All around the world, weddings are an expensive affair, and that’s even before putting into consideration that more money will have to be spent when the newlyweds leave for their honeymoon. And thinking about it, which one should have a bigger budget – the wedding or the honeymoon? Food for thought.
All the same, almost all problems have solutions, and the honeymoon predicament is no different. Experts on the subject have come up with myriads of ways on how the couple can reduce their costs, and how about getting some pointers for when your time comes?
The Flight Expense
Arguably, the flight to your honeymoon destination is usually the most expensive part. Truth be told, most destinations call for round-trip tickets, and this can cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500 per person. Pricey, right?
This is where travel credit cards come in, where miles earned can mitigate some of the cost. However, the trick is usually to find just the perfect card. If you’re lucky, it could cover costs for two, and for the entire trip. Think of how much you’ll have saved!
To make your own luck, make sure to find a card that for starters, has a hefty welcome bonus, while making sure that it complements you and your partner’s spending habits. The bonus will be an added boost (and who doesn’t like that?), and you’ll still be earning from your daily spending. It surely doesn’t get any better than that, although there’s a slight catch in that travel cards are slightly expensive compared to cashback ones.
And while at it by the way, make sure to also look for one with the offer to waive off the first year’s annual fee. It’s all about maximizing on the amount you can save, is it not? Make a point of also checking out their policy after year one to make sure that the annual fee is achievable, just to cover all your bases.
Now that we’ve figured out the flight part, next comes accommodation. If we’re being honest, luxurious hotels charge an arm and a leg per night, so if there’s a cheaper option, most people would prefer taking that route. A hostel may come in handy, and so would a monastery. Both options will be way cheaper, and will hardly compromise on luxury.
Prior Planning
But if you’re intent on spending your honeymoon at a hotel while still saving on cost, this will require some prior planning. Start by having a savings account long before its almost your wedding day, say with a $20,000 opening balance. With consistent monthly deposits of $900, how much will you have in six months? How about a year?
With this, you can afford a night or two at a luxurious hotel, or even more at a cheaper establishment. In truth, the savings may not cover ALL your expenses, but they’ll surely have contributed a significant portion of the amount.
Traveling light while on a long honeymoon can be tricky, right? All of a sudden, the newlyweds find themselves requiring suitcases of all shapes and sizes and that’s an extra expense.
Remember those traveling credit cards? While checking them out, you could look for those that come with luggage promotions such as free bags and the like.
