As a travel advisor specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons, I often hear from couples who want my help planning the vacation of a lifetime—without breaking the bank. The good news is there are incredible, cheap honeymoon destinations out there! All it takes is a bit of strategic planning, and you and your partner can jet off to the escape of your dreams for under $5k. So, grab a glass of wine, notebook, and pen, and stick around to discover my top five wallet-friendly planning tips. Plus, three destinations you would never have guessed you could honeymoon in on a budget!
How to Plan a Cheap Honeymoon Under $5k
Consider Shortening Your Trip
The more days you stay, the more days you spend: it’s as simple as that. I know no one ever wants to cut their vacation short! However, if you stay for 4-5 days instead of a week, I promise you’ll still come away feeling refreshed and reconnected with your partner. As a bonus, you’ll also save hundreds of dollars!
Book Your Flights and Resort Stay as a Package
Package pricing is always less than booking each travel component separately. Airlines and resorts want to incentivize you to take them up on package deals, so why not give your bank account a break? Planning-wise, booking a package deal also kills two birds with one stone, so you can spend less time frantically internet surfing in the months leading up to your trip.
Use Travel Points for Flights
When you book your honeymoon with a travel specialist (like me!), we can get you a package rate on your resort, but only if you use points to book your flights. Now is a great time to open a line of credit with an airline and start stashing away those points!
Search for Flights BEFORE Choosing Your Destination
Flights are the most expensive component of any vacation. That’s why I always begin my search with Google Flights by entering a couple’s preferred departure location and then a generalized destination, like the Caribbean. The search engine then provides results for ALL destinations in the Caribbean with prices listed. From there, it’s much easier to narrow down which locations will be on budget!
Stay at an All-Inclusive Resort
When honeymooning on a budget, staying at an all-inclusive resort is the way to go! When you book your room, you’re paying for lodging PLUS every meal you’ll consume during your stay—so you don’t have to worry about paying more out of pocket while you’re there. The only extras you’ll have to pay for are upgraded bottles of wine or liquor, spa services, and excursions. And, if you’re working with a travel specialist, we can likely offer you an exclusive discount on those services!
Cheap Honeymoon Destinations
There are a variety of all-inclusive resorts to choose from, including adult-only, in these cheap honeymoon destinations (that feel anything but). Here are the top three places I recommend!
Cancun/Riviera Maya, Mexico
Time and again, the most affordable flights to Mexico are to Cancun! When people think of this destination, they usually think of a non-stop party zone. However, that isn’t the vibe of the Riviera Maya region at all! You can fly into Cancun, but you don’t have to stay there (although there are several adult-only resorts with fabulous food and drinks!). You have the whole Riviera Maya at your disposal, big enough to put some distance between yourselves and the party crowd but small enough that you’ll never venture too far from the airport.
Outside of Cancun, there are so many beautiful places to explore! In Playa Mujeres, you’ll find numerous places to stay and long stretches of beach with powdery white sand. Further south, you’ll find resorts tucked into the lush jungle, while on the coast, you can sample fresh coastal cuisine from Cancun to Tulum. The options are endless here!
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is my favorite place to send honeymooners on a budget! When it comes to getting bang for your buck, there’s nowhere better. You’ll find culture galore, fabulous food, and a gorgeous tropical jungle. Even I honeymooned here! However, you won’t find white sand beaches due to Puerto Vallarta’s location on Mexico’s Pacific coast. If you’re a beach lover, I suggest Playa Mujeres or our next destination!
Dominican Republic
For an authentic island experience, the Dominican Republic is the place to be. The beaches are GORGEOUS, classically Caribbean beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters. One drawback to some, however, is the pace of service. The DR is perpetually on “island time,” as I call it, which can mean waiting longer for food and drinks. But if you know that going in and decide to be okay with waiting (you’re on vacation, after all!) I promise you’ll have a great time. One of my favorite activities is taking the catamaran cruise to Catalina Island. The water is stunning, plus you’ll enjoy incredible views of the DR!
Book Your Honeymoon with a Travel Specialist
Are you ready to plan your honeymoon the effortless way? I know you’re up to your elbows in wedding planning, and organizing honeymoon logistics has probably fallen to the bottom of your to-do list. But that doesn’t mean you need to let go of your dream of a once-in-a-lifetime escape with the one you love—let me do the hard work instead! I’ll professionally arrange and personally manage every aspect of your journey, from flights to lodging to your daily itinerary. All you have to do is show up! Inquire today to learn more and book a discovery call with me.
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