style="text-align: left;">When planning a wedding, most engaged couples also envision a wonderful honeymoon. Be it relaxing or exotic, close to home or halfway around the world, the honeymoon reflects an exciting new beginning for a husband and wife. And while many couples have no qualms about splurging a little for this special vacation, no one would turn away a honeymoon deal. It can be a bit overwhelming, but if you do your homework and follow-through on leads, you can find great honeymoon deals that will be as memorable as the vacation itself.

First on the to-do list is to determine a budget. Have you been saving up for a year or more just for the honeymoon? Or are you working with a shoe-string budget? Try to be honest about the amount of money you have available, and try not to think, “If we run low on cash, we can use our credit cards.” You may want to take a look at airfares from home to this location, if indeed you’ll be flying, and check out general rates for hotels and costs for restaurants. If you really want to visit a certain location and discover prices are steep, you’ll be even more motivated to search for honeymoon deals.

Once you have a set destination, consider working with a travel agent. These folks often have packages available specifically for honeymooners. If so, you could find a travel agency to be a one-stop shop for honeymoon travel, accommodations and dining. A travel agent will probably want to learn the answers to such important questions as whether you want to stay in a luxury suite or a standard hotel room, if you are okay with being part of a tour or prefer to be on your own, and whether you crave four-star restaurants or less expensive establishments. Your answers will help the agent to choose a honeymoon deal suited to your desires.

In addition to talking with a travel agent, you should also look into honeymoon deals offered by online travel services, such as travelocity.com and orbitz.com. The disadvantage with these sites is that you won’t be dealing one-on-one with a professional; the advantage is that you may be able to find everything you’re looking for in just a few clicks of the mouse. Work the numbers to see if a traditional travel agent or one of the online travel services will provide you with a better honeymoon deal.

You can also contact hotels and restaurants yourself to find out about any honeymoon deals they offer. You might find there’s a good deal if you stay at a hotel during the week rather than over the weekend. A restaurant may be able to offer you a romantic dinner at a special, intimate table if you make a reservation on a particular night.

Once you’re on your vacation, don’t be afraid to shout “We’re on our honeymoon!” at various establishments to see if honeymoon deals are available. There’s a good chance you’ll eat a free meal or receive a certain percentage off a souvenir if you mention that you were recently married. Because of the honeymoon deals you enjoy, you’ll be able to start your new life together with a little more money in the bank.

style="text-align: left;">After all the preparation for the wedding, you and your new spouse need a break. Honeymoons are the perfect way to enjoy a reprieve from planning stress and break in your new marriage. But how do you get the most out of your honeymoon travel? How do you ensure a quality trip, filled with fun, relaxation and new experiences? Here are some tips to help you maximize the enjoyment you get from your honeymoon travel.

PLAN AHEAD
Make sure you book activities in advance. Don’t just book your plane ticket, cruise or hotel room in advance- look for deals on group activities and fun excursions to take on your honeymoon and book a few in advance. This will ease your stress and help avoid wasted time from indecision. You can also become familiar with local restaurants and bars by exploring the web. Print out menus ahead of time and take them with you. This will help you to know what types of food and services the establishments offer and make it easier to decide where to go to eat, drink and be merry. This can be especially helpful when dealing with food allergies or picky eaters.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Honeymoon travel can be a fantastic opportunity to get away from the tour books and live like a local. Talk to residents and find out where they like to go and what they like to do. You’ll find many new, exciting activities, shops and restaurants, and will have experiences that most travelers miss out on.

RELAX, RENEW, REPLENISH
Make time for relaxation. Don’t overbook yourself with activities- you’ll be back to your normal, time crunch lifestyle before you know it. Make a commitment to spend each afternoon lying on the beach. Book a double massage at a local spa. Agree to take naps every afternoon. When you find yourself back home and at work, you’ll probably most often look back on these quiet moments as the best part of your trip. Honeymoon travel is more than just a vacation- it is the first set of memories in a new union. Don’t let them be stressful memories!

TRY SOMETHING NEW
If you spend your honeymoon somewhere that has many of the same shops, restaurants and chains as your home, commit to avoiding these everyday places. Frequent the small, independently owned restaurants and bars. Stay in a bed and breakfast instead of a chain hotel. Shop at an independently owned boutique rather than a mall. You don’t want the days of your honeymoon to blend into the days of your regular life.

When planned properly, honeymoon travel can be the perfect introduction to your new married life. Don’t let it be a hazing by neglecting the details, under-preparing, and over exerting!