Planning Your Honeymoon During the Post-Pandemic Travel Boom

The pandemic has caused immense demand in the previously constrained wedding industry known as the wedding boom. The surge of couples planning, the scarcity of vendors and the increase in prices has been a major challenge. Unfortunately, this boom also extends to honeymoon plans. With close to one million wedding postponements/cancellations in 2020, couples are now in a hurry to plan and go on their dream honeymoon before any unforeseeable events, comparable to the pandemic, impacts travel plans.

The travel industry is experiencing a post-pandemic travel boom, which means fierce competition for desirable travel destinations. According to Teresa Belcher, founder of Honeymoon Islands, Inc., the volume of travel demands has increased dramatically with hotels selling out as many as two years in advance instead of the usual six months. Belcher advises couples to research honeymoon destinations that have recently reopened as these offer more availability, special promotions and lower prices.

Here are expert-approved tips on how to plan a perfect honeymoon amidst the post-pandemic travel boom.

Book as early as possible.

Start planning your dream honeymoon as soon as possible as these exclusive resorts and boutique properties get fully booked. Be aware that the festive season which runs between 18th December to 4th January may be double the cost of any other time of year. Travelers should book flights 10 months in advance and reserve their hotel rooms 1-2 years in advance.

Use travel advisors instead of booking independently.

Travel advisors have hotel industry connections that travelers don’t have and may even offer extra services like upgrades. According to Belcher, travel advisors can also provide value-added services like free upgrades, daily breakfast, complimentary massages, souvenirs and more.

Purchase travel insurance.

Most countries are now requiring travelers to purchase some form of pandemic-related insurance, which covers medical expenses. Travelers should purchase additional insurance to protect their investments should any unforeseen events occur.

Select newly reopened destinations.

Newly reopened destinations often have fewer confirmed bookings, prompting airlines and destinations to offer specials to encourage travel. For example, Fiji just announced its reopening, and destinations like Kokomo Private Island have romance packages with inclusions like helicopter/seaplane transfers and meals that make up for the pricey per-night rate. Travelers can take advantage of such promotions if they select newly reopened destinations with fewer reviews.

Be realistic with your expectations.

Travel budgets may not go as far as they did a few years ago. However, it is still possible to have a memorable honeymoon. Plan and research popular honeymoon destinations based on your budget, time of year, travel distance, and ease of travel. Couples can also ask guests to gift parts of their honeymoon instead of traditional gifts to help cover costs.

Don’t over-plan your trip.

Over-planning may leave you feeling exhausted instead of rested. Therefore, plan some downtime like a day at the spa or private vineyard tour followed by a relaxing lunch, especially after the excitement of the wedding. The unexpected can happen at any time, so purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.