The USA is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the world. People from different countries come to spend this special period overseas.
One of the main reasons for this trend is the fact that the US is a versatile country with wonderful landscapes. So, many honeymooners choose this country because they want to see various natural beauties and amazing cities.
What’s more, travelling to the USA isn’t cheap. Since a honeymoon budget is usually higher than an average budget for regular vacations, this is a perfect opportunity to afford this travel.
That’s why we’ve decided to put together some practical tips that will make your honeymoon in the US a pleasant experience.
1) Set a budget
According to the Soundvision website, the average honeymoon budget for American couples is about $3600.
This data refers to the average middle-class post-wedding travels. So, if you’re a newly wedded European couple planning to visit the USA, it’s good to know what amount of money will suffice for your needs.
Bear in mind that the only convenient way to travel to the US is traveling by plane. This is what makes the entire adventure more expensive than spending your honeymoon on your continent. Also, your budget will need to be a bit higher if you want to visit the West Coast.
You should make up your mind when it comes to the honeymoon organization. Many tour operators provide such arrangements. Still, they’re significantly more expensive than a honeymoon that couples organize alone.
While the latter option will take more of your time, it will leave at least a few hundred dollars more in your pocket.
2) Make an itinerary
Do you want to see the apartment in New York that was the setting of Seinfeld or would you rather visit Hollywood? Are you more of a music lover who wants to visit New Orleans or Nashville?
Perhaps you just want to see American national parks?
Your preferences will play an important role in creating your honeymoon itinerary. Also, the itinerary and the budget will be in an interplay.
Even though it’s impossible to plan every step you’ll take on the US soil, we suggest making at least some sort of outline.
So, put several cities, historical landmarks, and natural beauties on a piece of paper. This is even more important if you’ve never been to the USA before. That way, you’ll avoid visiting a small number of places within a short time and splurging your entire budget.
Only when you know the key destinations on your itinerary should you ad-lib and visit additional places, as well.
3) Get affordable plane tickets
One of the key prerequisites for visiting the US for the honeymoon is getting affordable plane tickets. Many airports in different parts of the world offer direct flights to Chicago and New York.
However, there aren’t too many European airports from which you can fly directly to LA. For that destination, you need to go to Frankfurt, London, Rome or a few other large airports.
This is something you need to bear in mind when you’re making your honeymoon itinerary. Again, many travel agencies provide plane tickets for flights to the US. Still, we recommend booking your tickets alone on one of the specialized websites, such as Kayak, Orbitz or Skyscanner.
On the other hand, we think that you shouldn’t choose the cheapest ticket to American cities. Those cheapest ones usually include one or even two stops along the way.
As a result, your flight might last for more than 20 hours, instead of regular 6-8 hours. When you see an affordable plane ticket, always check if there are any stops.
The best option for honeymooners is to get plane tickets for direct flights a few months in advance. That’s the best way to get the best price out there.
4) Pack the travel essentials
There are some major differences in everyday life between the USA and Europe. For starters, the voltage in Europe is 240 V and in the USA it’s 120 V. It means that you’ll need to get a power converter when you’re travelling to the USA.
Apart from that, we suggest that you get a power bank, as well. In case your smartphone stops working, you’ll be able to recharge it along the way.
Also, make sure not to put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, keep your money in several different places. Since most people in the US use credit cards, you can put a certain amount of your honeymoon funds on a credit card.
In addition to cash and some pre-purchased vouchers, you’ll ensure that you don’t run out of financial assets during your honeymoon.
5) Visit accessible destinations
The USA is a huge country, with hundreds of amazing natural attractions, important historical landmarks, and wonderful urban areas.
It would be great to see as many parts as possible during one stay. However, the time and the budget will limit the number of your honeymoon options.
Therefore, the best thing to do is to visit only accessible destinations. It’s easier to get to Yosemite National Park or Key West than to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota or Death Valley in Arizona.
Similarly, New York, Los Angeles or San Antonio are more easily accessible than Minneapolis or Seattle.
Speaking of San Antonio and Texas in general, most European honeymooners don’t put this state on their itinerary. This is a mistake because this is a perfect chance to see in person how oil created the American dream.
And after you visit the Alamo or the Space Center in Houston, you can spend a night or two at the Annex wedding venue, a perfect place for wedded couples and honeymooners.
The final word
Choosing the right destination for your honeymoon is the first big decision in your new life. Spending this period in the USA is a smart decision because you can visit so many interesting places along the way.
Even though you might need a bit higher budget than for local honeymoons, it will pay off. Of course, it’s important to set a reasonable budget, plan your trip, and stick to the itinerary.
Also, we suggest that you bring along some everyday essentials and visit accessible destinations in the US. It will ensure a comfortable and smooth trip. So, we hope that our tips will help newly wedded couples to spend a memorable honeymoon across the ocean.
AuthorBio: James Barnes is an experienced wedding organizer and blogger at theannexevents.com. He specialized in organizing outdoor wedding events. When he isn’t writing about weddings and marital life, David usually goes swimming or playing squash.
I plan to take a course in Travel and Tourism next year but I actually don’t really know what it is.