All Inclusive or Non Inclusive Honeymoon?

honemoon locationDeciding where to go on your honeymoon can be time consuming in itself but then having to choose between an all inclusive honeymoon or one where you go half board or self catering is just something else to include on your many list of decisions to make!

Hopefully this article will give you some insight into the choices that are available to you to make it just that little bit easier to decide which one is right for you and your partner.

There is no reason why you cant pick your destination before you decide what type of 'board' you want or even choose the other way round and decide to go all inclusive and then see where is available etc. There are so many search engines available to you online that your mouse will constantly be clicking on the down arrows for 'destinations' and 'flying from' options etc.

Alternatively you could ask your friends and family for suggestions about where they have been on holiday or you might prefer to have a chat with your local travel agency. They are sure to know the most romantic places to go that can offer you good deals on your choices.



Pros and Cons of All Inclusive Honeymoon

Everyone has different reason why they would choose an all inclusive honeymoon and following are a few reasons for you to consider when making your choice.

Pros

  • A lot of places have private beaches which are undisturbed by locals or other tourists.
  • As much food and drink as you can consume with a lot of hotels or complexes having water freely available to you and your partner.
  • Depending on your destination, some water sports may be available to you and included in your package.
  • Excellent value for your money.
  • No need to carry any money or go looking for cash machines as everything will be paid for.
  • No need to spend more money hiring a car especially if entertainment is available to you.
  • Transport from the airport should be included.
  • You won't be affected by the expensive bills in local restaurants.

Cons

  • Easy access to alcohol could cause friction?
  • If the food quality is bad then you may be stuck with it for the whole duration of your stay.
  • If you are a couple honeymooning with young children, their type of food or treats (i.e. ice creams) are not always available or suitable.
  • Not all inclusive holidays have restaurants where you can order your meal as most of them are buffet style so you may not consider them to be as romantic as you had hoped.
  • You could be restricted to certain types of food at certain types of the day.
  • You may feel 'confined to barracks' if you do not leave the complex.
  • You may have to wear a wristband to prove that you belong to the 'club'.
  • Your favourite alcoholic drink may not be available as the majority of places have local wine or beer on offer.



Pros and Cons of other Honeymoon Boarding Options

As well as all inclusive, you can also choose to go full board, half board, bed and breakfast or self catering. Following are a few pros and cons about why you should choose these options:

Pros

  • A wider choice of food and drink will be available to purchase.
  • For some hotels, the transport to take you from the airport and back could be included in the price.
  • For some options you can eat where you like and choose a different place every evening.
  • For self catering in particularly there is no timetable involved for when you have to eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner.
  • You are not restricted to one complex and can explore your local surroundings and further.

Cons

  • Food bills may work out more expensive than you budgeted for.
  • What if you do not like the food at your hotel? You may decide to eat out rather than put up with the meal they provide and for those who have chosen the full board option they will most definitely incur further costs.
  • You may need to take food with you, particularly for self catering, and no one really wants to travel with food in their bag. This also means that you may have to look into the customs information to see what you can and cannot bring into a particular country.
  • You will have to carry cash on you and in some places have the tiresome job of having to either exchange your currency or cash traveller's cheques etc.

Final Honeymoon Considerations

Whatever type of honeymoon holiday or destination that you choose, make sure that you carefully read the small print about any of the hotels or activities that are available as some are not available all year and only have scheduled months that they run or are open from.

This should also be something to consider when you are looking at the prices of your honeymoon.

You certainly don't want to be paying out for a hotel where you think you are going to have free a la carte food every day when in fact the a la carte restaurant is only open from May to October and your wedding is in November!

Remember to try and find reviews about your chosen honeymoon destination before you book and ensure you get a complete break down of your package.

Bear in mind that your honeymoon is something you only do the once so you want to get it right.

Whichever choice you make will depend on you and your budget but the best advice you will receive is to make sure you do plenty of research into you options!