10 Mistakes to Avoid Making When Planning Your European Honeymoon
Planning a honeymoon is one of the most fun parts of wedding planning. However, it is also easily overlooked when you are dealing with so many other decisions and planning elements prior to your wedding. In the interest of helping you to not make the same mistakes that myself and countless others have made, here is my list of 10 Mistakes to Avoid Making When Planning Your European Honeymoon!
1. Leaving the morning after your wedding night
I know, I know - you're excited! You want to embark immediately on a new adventure. Heed this advice: your wedding day will be a LONG DAY. Traveling to Europe takes almost a full day. Take a day or two after to fully recover, get your life together, and then take leave.
2. Procrastinating planning and packing
In the frenzy of wedding planning, it can be so easy to forget to plan your honeymoon. Block out some time specifically for honeymoon planning. If you're not good at planning, hire a travel agent!
3. Failing to check the weather
While a small continent, European countries have vastly different climates. Is it winter? Fall? Rainy season? So hot outside your clothes melt? Check ahead to ensure you are dressed appropriately, or, in my case, not cold!
4. Overcramming your itinerary
It's easy to think you need to do absolutely every little item on Google and Instagram that you see. My advice? Slow down. Pick a couple tourist attractions and a couple lesser known attractions to see, but leave time open for walking and exploring - you never know what you'll run into or what locals may recommend!
5. Bringing too much luggage
Europe is small. It's a continent that is centuries old so they have small buildings, alleyways, doors and accommodations. A lot of times they have cobblestone streets. Believe me when I say this, and I cannot stress this enough, you do not want to be rolling a lot of luggage down those streets.
6. Planning big excursions for your arrival day
Getting to Europe will most likely take you a day and an overnight plane ride. Unless you're sitting 1st or business class, when's the last time you slept well on a plane? Take a day to get acclimated and start your itinerary the day after you arrive.
7. Failing to ask about upgrades
If you don't ask how can they ever give you something? You'd be amazed at the little things hotels, airbnbs, and even airlines will do for people on their honeymoon.
8. Booking overpriced airline tickets
If you book the first tickets you find chances are you will pay $1000+. Use SkyScanner, Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), and even Google Flights to track pricing. If you can be flexible on dates you are even more likely to score a deal!
9. Not figuring out transportation ahead of time
It is incredibly easy to get around European countries, however, it is smart to know what is available and how it works. Do they have Uber? Do you need to watch out for taxis that take advantage of dumb tourists? Do they have a train? Subway? Figure this out before you leave and what type of budget you will need for getting around.
10. Not researching your destination
What customs does this country partake in? Are there certain days that things are closed? Is there a certain attire that is considered "appropriate?" Make sure you know where you are headed so as to avoid unnecessary headaches!
If you’re interested in more travel tip and hacks, sign up for my newsletter! My subscribers receive the best deals and tips and always end up ahead in the travel game!
Until next time,
