7 Quick Tips Sure to Ease Your Honeymoon Travel Planning

Plymouth, MN — With an estimated 1.4 million U.S. couples planning a honeymoon each year, it’s clear this type of milestone trip continues to be among the most popular on an annual basis. With more than 470 Travel Leaders travel agents specializing in Honeymoon travel, Travel Leaders Associates – America’s top retail travel agency brand – are providing seven quick tips to ease Honeymoon travel planning and assist newlyweds preparing for one of their most memorable life experiences.

“First and foremost, when planning your honeymoon, you should devote time to sitting down with a qualified travel expert who can help turn your honeymoon dreams into reality,” said Roger E. Block. CTC, President of Travel Leaders Franchise Group. “Today’s professional travel agents are highly successful, because they are consultants and advocates for their clients. Based on their firsthand knowledge, expertise and areas of specialization, they can create – within any budget – honeymoon experiences that many clients don’t even know exist.”

In addition to seeking advice from a travel agent expert, here are tips and advice from Travel Leaders Honeymoon Specialists on when to go, what to pack and how to save for one’s blissful journey to the start of a newly wedded life:

• Travel Experiences. “Before you meet with your travel consultant, it’s a good idea to determine approximately how much you want to spend on your trip and the kind of experience you’re dreaming about,” advises Justine Sjurseth, a Honeymoon and Romance Vacation travel agent expert with Travel Leaders in Brookings, South Dakota. “If the groom wants a fishing trip in Alaska and the bride wants an all-inclusive beach resort, it’s best to discuss these aspirations before your consultation. If you can’t come to a consensus, a good travel consultant will lead you to a trip that can satisfy all parties.”

• Travel Budget. Knowing your budget is an important detail, and so is sticking to it. “Consider booking an all-inclusive vacation so you will know exactly how much you are spending on food and drinks – and not have to worry about going over budget,” said Lori Henke a Travel Leaders Certified Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Specialist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “Also, many porters and concierge clerks will gladly accept U.S. dollars when tipping. So bring some along. This way you don’t have to worry about exchange rate fees or being unsure about how much you’re actually tipping.”

• Travel Bookings. “The sweet spot to start booking your honeymoon package is around nine to 10 months in advance. But note, that’s for booking. A year-plus out is great for researching destinations, narrowing down all the places on your bucket list,” advises Melissa Gutting, a Honeymoon and Destination Wedding specialist from Travel Leaders in Maple Grove, Minnesota. “Some of the smaller, unique hotels, B&B’s and boutique resorts could fill up and sell out by nine months before your travel date. So you want to make sure you’re booking early.”

• Travel Seasons. “Spring and fall – or the shoulder seasons for your destination of choice – are usually when the airlines have the best availability and the hotels have introduced discounts,” shared Kristi “Ali” Mackedanz, a Honeymoon and Destination Wedding specialist who also works from the Travel Leaders Maple Grove, Minnesota, location.

• Travel Packing. “I always recommend packing a swimsuit and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag, so if your luggage gets delayed, you can still put on something fresh. Or, if you arrive at the resort before your room is ready, you have easy access to your swimsuit so you can lounge by the pool or beach while you wait,” added Sjurseth.

• Travel Departure. For those who change their last names when they get married, it can be exciting to want to travel with your new spouse under your new name if all your documents are in order. “Make sure your airline tickets match the name on your passport, which may not necessarily be your new married name,” said Paula Demmer who specialized in Destination Weddings for the Travel Leaders location in Lakewood, Washington.

• Travel Perk. “Carry a copy of your marriage license with you, as many resorts, restaurants or entertainment venues will offer free or upgraded amenities or other discounts to honeymooners, but they may ask for proof,” said Lanie Davis a Honeymoon and Destination Wedding specialist from the Travel Leaders location in Suwanee, Georgia.

“Travel Better” with Travel Leaders. To easily find a Travel Leaders travel agent specializing in Honeymoon travel or any specific destination or niche, consumers can use “Agent Profiler.” As part of Travelleaders.com, the special geo-located online service promises to match the most appropriate Travel Leaders travel agent with each individual traveler, based on the consumer’s own unique criteria and needs. Or to find the Travel Leaders location nearest you, visit Travelleaders.com or call 800-335-TRIP (8747).

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Travel Leaders is transforming travel with a name that boldly embodies our commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via a progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. As one of America’s top ranked travel companies, Travel Leaders has assisted millions of travelers through our strong roots – the former Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group joined together in 2008 to form one of the industry’s fastest-growing and robust networks of travel agents. Travel Leaders Franchise Group can trace its beginnings to 1984 as the franchise system “Ask Mr. Foster Travel,” which itself was North America’s first travel agency chain established in 1888.