Honeymoon Jan 2013 between 21-28 days
Jan 12th, 2011, 04:38 AM
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Honeymoon Jan 2013 between 21-28 days
first off.... HELP!! We are getting married Summer 2012 and are going on a short break to Cornwall (UK) straight after. And then in the new year (2013) we are hoping for a biggy honeymoon!
Bit of background:
We are both British, neither of us are seasoned travellers or even a little bit travelled. I've never been out of Europe and Adam has been as far as Canada and USA but on family holidays as a kid. Last time I was out of the UK was to Spain for a girly 4night break of doing nothing but reading and beaching! I am a geographer by education and have had the travel bug forever but due to a million variations in circumstances... have never been able to attempt to satisfy the travelling itch. My husband-to-be is the same.
Our idea: Central America - no real preference to any country except we would most likely fly into Cancun (and out of?). between 3 and 4 weeks. We'd like to do a good stack of one country or two parts of two countries. We're interested in a bit of beaching, some snorkelling, good amount of hiking and ruin tours etc. Because we are far enough away from the hecticness of the wedding neither of us are particularly bothered about laying on various beaches for 3 weeks and doing nothing else. We don't travel, our holidays are limited and we want this to be THE TRIP.
In regards to cost and accomodation, we are not rich! we are asking for honeymoon vouchers towards the cost (not cash) to spend on flights or experiences/tours when we are there. But the bulk of the trip will be paid for out of savings (whatever is left over from the wedding). We don't want to be in hostels particularly as this is our honeymooon we want some sort of comfort. But still, we are on a relative budget. I don't want to spend my honeymoon on a bus between countries either! Realistically how much is this likely to cost us? £1500 per person?? or more like £3000 per person!?
so to finish with: HELP?? Where do I start? Literally... where do I start?? being a travel-virgin.... shall I go to a travel agent and pay over the odds for them to sort it out for me or shall I man up and let my inner travel monster run riot and get organising?!
Bit of background:
We are both British, neither of us are seasoned travellers or even a little bit travelled. I've never been out of Europe and Adam has been as far as Canada and USA but on family holidays as a kid. Last time I was out of the UK was to Spain for a girly 4night break of doing nothing but reading and beaching! I am a geographer by education and have had the travel bug forever but due to a million variations in circumstances... have never been able to attempt to satisfy the travelling itch. My husband-to-be is the same.
Our idea: Central America - no real preference to any country except we would most likely fly into Cancun (and out of?). between 3 and 4 weeks. We'd like to do a good stack of one country or two parts of two countries. We're interested in a bit of beaching, some snorkelling, good amount of hiking and ruin tours etc. Because we are far enough away from the hecticness of the wedding neither of us are particularly bothered about laying on various beaches for 3 weeks and doing nothing else. We don't travel, our holidays are limited and we want this to be THE TRIP.
In regards to cost and accomodation, we are not rich! we are asking for honeymoon vouchers towards the cost (not cash) to spend on flights or experiences/tours when we are there. But the bulk of the trip will be paid for out of savings (whatever is left over from the wedding). We don't want to be in hostels particularly as this is our honeymooon we want some sort of comfort. But still, we are on a relative budget. I don't want to spend my honeymoon on a bus between countries either! Realistically how much is this likely to cost us? £1500 per person?? or more like £3000 per person!?
so to finish with: HELP?? Where do I start? Literally... where do I start?? being a travel-virgin.... shall I go to a travel agent and pay over the odds for them to sort it out for me or shall I man up and let my inner travel monster run riot and get organising?!
Jan 12th, 2011, 05:02 AM
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Travel agents sell information and contacts, for which they charge. On a budget and with that extremely long lead time, devoting a hefty percentage of your budget to paying a travel agent for information is not what I'd advise. If letting your inner travel monster off the leash is fun for you (as it is for me; why else do you think I'm here now?), I'd definitely do that. Vacation rentals rather than hotels will save considerable money (meals being the big difference), and can give you a closer-to-living-there experience. Vrbo.com, flipkey, etc. Given that you're travel newbies, to help climb the learning curve safely I'd look into hiring a local driver for the first week or so, maybe to tour Mayan ruins before heading for the first of a few vacation rentals.
Jan 12th, 2011, 05:06 AM
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Also, travel off peak to save $. I take it you want to travel during the months when Cornwall's cold, which is the more expensive period, but I'd advise at least waiting out the Xmas/New Year's peak.
Jan 12th, 2011, 06:45 AM
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Thank you for your advice. I did think that about the travel agents but I’m not sure I am confident in my own organisational abilities! I do have a long time to plan it (and the wedding… must not forget the wedding! Ha!) and so I would like to save the cash and do it ourselves. I really chose January banking on the weather in central America and also to allow us to book some bits and bobs after the wedding, when we have received our honeymoon vouchers as gifts. We will get married in the July though so I suppose we could go September or October and have booked our flights and stuff just after the wedding.
