Honeymoons that won’t break the bank

By Elaine Glusac

updated 11:43 a.m. ET Jan. 14, 2009

It's your honeymoon, so naturally, you're thinking big. Two-weeks-in-Tahiti big. Fulfilling post-nuptial travel fantasies often involves a splurge, but when you factor in today's sky-high airfares, stagnant salaries and good old-fashioned belt-tightening (and we don't mean seat belts), there's a good chance you'll end up in a honeymoon money crunch. These days, it pays to be a smart traveler who knows how to beat the system by finding its backdoors. As you plan your trip, brush up on these budget travel tips.

Go when they least expect you
Off-season travel is always cheaper as hotels slash rates — often by 40 percent — to attract guests. But, yes, “low season” can also be code for “bad weather.” For example, hotel rates in the Caribbean plunge from May to November, which includes the prime hurricane months of July to October. It's a risk, but one that may be worth the savings: Christine Cordes, a consultant from Falls Church, Va., and her husband, Matt, gambled on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in June and got a good deal — and good weather. Similarly, Morgan and Sarah Stuart, a neurosurgery resident and a high school teacher from New York City, saved hundreds of dollars per night on their Curacao honeymoon last August. “We knew it was off-season, but because the island is below the hurricane belt, we felt confident the weather would be nice — and it was,” says Sarah.

“If you really want to save money in the tropics, go in September or October and spend an extra $100 for travel insurance,” advises Gabe Saglie, senior editor of Travelzoo.com, which tracks travel deals (insurance, however, won't cover a week of rain — just major weather events, like hurricanes). Don't want to risk clouds? Think “shoulder season,” the buffer months just before and after high season, when rates are reduced but not rock bottom and the weather generally tends to be fine.

Fly off-peak
Good timing extends to air travel, too. To snag deals, experts suggest flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and early on Saturdays. Also, sign up for e-newsletters that alert you to discounts. “Airlines have unadvertised sales all the time,” says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, whose e-mail alert gives promotional codes. These sales usually last 24 to 48 hours and are good for travel up to 11 months in the future. He also suggests buying peak-period (during holidays and spring break) tickets far in advance: “Fares won't come down if you wait, and worse, flights will be sold out.”

Rack up those points
Frequent flyer miles and other loyalty programs from hotels, airlines and credit cards can be your ticket to paradise. If you haven't done so already, join one. Sometimes just registering gets you perks: At Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, enrollees get free Wi-Fi.

Dan Sondhelm, an Alexandria, Va., based financial marketing consultant and self-described “point junkie,” earned enough currency through Starwood Hotels' loyalty program and frequent flyer miles — he travels about 50,000 miles a year — to cover his 2006 honeymoon in Tahiti, which would have cost about $8,000. “We saved a ton, so we could put that money toward having fun when we got there,” he says.

Low on points? Seek donations from friends and family, since most points are transferable. “I never thought we'd be able to afford a 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii on the salaries of a nurse and teacher,” says Lia Moss, of Chicago, who with her husband, Ben Blair, visited the Big Island this past August using miles donated by Ben's dad. “That saved us about $1,500. Crazy!”

The only caveat with miles: Book early, at least six months out, as supply (the number of award seats available) is limited and demand is high.

Pick a package
With a package that bundles hotel, airfare and a rental car, you'll know upfront what your final tally will be. St. Louis-based occupational therapist Laura Gayer was looking for a way to honeymoon in Tuscany this past September with her husband, Andrew, when she found Untours (untours.com), which offers apartment stays that allow you to live like a local. The two-week package included airfare, lodging and a car. “I priced everything out separately and found we were doing much better and with much less hassle,” says Laura. The cost of their two weeks was $5,500, not much more than what typical honeymooners spend on an eight-day trip. To ensure you're getting a good deal, do as Laura did and comparison shop the components online. You may find more deals. For her Mexico honeymoon, Christine dug around Orbitz.com and found a coupon good for $200 off the package she bought on the Web site.

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