Honeymoon Advice

[hightower]

And I didn't mean to sound like I was putting anyone down who enjoys the all inclusive route.  I totally get that there are plenty of people who see those trips as totally worthwhile and enjoyable.  That's absolutely great and I'm very happy for you.  My best friend is like that when he travels.  He went to Italy on his honeymoon and purchased a tour package where they just bus you around to all the different sites and activities and all you have to worry about is enjoying it all.  His personality is such that he would rather spend his time on the trip not dealing with any details.  Sounds nice when I stop and think about it from that perspective...maybe I should try it sometime haha!

[nachos31]

1) Enjoy the honeymoon--splurge a little.
2) Yay, med-peds!
3) It's sad that my first thought was, "they had better get their disability insurance ducks in a row before doing any risky activities on their honeymoon." Sorry for my lameness

[The White Coat Investor]

asaling229 wrote:

My fiance’ and I will be getting married this May 2017 just before she begins her residency, and we are planning for a Honeymoon in Belize. All of the packages we are considering incorporate time at both beach and jungle resorts so that we can experience everything from snorkeling, beach lounging, and sailing to river kayaking, cave exploring and Mayan Ruin hiking. As expected, there are several price points we can choose, with increasing costs for increasing experiences/ammenities, ranging from $3k to $8k. Due to the travel requirements of my job, our flights will be covered with Airline miles so the “All-Inclusive Honeymoon Package” is the only real cost. I’m a chemical engineer with a Med-High income, zero debt, 3yrs maxed out IRA, 1yr maxed out 401k. She will be a 1st year Med-Peds resident July 2017 with ~$250k loan debt and no savings. We are wrestling with the idea of spending more money (~$4k more) on our honeymoon versus using that extra money for savings (retirement or house down-payment) or paying down her student loans.

For you married folks out there, is a Honeymoon one of those “once-in-a-lifetime experiences” that’s worth splurging on? Or will we regret not having that extra money when we go to furnish our first shared apartment, replace her 1999 vehicle, or get hit with that first loan payment? After your own Honeymoon, did you look back wishing you had done/spent more or wishing you hadn’t been so frivolous?

Any and all experiences and advice greatly appreciated from a young couple! Thanks!

 

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You know I just got back from Belize, right? I think we spent between $4-5K for the two of us for the whole six day trip. It was a spare no expense/ bought 10 days in advance affair other than we took the boat to the Caye instead of a small plane. So I can't think of what you'd spent another $3-4K on. But some of those jungle places are kind of expensive. The main cost was the airfare. Not many flights into Belize. I think we could have easily knocked another $1000 off the price without having a markedly worse experience.

Be sure you go to the ATM cave. Do not miss that. Best thing we did for sure.

We didn't spend anywhere near that on our honeymoon to San Diego. We might not have spent $1000, can't recall really. Don't get too carried away. There are always 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th honeymoons etc. I mean, you're getting married for a lifetime, right? If this is the most expensive trip you ever take what do you have to look forward to?

[benign_user]

Be careful of Zikka in Belize if you're planning on having a baby soon.

[Kamban]

hightower wrote:

And I didn’t mean to sound like I was putting anyone down who enjoys the all inclusive route.  I totally get that there are plenty of people who see those trips as totally worthwhile and enjoyable.  That’s absolutely great and I’m very happy for you.  My best friend is like that when he travels.  He went to Italy on his honeymoon and purchased a tour package where they just bus you around to all the different sites and activities and all you have to worry about is enjoying it all.  His personality is such that he would rather spend his time on the trip not dealing with any details.  Sounds nice when I stop and think about it from that perspective…maybe I should try it sometime haha!

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I usually don't like all inclusives where you are mainly confined to resort and have to take day trips just to beat the boredom.

After a safari in Kenya/ Tanzania we did a 3 day all inclusive in Mombassa for the sake of two 12 year olds. They liked the pool but I got bored soon. The activities were not that great. One could have had all the beer and liquor you can have as long as it is local produce. It tasted terrible. And I am not much of a drinker.

Next time airbnb at different areas or hotel at discount rates than being cooped up in an ali-inclusive.

[WallStreetPhysician]

I unequivocably support splurging as much as possible on your honeymoon.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something my wife and I look back on fondly.  You will not regret spending money on your honeymoon, especially in the price range you are looking at.  Congratulations!

[VagabondMD]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Vagabond MD wrote:

I am not a big fan of the all-inclusive, maybe I do not drink enough, but I am a big fan of travel.

I get I cheapskated our honeymoon in Hawaii, using Hyatt points my wife acquired from her corporate job. The good news is that we covered 8 nights in Hawaii, four in Maui and four in Kuaii. We went to Kuaii first, and the Hyatt there is still one of the nicest hotels I ever stayed in, even 20+ years and many trips later. (If it is any indication, John Travolta was also a guest there at the time in 1996.) It was so beautiful that we were literally disappointed when we got to Maui.

When we were married, my wife was six years or so into her legal career, and I was debt free and finishing fellowship. If I were to do it again, I might do some more decadent and more spendy, but we made up for it in our 10th anniversary trip to that crappy Hyatt in Maui with the kids, and a 20th anniversary trip to Tuscany, Rome, and Naples. We are already planning our 25th anniversary trip to Paris to have dinner (not lunch this time   ) at Le Grand Vefour!

In short, you will get more enjoyment splurging on great vacations than you will buying fancy cars, furniture, and other crap. Since you can’t take it with you, have a great honeymoon, and don’t think twice about the cost.

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That doesn’t sound all that cheapskate to me. So what if the rooms were paid for in points rather than cash? Still great rooms!

We stayed at the Hyatt in Maui (Ka’anapali) 2 months ago; going to Paris 2 months from now. I don’t think we’ll be taking the kids to Le Grand Vefour, though.

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My kids enjoyed Le Grand Vefour...for lunch (it's cheaper , a very memorable meal. I have been to the Super Bowl, and I have been to Le Grand Vefour, and if I could choose to do one again, it would be Le Grand Vefour!

[Kamban]

Not being a foodie, I had to google what Le Grand Vefour was  

Those portions look awfully small.

[dval]

Congrats on your upcoming marriage! I was in a similar situation recently since my wife and I are recent grads without a ton of cash.
We vacationed in Costa Rica for our honeymoon and it was perfect. We both wanted to relax, but not get bored sitting on the beach the entire time. We spent half of our time at an incredible jungle resort by the Arenal volcano (Nayara Springs, highly recommend it). The other week we stayed at an Airbnb where we could ride an ATV to secluded beaches. I'm really glad we split it up into different experiences.

We spent more money than we normally would be comfortable with (~$6K), but I'll never regret it.