In reality booking with only two or three months to go, will flights be more expensive? To be honest we are flexible with time. We have no children we have no mortgage, we may need to save a bit to go. So when would you recommend?
The local driver tip is brilliant. I think that is something we would definitely do…..
In reality booking with only two or three months to go, will flights be more expensive? To be honest we are flexible with time. We have no children we have no mortgage, we may need to save a bit to go. So when would you recommend?
The local driver tip is brilliant. I think that is something we would definitely do…..
Jan 12th, 2011, 06:54 AM
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I completely agree with the op about waiting until Christmas and New Year's have passed. You will notice considerable price drops in re. to plane tickets and hotels.
As you're not sure of where to start I'd recommend checking out Lonely Planet's Central America on a Shoestring. I found it to be an invaluable resource when traveling in the region, many budget conscious recommendations. They also offer some good itineraries which you can always add to/tweak, etc to suit your own personal tastes.
Just as an fyi, from my experience in the past I have never found "budget fares" for plane travel between countries in Central America (unlike in Europe with Vueling, Ryanair) so be forewarned about that. But there are different classes of buses ranging from meh quality to ultra deluxe.
If you're most likely going to be flying in and out of Cancun, I would possibly recommend Guatemala (Antigua, the famous ruins at Tikal) and then perhaps time in Belize on one of the cayes for r & r. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is also home to some renowned Mayan ruins and rich with culture as well.
Good luck!
traveltalesfromtheredheadedtraveler.blogspot.com/
(My travel writing blog)
As you're not sure of where to start I'd recommend checking out Lonely Planet's Central America on a Shoestring. I found it to be an invaluable resource when traveling in the region, many budget conscious recommendations. They also offer some good itineraries which you can always add to/tweak, etc to suit your own personal tastes.
Just as an fyi, from my experience in the past I have never found "budget fares" for plane travel between countries in Central America (unlike in Europe with Vueling, Ryanair) so be forewarned about that. But there are different classes of buses ranging from meh quality to ultra deluxe.
If you're most likely going to be flying in and out of Cancun, I would possibly recommend Guatemala (Antigua, the famous ruins at Tikal) and then perhaps time in Belize on one of the cayes for r & r. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is also home to some renowned Mayan ruins and rich with culture as well.
Good luck!
traveltalesfromtheredheadedtraveler.blogspot.com/
(My travel writing blog)
Jan 12th, 2011, 07:37 AM
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Weather varies widely across Central American microclimates, so be sure to understand the patterns in considering where to go when. Book as far in advance as possible (for flights, that usually means appx. 6 months) to save $ and get first choice. The downside is that by committing early you increase the risk of events in your life (e.g., don't know whether a potential for children is in your picture) conflicting with that plan. Cover that downside through trip/cancellation insurance, e.g. insuremytrip.com And I really would look for an opportunity to do SOME prior travelling in the next 2 years, mainly because life is short but also to get some experience with what you like before making specific commitments to this longer trip. Maybe stay on the lookout for cheap flights or rail to a more rural part of the E.U., for example. Finally, though not essential, you have the lead time to enhance your trip by learning five words of Spanish every day.
Jan 12th, 2011, 07:58 AM
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Do you think this is too big a trip to have not had any travelling experience previously?
They'll be no money for travelling between now and the honeymoon. We're on a strict wedding budget and are saving like crazy.
I'm worried now that this is too far fetched an idea and we should be sticking to a resort or something safe (eugh.... fills me with horror)!
They'll be no money for travelling between now and the honeymoon. We're on a strict wedding budget and are saving like crazy.
I'm worried now that this is too far fetched an idea and we should be sticking to a resort or something safe (eugh.... fills me with horror)!
Jan 12th, 2011, 08:42 AM
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No, no, no. Do all the traveling you can before the children start to arrive. Travel on the fly is much cheaper than any resort.
If you have a local library, go check out some books like lonely planet and moon guides and figure things out for yourself. Use this forum. The posters are brilliant!
If you have a local library, go check out some books like lonely planet and moon guides and figure things out for yourself. Use this forum. The posters are brilliant!
Jan 12th, 2011, 09:07 AM
#9
I don't think it's too big a trip and I do believe you can plan it yourself. Honestly I'd start with a couple guidebooks, and just leaf thru them and see which places interest you. I would not try to do 4 countries though.
You could easily spend a month just in Mexico, that would be lovely. Or Mexico/Belize flying into Cancun as you mentioned is not that tough.
I probably would not suggest Guatemala for a first time traveler.
In the most general terms, if you don't try to cover so much ground and stick to just one country it will be easier to plan, cost less money, and you'll have more time enjoying yourself (rather than lots of time on long bus rides).
You could easily spend a month just in Mexico, that would be lovely. Or Mexico/Belize flying into Cancun as you mentioned is not that tough.
I probably would not suggest Guatemala for a first time traveler.
