How to Get A Free HoneyMoon

The honeymoon after a wedding can be very expensive. It can pose an unnecessary burden to the new couple or the family. You can go on your honeymoon for free if you have it well planned in advance and are smart about it. After you have determined where you will honeymoon and the amount needed for your trip and all necessities, take that number and put it aside- time to find it free.

Tip #1

There will always be people who will ask you what would you like as a wedding gift. Ask those individuals for cash, a loaded cash card, or a donation made to the honeymoon destination of your choice. Cash, however, is indeed king and you can buy whatever you want including your honeymoon package.

Tip #2

Contact a new resort that has not been widely publicized, or perhaps an old resort that is offering specials. You can offer to write a review or document your honeymoon trip and get paid or receive a large discount on your trip for doing so. Not all resorts will do this, but if you search around and ask your local travel agents or even call the resorts on your own, sometimes you cna work out a great deal. This has worked really well at some of the smaller B&B’s that are looking for free publicity.
Tip #3

Join a honeymoon registry at. That’s right. Most people just sign up for a general bridal registry; then they pick out china, knives, linen, etc. You end up getting just those things. A honeymoon registry provides gift givers an opportunity to purchase services at the place of your honeymoon, such as a spa treatment or dinner for two. The gift givers can also give quantities (of their choosing) of cash to your registry that can be used toward your package or services at your travel site. This concept is not widely known and is under utilized. Its a fantastic concept because its pretty much the same as friends and family giving you cash for your honeymoon, but its more personal. Get enough gift givers to your honeymoon registry site and you will get your honeymoon for free along with the extras such as massages, facials, tours, etc.

Tip #4

Place a small money tree at every table at the wedding reception. This gives everyone a chance to give something. This is especially true for those persons who are too embarrassed to give smaller amounts of cash. You can also hold a cash dance in which people donate dollars to dance to dance with the bride and or groom.

.

Saving Money On Your Beach Honeymoon

South America has some of the world’s best beaches for you to enjoy during your honeymoon. The problem is you might not think your budget will allow you to take that honeymoon trip to one of South America’s beautiful beaches. With a little creativity and research, you can take a honeymoon trip to one of these beaches. When you know how to cut expenses, you will see that you can make this trip a reality.

First off, the big expense is the flight to one of these South American beaches. Most flights are cheaper when the flight is taken during the weekdays instead the weekend. So try to plan your beach vacation so that your flight and return flight will take place on weekdays. Also, purchase round trip tickets instead of two separate tickets. Most people think that they are getting a better deal if they do the tickets separately. This is just simply not true especially since the airlines started adding in all those fees.

As a side note, there are some cases where you can get some great deals on flights by booking a last minute flight. Of course, this won’t help in the case of your honeymoon if you have the time off from work planned. But, your honeymoon won’t be the only trip you take together, and this is a helpful tip to keep in mind for your future travels.

If an airline has many cancellations, they will sometimes offer those tickets up for a discounted flight. The only way that this is a good idea though is if you can travel at a moment’s notice. You will not want to wait until the last minute, and then find that you are going to have to pay a higher price than you would have if you had booked a few weeks ago. It is a gamble, but the savings can be substantial.

Another major expense is the your hotel stay which can start to add up to a pretty high figure. When taking a South American honeymoon to enjoy the beaches, look into staying at the smaller local hotels instead of the major hotel chains. These hotels are called pousadas and you should look for that name in the hotel name when doing your booking. If the hotel name has pousadas in it, then you are ensuring you are getting a fairly inexpensive hotel stay.

The old adage of “Ask and you shall receive” also applies to these privately run hotels. When you ask for a discount of some sort, more than likely they will give you one. After all, they would rather have you stay at a discount than not get your reservation at all. Not all private run hotels will give a discount all the time, but it does not hurt to ask. If they do give you one, then you have saved some of your honeymoon budget for food or souvenirs.

Remember that when visiting a South American beach you are going to have to eat sometime while you are there. This can get expensive has most tourist attractions are highly over priced. The best way to save on your dining while there is to avoid the tourist hotel restaurants and restaurants that cater to tourists in that city.

Instead, consider dining where the locals eat. When you dine a local restaurant that is frequented by mostly locals, you will find the food is a lot cheaper than what you would pay in the tourist areas. You’ll also find that the cuisine is truer in these restaurants. The tourist hotels tend to offer the same types of meals you can get at any hotel at home.

