While
the traditional vows endure, the ways to
celebrate a marriage have changed right along
with the travel industry. Today's honeymooner
may be looking for value, adventure, or variety
and searching for a getaway that's as exotic as
a stay in a private European castle or nearby as
a local bed-and-breakfast inn.
One constant is that couples are willing to
spend money on a honeymoon - an average of
$1,402 per couple compared to $421 spent
annually on regular trips according to the
Travel Industry Association of America. Young
couples, age 18 to 24 years, spend the most on
honeymoons, averaging $1,873. And as many as
one-third of all honeymooners spend over $2,500
for that once-in-a-lifetime trip.
And while the move is back toward the
traditional wedding and honeymoon associated
with earlier generations, today's newlyweds are
a far cry from the travelers of earlier days.
"They're looking more for luxurious and
romantic places, like the little out-of-the-way
small hotels and inns and private castles,"
points out Sylvie del Giudice, spokeswoman for
Les Romantiques Hotels. "They're ready for
a different experience. It's the experience of a
lifetime. They are choosing to go further away
on their honeymoon to a different environment
and that includes everything: a different
language, culture, and food."
Today's couples are finding new ways to
celebrate their union, creating honeymoon trends
that are being felt throughout the industry.
ALL-INCLUSIVE
FUN
Started
in Jamaica but spread throughout the Caribbean
and Mexico and into some other regions as well,
the all-inclusive vacation is becoming ever more
popular with honeymooners - and their families.
Their "one price pays all" policy
makes the all-inclusive trip more and more
convenient for parents purchasing a honeymoon
package as a gift for newlyweds. Air, transfers,
meals, drinks, watersports, and even tips are
included in the tab at all-inclusive resorts.
GETTING
MARRIED ON YOUR HONEYMOON
Getting
married on your honeymoon is also an
increasingly popular concept in the Caribbean,
where resort packages provide everything from
wedding cake to music. At some properties like
SuperClub www.superclubs.com,
guests can enjoy a free wedding, including the
minister's fee and marriage license.
MEXICO AND CANADA
The
devaluation of Canada and Mexico's currencies
mean an increase in honeymoon business for
financial reasons. Canada is also gaining
popularity as a honeymoon hotspot. Couples
looking for a white honeymoon find it in ski
areas such as Banff, Whistler, and Jasper, and
those seeking big city culture seek out cities
like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The
current strength of the American dollar against
the Canadian also makes our northern neighbor an
attractive honeymoon destination. "Canada
is extremely popular as a honeymoon
destination," explains Judy Love Rondeau
from the office of the Canadian Consulate
General in Dallas. "Your money goes 40%
further in Canada. Also, honeymooners like the
cities of Montreal and Quebec City because they
are like going to Paris without going so far and
spending so much money."
CITY DESTINATIONS
For
some couples, a chance to enjoy the romance of a
big city and the elegance of fine dining makes
major cities a honeymoon destination. A recent
study by the American Society of Travel Agents
showed that the most popular city was Las Vegas.
Orlando, New York, San Francisco, and Los
Angeles were other top choices.
OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS
While
some couples choose to vacation close to home,
conserving both time and money, others see a
honeymoon as a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime
trip. For these travelers, it's the time for a
fantasy journey to destinations whose very names
mean romance. For these lucky honeymooners, the
American Society of Travel Agents has found that
Great Britain is the top European destination,
followed by France and Germany.
"We see more and more honeymooners going to
Europe versus the Caribbean," says Les
Romantiques Hotels' Sylvie del Giudice.
"People are getting married older, and
they're more interested in the culture and the
experience and the discovery of Europe. Or they
want to go back to Europe. I deal a lot with
people who went to Paris once and now want to
show it to their spouse.
"They usually combine romantic cities like
Paris, Florence, or Rome with a resort escape
like the Riviera or Normandy or the Amalfi coast
of Italy so they have the best of both
worlds," explains del Giudice. "We
have also noticed that honeymooners are becoming
more and more adventurous and discovering new
areas."
Looking for new European experiences is also
bringing more honeymooners to less traditional
destinations. Destinations like Portugal, Malta,
and Turkey are gaining popularity.
ADVENTURE HONEYMOONS
The
current trend toward adventure and eco-tourism
vacations hasn't overlooked the honeymoon
industry. "We have seen a number of
newlyweds go on dude ranch vacations as well as
our other trips like the cattle drives,"
says Dave Wiggins, president of Boulder,
Colorado-based American Wilderness Experience.
"It's the kind of thing for couples who are
looking for something inspiring, something they
can come back and say 'guess what we did on our
honeymoon.'"
Although Wiggins has sold many honeymooners
rugged adventure packages, ranging from a 10-day
safari in Alaska to sea kayaking in Baja Mexico
to river rafting along Idaho's Salmon River,
many honeymooners favor soft adventure.
"The lodge-based vacations tend to be more
popular with honeymooners because they have a
bed and roof over their head and a hot
shower," points out Wiggins.
"We're seeing more and more soft adventure
travel so we have more deluxe lodge-based
options," points out Wiggins. Whether
honeymooners overnight in a mountain cabin or in
a seaside tent, however, he explains the
popularity of adventure travel with today's
travelers. "At a resort there's a lot to
pick and choose, but you can find yourself being
a spectator and watching the action go around.
On an adventure trip, you're smack dab in the
action. There's no sitting back and watching the
action go by in front of you - you are the
action on an adventure tour."
Finding that special quality is up to the
individual honeymooners themselves. With the
myriad of choices and a selection of atmosphere
that ranges from white-knuckle adventure to
hedonistic laziness, there's something for
everybody.
|
