5 Ways to Save on a Honeymoon

A WHITE-SAND BEACH, a suite with its own private Infinity pool and five-star dinners are what perfect honeymoons are made of. But in the current economy, as airfares get costlier and the U.S. dollar weakens against the euro, booking your fantasy honeymoon may be just that — a fantasy.

The average wedding costs $27,882, according to wedding planning web site TheKnot.com, and that doesn't even include the honeymoon. Add in current economic factors, including skyrocketing gas prices, grocery and travel costs, and affording that ideal honeymoon seems almost inconceivable.

"Planning a great honeymoon is still possible," says Richard Markel, director of the Association for Wedding Professionals International. "It takes time and research and a bit of flexibility on where you want to go."

Here are five tips to planning an affordable and unforgettable honeymoon.

Booking early is also important if you have your heart set on a destination with few hotels, like St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, that tend to fill up fast, says Sherri Schreckenghaust, manager at AAA Minneapolis Ridge Square travel agency in Minnetonka, Minn.

If you're planning to use your frequent-flier miles to save cash, booking early is imperative. Airlines are reducing the number of flights and tightening travel requirements. Wait too long and you may not even get a seat on the same flight as your new spouse, says Fusco.

Currently, $1 (U.S.) buys you 0.63 euro. One way to escape that dismal exchange rate is to pick a destination where the dollar still has a lot of buying power, like the Caribbean, Mexico, Thailand or Bali, says Markel.

If you're intent on going to Europe, try countries that don't use the euro. Head to the beaches of Turkey or Croatia, for example, or go to Switzerland where, with its restaurants, shops and architecture, "you still get the European feel," says Carl Schwartz, chief travel officer with Cheapflights.com.

Another option: Book with a tour company like Trafalgar Tours. Tour companies typically offer better rates because they buy up hotel rooms well in advance. Those that purchased inventory a year ago, for example, were able to lock in more favorable dollar-to-euro exchange rates and now offer better deals to U.S. travelers, says Schreckenghaust.

At the Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Jamaica (owned by Hilton), an all-inclusive seven-night stay between Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, 2009, in a mountain-view room costs $2,668 (per couple). Opt out of the all-inclusive package and pay $1,688 for the room. To stay within the same price range of the all-inclusive package, you'd need to spend less than $70 per day per person on food, entertainment and other expenses.

"You can get a lot of what you're looking for in a honeymoon in Panama, including beaches, spas, dining and shopping," he says. And at the Coral Lodge resort you can book an over-the-water hut with double occupancy for $260 a night from Dec. 22 to Jan. 6 (a five-night minimum stay is required). Compare this to the French Polynesian islands where over-the-water huts can cost $1,000 a night.

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