finding your perfect destination

When it comes to booking your all-important honeymoon, the advantages of working with a travel agent are key. Travel agencies work free of charge to the traveler, and offer you the benefit of their globetrotting experiences. If you haven't nailed down a destination, an agent can help you pinpoint a locale based on your interests and budget. Plus, agents can offer deals you might not find on your own. After all, it's their job to correspond with tour operators, be in the know about promotions and do the research you'd be doing if only you had the time.

Buying airline tickets or surfing for vacation packages online may suit the Internet-savvy consumer in you. Yet even the convenience of cyber-shopping can't compare to the peace of mind that comes from talking to an experienced professional. And, they're also your saviors when travel plans go awry.

Before you and your fiance meet with an established travel agent, decide what type of trip you're interested in and approximately what you want to spend. The more specific your destination and activity wish list, the less time you'll waste on dreams that are beyond your budget.

To make your honeymoon planning stress-free, be prepared before meeting with your travel agent. Determine how much you can afford to spend, how long you wish to travel, where you would like to go and what you would like to do while you are there. If you are having trouble deciding where you would like to go, make a list of your top three locations, and take it with you when you meet with your travel agent.

Don't forget to ask your agent about the nitty-gritty details of your trip, including airport connections, bus and taxi services, tipping, foreign currency conversion, and safety concerns such as government-issued travel advisories and warnings. Most important, get a phone number that you can use for after-hours emergencies (at the airport early Sunday morning after your wedding, for instance) and on your trip (preferably toll-free or collect if calling from outside the country).

Because there are no dress rehearsals for the honeymoon, view your travel agent as you would any other wedding pro - take the time to find the right one. Look for an agent who seems knowledgeable about properties and destinations around the world - not just a few regions.

Traditionally, the groom's family pays for the honeymoon, but today's weddings are anything but traditional. Many couples are financing their own weddings, consequently leaving them little left over for their honeymoon. One solution is to open up a bridal registry with a travel agency as you would a department store, so that guests are able to contribute to your honeymoon as their wedding present.