If you follow these tips: research your flights, ask for a discount and stay in the smaller hotels, and eat where the locals eat, you will find that your dream of a South American beach honeymoon can be a reality.

Food and Wine Tours for Your Honeymoon in Australia

If your honeymoon destination is Australia, and the two of you are wine aficionados, you might consider planning some activities around the wineries in Australia during your honeymoon stay.

There are several wineries in Australia. The first one is the Bundy Kegs, which is located in the Schmeider’s Cooperage Complex. Here you will see coopers making the Oak Barrels used here in America for wines and spirits. You will enjoy the experience of the free wine tasting in the cellar door. This is where Queensland fruit wines are the feature attraction. There are also a wide variety of souvenirs features the offerings made by the local craftsmen for you to pick from and browse through. These crafts will include woodwork, pottery, folk art and quilting. You will also be able to browse in the glass blowers studio and the art gallery located in the complex. Perfect mementos to remind you of your honeymoon stay.

In the Monto district, the Waratah Vineyard is the first commercial vineyard and is home of the Monan Creek wine. Since the first planting of vines in 1998, several thousands of acres of vines for wines, such as the Verdelho, Viognier, Shraz, Merlot, and the Petit Verdot have been added.

Located on Gladstone Road, Mungungo, 15 kilometers from Monto just past the Waratah Hotel is the sales outlet known as the Cellar Door. The sales outlet is open every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Monday. It is also open by appointment. They also have three additional sales outlets located at Cania Gorge Big 4 Park, Cania Gorge Monto, Cedar Galleries Gladstone and Garden Art Gallery, Agnes Waters.

The Bundaberg Rum Bondstore rolled out its first barrel of rum in 1888. Bundaberg Rum is well-known as one of the finest spirits produced in Australia. Bundaberg Rum Bondstore became the newest tourist attraction in 1986 when the Bundaberg Distilling Company appointed the first tour guide. The demand was great and required an expansion for the tourist business. The Bundaberg Rum Visitor Center now is housed in a historic Queenslander, known as the Springhill House, which has been renovated. In the Visitor Center, you will find a shop of extensive merchandise, a taste testing bar, and modern viewing room adjacent to Springhill House with more than life-like museum displays.

A guided tour will give you the opportunity to look, feel, and taste your way through the Rum making process of the Famous Aussie Spirits. You will start with the raw material, molasses, and move through the aroma of maturing spirits. It will end with a sampling bar with a wide variety of mixes and Rum liqueur based drinks.

The Allendale Winery has developed a reputation for producing its award-winning premium wines. At the 1998 Winestate Awards, the Allendale Winery’s 1997 Chardonnay won “Best Chardonnay in Australia and New Zealand”.

The Hunter selection is a wide range of regional styles from McLaren Vale. Hilltops and Mudgee are also available for tasting. The entire collection of quality wines is known for their excellent full structure and distinctive variety of character. You can relax together and enjoy the local display of artwork and the panoramic view across the Brokenback Ranges, as you taste the wines. The staff is ready to make you feel at home when you come to taste some of the best wines from Hunter Valley in Australia.

The wineries listed here are only a few of the wineries in Australia. In every area of Australia, you will find some wineries and unique dining establishments. Enjoy your honeymoon trip!

Travel Tips for Honeymooning in Aruba or the World

Planning a honeymoon or vacation to Aruba? You’ll love Aruba’s mild climate with a fairly steady temperature in the low 80’s. Aruba also has amazing white sand beaches and turquoise water that you will love swimming and diving in. Aruba has a lot of natural attractions like the largest natural coral bridge in the world and a wonderful national forest, but there are lots of other activities that you’ll find in Aruba to keep you busy.

If you’re going to Aruba during the high season or the most popular tourist season which is from December to April, you’ll be mingling with a lot of different tourists from all over the world. One thing to consider, if you are still in the planning stages of your honeymoon and wedding arrangements, is the fact that you can stretch your travel funds by visiting Aruba in the off-season.

Here are some travel tips that you can use to make the most of your honeymoon stay in Aruba.

Change your currency

The first thing that you should do when you get to Aruba is change about half of your money to local currency. The currency of Aruba is the florin. Leave some money in US dollars in case of emergencies and have your credit cards with you, just in case. But when it comes to leaving tips, buying food in markets, or shopping for souvenirs you will get better deals, and you will be less likely to get cheated if you are using local currency instead of US dollars.

