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Many brides have the vision of a tropical paradise for their honeymoon. The bungalow on the beach or even over the water hut with the glass window in the floor so you can see the fishes swin underneath your feet. Sounds fantastic doesn't it! Of course it does.

Since Hawaii, Fiji, and Tahiti seem to be time after time the most "romantic places" to go on your honeymoon I thought I would break them down.

Hawaii is about 6 hour flight from here in Las Vegas. Many flights are direct, but sometimes they stop in either LA or San Fran. Many people are unsure of which island to choose or if they have time they often do a multi island stop.

Maui is one of my favorites just because there are a great deal of activities to do on the island. There are the black sand beaches, 7 sacred pools, road to Hana, and Kaanapali Beach (voted best beach by the Travel Channel).

Kauai is know for being really laid back and over course the Napali Coast line which is breath taking and highly recommend seeing it by helicopter. Poipu beach is a nice seculded are as is the Princeville area on the North side of the island.

Oahu a very lively city kind of reminds me of Vegas just without the slot machines. Of course there is the famous Waikiki Beach and the North Shore. Usually this island is the most affordable, but many resorts are high rises so oceanviews or beachfront are limited.

The Big Island is also a favorite for many due to the active volcano, waterfalls, and helicopter tours.

All island in Hawaii are beautiful and they can all cater to your travel time and budget. Food and gas if you do a rental car are more expensive then at home just due to the fact they have to ship everything in from the mainland.

Tahiti - is mostly known for its over water bungalows and the romance of Bora Bora and Moorea. These are the 2 most popular islands. The French Polynesian islands of Tahiti are plentiful with lots of activites such as snorkeling, ATV, horseback riding, parasailing, and fantastic diving.
There are direct flights from Los Angeles to Tahiti daily. Most people depending on flight time arrival then usually proceed unto Bora Bora, Moorea, or Rangiroa. The flight is about 8 1/2 hours. The inter island flights are like 10 minutes. The most important factor to consider when thinking about Tahiti is that it is owned by the French so it is on the Euro so with our US dollar exchange rate it is expensive once you are over there to purchase food and beverage. I would highly recommend $100.00 a day per person to cover meals and drinks.

Fiji - is a beautiful area, but the people are what will set your honeymoon a part from anything else you have experienced in the past. They are so kind and the service is exceptional. Fiji is also broken down into many different little islands so most people will continue on by seaplane or by boat to another island to stay at their resort. Bure (or bungalow) is a popular room product in Fiji. Many resorts are small with 16 or less rooms. Fiji is also nice because many resorts are all inclusive so once you are there you don't have to worry about anything. Not to mention they are on the Fijian dollar so we get twice for our money when it is exchanged into Fijian money. Some say the down side is that it is a 10 hour direct flight from Los Angeles(most depart at 11:30pm) and on the way there you cross the dateline so you lose a day of travel. Fiji has exceptional diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, cultural activities, waterfalls, and hiking.

If you would like a quote for any of these locations please feel free to contact me at Laurie@allabouthoneymoons.com or www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com.

How do I book my honeymoon? I know that may seem like a silly question, but it is a valid question. Your honeymoon maybe your first BIG trip you have ever taken in your life or with your partner. Traveling outside your hometown or even the United States can be an overwhelming experience.

Here are a few tips on booking your honeymoon:

1.) Reach out to a travel agent(like me) to see what they recommend for the travel dates and budget that you are planning.

2.) Look at several different type of packages. Don't be afraid to book a red eye flight as I always say it maybe not be easy to sleep on a plane, but it is easy to sleep on a beach instead of being on a plane all day.

3.) Once you know where you are going and a travel agent recommends a hotel, go onto www.tripadvisor.com and see what other people say about the property (take the reviews in perspective as everyone has different expectations) and check out the photos that have been posted by the travelers.

4.) After deciding on the resort and room type place your deposit on your package. If you are booking far enough in advance you should be able to place a deposit and make payments along the way. Most balances are usually due 8 weeks before travel.

5.) Do a honeymoon registry. You can link to one through my site www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com or you can go directly to www.honeymoonwishes.com

6.) After your package is paid for in full(about 8 weeks before you travel) your travel agent will contact you to provide you travel documentation. Most packages include roundtrip airfare so you can usually check in online before heading to the airport, transfers from the airport to the hotel, room accommodations, taxes, and optional insurance.

7.) What does insurance cover? Good question and every supplier and package are different. Insurance is highly recommend and I have had clients who had to use it as there has been a car accident, weather issues, and just needed to reschedule due to work scheduling conflicts. So make sure to purchase the right insurance package for you.

8.) Get your passport. With it being a requirement to enter into the United States you must have a passport. Go to your local post office with a CERTIFIED copy of your birth certificate and a photo ID to fill out the application and turn it in for processing. It usually takes 8-12 weeks to get the passport.

9.) Don't be afraid to ask A LOT of questions! Your honeymoon is BIG DEAL! So ask away!

