The wedding is just days away, and you suddenly realize spending your wedding night at the local airport motel is not an option. How do you find a great last-minute deal on the romantic honeymoon of your dreams?
If you want a fast getaway to exotic climes, you should catch up quickly on the advantages and the potential bumps in the road to traveling on the spur of the moment.
Search the Best Last Minute Web Sites. A favorite is Priceline, which can help you save up to 60 percent on hotels and 40 percent on flights with their Name Your Own Price feature. Browsing through Expedia featured deals for this week and the following week can spark ideas for a cheap last-minute honeymoon. Run a targeted search for your travel dates on Orbitz, or check out what’s available in their top destinations.
Sign on for the newsletters offered by these sites and you’ll have access to news on late-breaking deals. If you have a spare moment between now and the wedding, surfing through last-minute sites can alert you to what’s usually available. Talk with your soon-to-be spouse about the honeymoon spot that both of you would consider idea.
Who says you can’t enjoy the honeymoon before the wedding? If a once-in-a-lifetime chance comes up before the scheduled ceremony, be ready with a grab-and-go getaway bag. Throw in one change of clothing for each day, toothbrushes and toothpaste and an extra set of undies and you can be off in flash and back in time to say “I do.”
Before you jump on what looks like a great deal, check out a few points. The last-minute deal usually lands you in the cheapest hotel at your destination. If you arrive and find that you are disappointed in the digs, upgrading to a romantic honeymoon suite in the charming boutique down the street could cost you hundreds of dollars. Make sure you are just as happy with the hotel included in your travel package as you are with the very affordable price.
Last-minute sites often are selling off what the travel industry calls “distressed inventory.” There’s nothing wrong with airplane center seats and hotel rooms without a view of the ocean or courtyard. Just make sure you know what you are getting when you opt for bargain basement prices, and plan accordingly.
Remember that most of these deals won’t offer refunds if your last-minute plans fall through. If you harbor any doubts, don’t book. Disappointment is the last thing you need on the best getaway of your life.
