A red sun setting over an azure ocean while the piáa coladas are plentiful. Crisp mountain air and hiking trails aplenty in the mountains of Colorado. Wandering through castle after museum after castle in Paris or England. All these scenes bring to mind images of perfect honeymoons.
For some couples, planning a honeymoon is nearly as important as picking out a dress and a church. Spouses-to-be should begin planning the honeymoon six to nine months before the wedding, said Renee Pickerel, a travel consultant at Executive Travel in Lincoln.
``There's more choice and better specials the earlier one plans the honeymoon,'' Pickerel said. ``We have a lot of ideas and can give suggestions and helpful hints.''
The most popular destinations are Hawaii and the Caribbean, Pickerel said.
Russ Free, owner of Honeymoons Unlimited, said college students and recent graduates are the primary group with whom he works. He recommends destinations that are all-inclusive, which means all meals, beverages and sometimes even gratuities are included in the price of the package.
``It's important to visit with a travel agent,'' Free said. ``They have a lot of resources at their disposal and can help plan destinations and budgets.''
Yet beyond the immediate planning of the honeymoon, newlyweds should take into consideration the risks of traveling, Pickerel said. Travel insurance is an important factor.
Pickerel recalls a couple that went to Key West during Hurricane Rita. They were able to stop in Miami, outside the path of the hurricane, but did not have travel insurance and had to pay extra for their hotel in Miami and their early flight home.
Another option Pickerel suggested was her company's Honeymoon Registry.
``Instead of receiving dishes and linens as wedding gifts, many couples are opting to have Grandma pay a portion of their honeymoon costs,'' she said. ``This can allow some couples to go to a different place than they had originally planned or upgrade their plans.''
