These days, most couples plan their honeymoon together – hardly surprising, when this is likely to be one of the most expensive holidays the two of you have. But there are a fair few people out there wanting to plan a surprise honeymoon – usually the groom – so today I thought I’d offer up a few pointers in case you’re looking to do so.
- Find out what your other half expects from the honeymoon. The last thing you want is do is book two weeks on an idyllic beach when she’d much rather spend the time on a jaunt across Europe.
- Decide on (and stick to) a budget. When you’re planning a big surprise, it can be easy to get carried away – so keep track of what you’re spending as you go along. And don’t forget to factor in spending money once you’re away.
- Talk to people. Chances are, your other half may have mentioned to their family or friends a place they’re dying to go; or friends might be able to recommend a particularly special destination or hotel. It’s also worth talking to a travel agent – more likely than not, they’ll have booked one or two surprise honeymoons in their time, so might have some great tips about what you can do, and will also help you get some special honeymoon perks at the places you stay.
- Don’t forget about the practical details. If you’re traveling somewhere exotic then you’ll most likely need one or two vaccinations against tropical diseases – speak to your GP and then let your fiance(e) know exactly what jabs they need in order to go away. Check that both of your passports are up to date, and whether you need to get visas in advance of traveling.
- The trickiest aspect is likely to be packing – I know that if I was in charge of packing for a surprise trip, I’d know exactly what my husband would want to take; if it was the other way around, I’m not sure he’d know where to start. If you’re not confident packing your fiance(e)’s suitcase, equip them with just enough information that they’ll be able to pack what they need.
- Decide when you’re going to let your partner in on the surprise – you may want to wait until the wedding day itself, the morning after your wedding, or, if you can manage it, till you get to the airport. But don’t give yourself a hard time if you can’t keep the secret for as long as you’d like to.