This is perfectly logical. Currency exchange rates can fluctuate quite a bit day to day or even daily. Very few merchants are willing to keep up to the moment on the exchange rate. Your money will stretch much further if you exchange it at the local bank.

Furthermore, because of the fluctuations in exchange rates, not all merchants will accept US dollars. The hassle of converting the money probably plays a large role in their reluctance also. So if you insist on using US dollars to pay for something, be sure to ask the merchant in advance if he or she accepts US dollars for payment.

All of the above points are useful to keep in mind for any foreign honeymoon destination you are considering.

Get off the beaten track

Another way to make your trip more enjoyable is to get off the beaten tourist paths. Strike out on your own and explore some of the wild country of the island on horseback or find a sheltered beach to picnic on. If you’re shopping or eating out don’t just go to the shops at the hotel or near the hotel. Venture out into the cities and try some local cuisine so that you can pick up some local flavors. Most people in the cities are very friendly and love to talk to tourists. So strike up a conversation with a local over a cool drink and learn about the history of the island and what it’s like to live in Aruba from a native.

Support local businesses by buying souvenirs at local arts and crafts shows instead of buying mass produced trinkets in the hotel gift shops. When you go home from your honeymoon, you’ll be glad you have memories of seeing what the island was really like and talking to local people to pick up bits of local culture.

You’ll have great unique stories to tell about your honeymoon trip. You’ll have a much better sense of what Aruba is really like. You might even find that you like Aruba so much you want to vacation there again or even buy a vacation rental in Aruba so that you can visit every year. If you want to spend some time in a tropical paradise without having to spend your whole life’s savings to do it, then Aruba is the perfect honeymoon destination for you.

7 Safety Tips when Riding in a Foreign Taxi

If you are going overseas on your honeymoon, or to any foreign country, taxis will be part of your trip. Chances are you will not be renting a car. The hotel shuttles we are all accustomed to here in the US are a rarity in foreign countries. Riding a taxi can generally be safe. It’s at least safer than journeying through the subway with your luggage and other travel paraphernalia.

But lets be honest, there are things, bad things, that can happen when riding in a foreign taxi. You’ve probably heard the reports of kidnappings by taxi drivers in the news. If you’ve spent the last year of your life planning your wedding, had your big wedding day, then hopped a plane and flown several hours to your honeymoon destination, you are going to be very tired and very probably jet lagged. In this state, your normal street defenses are very likely to be impaired and small details that you normally would notice as red flags may escape you. Before boarding any kind of vehicle, consider your safety first and then be alert about your surroundings when traveling. The good thing, in this case, is there are two of you– if you both use your common sense, you will be safe.

Tip # 1 – Locate a taxi stand.

If you just came out of the airport, you can easily find taxi stands in and around the area. It will be a bit similar to what you have in your country. You just look for the line of taxis under a sign that you probably won’t be able to read and that will probably be it. If unsure, ask a policeman or security guard. In general terms, only cabs that are authorized by the government to board passengers are the ones that can park under these stands. This also means that the taxi driver is licensed. Never let drivers that are aggressive bully you into riding with them. They might have a more sinister intention than bringing you to your honeymoon destination.

Tip # 2 – Know something about the place where you’re heading.

You should have some general idea regarding how to reach your hotel or lodging destination. You can find foreign city maps on line, or you can contact the property where you are staying and ask for general directions. A few minutes invested in planning at home can prevent you from being taken advantage of there. Try to avoid shortcuts because this can confuse your memory and lead to other streets that you are unfamiliar with. Notice what direction you are traveling in. If you know from asking that your hotel is south and the taxi is going north be determined to ask about it. Otherwise, be prepared to make the cab stop if something seems wrong. As a last resort, jump out of your seat and ask for help.

Tip # 3 – Pay attention to cab similarities.

Look at the color of the taxi. Is it the same as the others? Do they have certain similarities that can reassure you that the cab is really safe? You can never trust a taxi that seems different from the others because in some places, thieves use fake cabs to get your money or sometimes more.

Tip # 4 – Keep your belongings close.

If you’re traveling abroad most likely you will have a lot of big, heavy luggage. It is probably not going to be possible for both of you and your luggage to be inside the cab. But at the very least, keep your carry ons with all your valuables and important papers inside with you. Keep them very close to you. Losing your papers and money in a foreign country is a far more serious matter than losing your luggage in case anything bad happens. This is why you should be very careful when selecting your cab in the first place.

Tip # 5 – Note phone numbers.

