Travel Tips For
Your Honeymoon
and Romantic Getaway
Honeymoon Travel Tips
- Make sure your passport is valid (at leasts 6 months past your travel date)
- If booking the air on your own, some airlines give you the option of choosing your seats when purchasing tickets while others automatically choose the seats for you. If when booking your air, you were not given this option, then after you book double check your seats to make sure they are together and in the desired section that you want. If not, choose new seats. If there are no other seats available, then continue to check until your departure date (cancellations allowing new seats to open up tend to happen close to the departure date but they can happen before that time as well).
- If you receive an airline schedule change, immediately check your seats again. With a new aircraft sometimes the seats from the previous flight are not reassigned, esp with a different type of aircraft.
- DO NOT pack your valuables in your checked luggage.
- Reconfirm flights in both directions 24 hours in advance.
- Check with the airline to find out how early you need to be at the airport.
- Your airline reservation can be affected by Daylight Savings Time. If you have to reset your clocks BEFORE your travel date, then check your travel times a few days after you reset your clocks.
- If traveling on a long flight, it might be worthwhile to purchase a plane pillow.
- If you plan to make calls using your phone, check with your local phone carrier for cell / roaming charges and if they offer pre-purchased callings plans. You may also choose to use a VOIP company such as skype (depending upon your preference and the devices that you will be traveling with). Since phone calls is a topic in and of itself, here is a link with many suggestions (click from here, do not copy and paste as the hyphens become deleted in the url when repasted) http://www.oncallinternational.com/blog/how-to-be-smart-with-your-smartphone-when-traveling-abroad/
- Make sure all electronics are fully charged before arriving at the airport.
- If printing boarding passes before you arrive at the airport, reconfirm your gate with the airport electronic display board or at the check in counter.
- Give resort contact info to someone back at home (family member or friend) just in case they need to reach you.
- Make 2 copies of your passport (give one to a trusted family member or friend and travel with the other but keep it separate from your actual passport). This way if it is lost or stolen you will have all the information to get it replaced (and travel back home).
- Keep a copy of your travel itinerary on your email (flight and resort info).
- Advise your credit card company/bank that you will be traveling outside of the country (let them know the location and that you will be placing charges on your card from there)
- When packing, use plastic (or even better zip lock) bags for anything liquid including nail polish, creams, any sort of liquid make up, suntan lotion, skin so soft, etc - you want to make sure to protect anything that you have. Put those things on the outside pocket of the suitcase. On your return home, if your bathing suit is still wet, you can use one of the bags to insulate that item also.
- Don't forget your medications/vitamins and if transferring bottles, remember to label them. It is best to keep medication and drugs in their original container. For psychotropic drugs such as valium or opiate derivatives, bring a letter from your doctor.
- Sand Fleas and Mosquitoes will invite themselves to your resort at various times of the year. Bring insect repellent (towels or spray) or better yet Skin So Soft which has a great fragrance and can be used in the tub as well.
- Do not bring any liquids over 3 oz with your carry on. Put each one in it’s own separate plastic bag. Call the airline for any exceptions (i.e. medications, saline solution, etc.). For liquids greater than 3 oz make sure it goes into your checked luggage.
- Pack the following items in your carry on: toiletries (toothbrush, soap, no liquids larger than 3 oz), underwear, swimsuit, shorts, a polo / tee shirt and a long sleeve shirt in case your luggage is lost (or you get separated from it for any length of time). The long sleeve shirt would come in handy if the aircraft is cold.
- Pack a small flashlight in case you experience any power outages. It could even be fun to use while walking along the beach in the evening.
- Pack the following items in your purse or carry on luggage that you will most likely need / use while traveling: pen, ear buds, plane pillow (this one you could put around your neck to save room), book/magazine/ipad/tablet, tissues, hand sanitizer (like Purel) and some clorox wipes (you can use this to wipe airline seat, arms and table tray). Germs are most prevalent on the tray and arm rests.
- When traveling, keep your cash and valuables at the bottom/hard to reach place/ or zippered pocket of one of your carry ons. Keep an eye on your luggage and your passport at all times. Keep your passport in a secure place when not in use.
