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    10 Ways to save money on your honeymoon

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    You can also read: Best wedding planning APP’s and tools.

    Just like the wedding and everything that surrounds it, your honeymoon will be yet another expensive weight on your shoulders. However, with some careful planning, lots of research and a bit of consideration, it is possible to save some money. Here’s how:

    1. Include it in your registry

    Instead of opting for the traditional registry, ask guests for a contribution towards your honeymoon in general, or specific excursions, tickets or bookings. It’s no longer frowned upon to ask for a donation instead of a gift, as more and more couples already have everything they need for their home before even getting married.

    2. Who needs souvenirs?

    Instead of spending unnecessary money on souvenirs (which, let’s face it, you’ll never look at again), rather spend it on experiences – such as special dinners, excursions or tours. These experiences are much more valuable than physical things. However, if you love doing outdoorsy stuff, such as hiking, it might even cost you less!

    3. Use public transport instead of Ubers

    Do some research and gather information on how the public transport system works in the areas you’ll be in. Ubers and taxis are often much more expensive than the public systems, so this way you’ll be able to save quite a bit. Your hotel or accommodation staff will also be able to assist you with recommendations and guides.

    4. Be clever with your travel dates

    You don’t need to leave for your honeymoon the moment you get married. Because most couples still need to take personal matters, such as work, into consideration before being able to leave, you can plan your honeymoon around ‘cheaper’ seasons, flights and destinations. Consider off-season options, as this will not only be cheaper all round, but also less crowded.

    5. Score some points

    On your credit card, that is. Lots of credit card services offer rewards that you can use for travel, including discounts on flights, accommodation, restaurants etc. Although you’d have to start planning this one quite a bit in advance, it will definitely be worth it.

    6. DIY

    Instead of booking everything through a travel agency, do your research, plan carefully, and book everything yourself to avoid paying any additional fees. Also make sure to check the direct websites of hotels, lodges or resorts, as they often have slightly lower rates than when it’s booked elsewhere. If you do, however, prefer to use an agent, make sure they book package deals for you, so that you can get the most bang for your buck.

    7. Take a chance

    It might be a little forward, but when booking a room, a restaurant or whatever it may be, casually mention that it’s your honeymoon. People love romance, so they might just give you a freebie, an upgrade or a warm(er) welcome.

    8. Get travel insurance

    Just in case.

    9. Consider when you eat out

    You don’t have to eat at a restaurant for every single meal. Go to local markets or grocery stores and gather a few bits and pieces to take on a picnic, to have in your room or to make a meal yourself. This way you’ll also experience more of your surroundings and of the culture than you would sitting down at a restaurant three times a day.

    10. Go on the hunt

    Again, you’ll need to take some time and do your research with this one, but make an effort to hunt for some deals. Many hotels, destinations, cruises and airlines have regular deals – whether it’s for honeymooners, seasonal or simply because. Make use of them and be sure to make some calls to figure out if they don’t offer any additional deals. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

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    In Fashion

    A quick guide to honeymoon swimwear

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    Planning your wedding is definitely a stressful task, so the honeymoon might not even be an aspect you’re focused on right now, however, there is one additional task you will have to accomplish before racing off to you lush honeymoon – packing. And because swimwear will make up the most of your tropical honeymoon wardrobe, we’ve put together a quick guide:

     

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    If you’re headed to the tropics you will probably be living in your bathing suit and a cover-up, but dining at a restaurant or perhaps dancing or exploring may also be on the cards.

     

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    You’ll probably want to take at least two swimsuits. This way you can alternate them. To have even more options, look for mix and match bikini styles, so you can get four looks out of two suits. If you’re not a fan of bikinis, try a one-piece, which is perfect for lounging around, going for a dip, and can even double as a bodysuit! You’ll also want to pack a swimsuit that you’re comfortable with wearing in a spa.

     

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    For the honeymoon activities other than lounging by the beach/pool, you will need a maxi dress or skirt that you can dress up or down. Cover-ups are a necessity as you can easily transition from the beach to dinner and drinks – think beautiful wraps or sarongs. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, but this is also the perfect time to play around with those beautiful swimsuits that have been hiding in your closet!