Taxi companies love advertising. That is why legitimate taxis are always plastered with company numbers either on the trunk, doors and roofs. Never get into a taxi that doesn’t have the company’s phone number on its interior or exterior surface.

Tip # 6 – Sharing alert.

Sharing your cab with someone can minimize your expenses and might give you a false sense of safety. Generally, you should not agree if your taxi driver wants someone to share with you no matter how
peaceful the stranger looks – especially in foreign countries. You could end up being kidnapped becausethe peaceful-faced stranger is wearing a mask and is actually a monster in league with the cab driver.

Tip # 7 – Pay attention to the door handle.

Open the door to the cab and check the inside door handle before allowing your luggage to be loaded into the trunk. Do not ride in a taxi when the door handle inside is malfunctioning or is broken. It would be very difficult for you to escape a predicament with a busted cab door.

Always have an emergency line where you can call local officials. When you are setting up your honeymoon trip abroad, be sure to ask for these numbers and check with your cell phone provider that your phone will have service where you’re journeying. If you use your common sense and plan ahead, especially in foreign countries, you will honeymoon safely.

Honeymoon Among the Wineries in the US Northwest

The US Northwest enjoys a reputation of having fine wineries all over the country with more than 500 wine-making institutions producing the best tasting wines. Travel the region and savor the tasty blend of its finest wines to enjoy a weekend or a week long honeymoon or vacation to its fullest.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

If you have not been in Oregon, you may have missed the scenic beauty of its leading wine region, the Willamette valley. Spanning 60 miles at its widest point, the area provides the best condition for growing grape varieties that make fine wines.

Oregon is especially known for producing the red wine grape variety Pinot Noir which is one of the most popular wines in the world.

Romance is in the air! Bring your loved one and take a honeymoon tour along the picturesque valley of the Willamette where you can enjoy the scenery and take pleasure in the wine-tasting activities of the place. You can visit the Willamette valley winery of your choice within anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Snake River Valley, Idaho

This agricultural area is home to seventeen out of the twenty three wineries in Idaho. Thirteen wineries are located in the western end of the valley, and four are found in the eastern portion side.

The area creates a suitable climate that works well for growing varietal grapes, despite its higher elevation and arid landscape.

If you love wine and plan to sample the wide array available, Snake River Valley is a very good choice. Visit its growing number of wineries and restaurants that offer delicious menus.

Columbia Valley, Washington

The area is home to approximately one third of Washington’s wineries and vineyards. The Columbia Valley grows world-class wine grapes. It encompasses approximately 18,000 square miles and 11 million acres. The nearby river systems flow along the vineyards and provide the extra hydration needed to produce premium grapes.

If you want to have an extra fun and a satisfactory winery honeymoon week, trek the length of the valley and join one of the annual events that will surely satisfy your hunger for finely made wines.

Some Tips when going on a winery tour

Planning your trip well is a must. Planning may seem boring and tiring, however, this is very important if you want to have a terrific visit. Preparing for your tour in the area would also save you time and energy. Thus, keep in mind; Planning is the key to a successful honeymoon trip in any of these winery regions!

How to plan your trip?

Well, decide on what places and wineries you would like to visit to take a tour. Schedule your day and plan well. While planning, you can also make reservations since some wineries would require you to make an early booking.

Furthermore, if you research about your honeymoon destination that you will be visiting you will to have a deeper understanding about the area and appreciate it more. You can also find out the activities that are scheduled each month or yearly. If any of these appeal to you– you can make your plans to include them in your honeymoon trip.

There are so much that this region can offer to its guests. It has all kinds of wineries, small or large, that would satisfy any wine enthusiast from anywhere in the world! Your visit to even one of these wineries will absolutely be an exciting and memorable honeymoon experience that you can take home with you. So don’t think twice, plan ahead and make your stay memorable by going on wine tasting honeymoon tour in any or all of these areas in the US Northwest.

Orlando, Florida: A Budget Guide To An Awesome Honeymoon Trip

It is always a nice to break away from all the stressful demands of our workplace, isn’t it?  Most of us are dying to get out of these nerve-racking workloads. If you’ve spent the last year of your life planning your wedding and juggling all the details, you’re probably down to your last nerve right about now.

A pleasant honeymoon or vacation will have to do; however, not all of us can afford to go on a weekend trip primarily because we are short on budget. In fact, with all the doom and gloom in the financial news, you may even feel guilty or even fearful for even planning any sort of trip let alone a honeymoon. But do not worry, there are thousands of places you can go for a honeymoon trip without spending too much.

