How Much to Spend on a Honey Moon

[sam123]

Hello all,

I am struggling with how much to spend on a honeymoon.  I don't usually do these kinds of trips. Most vacations are with extended family where we all share a big house. 

I am not sure what a good yardstick is.  Any input or ideas are welcomed.  Unfortunately, it will have to include a flight across the country as we live on different sides.  We found a cruise that would be 3000 with the flight included and free drinks but I am unsure if that is too much.

Thanks!!

[uniwelder]

From your other posts, you’re already married, so I’m assuming honeymoon is happening soon. Cruise sounds like a terrible idea right now. Please wait until Covid settles down.

For cost, flights are inevitable since you’re living apart, but everything else is up to you. I’d go somewhere you’ve been wanting to go anyway that allows plenty of alone time and a shower. When my wife and I got married, we drove a few hours to Colonial Williamsburg for a few days and cost probably $500 or so. It was on our list of places we wanted to see and honeymoon was the excuse to go.

[Freedomin5]

The CDC is recommending that people avoid cruises regardless of vaccination status.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/covid-4/coronavirus-cruise-ship

Not sure why you want to risk ruining your honeymoon with a bad case of COVID by going against CDC recommendations in the midst of a global pandemic.

I’d put off the honeymoon until after COVID is under control. If you must have  a honeymoon right now, go somewhere where you can stay safely away from people (a remote, romantic cabin in the woods, perhaps?) somewhere within driving distance from one of your homes.

Oh, and congratulations on your recent marriage!

[ixtap]

Only you can decide what is too much. My preference would be some place isolated, maybe with good meals available, but when we were living apart we hardly ever ate out, we enjoyed making meals together.

[boarder42]

nothing - travel hack that shit.

Travelmiles101.com

Cruises are fun but giant wastes to the environment and with covid how it is i cant imagine being on one. 

[sam123]

Thanks all.  With our medical histories we are not particularly worried about getting covid again but the trip would not be now.  We got married two years ago legally but could only now have a ceremony.  however we did not live together or were able to see each other for most of the marriage.  I don't think covid is going to settle down anytime soon but omicron will likely be done by the trip.

[mm1970]

It really depends on what you want, like, and can afford.

Hedonistic adaptation is a thing though.  I have a friend who got engaged during a 10-day European vacation, at the Eiffel tower no less.  Thus, her honeymoon HAD to be more fabulous, so queue 2 weeks in the South Pacific.  But not something easy to get to - no, Cook Islands + one other.  Thus, a $7000 European vacation segued into an $11,000 honeymoon.

My honeymoon was probably $1200, back in the dark ages of the 90s, and that was mostly airfare ($450x2).

I would plan it like a slightly better than normal vacation...like the one I planned for my 50th birthday, that COVID canceled.

[Dee_the_third]

Hubs and I spent ~2000 on 2 weeks in Panama in 2016. Flights and a few hotel stays were paid for with points from credit card churning. We stayed in hostels the rest of the time and usually scrounged up breakfast but bought lunch and dinner.

[RainyDay]

Where have you always wanted to go?  We honeymooned in September to Rocky Mountain National Park because it was a place I've ALWAYS wanted to see.  We had a fabulous time.  It wasn't a question of "how much can we spend" but "what do we want to do."  Once you've decided where/what, then figure out how to make it affordable.

[reeshau]

Where have you always wanted to go?  We honeymooned in September to Rocky Mountain National Park because it was a place I've ALWAYS wanted to see.  We had a fabulous time.  It wasn't a question of "how much can we spend" but "what do we want to do."  Once you've decided where/what, then figure out how to make it affordable.

This.  A cruise to nowhere?  Or maybe to the cruise line's private island?  Pass.  Do something on your bucket list.  Call it your honeymoon / emergence from Covid / whatever.  Take the occasion to make progress in your life, and then call that expense worth it.