Guest Author - Kara Williams
Here are six ways to save money on your honeymoon:
Remember toiletries and first-aid items It’s a hassle, and it’s expensive, to pick up sunscreen, make-up and other toiletries once you’re on vacation. And you especially don’t want to have to hit the hotel gift shop last-minute if you’ve forgotten something; that’s where prices are most inflated. So make a check-list of all your personal items, medicines, band-aids and ointments that you don’t want to forget to pack before you leave home.
Eat like a local In Europe, pack a picnic lunch of a baguette, cheese and ham. In the Caribbean, eat fresh fruit from roadside markets. Find neighborhood restaurants or pack lunches made from items picked up from local grocery stores, and you’ll save a bundle of money that you can then spend at a more upscale restaurant once or twice during your vacation.
Keep snacks, drinks and mini-meals in your room If you have a small refrigerator in your hotel room, store milk and juice there for cereal breakfasts. Same goes for sandwich fixings for lunch, beer for happy hour, and fruit for late-night snacks. If you have an in-room coffee maker, you should be able to heat water warm enough to mix up instant oatmeal in the morning.
Explore on your own In touristy locales like Mexico, there are plenty of outfitters offering snorkeling, ruins and other sightseeing tours—for a lot of money. Oftentimes, it’s cheaper just to rent a car or take a taxi to the sightseeing location or beach and enjoy it at your own pace. Listen to the outfitters give their spiels, then ask your hotel concierge how to rent a car, take public transportation or otherwise get to where you want to go. Be sure to ask if the public transportation options or the area you’d like to visit is safe for foreigners to check out on their own.
Don’t use the phone in your hotel room Buy a local phone card or purchase an international calling card before you leave home.
Bargain for souvenirs Again, going off the beaten path will help you save money while you’re on vacation. Hit a touristy shopping area and you’ll spend much more than if you seek out less-traveled markets. In places like Asia, Mexico and the Caribbean don’t be afraid to bargain if you’re shopping at an open-air market. Bargaining for items it typically expected. Just don’t come down too low if you’ve found an item you really want to bring home!