10.) Contact me for packages and specials. I look forward to hearing from you! www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com

Happy New Year! 2007 has finally arrived and for many of you this is YOUR year to get married. The countdown is on and the final preparations are in the works. This is the time when I get asked the most of when should I book my honeymoon?

Winter - Early Spring Brides (Jan-March)if you haven't booked your trip already there are many specials going on right now so let me know if I can assist in anyway. If you are planning on traveling at a later date for better weather get your deposit in on your trip. (** Lots of cruise specials out for these months)

Spring Brides(April and May)- this is the time to place your deposit if you haven't done so already! Getting your deposit down on your trip will make it more affordable as you can make payments up to 6 weeks before departure. Also make sure to register for a Honeymoon Registry!

Summer Brides(June-August) - these months need extra attention to detail when booking a honeymoon for 2 reason: weather and kids are out of school. So if you haven't decided on where to go narrow down your location and find out if it is prone to hurricanes or is it a large family destination and if you are OK with either or both! Many EARLY BIRD specials are out for these dates as well so let me know if I can send you some sample packages.

Fall Brides (September - November) Booking your honeymoon is probably on your checklist but maybe not on your top 10 things to do. Airlines only book 330 days out so some pricing may not even be out yet. Hurricane season does run through November 30th so keep this in mind if you are traveling anywhere in the Caribbean or the Southern tip of Mexico. There are several cruise specials going on for this time period so let me know if you are considering one for your honeymoon!

No matter when your wedding/honeymoon is to take place in 2007. Planning ahead will make your process and pocketbook more enjoyable.

I look forward to working with you in 2007! May it be a successful year for all and here's to all your dreams come true!

Planning a wedding is hard enough let alone trying to figure out where to go for your honeymoon. It's even harder to figure out how to pay for it!

Simple things to keep in mind while planning your honeymoon!

My number one suggestion is narrow down where to go based off of location, location, location! Why is this important? Weather! We were very fortunate this year that weather didn't have as many draw backs as they did in 2005. In 2007 it will be hard to say what Mother Nature will have in store for us, but keep in mind of hurricane season is from June 1 thru November 30th,and most tropical places are HOT and HUMID!

Second, try to figure out your time frame of how long you are able to travel. If you don't like to fly make sure pick a place that doesn't have 3 connections and it turns out to be a whole day of traveling. If you live on the West Coast the Caribbean can be a lengthy flight and if you live on the East Coast, Hawaii can be even longer. Traveling to Fiji or to Europe make sure to add one whole day of traveling to your schedule.

Now that you have an idea of where and for how long you need to figure out if the location is an all inclusive resort or a la carte. What's the difference? All Inclusive includes all your food and most beverages(premium liquors) are not always included, tip and taxes. Most Caribbean Island have all inclusive properties and some even offer both types of food plans. Make sure you know if you have paid for all inclusive or not. Hawaii does not have all inclusive. Most restaurants in the hotels are expensive, but there are plenty of alternatives, but pricing is higher.

Also think about if you want to stay at an adult only location. This can be important if you are traveling in the summer months when kids are out of school.

So now you know where, how long, and if you need to budget for food or not. Now you can decide on budget. The average honeymoon is between $2,000 and $4,000 dollars for 5-7 nights depending on hotel accomodation and time of year of travel.

After knowing your budget, location, and time frame place your deposit on your booking. Most honeymoon packages do not need full payment until 60 days prior departure if you book in a reasonable amount of time ahead. Making payments over time makes your dream honeymoon more affordable and less stressful!

Booking a honeymoon with a travel agency versus booking it yourself has many advantages. For example, most packages include air, hotel transfers, hotel accomodations, and insurance. If something goes wrong your agent can help you or has provided you with contact information for you contact someone in case of an emergency.

Once you have your honeymoon chosen and your deposit placed register for a honeymoon registry. You can link to one through my website www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com or you can click directly to www.honeymoonwishes.com. This is a great way to have friends and family contribute money to your honeymoon and be less stress on your wallet.

Last but not least make sure to get your travel documentation. The world is changing and Passports are required so visit your local post office and apply for your passport today if you are traveling anywhere outside the United States. You will need your birth certificates to apply for one so if you don't have one you will need to order one which can take some time. Make sure to plan accordinally. Brides you will have to get one with your maiden name on it and then will have it changed after you are married!

Hopefully, this guideline has provided some helpful decision making thoughts. Please feel free to contact me to figure out what honeymoon would work best for your location, time frame, and budget!

In a recent Travel Agent Alert E-mail please read the following!

