration for these St. Louis Wedding Locations: FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ST LOUIS |  THE CHASE PARK PLAZA  | MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN | BUSCH FAMILY ESTATE AT GRANT’S FARM | SILVER OAKS CHATEAU | PEABODY OPERA HOUSE | THE CARAMEL ROOM AT BISSINGER | CHANDLER HILL VINEYARDS | Photographer: APRIL MAURA PHOTOGRAPHY