In fact, here in the United States, you can find vast number of affordable  honeymoons or vacations to choose from. The same dire economic news actually works in your favor right now. We have come up with ten top bargain honeymoon destinations that will definitely not only save you money, but more importantly will give you the best honeymoon or vacation ever. Orlando, Florida, one of the most visited cities in the United States, is high on the list mainly because of its numerous vacation offers.

Cheap way to Orlando

If you are planning to fly, try booking air tickets in advance, and never book during peak-seasons since prices are higher during those times. There are a lot of Airline websites that offer low cost plane fares. Try using the search engines; these will help you compare prices of different airlines. Cheap airfares range from $ 200 to $ 300 depending on your departure area.

Or if you want, you can also drive all the way to Orlando. Renting a car is a good way to save money and to cut on travel costs. Prices still range from $13.95 to $15 a day depending on your departure area. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the car rental agencies have some discounts to encourage business.

Affordable packages

There are hundreds of travel agencies that offer special packages going to Orlando, try to look up them up on the internet, this will definitely help.

Here are some best hotel deals you would like to consider:
Stay at Howard Johnson Maingate Resort West located 3.5 miles from Disney World. They offer standard hotel rooms for only $ 9.99 per night during Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The good thing about this place is that it is situated on 15 tropical acres, a really nice way to relax after a long exhausting tour in the city.

Or, you may want to stay in Orlando’s Quality Inn & Suites Universal Studios with rooms amounting to as low as $50 per night. You need not drive long hours and spend more on gasoline just to get to the city’s major attractions. This hotel is centrally located and in close proximity to Universal Studios and Disney World parks. Two of the must *see* destinations on any honeymoon or vacation to Orlando.

Another good way to enjoy your money in Orlando is to avail yourself of package deals. These will save you a lot on your honeymoon trip. Book a room in a chain hotel where they will give you cut-rate access to Orlando’s many popular places and activities.

How about a guided tour around some of the amazing tourist attractions of the area like the Kennedy Space Center’s guided tour where they will provide you entry to all the Visitor Complex movies, shows, and even limitless IMAX films. Or, discover America’s first launch sites from the 1960’s, take an excursion around the Missile Museum and Air Force Space Center. This guided tour would only cost you as much as $38 to $58 per individual.

Of course, no trip to Orlando would be complete without a tour of Disney World and Epcot. For about, $219.95 per person a day you can enjoy Disney’s vast properties. Nearly 31,000 acres of fun-filled activities and the home of Mickey Mouse. There is so much you can’t do and see everything here in one day.

Definitely, the city of Orlando has a lot of attractive activities. Enjoy the sights and scenes of this spectacular city without even thinking of spending too much on your honeymoon or vacation!

6 Bargain Tips For Luxury Adventure Honeymoon Destinations

Most would consider adventure travel as a luxury honeymoon destination. Traditionally, it has always been regarded as the expensive option. This need not be the case. No two ways about it– adventure tour operators are invariably expensive because they pay developed world prices to their sales, marketing, and organizational staff.

If you consider a typical adventure holiday, you will find that only a minimal portion of the overall cost will end up going on the actual adventure part. By organizing your own honeymoon trip directly, you could save literally thousands of dollars.

Booking an adventure holiday as your luxury honeymoon destination on your own can be quite tricky. So follow these recommended guidelines to make sure you get it right!

• Word of mouth is invaluable when you are considering going off the beaten track. If you can find someone that you know who has done your trip before, you may be able to get some excellent tips on what to do and what not to do. First hand experience is the best sort of advice you can hope to get!
• Pick up a couple of guidebooks on the areas that you are considering from your local bookstore or even AAA. While opinions among travel writers will vary, look out for any recurring themes and take them seriously!
• Look at message boards online. The internet is a superb resource for adventure travel and will allow you to contact many people who have first hand experience of your honeymoon destination.
• If you are going on a guided tour once you reach your luxury honeymoon destination, make sure that you get everything straight before you depart. Ensure that you discuss with your guide what is included and what is not. Agree on a price before you leave and get it in writing. You will be in a much weaker position once you are halfway up a mountain!

Generally, booking a tour once you arrive at your honeymoon destination will mean that you get a better deal. However, this will not work if you are traveling on a tight schedule, have your heart set on a specific route, or you do not speak the local language. If any of these cases apply, it is recommended that you book everything from home before you travel.