Save On Your Romantic Vacation Package

Forty years ago, a romantic weekend in a Niagara Falls suite with a heart-shaped Jacuzzi was a perfectly fine romantic vacation package following a wedding. Today's standards have increased ten-fold. Couples are looking for more far-flung destinations with all the bells and whistles. "Hundreds of years ago, the honeymoon was a chance for the bride and groom to get to know one another," Kyle Brown, executive director of the Bridal Association of America, says. "Now, it's a chance to say, 'Let's get away from all this.' It's a vacation, an accepted and an expected vacation, and that's why the percentage of married couples who take one is so high. I don't see it dying down or going anywhere--it's part of the wedding experience."  

Couples headed to costly romantic travel hot spots may want to consider setting up a honeymoon registry, which can cut $1,000 to $2,000 off the cost of their trip. Guests can choose gifts like a massage for two ($130 per person), a candlelit dinner on the beach ($90) or contribute to round-trip airfare. These registries are customized for the destination of choice, so guests can also purchase a guided tour of a national park, drinks and dinner at a local club, or dance lessons. These registries can be found online at sites like www.sendusoff.com, www.thebigday.com or www.honeymoonwishes.com. Couples are then provided with a check or Paypal payment upon request. Some specific resorts and cruise ships also offer their own gift registries, allowing guests to directly purchase customized romantic vacation package gifts that can be picked up at boarding or check-in time.  

Given the hefty price tag of most weddings, couples may need to find ways to save on their romantic vacation package, without sacrificing the luxury and pampering they deserve. One way couples are saving is to book all inclusive romantic vacation packages at a resort. For instance, the Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica includes a stay in a deluxe junior suite at a beachside resort, as well as activities like snorkeling, sailing, canopy tours, sunset walks and sport equipment rental for approximately $3,000/week, plus airfare. Couples who are more interested in amenities than activities may want to book Rosewood's San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, where honeymooners can stay for a romantic weekend in a cottage with a sunken hot tub, private veranda and outdoor rain shower for $2,080. Some places to check for all inclusive packages that include airfare, resort stay, meals and activities are www.sandals.com, www.secretsresorts.com, www.couples.com, www.palaceresorts.com and www.superclubs.com.

Couples can also get amazing bargains on a romantic vacation package if it's booked alongside a destination wedding. Hotel chains like Sandals and Palace Resorts offer complimentary weddings when the newlyweds agree to stay at the hotel for the honeymoon. A seven-night stay for the couple and two guests at one of Sandal's 12 Caribbean properties will cost around $3,500 to $5,000. This price does not include airfare, but includes all meals, premium drinks, activities and rooms. For more information on booking a destination wedding visit www.sandals.com or www.palaceresorts.com.