Anyone in your life preparing to walk down the aisle? If so, ask them what they’re doing for their honeymoon. We’re willing to bet there’s a certain amount of anxiety around planning their wedding trip. While it should be fun, there are a lot a things to worry about from whether the destination will live up to expectations to whether they’ll even get there with all their luggage.
Enter Heather Solish, the honeymoon specialist at Classic Travel, our partner travel agency. A bride not too long ago herself, as well as a very experienced traveler and travel consultant, Heather understands what many couples are looking for when planning what often is their first big trip together. Below, she shares her thoughts and insights along with a recommendation of an ideal honeymoon getaway (in the sidebar). It’s a beauty of a resort in French Polynesia.
Heather will be sharing her honeymoon finds with the readers of FarewellTravels.com monthly so be sure to check back. You’ll not only find great ideas, but savings that can make a real difference in your honeymoon budget.
FarewellTravels: For starts, why should a couple work with a travel agent when they can book everything directly online?
Heather: I have one story that sums up why. Recently, I organized a trip to India for a couple. Though they were determined to hike in the Himalayas, when they got there, they decided it was way too hot and wanted to change their plans. I got an e-mail at 5 in the morning, and within a few hours, someone was at their hotel to pick them up, and their entire itinerary had been reorganized to accommodate their change of heart.
That’s an example of why it’s important to have a human being looking out for you! When you travel, things don’t always go according to plan.
FarewellTravels: Some people pride themselves on being really web-savvy and knowing how to find travel deals on the internet. Sounds like putting together a honeymoon could be fun for them. What are your thoughts on that front?
Heather: Planning a wedding can be all consuming. So while the couple may want to organize their honeymoon, it’s probably best to just concentrate on coordinating the wedding details and letting someone else arrange the travel. Honeymoon trips can be challenging because many couples want to go to multiple cities or islands, they’re on and off planes and trains. There are tons of details.
FarewellTravels: We know couples who want to go diving or even rock climbing on their honeymoons. How can you help with excursions and activities?
Heather: I make it my business to know about excursions and activities in all the destinations I recommend. So whether they want to take a biking trip outside of Florence or participate in a cooking class, I can arrange it. I can also provide them with ideas they may not have known about.
FarewellTravels: Let’s talk about money. Honeymoons can be expensive. How do you help cut costs?
Heather: Many of the hotels I recommend are Virtuoso properties, which means the couple is going to automatically get all sorts of extras by booking through us. This can be a room upgrade, a spa treatment, dinner for two or another amenity. Even if they’re not Virtuoso, we can try to arrange for upgrades. And since these are honeymoons, we can often have a bottle of champagne or basket of fruit sent to the room because of our relationship with the hotels. We also have relationships with local tour companies (i.e. bike tours, vineyard tours) and can get better prices than those one would find online.
FarewellTravels: Where do you find couples are honeymooning these days?
Heather: The couples I have met are taking more time away from work then they may ever again (10 days to two weeks) and want to go far--Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Thailand. And many newlyweds honeymoon in Italy. It seems to be the one place in Europe everyone wants to go.
For honeymoon planning with Heather, click here to send her a note. She'll get back to you quickly.
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