In the most general terms, if you don't try to cover so much ground and stick to just one country it will be easier to plan, cost less money, and you'll have more time enjoying yourself (rather than lots of time on long bus rides).
Jan 12th, 2011, 09:28 AM
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Hi, Clare -
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and also congratulations on your fabulous trip idea! I love it!
With time to plan, some reading, and a bit of advice you'll be fine. You won't need to fall back to the travel agent or resort plans that would be more expensive and less interesting. Researching and planning is half (well, maybe not quite half) of the fun for me.
Any chance you could swing the cost of flights into Guatemala and out of Cancún? 4 weeks including Guatemala, parts of Belize, and beach time in the Riviera Maya before heading home would be heavenly. It could be done with Cancún round trip flights but would require more time on the road and some backtracking.
You could start with time in the Guatemala highlands - Antigua and the villages around Lake Atitlán. This is the most colorful and fascinating place I've ever been. We love it so much we go back every year now. We've started a nonprofit and may well end up living on the lake at least part time when we retire (a few years to go). www.becaproject.org
You may even want to consider a week of Spanish school and live with a local family as an extremely cheap, culturally fascinating start to your journey.
From the highlands you could head to northern Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal; there are other less-visited ruins in the area, too, if you'd care to spend more time there. Night buses from Guatemala City are popular (~10 hours) or you could take day buses and break up the trip with a few nights in the Rio Dulce area.
From Tikal you could head by road to Belize. A really fabulous day trip from western Belize is the ATM cave trip:
http://www.pacztours.com/actun-tunichil-muknal.html
There are some interesting Maya ruins in the area, too, good jungle lodges, great hiking. If you're really a ruins junky you could hit 10 or more on this route.
For a peek at a really different, fascinating culture, consider Hopkins Village for a few days:
www.hopkinsbelize.com
If you go there, don't miss an evening of drumming at the Lebeha center:
www.lebeha.com
Another great spot in Belize is Caye Caulker. One of our favorite activities there was a full day snorkeling/sailing trip:
http://raggamuffintours.com/hol-chan-snorkel/
From there you could head to the Riviera Maya - great beaches, more ruins, easy access to colonial towns.
With 4 weeks you could do that route at a fairly leisurely pace. I've made lots of trips along pieces of that route in the last 7 or 8 years and have a flickr site with a collection for each trip. There are links to blogs and travelogues on the main page of each collection. If you're interested, they'll keep you busy for awhile and you'll see how colorful and fascinating the region is. We've loved every place we've stayed and everything we've done and all my recommendations are there.
Happy trails and keep us posted!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and also congratulations on your fabulous trip idea! I love it!
With time to plan, some reading, and a bit of advice you'll be fine. You won't need to fall back to the travel agent or resort plans that would be more expensive and less interesting. Researching and planning is half (well, maybe not quite half) of the fun for me.
Any chance you could swing the cost of flights into Guatemala and out of Cancún? 4 weeks including Guatemala, parts of Belize, and beach time in the Riviera Maya before heading home would be heavenly. It could be done with Cancún round trip flights but would require more time on the road and some backtracking.
You could start with time in the Guatemala highlands - Antigua and the villages around Lake Atitlán. This is the most colorful and fascinating place I've ever been. We love it so much we go back every year now. We've started a nonprofit and may well end up living on the lake at least part time when we retire (a few years to go). www.becaproject.org
You may even want to consider a week of Spanish school and live with a local family as an extremely cheap, culturally fascinating start to your journey.
From the highlands you could head to northern Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal; there are other less-visited ruins in the area, too, if you'd care to spend more time there. Night buses from Guatemala City are popular (~10 hours) or you could take day buses and break up the trip with a few nights in the Rio Dulce area.
From Tikal you could head by road to Belize. A really fabulous day trip from western Belize is the ATM cave trip:
http://www.pacztours.com/actun-tunichil-muknal.html
There are some interesting Maya ruins in the area, too, good jungle lodges, great hiking. If you're really a ruins junky you could hit 10 or more on this route.
For a peek at a really different, fascinating culture, consider Hopkins Village for a few days:
www.hopkinsbelize.com
If you go there, don't miss an evening of drumming at the Lebeha center:
www.lebeha.com
Another great spot in Belize is Caye Caulker. One of our favorite activities there was a full day snorkeling/sailing trip:
http://raggamuffintours.com/hol-chan-snorkel/
From there you could head to the Riviera Maya - great beaches, more ruins, easy access to colonial towns.
With 4 weeks you could do that route at a fairly leisurely pace. I've made lots of trips along pieces of that route in the last 7 or 8 years and have a flickr site with a collection for each trip. There are links to blogs and travelogues on the main page of each collection. If you're interested, they'll keep you busy for awhile and you'll see how colorful and fascinating the region is. We've loved every place we've stayed and everything we've done and all my recommendations are there.
Happy trails and keep us posted!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
