When it comes to where you will spend your honeymoon, determining the destination is only half the battle - you also need to decide upon the accommodation.
There are plenty of options open to any honeymooning couples, from the traditional hotel right through to something a little different such as a farm or campervan.
Let’s take a look at your main options:
· Hotel: Anything from a basic 1-star (or even 0-star!) hotel room right through to a 5-star themed hotel – there are hundreds of thousands all around the world to choose from.
· Guest House: Offering a more homely feel, guest houses or B&B’s provide great value for money.
· Country Cottage: Allowing you to relax and get away from it all, a cottage offers you seclusion and no interruption from early-morning maids.
· Castle/Château: For those with a little more cash to spare and for whom the accommodation is more than, or just as important as the location, a castle or château offers true exuberance.
· Chalets/Cabins/Apartments: Can range from a basic cabin right through to a luxurious suite with all mod-cons. If you want some independence then this could be for you.
· Specialist: Plenty of options here – Cruise ship, farm, caravan, ranch, canal boat and campervan to name just a few.
No two accommodations are the same, which is why it is pointless to spend time comparing the merits of one against the other. What it is wiser to spend time doing however, is to highlight some things to look out for when investigating accommodation, regardless of whether it is a themed hotel in the USA or a country cottage in the highlands of Scotland.
1. Is it suitable for kids? A very important question if you have children yourself that are coming with you or if you want to avoid hundreds of the little blighters. There are a number of couples-only resorts dotted across the planet (the Caribbean and the islands of the Indian Ocean are hotbeds for these) and if the presence of kids concerns you that much, then they could well be worth checking out.
2. Are there any specialist features? Does the accommodation come with its own plunge pool or four-poster bed, for example.
3. Are there any optional upgrades? You should be particularly interested in any special honeymoon options to enhance the romance – can you arrange for fresh flowers to be delivered to the room etc.
4. Are pets allowed? Normally only applicable to UK honeymooners, but if you are looking to take Mr. Tiggy-Winkles along with you, you need to know that he will be allowed. Likewise, if you are allergic to cat or dog hair, the last thing you want is to be sneezing or scratching your way through your honeymoon.
5. Is room service available? Not if you’re in a cottage, apartment, canal boat or caravan! However, other accommodation may be able to offer such a service, so if you are thinking of spending a lot of time in your room (and why might that be?) then this is a really handy option.
6. Is it non-smoking? A really important question if you or your partner is a smoker, but just as important if you are non-smokers. The smell of smoke does linger and can effect people with allergies, so if you have concerns you should ask - it’s better to be safe than sorry.
7. What is the bed set-up? Perhaps the most important question for a honeymoon couple. There’s no bigger romance-killer than arriving and finding that the King Size bed you hoped for is two singles instead, or even worse, bunk-beds! Make sure you check this up in advance.
8. What time is checkout? If check-out is 9am but you won’t be departing till 11pm, then this can put a big dampener on your final day. See if you can arrange a late check-out, even if it means you have to pay a few extra quid.
9. What are the catering arrangements? Check out the article entitled Food and Drink for more details on this.
10. Are there any ‘preferred rooms’? Obviously not applicable to all accommodation types, but where it is you should find out if certain rooms offer greater exclusivity or easier access to amenities. You will probably want to avoid rooms with miles to walk or ones 'just above the bar', but unless you ask in advance there’s a chance that you won’t be able to!
Your accommodation is one of the most important parts of your Honeymoon, so it is worth checking out everything in advance. A few minutes on the phone direct to the owners, managers or staff can save a vast amount of stress and irritation when you get there.
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