    By Larissa Vermeulen

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    In Advice

    What to do when disaster strikes before your honeymoon

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    When it comes to booking holidays, it’s always best to plan in advance. The earlier you book, the higher the chance is of scoring a great deal. Incentives aside, being well organized is never a bad thing. Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan so what do you do when disaster strikes before your honeymoon?

    Check the weather 

    Even though you may not be able to predict the weather, you can always research and see when certain natural disasters are more likely to occur. For example, hurricanes are more likely to occur between June to November in Florida, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. If you are already there and disaster strikes, there should be specific procedures in place and safety precautions. Many places will have shelters to take cover in.

    Insurance 

    Depending on how much money you’ve invested in your honeymoon, taking travel insurance is a great option. If disaster strikes before you leave for your romantic getaway and you need to cancel, the extensive travel insurance should cover it.

    What do the experts say? 

    Travel agent, Melissa Geldenhuys from Sure Travel says travel insurance is imperative. This means that you will be covered in the event of your holiday being disrupted by any unforeseen situations.

    “Should there be a natural disaster or terrorist attack that occurs before or during the client’s travel, the airlines and tour operators would put an advisory in place on how to proceed with the travel arrangements.”

    If disaster strikes before you leave, the airline/tour operator would advise alternative travel dates that the holiday can be moved to at no cost to the client. If the client is not able to change their travel dates, a cancellation procedure would be offered. Any penalty fees not waived, could be reimbursed by the travel insurance company.

    If an incident occurs while you’re already on honeymoon, then the airlines/tour operator would advise alternative travel arrangements. This could mean moving accommodation, changing flights and evacuation procedures put in place to return clients to their home country.

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    Honeymoon destinations for: Art & History lovers

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    If both you and your partner are art and history lovers, then a honeymoon destination filled with museums is perfect for you.  Museums are actually quite romantic places and a great way for the newlywed couple to spend quality time together – you’ll end up learning a lot more about your partner through your discussions of the art that you see.

    These are the best places to visit if you’d like to spend your days trawling through museums:

    USA

    Filled with museums all over the country, the most famous American museums being in New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently voted as the world’s top museum and contains more than 2 million works of art and pieces by some renowned artists. The Museum of Modern Art has an incredibly influential collection of modern art as well as performance art, architecture and design. The Guggenheim is famous for its shape alone and also has impressionist, modern and contemporary art. The National Gallery of Art in Washington features artists such as Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso.

    Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Spain

    Spain has one of the best collections of art in Europe. It is also the birthplace of famous artists such as Picasso, Dalí and Velázquez. The Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado museum) in Madrid is the most famous museum in Spain and contains works by El Greco, Goya, Velázquez, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. The Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid has Picasso’s Guernica and works by Dalí. The Picasso museum in Barcelona has a broad collection of work by the artist after whom it was named, Pablo Picasso, with over 4000 pieces. The museum itself is located within adjoining medieval palaces and the gothic architecture is also a sight to see.

    Prado Museum

    France

    The beauty of France alone is a pull-factor but the quality of museums should be too. The French are known for their romance which is another reason France is a great honeymoon destination. The Louvre, that houses the famous Mona Lisa, is the most famous museum in France but there are many other noteworthy galleries to visit, as well as street art and famous landmarks. The Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet has the world’s largest collection of works by Monet. The Orangerie Museum boasts Monet’s Waterlillies. The Musée d’Orsay is filled with impressionist and post-impressionist art and holds pieces by Monet, Van Gogh and Munch. The Pompidou Centre houses paintings by Dalí, Munch, Picasso and Matisse.

    The Louvre

    England

    The National Gallery has over 2000 paintings including works by Van Gogh,  Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Monet. The Tate Modern has great contemporary art featuring Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych as well as pieces by Lichtenstein, Dalí and Picasso. The British Museum has the largest collection of artefacts in the world and works by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Van Gogh can be found here as well. The Natural History Museum consists of dinosaur skeletons and fossils as well as a mind-blowing skeleton of a blue whale.

    Natural History Museum

    Netherlands

    The Netherlands has a wide range of museums making the country a world leader in terms of art and culture. The Van Gogh Museum is appropriately named due to the fact that it has the largest collection of works by Van Gogh. The Rijksmuseum has masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt. The Anne Frank museum, located in the actual house where she and her family hid during the Nazi occupation, serves to educate visitors about her story.

