When booking your travel plans, especially airline reservations, be sure you book the flights in your maiden name. Your travel
documents must match your driver’s license. That includes your passport. You can’t change your driver’s license or passport
until after you are married. Many couples want to go on an elaborate honeymoon – somewhere they would never otherwise go – such as Tahiti, Europe, etc.
Wouldn’t it be fun, however, to pick a place where you could return year after year on your anniversary (or at least on the big
celebrations: the five, ten, twenty, etc.)? In any case, don’t go into debt to pay for your honeymoon. There will be too many things you are going to need in the immediate
future to start your life together to spend money on something you don’t really need to do right now. Save that special exotic
location for your tenth wedding anniversary - when you can afford it.Honeymoon Ideas:
Pick a big city that is close enough to you to get to inexpensively by air, or even better, by road trip.
If you live in Los Angeles: Consider San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas (and if you have air miles, consider Hawaii). A Road trip to any of these cities has lots of fun places to stop on the way.
If you live on the East Coast: Consider Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, or consider a fall wedding and go on a fall foliage road trip.
Cruises from both of the above areas are also surprisingly inexpensive. A five or seven day cruise can often be less expensive than hotel and meals in a big city. (However, the "bed" situation is something to think about. Pushing two twin beds together is not a very comfortable option - especially for Newlyweds. So be sure to ask about that before you book a cruise.)
Disneyland or Disney World may seem like a silly thing to do (my daughter thinks I'm crazy) but I think it would be a really a fun and romantic thing to do and you can spend several days there and not see it all. Both areas also have other things to do. You are sure to be making many trips there when you have children and it will be fun to reminisce about your honeymoon every time you go. Take photos at locations where you can repeat them as your family grows.
Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc. can also be fun road trips.
There are two deciding factors: 1. Budget, and 2. What would you both enjoy doing? If your idea of a Honeymoon is relaxing by a pool, and just spending quiet time together, that will lead you to the destination resort type honeymoon. If you want a little more adventure and want to hike, or sight see during the day, then you may want a hotel in an area that would provide that opportunity.
Do you have any relatives who have mountain cabins? Beach homes? Desert homes? (It doesn't hurt to ask)
Caution: One trip you shouldn't try to do for your honeymoon is a white water rafting trip. Once the sun sets, you'll find it not the best place to spend your honeymoon evenings - it would be uncomfortable for many many reasons.
TRAVEL WARNINGS !
As of May 2010, the State Department has warned travelers to stay away from:
I. "Drug War" Zones - such as: Acapulco & Mazatlan, Mexico and Kingston, Jamaica
II. "Kidnapping" and "bombing" Zones - such as: Papua & Jakarta, Indonesia, and Mexico City, Mexico
III. "Riots" and "Terrorist Attack" Zones: Thailand - The Tai government declared states of emergency in 24 provinces, including: Bangkok and the far south of the country, as well as the Cambodian, Lao, and Burmese borders.
In October of 2010 Americans were advised to exercise caution in popular tourist areas of Europe (in particular, London, Paris, and Oslo) includes not only attractions, but hotels and public transportation as well - due to threats of terrorism.
Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. The countries listed meet those criteria.
to find out current travel warnings, go to: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html