MeKnows

A honeymoon is no ordinary holiday and should not be booked on a whim or without preparation. More importantly it is a brilliant opportunity for you and your partner to relax and enjoy the first weeks of married life together.

Don't be a scrooge and remember what your mother told you about 'false economy'. A honeymoon is not a 'holiday with the lads' that can be booked and packed on a shoestring. This should be a memorable occasion for all the right reasons. Saying this, the experience of a new place and a change of scenery after months of planning your wedding cannot be assured by money alone. Your time together as a newly-wed couple will be what you make of it and this is why it is so important to plan your post-nuptial holiday together and choose a place, a time, an itinerary, and a price that you will both be happy and comfortable with.

Do not surprise your partner with tickets and bookings for the holiday of a lifetime without also informing them of the type of things they will necessarily need to take and any vaccinations they may need. In other words, surprise them by all means, but not at the last minute when there's no chance to prepare for the destination. You really will have to think of everything if this is your plan. As nice as it would be.


Do not let your own hobby or interest dominate the honeymoon. This is particularly vital if your wife or husband does not share the same passion for mountain climbing, abseiling or fly-fishing (for instance). Cycling forty kilometers a day may not be your other half's idea of a romantic honeymoon just as sitting in a hotel bar drinking Cuba Libres by the chlorinated pool everyday may not be yours. Don't be selfish - communicate your wishes to each other and reach compromise - even if it is just one of you paying for the whole thing. This in itself could create tension and if it can be helped you should not let one partner pay for the entire thing. A contribution of whatever the other person can manage will allow them to feel more involved if that is all they can manage. Whatever the arrangement for financing the occasion - the honeymoon belongs to you both. It is an excellent way to begin your married life with one another and like married life requires some effort and patience in the planning and having. The World Cup this year has no doubt, as with any majorly televised football based tournament, left thousands of 'world cup' or 'football widows' in its wake. If you are away on your honeymoon and hoping to catch the World Cup Final on the television this time round, you can't really be blamed. It is advisable though not to expect to watch every single game (of which there are 2-3 per day) unless your spouse is as enthralled about the game as you.

Do your research. If you have found a place or want to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a selection of holiday destinations then the internet is a good place to start and an initial Google search of the resorts you had in mind will throw up numerous forums and reviews which you can analyse. Asking someone you know who has been there is a good idea but bear in mind that they may have tastes that vary from you and your partner's and what seems like tropical bliss to them may be a flea-bitten and overcrowded nightmare to you. The more information you can get, the better and more informed your decision will be. Forewarned is forearmed. Do not be taken in by the 'beautiful' pictures on the company websites or in brochures. Remember that the travel agent, hotel or tour operator will photograph only certain features of their resort and in a very favourable light indeed. Think airbrushed cellulite and bowls of waxed fruits and apply your savviness of marketing ploys.

Do check what the weather will be like at your destination so you can pack accordingly or - in the case of hurricanes, typhoons or other major weather events on the horizon - opt to go to somewhere with more temperate climes (like Skegness for example). The same goes for the safety of the country you are travelling to. The Foreign Office offers advice online by country on travel, safety and security, local laws and customs, entry requirements, and healthcare.  
       

Do remember when packing to include a camera along with memory cards and other necessary paraphernalia.  Mobile phone cameras are ok for the 'spur of the moment' snap of something humourous spied on the way to Morrison’s or on a night out. But, a decent digital camera can produce good quality pictures and have the capacity to store hundreds of them. It all depends of course on the value you place on such articles but many, and me for one, regret the times when I could not be bothered or forgot to take a camera along with me to somewhere special. Pictures are memories and a sitting together when finally at back at home and looking at your photographs of the places you've been and time away are a lovely conclusion to your honeymoon.

And DO remember that you are madly in love with each other and have chosen to be together for the rest of your lives. Be patient if not everything is perfect with your resort and accommodation as things rarely are as you imagine. We have very high expectations when it comes to this big and often once in a lifetime break away and can easily be disappointed by the smallest of imperfections. Some holiday companies and hotels have packages that best suit honeymooners and this is well worth looking in to.