grooms, take note - these will earn you serious brownie points with your new wife!
By James Bell at Turquoise Holidays
1. Decide if you want to travelling in your new married name. Airlines charge heavily now for name changes so make your decision and stick to it, my advice, suggest she travels under her maiden name - you''ll have enough to think about without getting her passport renewed as well.
2. Think about a realistic budget. There's nothing worse than staying in an expensive hotel and not being able too buy a drink... Much better to have the best room in a less expensive hotel and live like a king and queen.
3. Tell people it's your honeymoon. Although airlines are unlikely to upgrade you these days, do tell them at Check-in - at the very least you might get a glass of champagne. Check-in staff and airline crews hate clients expecting upgrades, the trick is dress smartly and ask politely. Everyone likes a honeymoon couple.
4. Wherever you go and whoever you book with, ask to talk to someone who has actually been to the property to you intend to stay in - first hand knowledge is vital.
5. Do not do too much. Nothing kills romance like packing and unpacking a suitcase...
6. If you're planning a honeymoon baby, remember than some malaria tablets can act as contraceptive. A good tour operator will advise you on malaria-free game parks.
7. Remember even scheduled airlines can impose flight changes. My advice is try not to fly the day/night of your wedding, and wait a day or two. This gives you a chance open your presents as well...
8. Do buy a going away outfit. There's something very nice about travelling in new clothes. Good luggage also make you feel a million dollars.
9. Plan and book your honeymoon early. Although the best rooms in the best hotels do get booked up early, the main reason for this is that the honeymoon should not be done at the last moment - you will have other things to worry about, trust me!
10. Weather. In this ever-changing world nothing is certain, but do seek good advice. Weather to Travel is an excellent little book I refer to a lot. Remember particularly in the tropics the hottest season can be accompanied by high humidity.
11. Try to take some memories from the wedding with you on honeymoon. Photos on a digital camera work best, otherwise you'll be dying to get home!
12. Do something you would never normally think about on your honeymoon. My colleague Jonty (whose advice you can read here) is planning a wine and food extravaganza with 13 courses and 10 different wines. It's expensive, but a once in a lifetime experience. My other colleague Steve (whose advice you'll find here) is going to fire an AK47 assault rifle in Cambodia - each to their own... But the point is - do something memorable. Good tour operators will have a list of excursions.
13. Many airlines now offer mid-class cabins, ask about the cost of business class - tour operators don't mind you asking and it might be worth the money for the girl you love.
14. Private transfers are a relatively small cost and a lovely luxury. The same goes for a taxi or limo to the airport. Make sure you're picked up on the way home as well.
15. Go to see you tour operator. At Turquoise we love to see people face to face and you will be assured of the best service.
16. We advise our clients to buy a bottle of their favourite tipple and mixers in duty free as this can reduce your bar bill dramatically.
17. Don't get up for breakfast for at least one morning of your honeymoon.
18. Breakfast or dinner in your room at least once - you can even have it delivered by canoe in Tahiti!
19. Look after each other and enjoy it - your honeymoon's a once in a lifetime experience.
20. Don't take a mobile phone, Blackberry or even think about checking your e-mails. Enough said...
21 Lastly, in the words of Miss Piggy: "Tickets & Travel documents should be kept in handy place where you can check them several hundred times."
