Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993 TAG: 9302120370
SECTION: YOUR WEDDING PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BECKY HEPLER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
WARM PLACES WITH WATER TOP LIST FOR HONEYMOONERS
You've survived all the crises of the wedding: the tuxedos that had to be exchanged at the last minute, the bridesmaid who got sick at the rehearsal party, the caterer who dropped the cake. You're picking the rice and birdseed out of your hair. Where do you want to be at this moment?If you are like most honeymooners, your first choice is somewhere warm and tropical. Virginia Savage at World Travel at Blacksburg said most of the honeymoon travel plans her company books are to the Carribbean, the Bahamas and Hawaii. Cruise ship excursions are also very popular.
"They want someplace to relax, where someone will wait on them hand and foot," Savage said. "After all that work and planning they're definitely ready for a vacation."
Richard Marchal of Travelmasters in Blacksburg found the honeymooners he deals with to be a little more adventurous and willing to put more into the tourist game by doing the Disney World thing. "If it's not the No. 1 honeymoon spot, it's very close to it," he said. "It can be relatively inexpensive and adults enjoy it as much as children. There's so much entertainment and lots of different activities."
Marchal also sang the praises of the cruises. "Once the trips are paid off, there are no additional costs, other than tipping and personal expenses in the different ports of call," he said. "Couples who have spent the last six months writing big checks will find it a relief to not have to be reaching into their pockets all the time while they're on their honeymoon."
While relaxing in the sun and sand is very sensual, there is nothing more romantic than a honeymoon to an urban spot. San Fransisco and New Orleans are two American favorites where newly weds can sample fine cuisine, shop in world-class stores, visit sophisticated museums and galleries, and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment in cities whose architecture and ambience are the perfect foil for romance.
Of course, if you really want to get romantic, you'll need to cross the ocean. "There really is something about Paris," said Marchal. That would explain why Europe is often chosen as a honeymoon destination.
For some people, adventure is romantic. Marchal told about booking a honeymoon to Tibet for a trek through the mountains. Savage said her company has booked honeymoons to Alaska.
For those of you who want the beautiful scenery but no hiking, a cruise around the waters of Alaska has all the grandeur and only a trace of the sweat. Combine that with a train ride from Anchorage to Denali National Park on the luxury trip that includes naturalist guides in the observation cars and deluxe accommodations and you have the picture-perfect honeymoon for under $10,000.
If you are at the other end of the spending spectrum or the wedding left you with few honeymoon funds, you can still have a wonderful honeymoon and the down payment for a house, it's just a matter of careful planning and realistic expectations.
"We can do economy packages," said Marchal. "You just have to tell us how much money you want to spend and be very realistic about it."
You don't have to give up the idea of a cruise even if you are on a budget.
"It's a boom business now and there are lots of bargains and special packages," said Marchal. He cautioned about looking only at honeymoon packages because they might not be the best value.
Paige Johnson of Christian Travel in Radford said honeymooners usually book the cruise they want then ask about amenities like the bridal suite or complimentary champagne.
Air fare is usually the most expensive part of any travel plan, so driving instead of flying can save you a large chunk of money immediately.
This area is full of delightful, driveable destinations that can make a honeymoon one you'll remember. Perennial vacation favorites, Myrtle Beach and Gatlinburg are less than a half day's drive. Charleston, another romantic old South city, is approximately 400 miles from the New River Valley. Disney World is accessible in one hard day or two leisurely days of driving, and by having a car there, you can get to all the different attractions.
Sometimes, it's not just money, it's time. That's when you need merely a taste of luxury instead of a full-course meal. The Greenbriar Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, the Homestead in Hot Springs, Peaks of Otter in Bedford and Mountain Lake all offer top notch service and each has one- and two-night specials that fit the budget or schedules of all kinds of newlyweds.
Whatever you choose, all the agents advise booking early. "We have people who come in 10 days before the wedding to plan the honeymoon and we can help them, but I don't recommend it as practice," said Marchal.
Johnson said that booking early gets you the best bargains and selection, plus you can always have your airfare reissued should a price war ensue and ticket prices plummet. In addition, booking your cruise early does not lock you into the cabin you originally book. Those also can be upgraded.
A final piece of advice comes from Marchal. He suggested that couples engage in a practice that they will need for successful married life, communication.
"It's very advisable for both parties to have a mutual understanding about where to go and what to do," he said. "If she want's to go to the beach and he wants to go to the mountains, they need to work that out before they come in. That shouldn't be resolved in front of the travel agent."