    Rijksmuseum

    South Africa

    South Africa is a beautiful country and popular honeymoon destination on its own but it made this list thanks to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCCA). The building itself was made from a converted grain silo and serves to celebrate the structure’s industrial heritage. The Zeitz is the biggest contemporary art museum in Africa and the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world.

    Zeitz MOCCA at the Silo Hotel

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    How honeymoons first started

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    Most people know a ‘honeymoon’ as the trip you and your partner take after the wedding. Newlywed couples either set off directly after the reception or after a couple of days. Believe it or not, but the ‘honeymoon’ was not always known as the romantic getaway we know today. So how did it start?


    Merriam-Webster’s honeymoon definition is ‘a period of harmony immediately following marriage’, ‘a period of unusual harmony especially following the establishment of a new relationship’ and ‘a trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple’. Their first known use dates back all the way to 1546.

    The term was used to describe the first month of marriage. Honey meaning sweet and great, and moon relating to the period of time (a month), not Earth’s natural satellite. So essentially, the honeymoon referred to the first month of marriage while it’s blissful and lovely and you’re oh-so-inlove.

     

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    In the 19th century, however, couples from Great Britain would go on a bridal tour of sorts, which entailed the newlywed couple visiting family and friends that weren’t able to make it to their wedding.

    Nowadays, couples go on honeymoon for a little holiday after the wedding. It’s time away from the ‘real’ world where they can focus on each other, relax and just enjoy themselves.

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    Honeymoon destinations for: Hiking

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    After the stress and excitement of the wedding, we can’t think of a better way to give your soul some therapy than to get into nature. Hiking is a great way to explore, reconnect with and appreciate the beauty of nature.

    These are some of the best places to go hiking around the world, thanks to the variety and diversity within them.

    Canada

    With sky-high mountains and an endless number of different landscapes, Canada provides an exceptional hiking experience. Within the landscapes you will find lakes, mountains, forests and lots of wildlife. Due to the vast land area, there are hiking opportunities that range from easy to difficult.

    Banff, Canada

    USA

    Consists of hundreds of thousands of hiking trails and is extremely diverse in terms of landscapes. There are deserts, mountains, rainforests etc. Hiking in the U.S. is protected by the National Park Service and they ensure the preservation of the trails and scenery. You’ll be able to experience ample views, mighty trees, rocky ledges and endless canyons.

    Yosemite National Park

    Norway

    Norway has a reputation for being one of the best hiking destinations in the world, and it is well deserved. There is no better way to experience and see all of Norway’s beauty than by foot. It has jagged mountains and a large scenic variety that is so beautiful it will take your breath away.

    Trolltunga, Norway

    South Africa

    Known for its diverse landscapes and stunning views, South Africa has hiking trails that suit every fitness level. There is no better way to explore the terrain and discover indigenous flora and fauna than by trekking through it.

    Otter Trail, South Africa

    Nepal

    A famous hiking destination thanks to Mount Everest with people travelling from all over the world to get a glimpse of the world’s highest mountain. But hiking in Nepal is not only limited to Mount Everest. In fact, Nepal is home to 8 of the top 10 highest mountains in the world. Hiking in Nepal is a truly unique experience as many of the beautiful landscapes are only accessible by foot.

    Himalayas, Nepal

    New Zealand

    Home to the ‘Great Walks’ – amazing trails that allow one to experience the diverse and breathtaking scenery. There are walking and hiking options for all levels. Discover the range of scenery from snowcapped mountains to lush forests.

    Tongariro National Park

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    Honeymoon destinations for: Safari

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    Going on safari for your honeymoon will be one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences. It is the perfect trip to take after a wedding as it is a chance for the newlyweds to really relax and escape from the city life. A real safari is of course only accessible within Africa and while there are so many places one can visit, these safari spots have the most to offer. And of course, there’s nothing quite like an African sunset.

    Uganda

    Although you might not be able to see the big 5, there is plenty to see on a Ugandan safari. Uganda’s volcanic past is visible in the landscape and there are over 600 species of bird, tree climbing lions, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and many primate species – after all, Uganda is best known for its gorilla trekking.