Nearly all U.S. Air Travelers Will Need Passports by Jan. 23

Nov 27, 2006
Travel Agent

According to The Associated Press, nearly all air travelers entering the U.S. will be required to show passports beginning Jan. 23, including returning Americans and people from Canada and other nations in the Western Hemisphere. The date was recently disclosed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in an interview with The Associated Press. Until now, the department had not set a specific date for instituting the passport requirement for air travelers, though the start had been expected to be around the beginning of the year. Setting the date on Jan. 23 pushes the start past the holiday season. (JP)

As many travel suppliers try to close the books for 2006 many are having book now and save specials for 2007. It is hard enough trying to budget for the holidays, but if you can plan ahead and start thinking about your honeymoon you could save BIG! Specials vary from China, Turkey, Greece, Hawaii, and even Bermuda.

Register today at www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com and lets starting planning your honeymoon!

Many brides have visions on spending their honeymoon in Bora Bora or in Fiji in an over the water bungalow. The South Pacific can be challenging to book on your own as there is more then just the flight and the accomodations. I work with a travel supplier who has excellent travel packages and HONEYMOON SPECIALS to choose from and not to mention a honeymoon registry. So if you are interested in going to Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands, or even a longer trip to Australia and New Zealand check out www.journeypacific.com and let me know if I can price out any packages for your specific travel dates.

Many brides are considering doing a destination wedding in Mexico, Jamaica, Caribbean or even Hawaii. Please know that the United States do recognize many of these destination weddings as legal, but NEVADA does not JUST YET. Jamaica was just approved and weddings in Aruba, Mexico, and many of the other Caribbean islands are not recognized in the state of Nevada. So if you are considering these locations please make sure to consult the local Social Security office or you may not be able to change your name with the office which in turn will effect your social security, wages, and return.

Las Vegas is a VERY busy city and there are a ton of places to get married. Wedding Coordinators at many locations come and go so keep in constant contact with your location as your coordinator may move onto other things. There is nothing worse then waiting until the week of your wedding and dealing with someone new. This is very important if you are doing a destination wedding. If you have any questions or need recommendations on where to get married in Las Vegas please contact me at Laurie@allabouthoneymoons.com or visit my website at www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com!

The best advice I can provide for your honeymoon is to start a honeymoon registry. Even if you don't know where you want to go you can start it right away. Refer friends and family to send money your way so you can build up an account to help pay for your honeymoon. You can link to my registery through my website www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com! Its free and easy to set up. Check it out today!

As a native I always get the question of where to get married in Las Vegas and where to stay. There are numerous chapels on the Las Vegas Strip and throughout town, but one really stands out! www.monbelami.com! The little chapel is located on the Strip and it beautiful inside and out. The grounds have full landscaping which the pictures on the website don't do it justice. The Staff is incredible. For a classy chapel wedding this chapel is the place. Check it out! You will be impressed! All new photographers and the pictures are fantastic!

They have a sister chapel in town located across from the Stratosphere one block East of the Las Vegas Strip and it is also provides affordable packages. www.bellezalasvegas.com!

As many brides start to plan their honeymoon many come to me and ask about Mexico. I think Mexico has many amazing aspects about it for a honeymoon. If you are traveling anytime outside of hurricane season (June 1 - November 30th) Cancun and the Riveria Mayan is fantastic place as it is the Gulf of Mexico so it has clear blue waters and white sand beaches. If you are looking for the Corona Commerical the Southern tip of Mexico is the place. There are many beautiful resorts such as the El Dorado Royale by Karisma Resorts. If you are traveling during hurricane season you have several other choices such as Cabo and Baja. Puerto Vallerta and Ixtapa are also great choices. For the money Mexico can provide all the luxury and the romance you should have in a honeymoon! Contact me today for pricing and a free qoute. www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com

As an agent I am always looking for new and exciting places to send my clients. In a recent issue of Travel and Leisure magazine there was a readers poll for best service and a US Resort actually won. Keep in mind this never happens as Asian resorts always come out on top. This place is beautiful and of course is expensive, but is has everything. All inclusive gourmet cruisine, bed and breakfast accomodations, and amazing amentities. Horse drawn carriage, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and relaxing. Check out www.blackberryfarm.com! My only notation on this is that you are NOT ALLOWED to bring your Blackberry!

As a bride there are a zillion things you need to think about, discuss with your other half, friends and family. Throughout most brides wedding planning they think about their honeymoon, but don't really know where to go and what to do until the last stages of planning. Your honeymoon is your most important part of your wedding. It is your first trip together as husband and wife. You want something romantic and memorable so it HAS to be special, right? Traveling in today's economy is expensive. Even with all the travel suppliers on the internet it is still a large expense to keep in mind during your planning stages. All About Honeymoons - Las Vegas has a honeymoon registry that we encourage you to start as soon as you start planning your wedding. The average honeymoon is about 2-4 thousand dollars with the average stay about 5 nights. Weather is also a main concern for many newlyweds so be prepared to look at several different choices of location if you are getting married and traveling during hurricane season which runs June 1 - November 30th. Please contact All About Honeymoons at www.laurie.allabouthoneymoons.com for more information about fantastic resorts in the United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe, and the South Pacific.

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