Honeymoons that won’t break the bank

Know the hotel biz
Because room rates are a big expense, it pays to know the ins and outs of booking. For example, a new hotel will often offer introductory pricing at up to half its normal rates as operations get up to speed (but you may risk construction noise or service lapses). Tourism bureau Web sites can usually tell you what's new, or visit HotelChatter.com for the inside scoop.

Also, wherever you go, broadcast that you're on your honeymoon. “Tell everyone,” advises Adam Burke, senior vice president of customer loyalty at Hilton hotels. You might just find a bottle of champagne waiting in your hotel room. “If they know it's a honeymoon, you may end up with unexpected extras,” he says.

Consider a condo
If privacy appeals to you more than a swim-up pool bar and room service, consider a condo rental. You'll have a kitchen, so you can eat in for breakfast and lunch, and save the dine-out budget for a romantic splurge. Go a step further with a villa or house rental. Portland, Ore.,-based photographer Laura Mazy spent her 2006 honeymoon with her husband, Sierra, on Moorea, in French Polynesia, in a $200-a-night house she found via word of mouth; most resort rates are triple that. “We rented a Jeep to shop at local markets and read journals from previous guests who had great tips,” says Laura. “It was the perfect way to do it.”

If you live in a place that others would want to visit, consider a home exchange (think Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in 2006's The Holiday), in which you swap your house with another couple. HomeExchange.com offers access to other willing home-loaners for an annual fee of $100. Since you'll have to coordinate on both ends — say, your New York walk-up for their Honolulu beach house — you'll need to be flexible about dates.

Enroll in a registry
Registries devoted to making your dream honeymoon a reality are now offered by resort chains (Starwood, One&Only and Sandals), travel agencies (DistinctiveHoneymoons.com and MoonRings.com) and independent enterprises (TravelersJoy.com and Honeyfund.com). Just list what you want — such as a couples massage or a sunset sail — and your guests can gift you with it. “We didn't need more stuff to dust and wanted our guests to contribute to great memories,” explains Laura Ahlbin, a health care marketer in Sterling, Va. She used the registry offered by Secrets Resorts & Spas to raise $4,000 for her Cancun honeymoon last summer. Similarly, Heidi Weber, a cable television marketing manager in Albany, N.Y., used Honeyfund.com to help pay for her October 2008 safari honeymoon to Botswana. “People feel like they're not just writing a check,” she notes, “but playing a role in your trip.”

Do something offbeat
If you are low-maintenance types, you can save big time. Enjoy romance under the stars at a tent resort like Maho Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands (maho.org) or El Capitan Canyon near Santa Barbara, Calif., (elcapitancanyon.com), where rates are less than half of those at nearby resorts. Or consider spending sweat equity on a volunteer honeymoon, working four to eight hours a day teaching children or protecting local species in a place such as Africa, Asia or Central America. For example, with i-to-i (i-to-i.com), you can patrol remote Costa Rican beaches on behalf of endangered sea turtles for less than $1,000 per week, including meals and rustic accommodations.

Save your spare change
If finances are tight, put the official honeymoon on hold and celebrate with a close-to-home “mini-moon.” Plan a long weekend away without going broke. Meanwhile, give yourselves six months to save for a bigger trip. Lia and Ben put $20-$100 in a jar weekly. “If we had left this money in our checking account, I think a lot of it would have gone to Starbucks!” she says.

This content originally appeared in Modern Brides magazine. For more wedding tips, visit Brides.com.

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