- Try checking for Fast Park Services close to the airport to save some money.
- Fill out your immigration card as soon as you get the sheet to complete. If you wait, then you may end up at the end of the line when going through customs/immigration.
- For all inclusives, tip the driver from the airport (and on your return trip) as well as drivers on excursions, They do not work for the resort. Also, tip the baggage handlers at the airport. Take single and five dollar bills with you.
- At the airport upon landing and also on your vacation, be aware of timeshare / vacation clubs. There are a lot of pitfalls that they don’t tell you about them as they want to try and get you to buy.
- If you have a credit card, bring it with you. If you are bringing a debit card, resorts can put a hold on $300 or so, just be aware. All inclusives may require a credit/debit card for incidentals (such as gift shop, phone usage from room, spa treatments or anything that is not on the all inclusive plan)
- If parking at the airport, take a photo of your parking spot location (either with your phone or camera). In addition, write down parking spot location, spot number and lot info.
- Unless your luggage has an unusual pattern, place a ribbon or some identifying item on it so that you can easily spot it at the baggage claim area. This also helps/prevents someone else walking off with it by accident. It's not even a bad idea to take a photo of your luggage in case somehow it does get lost and makes it easy for the hotel/airline to identify it. It's also a good idea to have a few articles of clothing in each other's luggage for the “just in case” scenario.
- If traveling with anything expensive, try and find the receipt and bring with you.
- Don't bring any livestock or things such as live floral, etc as you can be stopped at immigration.
- If you have a non-rechargeable battery powered device (i.e. camera) bring extra batteries as they tend to be expensive if bought on property. For cameras, always keep a couple on hand esp when leaving the resort for an excursion.
- Be very mindful of your passport. Always remember to put it away in a place that zippers or closes (i.e. your purse, carry on bag etc.). When arriving at the resort and while you are unpacking, put your passport, cash and valuables in the room safe.
- Keep the bulk of your cash in the safe and take out what you think you need for the day.
- Anything that can be deemed questionable when checking in at the airport (razor, scissors, even a selfie stick) pack in your checked luggage. Some airports deny these items for carry on. Even consider expensive items such as lotions and make-up. Even if you pack an item accordingly that may not stop the TSA agent from taking it. Here is a link to the guidelines that you can print and bring with you: (http://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule)
- If you experience any problems at the resort - please address these while you are still there. You can speak to someone at the front desk, request to speak to the hotel manager and/or contact me.
- Facebook, email, twitter are all good for social connect. Many resorts are offering complimentary Wi-fi so a good thing to ask about before you arrive.
- When checking in at the airport, it doesn’t hurt to let them know you are on your honeymoon; you never know what extras they may give you.
- If you need or plan to call any companies that you only have the toll free # to, then get the local/direct numbers before you leave as most locations out of the county will not connect with toll free numbers.
- Sun Protection: As inviting as the sun may be, protect your skin at all times with sunscreen. The last thing you want is a sunburn to ruin your romantic retreat.
- If your resort is all-inclusive, find out what offerings are and ARE NOT included with your particular resort (things to consider are: transfers from the airport, spa and salon treatments at the resort, any service/admin fees connected with any complimentary promos that the resort is offering, gratuities and circumstances where the gratuities are not included, certain brands and/or selections of wines, beer and alcohol (esp offered when dining), exchange privileges, specialty dining and transfers for same brand and/or umbrella resorts.)
- After you travel, consider using a document shredder to dispose of your boarding pass. At the very least rip it up into tiny pieces before throwing it away. Two Dimensional BarCodes or QR codes hold quite a bit of information (your account info, future flights, emergency phone numbers, frequent flyer numbers, etc.). This information can also be retrieved from certain websites if uploading a photo of your boarding pass to your facebook page or any other social media site. If you really wish to upload a photo of your boarding pass, then obfuscate the barcode. For more info and additional reading, visit the following link: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/10/whats-in-a-boarding-pass-barcode-a-lot