Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity to push the boat out and plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The only problem is that all-singing, all-dancing luxury honeymoons tend to cost a small fortune.
The good news is that it’s perfectly possible to have a romantic, exotic and intimate honeymoon without completely draining your bank balance. Follow our top tips for planning luxury honeymoons on a smaller budget…
Plan an off-peak trip – and book early
Do some research into your destination and find out the most popular times to visit. Plan your trip for slightly outside the peak tourist window and prices are likely to be lower. Even better, you’ll be able to avoid the crowds and see your destination at its unspoilt best. Some of the most authentic experiences are to be found out of season.
Once you know where you want to go, book as early as you can. This should make paying for your trip more manageable, and could help you secure better prices.
Who needs a luxury hotel, when you can camp under the stars?
The perfect honeymoon isn’t about infinity swimming pools and indulgent hot tubs – although of course they can be lovely. It’s about creating romantic, unforgettable moments together, just the two of you. And you can do that anywhere, without having to pay 5-star hotel prices.
Besides, anyone can stay in a hotel. Imagine how incredible it would be to do something completely different, like camping under the stars in Cambodia or staying in a cosy guesthouse in a traditional Thai hillside village.
Be selective with your upgrades
It’s your honeymoon, so you deserve a few treats. If you don’t have the budget for ocean-view suites and pampering spa packages for the whole trip, this doesn’t mean you can’t have them at all.
Take a look at your budget and find ways to add in some extra special touches. For example, upgrade to the honeymoon suite for one night only, or book just one amazing excursion. This can give your trip some drama and pace, so you’ve always got something extra to look forward to, just around the corner.
Get back to basics (or even back to nature)
What you’ll really remember about a honeymoon trip to Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Thailand or Laos won’t be the luxury facilities. It’ll be the first step onto the golden sands of a deserted beach, or the panoramic view from a mountain peak after an afternoon jungle trek. It’ll be a glimpse of a beautiful native animal in a national park, or holding hands as the sun sets over the ocean.
Plan your trip around these precious moments, not the tours, luxury hotels and other bells and whistles that usually come with honeymoon packages. You can of course have these things if budget allows, but the experiences should always be at the heart of your trip.
Blank Canvas is the perfect choice to help you plan a bespoke honeymoon, carefully tailored to your priorities and your budget. Get in touch and let’s start planning your dream trip.