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Planning a Memorable Honeymoon on a Budget
Planning a honeymoon is the exciting next step after the wedding, and many couples dream of escaping to a romantic destination to celebrate their new lives together. Yet with rising costs making the nation more anxious about money, staying within budget has become a top priority.
Fortunately, a memorable honeymoon doesn’t have to be an extravagant expense. With careful planning and a few strategic choices, you can design a honeymoon that won’t break the bank. As part of our honeymoon tips section, here’s how you can plan a frugal yet memorable escape.
1. Set a realistic budget and prioritise your dreams
Start planning a budget-friendly honeymoon by setting a clear and realistic budget.
List all potential expenses – travel, accommodation, daily activities – and decide what matters most to you as a couple. If you prioritise unique experiences over luxury lodgings or prefer saving on meals to splurge on a scenic destination, align your budget accordingly.
Use price alerts on flights and accommodations to spot deals and determine the best booking times. You should also make the most of your wedding expenses – many credit cards offer rewards points that can be used to offset travel costs.
Our Personal Experience:
When we started budgeting for our honeymoon, it was a bit like choosing toppings for a pizza – we wanted everything but knew we couldn’t afford it all. So, we sat down and asked ourselves what mattered most. It turns out, for us, sunsets on a beach beat out fancy hotel breakfasts, and we both agreed that trying local food trucks over posh restaurants felt more our style.
We set up a few price alerts for flights and, believe it or not, managed to snag a deal to Bali! Using reward points from the wedding expenses for our flights was like finding buried treasure – it cut down our costs and gave us that extra bit of spending money. In hindsight, this exercise taught us a lot about what we truly value and how to align our spending with those priorities. There’s something oddly thrilling about making smart choices, almost as if the savings made the experience even sweeter.
Watch this video for some more tips:
2. Choose cost-friendly destinations
Choosing a honeymoon destination is a major decision, but you don’t have to travel far to find breathtaking scenery.
Low cost doesn’t have to mean staying in the country though as there are plenty of options for cheap holidays abroad. Look for destinations with a lower cost of living, such as Croatia. Croatia’s beautiful coastlines, affordable food and budget-friendly accommodations make it ideal for a memorable trip that won’t break the bank.
Our Personal Experience:
Croatia was on our list, too, and we finally settled on it after a friend’s recommendation. They’d told us, “Imagine a Mediterranean paradise without the Mediterranean price,” and it turned out to be spot-on. We stayed in a quaint little town near Dubrovnik, where we were steps away from the coast without the tourist prices. Wandering through old stone streets and exploring hidden beaches, we felt like we’d struck gold. And the best part? The affordable meals and local wine kept us well under budget. Going somewhere with a lower cost of living made us realize how you don’t need to drain your bank account for an unforgettable experience. Croatia was beautiful, full of character, and made us feel like we were in on a well-kept secret.
Watch this video for some more ideas:
3. Be flexible with accommodation options
Your choice of accommodation can significantly influence your honeymoon budget. For a balanced experience, consider mixing budget stays with a few splurge nights.
For instance, book budget-friendly or mid-range hotels most nights, then upgrade to a luxury room for the final night to end the trip on a high note. Short-term rentals or self-catering options are also great for saving on costs, especially if you enjoy preparing some meals yourself.
Our Personal Experience:
We took a leap with our accommodation strategy, mixing budget and splurge stays, and it was one of our best decisions. Most nights, we stayed in cozy, budget-friendly rentals – simple, clean, and just what we needed. But on our final night, we treated ourselves to a luxurious resort with an ocean view and a poolside breakfast service. Waking up in that setting, overlooking the water, felt surreal. It was the perfect way to end the trip, and it didn’t hurt that we had saved enough on other nights to make it guilt-free. This approach taught us that sometimes, the anticipation of a splurge night makes the whole trip feel more special. And now, I always tell friends: think of accommodations like you would a three-course meal – start simple and save the “dessert” for last!
4. Embrace affordable local experiences
When planning your activities, keep in mind that costly attractions aren’t necessary to make the trip memorable.
Most hiking trails, public beaches and local markets are free to go to but still provide an authentic connection to the culture and landscape.
Dining locally also lets you enjoy traditional flavours without the unreasonable prices of tourist spots.
Our Personal experience:
I’ll never forget a particular day on our honeymoon when we decided to forego the pricey tours and explore on foot instead. We spent the day hiking to a hidden beach, completely free of charge, and later bought lunch from a small market vendor. There was something magical about immersing ourselves in local life, and it felt like we were capturing memories that couldn’t be found in a guidebook. Eating on a bench with locals chatting around us, I thought, “This is the real deal.” By focusing on free or affordable activities, we created stories and moments that felt genuine. We came back home with a fresh perspective on travel – it’s not the price of the experience that makes it precious, it’s how you connect with the place and people around you.
Making memories without the price tag
With careful planning, it’s entirely possible to enjoy a romantic honeymoon on a modest budget. By prioritising what’s meaningful to you, selecting affordable destinations and embracing local experiences, you’ll save money while creating cherished memories that go beyond budget constraints. Remember, it’s not about how much you spend but the memories you make together that truly matter!
