Planning a honeymoon by yourself can be challenging and time-consuming, but rewarding. It's the best way to make your dream honeymoon a reality. On the other hand, hiring a honeymoon planner means someone else takes all the worries, and all you need is to pack up and show up.
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What Does a Honeymoon Planner Do?
What a honeymoon planner does depends on the package you choose. Their responsibilities may include:
- Making travel arrangements, including booking flights and on-ground transportation.
- Organizing accommodation by online booking and helping you get the best honeymoon packages.
- Helping you choose the perfect destination (in case you haven’t decided yet).
- Budgeting to ensure you spend your money wisely. Whether planning a budget or luxury travel, you must decide on a budget.
- Helping you choose and plan your preferred activities.
Traditionally, it’s the groom’s responsibility to plan the honeymoon. Therefore, the groom may work with the planner to ensure the itinerary captures all you need.
Pros of Hiring a Honeymoon Planner
A honeymoon should be the best and most memorable vacation for a married couple. A honeymoon planner can help you make it just that.
- They take away the stress: Planning a honeymoon alone can be tasking, especially if you’re planning it alongside your wedding. A planner handles everything, including hunting for the best deals, accommodation, and activities that fit your budget. So, instead of scratching your head and researching everything, you can relax and let someone else plan your dream honeymoon.
- You get expert advice and opinions: Experienced planners have first-hand knowledge of destinations and will suggest the best places depending on your personality and budget. Also, they’ll recommend the best activities, things to see, and packing lists for an incredible getaway. Most double up as travel agents and will give you helpful travel tips, such as the best way and time to travel to and from your destination.
- You’ll get more for your money: Travel planners have relationships with travel agencies and hotels. They help you get the best services, such as concierge services and hotel room upgrades for the perfect honeymoon.
- They help you budget: A planner provides reliable cost estimates making it easy to budget. Hence you will know what to prioritize depending on your preferences. For instance, you may choose to stay in a luxury hotel instead of flying first class.
- They save time: Personal travel requires a lot of time-consuming research. This may lead to rushed last-minute decisions, especially if you plan to leave immediately after the wedding.
- You’ll receive a detailed itinerary: A planner dedicates their time to capturing every detail, giving you time to enjoy your wedding as you look forward to a trip of a lifetime.
Cons of Hiring a Honeymoon Planner
Despite the advantages, hiring a honeymoon planner has a couple of disadvantages.
- It’s an extra expense: Honeymoon planning services can be expensive. Hence you’ll need to add the charges to your budget, which may compromise the experience, especially when traveling on a budget.
- The planning may lack a personal touch: A honeymoon vacation should capture your tastes as a couple. Having someone else plan your honeymoon itinerary means they may fail to capture your vision and expectations leading to a boring vacation.
How Much Does a Honeymoon Planner Cost?
A honeymoon planner may charge between $100-500 for consultation services. This amount depends on several factors, such as:
- If you’ve already chosen a destination: If you haven’t settled on a destination, the charges are higher because the planner must research two or three and spend more time discussing the options with you. So, it’s better to have a destination in mind.
- Time of booking: Last-minute consultations are more expensive. Therefore, start planning early.
- Destination of choice: Some island hopping destinations, such as Greece, Italy, French Polynesia, Thailand, the Maldives, and Hawaii, require intensive planning and hence cost more to plan.
- Mode of consultation: Face-to-face consultation is pricier than phone calls. Also, most planners charge by the hour, so the more time you get, the higher the costs.
On the other hand, some honeymoon planners don’t charge consultation fees. They get a commission from the hotels and excursions they plan for you.
How to Find a Good Honeymoon Planner
Finding a good honeymoon planner is the first step to having the best experience. So where do you start?
- Ask around: Family, friends, and acquaintances are excellent resources for recommendations. Ask them for a planner they know or have worked with. The best thing about recommendations is that you’re guaranteed quality services.
- Search on the Internet: Google is a great place to find a good planner. Preferably settle on one within your location so you can meet in person for a more personalized itinerary. If that’s impossible, ensure they’re readily available via phone or online chat. Social media is also perfect for finding a honeymoon planner. You can start with the most popular Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
When dealing with online planners, do due diligence to ensure you get what you pay for. Ask for reviews on social media or read them on their websites. You can also ask them for reviews from previous clients for extra assurance.