Should You Hire a Honeymoon Planner?
I hear these questions all the time: "Should I hire a honeymoon planner? Or should I just plan the honeymoon myself?" The short answer is you should really consider it, especially if you're already in the middle of planning your wedding — you could save yourself from unneeded stress and time spent on planning your own honeymoon. However, let's look at the whole picture.
I've put together some of my biggest points on whether or not you should hire a honeymoon planner. Check them out below!
Reasons Why You Should Hire a Honeymoon Planner
You Get a More Personal Experience
One of the biggest reasons why you should use a honeymoon planner is simple. A honeymoon planner can take your vacation and upgrade it with personal touches and benefits that you would otherwise not be able to get.
A honeymoon planner has certain knowledge of and relationships with suppliers and travel partners that allows her to make sure all clients are treated like royalty. That is one of the essential values honeymooners sometimes overlook: you can get more for your money when you have good relationships with the suppliers.
Honeymoon planners can provide a host of valuable tips and tricks. Some businesses include personal travel concierge services, free resources such as a packing list and tips for your destination, must-see activities, dining recommendations, transportation service, etc... They can also book tours and excursions, and even assist with passports and visa.
When couples book on their own, they might not have the best experience because the trip they planned might not perfectly match up with the couple's personality and interests — this is where using a pro could have helped.
More Knowledge About the Region
Honeymoon planners also have expertise in the travel area you might want to explore. For example, if you are thinking about planning your honeymoon to Greece in December, it may sound like a good idea, however, a good honeymoon planner could warn you most of Greece actually shuts down after October. If you didn't already know something about that area, you might have planned a nice trip, but it may not have ended up as the experience you were hoping for. A honeymoon planner's insight helps you make sure you end up with the perfect getaway.
Have Someone in Your Corner
Another point is that when you book a trip online you are already paying additional fees and surcharges. Instead, you could make sure those fees go to paying for a personal, one-on-one service. Honeymoon planners have your back. If your trip goes wrong, missed a flight, resort closes, etc.… you will not be stuck calling a 1-800 number, but instead will have someone working for you from the time you meet to start planning until you arrive home.
You Could Actually SAVE Money
Let’s talk about overall costs! Using a honeymoon planner could save you money in the end. Planners are trained to find the best deal and flight. They can also leverage relationships to find a better price. Honeymoon planners are also good at helping you stay within budget and can help give you multiple options to produce a dream honeymoon.
Eliminate Stress
The biggest thing I say all the time is: it is your honeymoon, who wants to worry about planning! I would much rather show up and go on the incredible trip than have to worry about all of the behind-the-scenes details. Ultimately, time is money and if you value your time, leaving all the dirty work to the pros is a good choice. It is one less thing you have to worry about. So why stress?
Reasons Why You May Not Hire a Honeymoon Planner
Worried About the Cost
Hiring a travel agent will cost you up front, but is well worth it. As I mentioned before, in the end, you could actually save money. Ultimately, however, you are paying for a service. Most agents charge a planning fee for their time because they need to be paid for their time planning a trip even if you end up changing your mind or decide to use the plans on your own. A lot of work is put into crafting the perfect trip for each traveler, and this is where the bulk of the value for a honeymoon planner comes from.
Make Sure You Hire the Right Planner
You are relying on someone you hope can pull off one of the most significant vacations of your dreams. You trust they will put together the best vacation for you. However, that might not always be the case if you find a planner who doesn't match your personality or style. This is one of the main reasons why I continue to say: shop around and find someone you are comfortable with and has excellent reviews. Don't hire the first planner you meet, and most planners should completely understand your need to shop around.
Can't I Do This On My Own?
A lot of times, you can do the actual booking online yourself, as long as you are ok with spending a lot of time researching destinations, resorts, and flights. Sometimes you can even find a better deal online through an online booking system like Expedia, Booking.com or others. However, at the end of the day, with everything else going on around planning your wedding and making sure your ducks are in a row, do you really need the added stress and pressure? It's something you really want to think about before committing yourself to more work.
What If I Decide I Do Want a Honeymoon Planner?
If you do decide to hire a honeymoon planner, make sure you find one that fits your style and needs.
It is ok to shop around and find someone you are comfortable with. Many planners specialize in a specific destination or type of travel, so go with someone who knows your preferred destination. You will also want to learn about their process, fees and how they can add value.
Honeymoon planners want to get to know you and should ask you many questions to find out what you like and dislike, and they should inform you of the destination chosen. But, do not be afraid to ask them a lot of questions, as well. Look for agents who are reputable and in good standing with travel associations such as DWHSA, ASTA, and CLIA.
Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.
