UPDATE Honeymoon

FutureMrsR5711 · March 2012

UPDATE:
FI and I went to Liberty Travel this weekend and had a completely different experience. We are proud to say that our honeymoon is booked. We've selected Secrets Wild Orchid Resort. Any other brides going to be there mid-september?

Morning ladies! Happy first day of SPRING!

So last week FI and i went and sat with a travel agent (big mistake) to discuss honeymoon options. FI had initially said he was taking the reigns on it and would basically just tell me where we were going. I was completely fine with that, as I know traveling is his thing.

So we get to agent and she was pushing Sandals HARD. Yes the resorts are beautiful. Yes, we'd love to go there. BUT Wedding is September, which is the oh so glorious hurricane season. And on top of that, the costs were up and around the $4,000 + category for just 5 days.

I'm all for splurging for wedding things (in moderation), however we are having a small wedding. Approx 75-80 guests. We don't own a house yet. And i have apprehension about spending that much for 5 days in a potential hurricane.

What are you all doing about getting married durring hurricaine season? Are you postponing your trips until later on? Booking anyway and getting the insurance?

BMcLeodTeam · March 2012

We're going right away, as long as you have travel insurance I wouldn't worry too much.
We booked 7 nights at the Melia Cabo Real for around $3000 with airfare

kellycatalo · March 2012

We're booked in hawaii for 7 nights. flights (from chicago) + hotel + car ended up being about $3000.

we decided on hawaii because we wanted to steer clear of the hurricane zone. plus neither of us have ever been.

we first started by trying to talk to travel agents, but they are more expensive than they're worth. you could probably just as easily book your honeymoon through expedia or the company website for where you are going, and it will probably be cheaper.

volleygurl0306 · March 2012

We are going right away. And on a cruise (and I know it is Royal Caribbean). That's about all I can tell you because FI planned everything as a surprise for me. My FMIL is helping him because FIL own a Royal Caribbean timeshare....I mentioned the insurance to them but duno what they are doing (mainly because I don't even know if we'll be near hurricane areas). But I'm also pretty laid back about hurricanes because I'm from south Florida and have seen it all when it comes to them. My family actually went on a cruise after Wilma because we had no power and the cruise ships were empty since no one could travel into Miami so it was super cheap. I'm a little jaded though!

lbarr088 · March 2012

We are cruising to Turks and Caicos three days after the wedding. We bought trip insurance (not through the cruiseline because theirs sucked and didn't cover weather) and it was about 60 bucks a person and covered EVERYTHING. The cruise itself is just under 2k for an 8 day cruise. When we add excursions (if we even do), special meals on ship, Amtrak fair, etc. I'm hoping to be just under 3K.

FutureMrsR5711 · March 2012

WOW! Glad to hear no one has been turned off. So Its looking like general consensus is to just go.

We left the meeting with the TA feeling confused and defeated. FI decided that its now on me to handle the honeymoon stuff. I feel obligated to make it magical for him, because he's always had the travel bug and i would be ok just staying local!

Thanks for your insight ladies.

lbarr088, where did you end up purchasing the insurance through?

lbarr088 · March 2012

We got ours through Travel Guard. I just checked and it cost $127.00 for the two of us. (Carnival was just under 100 per person). Our TA did it all for us.

[Deleted User] · March 2012

Maybe you should try a different TA? We had a great experience with ours! She gave us feedback to all the places we were looking into (she'd been to all of them) and we definitely got a better deal booking through her. You won't necessarily spend more money with a good TA but you will get perks you can't get on your own. We are going to Secrets Maroma Beach, Mexico for 10 days and have a swim out room and got upgraded to a preferred member which means we have points to use at the resort for things like massages. Our flights were also included. Plus if anything goes wrong...the only call we have to make is to our TA and she'll work it out for us. It was great piece of mind for me. GL with whatever you choose :-)

mamameech · March 2012

We are holding off and going during the winter months. We would much rather get away to a tropical paradise when the snow and ice are at their worst! Prices are reasonable just before spring breaks start happening, so we are aiming for late Jan/early Feb.
We will also have family visiting from various places so we can't just go right after the wedding. I also have a young son who will be starting grade 1 in the fall so I'd rather be around for the first month to make sure he's all settled in.

AnnamarieZTA · March 2012

We are leaving the next day for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We got insurance incase of a hurricane but let's keep our fingers crossed! I told my FI yesterday that I'm totally ok with "hunkering" down in Puerto Rico during a hurricane and then relaxing on the beach for the rest of the week. Haha! Hurricanes are nothing new to us though, being from the gulf coast and all...

volleygurl0306 · March 2012

Update: FMIL assured me that insurance was included in our cruise package. She didn't give away any more details than that so I'm still in the dark about where and how much! Tip to other cruisers...my credit card (have a chase sapphire) allows you to trade points for on board credit of a few cruiselines. Maybe yours does too? This is part of the reason I've been putting stuff on my credit card and just paying it off right away haha. They also do flights and rental cars so helpful for all HMs potentially.

AriesAngel86 · March 2012

We are waiting until november because we need to spread out our vacation time, and the wedding is out of state for us.

jlford715 · March 2012

We are leaving the next day and going to the Dreams Resort in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, no hurricane issue on that side

Good luck!!

smartlypretty · March 2012

What travel agent did you go to? I went to Liberty Travel. Honestly, *most* of the time you don't need a TA at all. If you are taking 1 plane and staying at 1 hotel, you can very easily book through orbitz or expedia or such (and it will probably be cheaper). I'm using a TA because of an extremely complicated honeymoon. We are flying into and out of 2 different countries, staying at 3 different hotels in 3 different countries, and taking trains between.

CowgirlK39 · March 2012

I'm not worried about hurricanes, I'm worried about tornadoes!!! We are going to Iowa a week after our wedding, and although Obctober is not a heavy hitter month for tornadoes in IA it is a bit higher than other months.

I encourage you to either try a different agent, and then compare to what you can find through credible online sources. Kinda like shopping for a good deal on your own terms, not someone who is pushing you to go on a trip you don't want to.

BMcLeodTeam · March 2012

I agree that you should try another TA, mine has been AMAZING to work with

WLevine75 · March 2012

We are going right away. We booked Sandals St. Lucia and we just got the trip insurance.

MSwanny87 · March 2012

We booked Couples (VERY reasonable prices!) in Jamaica anyway. We went to Breezes in Jamaica a few years ago in August (prime hurricane time) and it didn't rain a drop the entire time we were there. I always purchase insurance on flights and trips, so why not? I really don't think you'll run into a huge problem.

mamameech · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_honeymoon-7?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:d2f37d58-c645-4121-8282-91e2fe5ead33Post:d90e33cb-3a6b-483f-9468-632a72748e3c">Re: Honeymoon</a>:
[QUOTE]We are going right away. We booked Sandals St. Lucia and we just got the trip insurance.
Posted by WLevine75[/QUOTE]

So jealous!! I was eyeing this one... we'll see where we are at in September and maybe we can splurge a bit more...

FutureMrsR5711 · March 2012

Thanks so much ladies! So great to have a sounding board for situations lke this. You've all been more than helpful.

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