Cover your ass with these honeymoon planning tips

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All stressed-up from wedding planning? Maybe take a breather and plan the honeymoon for awhile instead (if you're taking one, of course). Here are our honeymoon planning tips to save money, save time, and save your ass, because, seriously, planning a vacation shouldn't make you NEED a vacation, right?

Travel agents are still a thing!

In the age of the internet, you'd think travel agents would have less to do, but they can actually save you money as well as time. Travel agents have relationships with hotels and can get you honeymoon-specific upgrades like champagne in the room or private meals and amenities. Plus, it's like hiring a wedding planner for your honeymoon - often totally worth it.

Start planning early

Planning ahead allows you time to budget accordingly and get necessary documents you'll need, like a passport, which can take weeks. You may also want to wait to do any name-changing (if you're doing that) so that you won't have to deal with any issues with your ID.

Starting early also means you'll have flexibility to choose a less expensive season, find better deals on flights and accommodations, and avoid Mother Nature's rage during hurricane season.

TIP: Look for "shoulder season": the months that fall between high and low seasons, when rates and crowds are down, but the weather's not the worst yet.

TIP: Try booking your flights for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday since they tend to be the cheapest days to fly.

Plan your trip length accordingly

If you only have a week off of work, for instance, consider a desination closer to home so you're not spending most of your time off traveling. An exotic location is ideal if you have enough travel time and don't mind long flights.

Namedrop "honeymoon" often

Be sure to let the hotel know at the time of reservation that you are celebrating your honeymoon. There are lots of perks to be had. You could even score a honeymoon-specific package at the time of booking. Think massages, free upgrades, and free champagne. Because hey, "We need the stuff!"

Payment questions to ask

Here are questions to ask when thinking about your budget:

What kind of deposit do I need?
When is final payment due?
When do I need to pay the balance?

Typically, tour companies require a minimum deposit, with final payment usually due about 45 days prior to your departure date. Some require full payment within 24 hours of making reservation.

Consider a honeymoon registry, if that's your thing

We've got a whole bunch of online registries that can get you help paying for your honeymoon, if you're down to go that route. We know it's not everyone's style. It might be worth a look if you're going sans traditional registry. Some guests really would prefer to give you amazing experiences instead of more stuff.

International travel tips

Check if you need a visa and vaccinations before embarking internationally. This is where travel agents also shine: they can help you get what you need. Also double check that your passport is a-okay. Some countries are now requiring passports valid six months after entering the country.

You might need insurance

Force majeure in your own life can totally happen. Man, have I been there myself. Travel insurance provides some protection in case you need to cancel and don't want to lose all your money that you invested.