Sunglasses in hand, you and your new spouse are approaching the airport. You gaze lovingly at each other as you prepare for a weekend getaway — your first trip together as a married couple. This is only the beginning.
From romantic getaways to adventurous vacations, honeymoon travel is a big deal. But how long is a honeymoon? And how much should you spend on your dream trip? Let’s find out!
Where to Start with Honeymoon Planning
Planning a honeymoon can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many different options and destinations. But don’t worry; we have some great tips for you!
Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, so it’s important to ensure everything goes smoothly. The first thing to consider is how much time you want to spend with your spouse before returning to the real world.
Honeymoons Are Often Considered the Trip of a Lifetime
Honeymoons are an opportunity for couples to experience unusual places and cultures together. It’s also an opportunity for couples who may not have enough money or time for international travel to visit somewhere new; therefore, honeymoons often take place at beach resorts or on cruise ships!
It’s a chance for newlyweds to spend time together as they adjust to life as married partners and enjoy a vacation that’s not just fun but romantic, relaxing and memorable.
Honeymoons can be anything from an exotic beach resort to a trip back home to see family or friends. A honeymoon may last anywhere from one night to two weeks or more, depending on your budget and travel plans.
Considering the Average Honeymoon
The first thing to consider when planning your honeymoon is the length of your trip; this can be one of the most challenging decisions. With so many options, where do you even begin?
When deciding on the length of your honeymoon, there are a few things to think about:
Your Budget
Longer trips usually cost more money and require more time away from work. If you’re trying to plan a short trip on a budget, it may not be easy to find something that fits into your allotted time off. However, if you have more flexibility with finances or with taking time off from work (or both), then longer vacations might be an option for you!
The Activities
Pick activities that interest both partners in the relationship. Are there certain travel experiences that both spouses want out of their honeymoon?
For example, does one spouse enjoy hiking while another prefers beach trips? Or maybe one spouse likes exploring cities while another is looking forward to relaxing at home after being married!
It Depends on YOU!
Figuring out what each person wants from their honeymoon experience will help a lot when narrowing down potential destinations. They’ll also give insight into what type of experiences each person wants during your new life together as husband and wife!
When People Go on Their Honeymoon
Many people take their honeymoons right after their weddings because they want some time alone together before returning home or starting their careers again.
Different Types of Honeymoons for Newlyweds
In this section are different types of honeymoons and the destinations you can go to achieve them.
Campmoon
This type of honeymoon is perfect for newlyweds who love the outdoors. Campmoon features peaceful locations, scenic destinations, and an immersion in nature. You and your partner can inject romance into your camping honeymoon by staying at ‘glamping’ sites offering a private, luxury experience.
Best Destinations:
Cambodia is a fantastic glamping destination. It has the iconic Shinta Mani Wild, which offers sustainable, luxury camping in the jungle.
New Zealand is another unique camping destination, with many lavish campsites in the pristine bushland. A perfect location is the Magic Cottages at Takou River.
Cruisemoon
A cruise moon allows you and your partner to board a ship and relax as you sail worldwide. It is an ideal honeymoon for newlyweds looking for a relaxing yet intimate honeymoon while visiting beautiful places.
Best Destinations:
You and your partner can go to North or South America, which is close to beachy Caribbean cruises—newlyweds based in Europe, a romantic European cruise down the Danube or Seine Rivers.
Winerymoon
A winerymoon is the best honeymoon for wine-loving newlyweds who love to indulge in exceptional food and wine surrounded by beautiful nature.
The newlyweds can also spend their days wandering the wineries, wine tastings, and enjoying leisurely lunches in the sunshine.
Best Destinations:
There are countless beautiful options for a winery-based honeymoon. Provence in France is famous for its gorgeous vineyards and lavender fields. South Africa is also renowned for its world-class wineries.
Similarly, you and your partner can visit the wineries in the wine capital of Argentina: Mendoza.
Safarimoon
This type of honeymoon is best suited to the animal-loving couple and is also one of the most romantic types. For the safarimoon, you and your partner get to stay in world-class lodges in the stunning African bush. In addition, both of you can take a thrilling safari drive to spot the world’s most majestic creatures.
You can also enjoy breakfasts during sunrise, hot air balloon rides, and romantic sundowners by the river.
Best Destinations:
For the best safari and beach destinations, head to East Africa. There you get to visit the renowned Serengeti in Tanzania, then take a quick flight to Zanzibar, a stunning island archipelago.
Finally, hop over to Kenya, and explore the safari in the Masai Mara before going to the southern Kenya beaches to relax in paradise.
Luxurymoon
Finally, you have the luxurymoon. This is a lavish honeymoon for newlyweds who want to enjoy themselves and get spoiled in paradise; think of private beaches, excellent service, gourmet food and wine, and world-class spas, in some of the most unique destinations in the world.
Best Destinations:
Two renowned honeymoon destinations for luxurymoon are the Maldives and Bora Bora.
Another renowned destination is Song Saa in the Koh Rong archipelago of Cambodia. It is an eco-friendly private island that will personalize your honeymoon for you. You can enjoy candlelit dining, beach picnics, and private yoga and meditation classes.
How Long Does the Average Honeymoon Last?
The average honeymoon lasts seven days long. But if you ask me, that’s not nearly enough! A week-long vacation isn’t long enough to truly relax and enjoy each other’s company without any distractions — and it certainly doesn’t give you enough time to explore all the incredible destinations out there during your vacation time.
