Honeymoon planning - multiple destinations
Honeymoon planning - multiple destinations
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Discussion

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We are trying to sort our honeymoon for this time next year - ideally we are looking at two places, a few days in New York to see all the sights etc., then a week or so somewhere hot and relaxing, Carribean etc. Florida is also an option, but thinking more Keys etc. then Disneyworld!

Has anybody done similar, and got any advice? I've tried looking at flights etc. individually and it seems to get very expensive. There are also plenty of websites that offer this sort of thing but don't seem to have any specific bookings, just "New York/Carribean from £x!" type of thing.

Any info would be appreciated.

squicky

278 posts

210 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We did UK->Maldives->Shanghai (Various internal flights ourselves) Hong Kong->UK for our honeymoon.

We did it all through a travel agency. The big bonus with doing it that way was the extra protection given due to it being through an agency.

We initially tried looking at doing more of the flights ourselves but it got far too complicated and costly. I'd recommend you start off getting a few quotes from some travel agency and then see if you can beat/match the prices for some segments. (Eg we knew we could do the internal chinese flights cheaper and with far less hassle then they could).

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
Trailfinders are excellent at this sort of thing.

Nick Grant

5,502 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We flew to Vegas got married and then Honeymoon in Key West and Miami. Booked through Virgin Weddings.

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
Cheers Nick, just looking at their site now. We are getting married in this country though!

Also going to a couple of travel agents this week to speak in person. It's a bit easier than doing it through a website!

JQ

6,832 posts

209 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
My advice would be to do the sightseeing on the way back. You will be absolutely knackered after the wedding and will appreciate a bit of relaxation first.

We did 2 weeks in the Maldives and then 5 Dubai on the way back.

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
I don't mind either way, but I think she would like to the sightseeing first. The argument being it will be cold in New York, so get that out of the way then relax in the sun for a week!

hesnotthemessiah

2,121 posts

234 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We flew New York to Bermuda and back. That was a great trip and cheap ish...about $300 round trip (New York to Bermuda that is). Great relaxing island. I used to live in NYC if you need any ideas where to go and what to do just give me a shout.

fatandwheezing

433 posts

188 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
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Doing a multistop on our honeymoon in April, we used TravelBag for 3 stops in the US, worked out not far off half the price of booking direct with the airline, and meant we didn't have to return to our entry city to fly back again.

Weren't too impressed with their hotel selections though, and they worked out cheaper booking direct.

I'd guess Trailfinders will be the same sort of deal.

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
fatandwheezing said:
we didn't have to return to our entry city to fly back again.
Yes, this is the main problem with trying to book online with major airlines - you have to fly to a return from the same airport in general. Or book non-return flights, which are massively more expensive! I am going to look at some of the various websites and speak to them in the week to see what sort of deal we can do. Don't mind paying a bit extra for a nicer hotel/location if necesary - it is our honeymoon after all!

Nick Grant

5,502 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
When I did the Hot Rod Power Tour we flew into Chicago and flew back from Atlanta, with BA, booked through Expedia.

ExTarga

19 posts

192 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We did Hong Kong and Borneo - was a good mix of exciting things to see and do plus relaxation, but didn't realise quite how humid it would be out east compared to Mexico, Caribbean etc.

ExTarga

19 posts

192 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
We did Hong Kong and Borneo - was a good mix of exciting things to see and do plus relaxation, but didn't realise quite how humid it would be out east compared to Mexico, Caribbean etc.

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th February 2011
quotequote all
Didn't think of Expedia - went well thogh. Looked at London-New York-Miami-London.

Total for two people £19,000...

louiebaby

10,987 posts

221 months

Monday 14th February 2011
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If you have a local Trailfinders, go in and have a good ling chat. If not, give Kerry at their central London branch, she looked after us admirably.

We did Gatwick to Antigua, Sandals for 9 nights, Antigua to New York, Hire Car for 9 nights and then Boston to London Heathrow.

It wasn't obscenely expensive, a bit more for the 1 way charge on the car, but other than that, fine.

PM me if you want me to dig out the details of the very helpful lady. (No other affiliation.)

louiebaby

10,987 posts

221 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Also, go for the beach relaxation first.

You'll need it.

mike80

Original Poster:

2,423 posts

246 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Spoke to a travel agent this morning who basically suggested the same thing, and gave some very helpful advice and reccomendations.

We will look at Trailfinders, there isn't one that close, but could combine it with a day out.

A further play with Expedia got the prices down a bit (OK a lot! to much more acceptable levels) , it's all a bit irrelevant at the moment as you can't book flights that far in advance! If we don't have anything sorted before they become available I will look more closely.

I also managed to come up with a flight from London to New York via Moscow!

helmutlaang

522 posts

189 months

Monday 14th February 2011
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We had 3 weeks in Barbados when we got married 8 yrs ago.

T'was awsome and have been back twice since and are going again in May.

Reasonably priced (5k fully inclusive) and all through Virgin.

havoc

33,459 posts

265 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
If you're set on New York then I've three suggestions (which we were researching until we decided on Maldives) which are slightly off the beaten track but will be perfect honeymoon material:-
- Belize (will be the next big C.American resort, currently still 'under the radar')
- Grenada (looks to be pure paradise)
- Grenadine and its partner island (forget name) - snorkelling/scuba resorts with great beaches and quieter than the usual resort islands.

I'm pretty sure all can be reached direct from Newark.

Another option has to be Hawaii...


If you're prepared to leave NY to another time, then for Jan/Feb can I suggest:-
- Thailand - beautiful place, tons of choice, and Bangkok is a great city to sightsee. Let me know if you want more info.
- Australia - although you may want more than 2 weeks. Choice of stopover cities - Singapore would be pretty cool.
- Cook Islands/Fr. Polynesia - again, 2 weeks might not be enough - can do this via USA, although LA is the more usual stop-off. Aitutaki is THE prettiest place we've ever been to.
- Maldives - Dubai the obvious stop-off but having been there I really wouldn't bother - over-priced, over-rated and frankly extremely shallow.
- Borneo - beaches not as good as Thailand/Maldives but scuba-diving off n. coast is supposed to be excellent and they've got loads of wildlife to see. Tanjung Aru is an excellent hotel, too... (guess where part of our honeymoon was?!?)