YOU’VE already forked out for the wedding, so blowing another eye-watering sum on a honeymoon may fill you with dread.
The cost of the average one rose 23 per cent from 2021 to 2022, according to the latest National Wedding Survey released by hitched.co.uk.
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But there are still plenty of romantic holiday bargains out there.
Sophie Swietochowski picks six of the best.
St Lucia, The Caribbean
THE Windjammer Landing resort in St Lucia is set on a 65-acre hillside estate overlooking the ocean and is everything you would want from a honeymoon getaway.
We’re talking swaying hammocks in the middle of a turquoise sea and soft white sand beaches.
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Book as part of the Island Getaway Sale before June 30 and you can bag up 50 per cent off.
This puts its Ocean View rooms at £150 per night – and if you stay for seven nights or more you will nab $250 in-resort credit too.
The lavish spa, snorkel excursions and dining options galore make it perfect for those who want to stay tucked away within the resort.
British Airways (ba.com) has return flights from the UK from £524pp.
Madeira, Portugal
IF The Maldives is on your wishlist but your budget doesn’t stretch that far, Madeira is a great alternative.
The tiny archipelago, several hundred kilometres off the coast of Africa, may not be as secluded as The Maldives, but it is home to some stunning beaches with soft sand and clear waters, plus it’s a fantastic location for snorkelling.
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Stay at the 4H Allegro Madeira, an adults-only resort that sits just 200 metres from the beach and offers a rooftop bar from which you can witness the most glorious sunsets.
The hotel’s restaurant serves local grub or the capital city of Funchal is just two kilometres away.
Seven nights’ B&B costs from £347pp, including flights from Stansted on November 27.
For more information, see onthebeach.co.uk.
Barbados, The Caribbean
THE Caribbean might seem out of reach on a budget, but staying in a self-catering property means you can save on restaurant dinners and lunches.
And better still, this British Airways Holidays package can be booked with just a £150pp deposit.
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The Travellers Palm resort on the west coast of the island is the perfect base for explorers with picture-perfect beaches within walking distance.
Seven nights’ room-only at the 3H resort is from £679pp, including flights from Heathrow, plus luggage.
For more information, see britishairways.com/barbados.
Marrakech, Morocco
SUMMER is low season in Morocco, so there are some scorchingly hot deals to be had in June and July.
The Tui Blue Riu Tikida Garden in Marrakech is a haven for couples with lavish facilities including a spa with traditional hammam, newly-refurbished rooms and four outdoor swimming pools sheltered by palm trees.
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You can bag seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H resort from as little as £775pp, including flights from London, luggage and transfers – and you really won’t need to lift a finger.
Unlike a lot of all-inclusive packages that only offer dining in the buffet restaurant, this one includes a dinner at the exceptional Culinarium that hosts themed evenings and traditional Morroccan grub.
For more information, see tui.co.uk.
Galacia, Spain
LOOKING for something secluded and off the grid?
Los Tendales, a quaint stone cottage hidden among rolling meadows in northern Spain, is just the spot.
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The one-bedroom home has a huge lawn with a private swimming pool overlooking acres upon acres of green countryside, plus a modern kitchen, cosy living room and little outdoor table for romantic dinners.
A three-kilometre country walk will take you to the hamlet of O Viso with a tiny grocery shop, café and bakery that locals love – and a quiet beach is just 15 minutes away by car.
Seven nights’ self-catering costs from £299pp in September.
Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London to Vigo, a 25-minute drive away, from £17.05 each way.
For more information, see vintagetravel.co.uk.
Crete, Greece
The 5H adults-only Seaside A Lifestyle resort on the coast of Crete is THE place to go for newlyweds.
It’s not that budget a choice at £185 per night, but that price is a steal for what you get.
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Plush, modern bedrooms with ocean views, fancy food – including a Japanese sushi joint – and a cave spa with an ice fountain and excellent massage menu.
Into wellness? Book a sound bath session at the hotel’s yoga studio.
Foodies will love the events hosted by Michelin-star chefs.
EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies from the UK to Heraklion in Crete from £34.99 each way.
MR & MRS GETAWAYFOR LESS
THERE are some guaranteed ways to shave money off your post-wedding getaway, without missing out – it’s all about being savvy. Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski shares her top tips.
TRAVEL OUT OF SEASON: It goes without saying that travelling outside of the school holidays will save you a fair bit of cash, but on top of this, many popular honeymoon spots have rainy seasons or exceptionally hot months.
If you cope well in the heat or are willing to risk a little drizzle, then you could save a fair whack by visiting at these times. Besides, the rain in many tropical climates often passes much quicker than it does in the UK.
SCOUT OUT THE OFFERS: If you have a specific destination in mind, chances are there will be at least one hotel or holiday provider offering a discount in this location.
Picture it like the reduced goods section in a supermarket – in the same way sales assistants will reduce the cost of certain products in a bid to get rid of them, a lot of hotels will do the same.
A hotel may be brand new and trying to entice customers in with a bargain offer, or it may be that you’re booking last minute and a resort still has plenty of empty rooms they want to fill.
SHOP AROUND: You wouldn’t buy the newest PlayStation from Amazon if it’s half the price somewhere else – and that same mentality should be applied to holidays.
Many package holiday providers, be it Jet2holidays or On The Beach, offer deals for the same hotel. So it’s worth taking your time and looking at several sites to see which has the best package for you.
BOOK IN THE SALE: Airlines have sales at certain times of the year. Key dates to look for are Boxing Day, the end of summer and Black Friday. Some that offer great sale prices include Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, British Airways, Jet2 and Ryanair.
PART OF A LOYALTY SCHEME?: Times are tough right now and costs are soaring. So if you’ve been saving your points for a rainy day, that day has come. Use them now.
FLEXIBILITY IS KEY: I’m addicted to Skyscanner’s “everywhere” and “cheapest month” tools. If you’re flexible on location or dates, these are a great way of finding the best bargain.
Frequent flyer? If you know where you want to go and you’re part of a loyalty scheme with an airline, use the low fare-finder tool which will show you the cheapest time to travel.
Just Google “[airline name] low fare finder” – a lot of major airlines have one, including easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
JUST ASK FOR IT: Want an upgrade? I’ll be honest, it’s unlikely to happen on a flight these days (no matter what hacks you have heard about involving dressing smart or being nice to staff) but that’s not true for hotels.
It’s worth emailing ahead to let the resort know that you’ll be visiting on your honeymoon and if rooms aren’t sold out, they may consider bumping you up.
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