Americans in general may be experiencing financial difficulties caused by the recession, but it’s not affecting romantic luxury vacations, experts say. “People are generally going to take the holiday that they want,” says Darren Noel, commercial director of www.hitched.co.uk. “More and more places are accessible — like Mauritius, Seychelles and the Caribbean,” he adds. By budgeting, planning a year in advance and possibly postponing the holiday, couples are able to save for the more exotic hotspots they crave. Of course, there are many other ways to save on a romantic vacation package as well.
Couples who feel they may have trouble financing the romantic vacation package of their dreams can find help from family and friends. “There are a lot more honeymoon registries these days,” says Kyle Brown, executive director of the Bridal Association of America. Honeymoon registries are popular for first-time newlyweds who may not have as much savings and also for couples who are getting re-married, since they don’t need all the home goods. Honeymoon registries (like those found at www.sendusoff.com or www.honeymoonwishes.com) allow guests to give gifts like suite upgrades, romantic dinners, traveler’s checks or cruise shore excursions to make romantic travel more affordable for the bride and groom. Couples who are booking a cruise can often set up a gift registry right through their cruise line’s website as well. Wedding guests often like this thoughtful type of gift purchase, which is ideal for couples who already have everything they need.
Given the hefty price tag of most weddings, couples may need to find ways to save on their romantic vacation package, without sacrificing the luxury and pampering they deserve. One way couples are saving is to book all inclusive romantic vacation packages at a resort. For instance, the Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica includes a stay in a deluxe junior suite at a beachside resort, as well as activities like snorkeling, sailing, canopy tours, sunset walks and sport equipment rental for approximately $3,000/week, plus airfare. Couples who are more interested in amenities than activities may want to book Rosewood’s San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, where honeymooners can stay for a romantic weekend in a cottage with a sunken hot tub, private veranda and outdoor rain shower for $2,080. Some places to check for all inclusive packages that include airfare, resort stay, meals and activities are www.sandals.com, www.secretsresorts.com, www.couples.com, www.palaceresorts.com and www.superclubs.com.
Booking an all-inclusive romantic cruise is yet another way for a couple to save big on their romantic vacation package. For instance, Celebrity Cruises offers a 7-night sail from November through April to Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan and the Dominican Republic for just 0/person! All five-star dining aboard the ship is included, as is daily and nightly entertainment. Alcoholic beverages and port stop excursions will cost more, but the savings aboard a cruise ship are unbelievable for many first-time and veteran cruisers. Starting at 9/person, Princess Cruises takes newlyweds to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Princess Cay, Cozumel Mx, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios Jamaica. While South Pacific and European cruises cost around ,500/person, the Bahamas, Caribbean Islands and Mexico offer much cheaper honeymoon vacation packages, which is another factor to consider when booking honeymoon travel.
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Tags: honeymoon vacation, island vacations, romantic cruise, romantic travel, romantic weekend