    Tree-climbing lion

    Kenya

    It’s very possible that you will see the big 5 as well as the rare black rhino and, if you’re lucky, lions on the hunt during the wildebeest migration from August to November. Kenya is also famous for its big cat populations and is extremely focused on ecotourism. All in all, a great safari option.

    Wildebeest migration

    Tanzania

    While there are not many elephants and rhinos, the large open grasslands provide a grazing spot for zebras and wildebeest, as well as allow for easier predator sightings and the lack of trees makes leopard spotting much easier. It’s also likely that you will see a lion kill between the months of November to July, during the migration.

    Leopard

    Zimbabwe

    A Zimbabwean safari is not very well known which makes for uncrowded parks. You can expect to see plenty of elephants, the black rhino, African wild dogs and bat-eared foxes. Other animals that are also often spotted are lions and large herds of buffalo. It’s also a lovely place for bird watching with over 400 species of bird.

    Elephant

    Botswana

    Having one of the highest quantities of wildlife, Botswana is a pretty safe safari option. With the reintroduction of the white and black rhino, it is possible to see the big 5. It’s home to the largest elephant herds in Africa and a great deal of lion, buffalo, leopard and wild dogs. You also might be fortunate enough to see some interactions between the lions and buffalos. Another perk is that it is just a day’s trip away from Victoria falls.

    Buffalo

    South Africa

    The most reliable safari destination for sightings of the big 5 thanks to having more mammals than all other African game reserves. There are also over 500 bird species. Other notable animals include cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, and many more. South Africa is the best option for first timers.

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    Honeymoon destinations for: Culture

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    If you want to experience a different life from your everyday, immerse yourself and learn about other cultures, then these are the honeymoon destinations for you.

    Singapore

    Where East meets West – Singapore is a fusion of Asian, European and Middle Eastern cultures. With many different religions existing harmoniously, Singapore sees its diversity as a strength, and you will see it too.

    Sri Mariamman Temple

    Cambodia

    Filled with ancient temples, rice paddies and a surprisingly sophisticated urban scene, Cambodia is where ancient and modern worlds collide.

    Angkor Wat

    Brazil

    Brazil has a colourful culture with countless festivals across the country that celebrate its diversity, the most famous being the Carnaval. Music is a large part of Brazilian culture as it allows the people to express their joy of life.

    Carnival of Brazil

    Greece

    Known as the birthplace of Western culture and democracy as Greek beliefs in democratic governments and equality influenced our modern democracies. Besides that, Greece is flush with ancient ruins, festivals and holidays.

    Meteora

    Turkey

    Thanks to the multi-ethnic and religious Ottoman empire, traditions of Mediterranean and Central Asian cultures were brought together. Turkey is also home to world-famous ruins and monuments.

    Ephesus

    Morocco 

    Having ties to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Morocco has done very well in taking the best traditions and making them new. You will be able to see the cultural diversity in the many different architectural wonders.

    Hassan II Mosque

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    Honeymoon destinations for: Skiing

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    For those that can ski or want to learn, a ski trip is arguably one of the best holidays one can take. Your days are filled with fun activity and at night you can do as you please – go for a nice meal, relax and get cosy.

    If this sounds like something you’d be interested in to do on your honeymoon, take a look at these great ski destinations:

    Canada

    If you’re looking for spectacular terrain, wide and quiet slopes and knee deep powder, then Canada is the place for you.

    USA

    The US is known for world class skiing as the large variety of resorts means you can find whatever you’re looking for, as well as pistes for every level of skiing.

    France

    France is the most popular skiing destination in Europe due to its high altitudes and, as a result, reliable conditions.

    Switzerland

    Filled with classic ski towns, high altitudes and great snow records. The only downside is the cost as Switzerland is the most expensive skiing destination in Europe.

    Austria

    Home of Après-ski: a fun and cheaper European ski holiday, as well as tree-lined slopes and the best ski lift systems. The lower altitudes mean less snow but this is combatted with snowmaking.

    Japan

    With consistent light powdered snow, uncrowded slopes and beautiful mountain vistas, it’s understandable that Japan has some of the best ski resorts in the world.

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