YOU’VE already forked out for the wedding, so blowing another eye-watering sum on a honeymoon may fill you with dread.
According to the National Wedding Survey, the cost of a wedding rose by 23 percent between 2021 and 2022. hitched.co.uk.
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You can still find a lot of bargains on romantic holidays.
Sophie Swietochowski chooses the 6 best.
St Lucia is a Caribbean island.
The Windjammer Landing Resort in St Lucia, set in a 65 acre estate with a view of the ocean is a perfect honeymoon destination.
We’re talking swaying hammocks in the middle of a turquoise sea and soft white sand beaches.
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Get 50% off when you book before the 30th of June as part Island Getaway Sale.
This puts its Ocean View rooms at £150 per night – and if you stay for seven nights or more you will nab $250 in-resort credit too.
For those looking to remain within the resort, it is ideal. There are plenty of dining and snorkeling options as well as a luxurious spa.
British Airwaysba.com) has return flights from the UK from £524pp.
The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. windjammer-landing.com.
Madeira, Portugal
IF The Maldives is on your wishlist but your budget doesn’t stretch that far, Madeira is a great alternative.
The tiny archipelago, several hundred kilometres off the coast of Africa, may not be as secluded as The Maldives, but it is home to some stunning beaches with soft sand and clear waters, plus it’s a fantastic location for snorkelling.
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The 4H Allegro Madeira is an adults only resort located just 200 meters from the beach. It offers a rooftop terrace from where you can enjoy the best sunsets.
The hotel’s restaurant serves local grub or the capital city of Funchal is just two kilometres away.
Seven nights’ B&B costs from £347pp, including flights from Stansted on November 27.
See the following link for more details onthebeach.co.uk.
Barbados is part of the Caribbean
The Caribbean may seem unattainable on a tight budget. But if you stay in a property that allows self-catering, then you will save money on meals and dinners at restaurants.
And better still, this British Airways Holidays package can be booked with just a £150pp deposit.
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Travellers Palm, located on the western coast of the island, is the perfect place for those who want to explore the area. The resort has a number of beautiful beaches that are easily accessible.
Seven nights’ room-only at the 3H resort is from £679pp, including flights from Heathrow, plus luggage.
See the following link for more details britishairways.com/barbados.
Marrakech
The summer is the off-season in Morocco. There are many hot offers to be found in July and June.
Tui Blue Riu Tikida Garden, in Marrakech, is the perfect getaway for lovers. The lavish resort features a spa and a traditional Hammam as well as newly refurbished rooms with four pools.
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You can bag seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H resort from as little as £775pp, including flights from London, luggage and transfers – and you really won’t need to lift a finger.
This package includes dinner in the Culinarium, which hosts theme nights and serves traditional Morroccan food.
See the following link for more details tui.co.uk.
Galacia, Spain
Looking for a place that is off-grid and secluded?
Los Tendales is a charming stone cottage hidden in rolling meadows of northern Spain.
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This one-bedroom house has an enormous lawn and a swimming pool with views of acres upon acres green countryside. It also features a cozy living room, modern kitchen, and a small outdoor table to enjoy romantic meals.
A three-kilometre country walk will take you to the hamlet of O Viso with a tiny grocery shop, café and bakery that locals love – and a quiet beach is just 15 minutes away by car.
Seven nights’ self-catering costs from £299pp in September.
Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London to Vigo, a 25-minute drive away, from £17.05 each way.
See the following link for more details vintagetravel.co.uk.
Crete, Greece
This 5H Seaside A Lifestyle Resort on Crete’s coast is the perfect place for newlyweds.
It’s not that budget a choice at £185 per night, but that price is a steal for what you get.
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Plush, modern bedrooms with ocean views, fancy food – including a Japanese sushi joint – and a cave spa with an ice fountain and excellent massage menu.
Are you into wellness? Book a sound bath session at the hotel’s yoga studio.
Michelin star chefs will host events that foodies love.
EasyJeteasyjet.com) flies from the UK to Heraklion in Crete from £34.99 each way.
The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. seaside-hotel.gr.
MR & MRS GETAWAYFOR LESS
THERE are some guaranteed ways to shave money off your post-wedding getaway, without missing out – it’s all about being savvy. Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski shares her top tips.
Travel out of Season: Travelling outside the school holiday season will help you save money. Many popular honeymoon destinations also have hot and rainy months.
Visit during these periods if you are able to tolerate heat well or if you’re willing to accept a bit of drizzle. In many tropical climates, rain passes by much faster than it would in the UK.
Look for the Offers: You can save money on your holiday if you choose a destination.
Picture it like the reduced goods section in a supermarket – in the same way sales assistants will reduce the cost of certain products in a bid to get rid of them, a lot of hotels will do the same.
A hotel may be brand new and trying to entice customers in with a bargain offer, or it may be that you’re booking last minute and a resort still has plenty of empty rooms they want to fill.
SHOP AROUND You wouldn’t buy the newest PlayStation from Amazon if it’s half the price somewhere else – and that same mentality should be applied to holidays.
Jet2holidays, On The Beach or other package providers offer the same deal for the hotel. So it’s worth taking your time and looking at several sites to see which has the best package for you.
Book on Sale Sale periods for airlines are at specific times throughout the year. Boxing Day and Black Friday are important dates. Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and British Airways are some of the airlines that have great sales.
IS A LOYALTY PROGRAM PART OF THE SYSTEM?: Costs are on the rise and times are hard. So if you’ve been saving your points for a rainy day, that day has come. You can use your points now.
FLEXIBILITY: I’m addicted to Skyscanner’s “everywhere” and “cheapest month” tools. If you’re flexible on location or dates, these are a great way of finding the best bargain.
Frequent Flyer? If you know where you want to go and you’re part of a loyalty scheme with an airline, use the low fare-finder tool which will show you the cheapest time to travel.
Just Google “[airline name] low fare finder” – a lot of major airlines have one, including easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Just Ask for It: Want an upgrade? I’ll be honest, it’s unlikely to happen on a flight these days (no matter what hacks you have heard about involving dressing smart or being nice to staff) but that’s not true for hotels.
It’s worth emailing ahead to let the resort know that you’ll be visiting on your honeymoon and if rooms aren’t sold out, they may consider bumping you up.