If you’re planning a honeymoon trip, you might want to spend at least a few days at home before flying off on your honeymoon. And after all that excitement, you might need some time to unwind and enjoy yourself with your new spouse.
Some, Like Short Honeymoons
A short honeymoon can still be the perfect way to get started on your new life together. It can be a chance for you to spend quality time with each other and get to know each other better.
A short honeymoon is also great if you’re on a budget. If you’re planning on buying a house, moving or saving up for something else, then a short honeymoon can help you save money for these more important things.
Here are some reasons why you might want to take at least a short honeymoon:
You’re busy
There are a lot of things going on in your life. You could use the extra time to catch up with friends and family members who may feel left out during your big wedding day.
Fewer worries
You want to enjoy every vacation minute without stress from work or other obligations weighing down on you.
You want to save money
If you’re planning on buying a house, moving or saving up for something else, then a short honeymoon can help you save money for these more important things.
Others Enjoy Long Honeymoons
Taking a super long honeymoon is an excellent option for some (if it is within the budget, of course). Two reasons some like to take a long honeymoon:
You’ll have more time to relax and unwind
A honeymoon is supposed to be relaxing and fun, so why not make it as relaxing and fun as possible? If you’re going on vacation, you might want to spend all your time doing touristy things or planning activities with other people. But if you’re going on a real honeymoon, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t take some time off from all that and relax.
You’ll be able to see more of the country or region where you’re traveling
If your destination is somewhere like Europe or Asia, then it’s likely that there will be many different countries within that region — each with its own distinct culture and history. You may not be able to see everything during your trip if you only have one or two weeks off work or school.
There’s No Right or Wrong Answer
In the end, how long your honeymoon is will depend on you. If you want to go on a short trip, that’s fine. You don’t have to spend weeks or months away from home just because everyone else does. But if you prefer to go on a longer trip and explore another country together after getting married, then make it happen!
The point of this article isn’t necessarily “how long should my honeymoon be?” but rather there are no wrong answers here — it’s up to each couple!
The average honeymoon is seven days long, but there’s no reason you can’t have a shorter or longer one! Remember that the most important part of your honeymoon is spending time together as a newlywed couple. If you do this, then the length of your trip won’t matter.
The Length of Your Honeymoon
The length of your trip depends on a few factors: the alignment of the stars in the cosmos, how much cash you have saved up (or can borrow) and what’s in store for you at home when it’s time to return.
If you’ve been saving up for this honeymoon since before you got engaged, take as long as possible! However, if life has been busy and stressful with work or school before now, consider taking another vacation soon after returning from your honeymoon.
For example, it’s not uncommon for couples who plan their destination wedding abroad to go somewhere else after their big day for an anniversary or other special occasion that falls during the first year of marriage.
Factors To Keep in Mind
When deciding how long you want your honeymoon to be, there are some factors to keep in mind. First, consider the length of time you have off work. Will you be able to take as much vacation time as you’d like or do you need or want a shorter trip?
What about the cost? If your budget is tight and/or traveling far away isn’t an option because it will cost too much, consider staying closer to home.
Finally, consider how long it will take for all arrangements to be made (such as reserving hotel rooms).
Check out these other popular posts for the ultimate honeymoon plan:
- 15+ Best Honeymoon Destinations on a Budget
- Honeymoon Destinations in Australia
- Most Romantic Honeymoon Destinations in the World
Other Factors
Time off work
Have you saved enough vacation days or will you risk running out? If you’ve both worked for years without any time off, taking more than a week away could be very possible and very beneficial.
Monthly savings
Can you afford a longer trip or will this getaway break the bank? If you’re saving for a down payment on a home, perhaps spending less on a shorter trip would be best. Consider booking an extended weekend or three-day trip instead.
You could always save up and plan another seaside vacation for your first anniversary or even your 10th anniversary!
Average cost
If you’re planning a honeymoon, you might be curious about what the average cost of a honeymoon is. Well, we’ve got your answer.
According to TripAdvisor, the average cost of a honeymoon is $4,466. And while this may seem like quite a bit of money to spend on just one week away with your new spouse, consider that many couples will take their honeymoons multiple times and add up the total costs over time.
Honeymoon Registry
Honeymoon registries are a great way to raise money for your honeymoon and maybe even allow for a luxurious getaway. They allow guests to contribute by donating to your trip.
Honeymoon registries can be used to raise money for any type of honeymoon: if you’re newlyweds who want an exciting adventure but aren’t sure where you want it yet, if one partner wants something romantic while the other wants something adventurous or even if both partners have already decided on where they’re going to have their honeymoon, but haven’t started saving up yet.
Final Thoughts on How Long Is a Honeymoon
Now you have all the information you need to make your honeymoon planning for your dream getaway a little easier. Most importantly, you’re having fun, so don’t worry too much about how long to prepare for!
There’s no wrong answer when deciding how long your honeymoon length should be — just make sure everyone involved has enough time off work and budget for it.
Then enjoy your new married life together as newlyweds by taking advantage of this special time in your relationship with each other and the world around us.
Serena & Dominic are a married couple and parents to 3 wonderful children. They plan weddings, run multiple small businesses, and curate wedding events.
By giving you everything you need to make your dream wedding attainable, you can eliminate stress, get the ‘wedding glow,’ and focus on spending this rocking day with the person you adore. Discover their podcast for more information