12 Easy Ways to Honeymoon on a Budget
We know planning a wedding is expensive, so let’s help you find the best ways to plan a honeymoon on a budget!
We use affiliate links on our platform. If you click and book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the lights on at Honeymoon HQ! Rest assured, our recommendations are impartial and independent; we only suggest what we love and think you’ll love too! See our full disclaimer on our policies page.
If you’re seeking a honeymoon that’s all thrills with very few bills, we’ve got you covered with some easy ways to honeymoon on a budget!
With a worldwide cost-of-living crisis, we’re sure when you set out to plan your wedding or honeymoon, things were looking a lot cheaper.
Like with everything to do with wedding planning, you’re working out a budget. It comes to working out the cost of your honeymoon. You add up the numbers and you’re thinking, OUCH!
That trip to the Maldives or Santorini is maybe looking out of reach. So you’re wondering how to plan a honeymoon on a budget. That’s OK, you are not alone. Most couples have some sort of budget, after all!
However, if you’re finding your finances squeezed and want to save money when planning a honeymoon and are wondering how to honeymoon on a budget or plan a more affordable honeymoon, we’ve got some honeymoon planning tips and ways to cut costs.
By the time you get to the end, you might still make that dream destination happen! Let’s sprinkle that honeymoon magic without emptying your pockets. Here are 10 ways easy ways to honeymoon on a budget!
Jump to
1. Consider low season or shoulder season
You want great weather in your dream destination, right? Tropical destinations usually have a dry season and a rainy season (also called the wet season, monsoon season, or hurricane season).
Rainy season usually equals low season with much cheaper prices. When you’re travelling during the rainy season, you can be lucky and get plenty sunny, dry weather.
However, you can also be terribly unlucky! It’s worth remembering that, as we deal with climate change, the weather is never 100% guaranteed, even in the dry season or during summer!
We want the odds to be stacked in your favour. We don’t recommend travelling at the very riskiest times for adverse weather, if you can help it. However, we highly recommend travelling in shoulder season.
The riskiest weather is often concentrated over a couple of months, so if you are flexible with your honeymoon dates and can travel in between the good and bad months, prices are cheaper and there are often fewer crowds, too.
Think Europe in spring, the Caribbean at the start of hurricane season and Asia at the start of monsoon season.
Unless you work in the education sector, always aim to travel outside of school breaks, as these are usually the most expensive time to travel (even if it is the rainy season).
Knowing the cheaper times to travel can really help you be savvy and honeymoon on a budget. Check out our destination pages, which feature the best time to visit.
2. Think about duration
Think about the duration of your honeymoon. Imagine 7 to 10 days of sheer luxury with a dose of adventure versus a stretched-out 21 days where ‘slumming it’ loses its charm.
The allure of a longer honeymoon can be tempting, but here’s the secret — quality over quantity!
Opting for a slightly shorter getaway doesn’t mean sacrificing your dream escape. In fact, it might elevate it.
Concentrating your honeymoon budget on a shorter time frame can mean indulging in exquisite accommodations and unforgettable experiences. Without any financial stress!
While the idea of an extended honeymoon has its pull, remember, it’s the depth of the experience that truly counts. Sometimes, a little luxury goes a long way!
3. Choose an affordable honeymoon destination
Many destinations around the world have lower living costs, ideal if you’re planning a honeymoon on a budget.
You’ll find your €/£/$ go a lot further in many destinations across Asia, Eastern Europe, Central and South America and Africa.
There are so many fabulous, affordable honeymoon destinations that will help you save money when planning a honeymoon.
If you’re choosing to visit a city in your dream destination, think about skipping the capital. Visiting the second largest city instead, which is often cheaper.
What an affordable honeymoon looks like is a very subjective thing, but here are some of our favourite affordable honeymoon destinations for 2024 and the best places to honeymoon on a budget..
You may be dreaming about the Maldives? But there are plenty of alternatives. If you’re looking for an affordable honeymoon destination, then there is no better region than the wonderful, unique continent of Asia.
Thailand and Indonesia are always great options for couples planning a honeymoon on a budget.
These destinations are ideal for couples seeking beaches, culture, history, nightlife. You get a lot of luxury for your money, there are so many hotels to choose from. Explore the contrasts between Thailand and Bali.
Sri Lanka is one of the best affordable honeymoon destinations for 2024. You could also consider India or Vietnam and an island hopping honeymoon in The Philippines.
If you’d prefer an affordable honeymoon in the Caribbean or Central & South America, consider the Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Cuba.
Costa Rica has some incredible hotels, resorts, and lodges. Discover how to plan an itinerary to this Central American gem.
Because Mexico is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world, you’ll find a vast range of accommodation and tours to suit every budget.
