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Honeymoon
Trends by
Paris Permenter & John Bigley While
the traditional vows endure, the ways to celebrate a marriage have changed
right along with the travel industry. Today's honeymooner may be looking for
value, adventure, or variety and searching for a getaway that's as exotic as a
stay in a private European castle or nearby as a local bed-and-breakfast inn. One
constant is that couples are willing to spend money on a honeymoon - an average
of $1,402 per couple compared to $421 spent annually on regular trips according
to the Travel Industry Association of America. Young couples, age 18 to 24
years, spend the most on honeymoons, averaging $1,873. And as many as one-third
of all honeymooners spend over $2,500 for that once-in-a-lifetime trip. And
while the move is back toward the traditional wedding and honeymoon associated
with earlier generations, today's newlyweds are a far cry from the travelers of
earlier days. "They're looking more for luxurious and romantic places,
like the little out-of-the-way small hotels and inns and private castles,"
points out Sylvie del Giudice, spokeswoman for Les Romantiques Hotels.
"They're ready for a different experience. It's the experience of a
lifetime. They are choosing to go further away on their honeymoon to a
different environment and that includes everything: a different language,
culture, and food." Today's
couples are finding new ways to celebrate their union, creating honeymoon trends
that are being felt throughout the industry. ALL-INCLUSIVE
FUN Started
in Jamaica but spread throughout the Caribbean and Mexico and into some other
regions as well, the all-inclusive vacation is becoming ever more popular with
honeymooners - and their families. Their "one price pays all" policy
makes the all-inclusive trip more and more convenient for parents purchasing a
honeymoon package as a gift for newlyweds. Air, transfers, meals, drinks,
watersports, and even tips are included in the tab at all-inclusive resorts. GETTING
MARRIED ON YOUR HONEYMOON Getting
married on your honeymoon is also an increasingly popular concept in the
Caribbean, where resort packages provide everything from wedding cake to music.
At some properties like SuperClubs (http://www.superclubs.com), guests can
enjoy a free wedding, including the minister's fee and marriage license. MEXICO
AND CANADA The
devaluation of Canada and Mexico's currencies mean an increase in honeymoon
business for financial reasons. Canada is also gaining popularity as a
honeymoon hotspot. Couples looking for a white honeymoon find it in ski areas
such as Banff, Whistler, and Jasper, and those seeking big city culture seek
out cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The current strength of the
American dollar against the Canadian also makes our northern neighbor an
attractive honeymoon destination. "Canada is extremely popular as a
honeymoon destination," explains Judy Love Rondeau from the office of the
Canadian Consulate General in Dallas. "Your money goes 40% further in Canada.
Also, honeymooners like the cities of Montreal and Quebec City because they are
like going to Paris without going so far and spending so much money." CITY
DESTINATIONS For
some couples, a chance to enjoy the romance of a big city and the elegance of
fine dining makes major cities a honeymoon destination. A recent study by the
American Society of Travel Agents showed that the most popular city was Las
Vegas. Orlando, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were other top
choices. OVERSEAS
DESTINATIONS While
some couples choose to vacation close to home, conserving both time and money,
others see a honeymoon as a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For these
travelers, it's the time for a fantasy journey to destinations whose very names
mean romance. For these lucky honeymooners, the American Society of Travel
Agents has found that Great Britain is the top European destination, followed
by France and Germany. "We
see more and more honeymooners going to Europe versus the Caribbean," says
Les Romantiques Hotels' Sylvie del Giudice. "People are getting married
older, and they're more interested in the culture and the experience and the
discovery of Europe. Or they want to go back to Europe. I deal a lot with
people who went to Paris once and now want to show it to their spouse. "They
usually combine romantic cities like Paris, Florence, or Rome with a resort
escape like the Riviera or Normandy or the Amalfi coast of Italy so they have
the best of both worlds," explains del Giudice. "We have also noticed
that honeymooners are becoming more and more adventurous and discovering new
areas." Looking
for new European experiences is also bringing more honeymooners to less
traditional destinations. Destinations like Portugal, Malta, and Turkey are
gaining popularity. ADVENTURE
HONEYMOONS The
current trend toward adventure and eco-tourism vacations hasn't overlooked the
honeymoon industry. "We have seen a number of newlyweds go on dude ranch
vacations as well as our other trips like the cattle drives," says Dave
Wiggins, president of Boulder, Colorado-based American Wilderness Experience.
"It's the kind of thing for couples who are looking for something
inspiring, something they can come back and say 'guess what we did on our
honeymoon.'" Although
Wiggins has sold many honeymooners rugged adventure packages, ranging from a 10-day
safari in Alaska to sea kayaking in Baja Mexico to river rafting along Idaho's
Salmon River, many honeymooners favor soft adventure. "The lodge-based
vacations tend to be more popular with honeymooners because they have a bed and
roof over their head and a hot shower," points out Wiggins. "We're
seeing more and more soft adventure travel so we have more deluxe lodge-based
options," points out Wiggins. Whether honeymooners overnight in a mountain
cabin or in a seaside tent, however, he explains the popularity of adventure
travel with today's travelers. "At a resort there's a lot to pick and
choose, but you can find yourself being a spectator and watching the action go
around. On an adventure trip, you're smack dab in the action. There's no
sitting back and watching the action go by in front of you - you are the action
on an adventure tour." Finding
that special quality is up to the individual honeymooners themselves. With the
myriad of choices and a selection of atmosphere that ranges from white-knuckle
adventure to hedonistic laziness, there's something for everybody. Husband
and wife team Paris Permenter and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks
and also edit the FREE Lovetripper.com a
romantic travel magazine featuring worldwide destinations. |
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