Consider getting off the beaten track in Belize or Guatemala. South America might be a little more expensive to get to, but you’ve got some affordable gems like Colombia that are worth exploring.
Take a road trip through the Canadian Rockies instead of California.
If you’re looking for an affordable honeymoon destination in Europe, consider Croatia, Portugal, Albania, Cyprus and Malta. Spain is also worth considering if you’re planning a honeymoon on a budget.
While a safari in Africa can stretch into 5-figures, South Africa is not only one of the best destinations for a honeymoon road trip, but it can be very affordable, too. Consider Morocco and Jordan, too.
Honeymoon cruises can be of excellent value, too. While newly launched ships are more expensive, consider a ship that’s just been renovated for a mix of luxury and affordability.
4. Book your honeymoon early
Even if you’re not trying to honeymoon on a budget, from being able to know the cost, to getting the best deal and availability, there are so many benefits to planning ahead and booking early.
It’s never too early to get planning!
One of the most significant advantages of booking early is that airlines release their schedules around 11 months before departure (and some low-cost airlines even earlier).
This means that you can start looking for flights and snagging the best deals as early as possible. If you’re travelling during school holidays, book as early as possible as airline fares swing upwards. It’s one of the easiest ways to save money when planning a honeymoon.
As a general rule of thumb, booking around 10 to 11 months before your departure date is ideal. For those more flexible with dates, it’s still a good idea to book early. The earlier the better – at least 6 months before is ideal.
This gives you plenty of time to compare prices, research accommodation options, and plan your itinerary. Grab those early bird discounts!
Booking early gives you peace of mind, knowing that you’ve locked in your honeymoon plans. It can also reduce the stress of last-minute planning and booking, leaving you more time to focus on other aspects of your wedding planning!
Have you seen our Ultimate Honeymoon Planner? Ssshh… if you take our Honeymoon Type quiz, we’ll email you an exclusive discount code.
5. Mix up your accommodation
We love a low-high, high-low vibe! Mixing your accommodation standards is a great way to make your honeymoon more affordable.
If you’re heading to a city where you won’t spend much time in your room, then this is a great place to cut back.
Or, if you’re on a road trip where you’re just checking in for one night along the way, a comfy clean bed may be all that matters. Spend your money on the longer stays.
Planning to travel to a beautiful tropical island like the Maldives or a honeymoon haven like Santorini?
Is your dream is to stay in a stunning Cave Hotel or a luxury Maldives honeymoon resort with a jacuzzi or private pool complete with water slide, or an overwater villa somewhere else in the world?
Consider staying in a cheaper room type and then switching to your dream room for a few nights. We always recommend saving the best for last!
6. Consider a group tour for your adventure
Thinking about an adventure honeymoon? Tour companies that run small adventure group trips can be extremely good value. Not only do you save time with all the travel organised, but you will also pack more in than if doing things D-I-Y.
You’ll have a guide with the inside track on where to eat and how to get around. Booking a small group tour leaves more funds for the luxury beach part of your honeymoon.
Think of an adventure tour in Sri Lanka with a luxury add-on in the Maldives. A safari with a small group in Tanzania (or Kenya) or gorilla trekking in Uganda/Rwanda with a luxury add-on in Zanzibar, Mauritius or Seychelles.
A budget tour of Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia with a luxury beach add on in Thailand. A group tour of Indonesia and then ending up in Bali. Think about a tour of Mexico or another Central America honeymoon destination with a luxury resort on a honeymoon in Cancun. You get the idea!
This can really make a difference when you’re planning a honeymoon on a budget. There is a huge misconception that with a group tour, you’re herded around on buses in enormous groups, but it does not have to be like that!
Many companies give you lots of free time to explore on your own. One of our favourite companies for this kind of trip is G Adventures.
They have a wide range of adventure tours to some incredibly exciting destinations. You’re part of a small group and taken to authentic places that give back to the community, too. Ideal, if you care about making your honeymoon more sustainable.
7. Research dining options
Is there anything worse in travel than being in a beautiful destination and finding yourself in a substandard, over-priced restaurant aimed at tourists?
It was the nearest place to you. You were hungry and tired and then you look at the bill and you feeling frustrated. We’ve all been there!
Thankfully, we’ve got technology to prevent this happening so we recommend spending an evening looking up the best places to eat and drink before you travel will save you time and ensure you have memorable dining experiences that suit your budget.
Use a website/app like OpenTable or a travel website like Time Out for ideas. With OpenTable, you can browse restaurants in your chosen destination, read reviews from other diners, and even make reservations.
Researching the best places to eat and drink before you travel can also help you stick to your budget.
With so many options available, it’s easy to find a restaurant that suits your preferences and price range. This way, you can avoid being caught out by tourist traps and overpriced restaurants.
8. Use a travel agency
Contrary to popular belief, booking through a travel agent does not have to mean that your honeymoon will be more expensive. There is sometimes a misconception that booking through a travel agent will mean huge fees.
A great travel agent will know the most convenient routes, the cheapest dates, and special offers. They’ll have contacts that have all the insider information.
A good travel agent will go that extra mile to get you upgrades. Booking through a travel agent, you’re booking with a human who probably cares about your honeymoon just as much as you do.
If you’re thinking about how to plan a honeymoon on a budget, be upfront with your travel agent about your needs and expectations.
You can discuss that you are planning a honeymoon on a budget and need an affordable honeymoon. They can work with you to find the best honeymoon deals and offers that fit within your budget.
You can often pay a deposit and in recent years this has become more and more important as you need flexibility if your plans change.
Discover the advantages and disadvantages of using a travel agent!
9. Consider a honeymoon registry
You may already have your home and everything you need in it, so one way to make your dream honeymoon a reality is by creating a honeymoon registry.
This type of registry is an excellent option for couples who have everything they need in their home and prefer experiences rather than physical gifts.
Instead of buying traditional gifts, your loved ones can help you fund your dream honeymoon. This is a really great way to receive worthwhile gifts that feel better than giving a cash gift.
A good travel agent will offer this feature, or you can use a website like Honeyfund, Hitch’d and Traveler’s Joy.
These companies allow you to create a customized honeymoon registry where your friends and family can contribute towards specific experiences like a romantic dinner, a couple’s massage, a magical hot-air balloon ride.
They offer a range of features like customisable pages, payment processing and gift tracking. They can also make a general contribution towards the overall cost of your honeymoon.
Creating a honeymoon registry is simple and easy. You can start by choosing a travel company or website that suits your needs.
Then, create a personalized page with details about your honeymoon and the experiences you want to have. Finally, share your registry with your friends and family.
Now we know many couples will feel uncomfortable, as it feels akin to asking for cash and we don’t recommend just asking for cash, as this is poor etiquette. However, putting a link on your wedding invitations or website with some careful honeymoon fund wording is very much the norm!
However, you can put it on your website with a cute message like “Your presence is present enough, but for those who wish to gift, please consider using our honeymoon registry as the memories we’ll make will be the most wonderful gift”.
10. Take a latermoon (a delayed honeymoon)
Many couples take some time after the wedding to regroup and depart for their honeymoon in the months, rather than days after the wedding.
A delayed honeymoon gives you a chance to not only take some time to recover from the exhaustion from the intense planning you’ve been through (not to mention the recovery from your actual wedding day or weekend) but also time to save some more money for your dream trip.
We call this a latermoon. In a recent survey, over half the couples we spoke to waited a little while after getting married to take a honeymoon!
If you’re planning a latermoon, then also consider a minimoon, a few days on each a staycation or a short flight away for a few days post wedding.
We’ve got some of our favourite Canada & the US minimoon destinations and favourite European minimoon destinations!
11. Use points and loyalty schemes
Also known as travel hacking! If you’re wondering how to plan a honeymoon on a budget, airline and hotel loyalty programmes, along with credit card reward systems and bank cashback schemes, can be worth exploring if you’re looking for ways to save money when planning a honeymoon.
It’s important to be sensible with such schemes.
The last thing we want is for you to start your married life caught up in unaffordable credit card debt, which can easily happen when you’re stressed out about financing a wedding.
A honeymoon (or wedding) is not worth getting into debt for. Having each other is what really matters in life. Plus, if the dream honeymoon doesn’t happen, there will be wonderful wedding anniversaries to look forward to.
However, if you’re savvy and sensible, you knock a few bucks (or quid) from your honeymoon bill. For example, let’s say you’re about to spend tens of thousands of dollars, euros or pounds on your various wedding services.
You could sign up for a credit card with a travel reward scheme and 0% interest. You then pay for your wedding services using your credit card.
Pay off your bill on time. Voilá, you’ve just gained travel rewards to use towards your honeymoon without spending on anything that wasn’t necessary and it’s cost you nothing! Travel hacking like this works best if you’re planning a latermoon.
12. Check out The Honeymoon Calculator
If you need help to plan a honeymoon on a budget. Check out our honeymoon budget co-pilot, The Honeymoon Calculator and how to work out the cost of your honeymoon.
It factors in flights, accommodation, transportation, activities, and more, and will tell you how much you need to save for your honeymoon between now and your wedding date!
Let us know in the comments if you are trying to save money when planning a honeymoon, planning a honeymoon on a budget, or if you have affordable honeymoon destinations. We’d love to hear your favourite honeymoon planning tips!
Happy Planning x
