ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601230022
SECTION: YOUR WEDDING PAGE: YW-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX
Cancun, Jamaica, Bahamas . . . Opryland, Disney World, the Florida Keys . . planning and realistic budgeting, say area travel agents.
The trick to the honeymoon of your dreams is not to dream one up before you count your nest egg, and to work with a travel agent to find the best deal, at a reputable location. Sometimes those toll-free numbers at the back of newspapers are scams; sometimes the accommodations you end up with are not the ones advertised, and with just a toll-free number in hand, there's little recourse.
Candie Tomlinson, manager of Hopkins Travel, suggested advance planning for a honeymoon to ensure availability as well as the best price possible. The latter goes not only for those Super Saver airfares, but also for cruise costs. Tomlinson recommends planning six to nine months in advance.
There are a few tips travel agents would like to share with those honeymooners waiting in the wings to make communication and vacation go as smoothly as possible.
First, said Tomlinson, you and your fiancee might want to have your little honeymoon pre-planning discussion in private. Diana Austin of McDade Travel pointed out that the honeymoon won't be the last trip you ever make together. "Sometimes you can compromise, and put one's plans on hold for next year,'' she said.
Then, when you're ready to meet with your consultant, be prepared to tell him or her your likes and dislikes. And remember, said Tomlinson, it costs you no more to go to a travel consultant, and it very well may cost you less, because the consultant has the ability to check all the airline and travel packages, as well as be familiar with the good and bad deals.
Tomlinson said she needs to know whether a couple is looking for total relaxation, adventure, an athletic package, a spa, whether they want to go on a cruise, to the mountains or sit by the sea. According to Kevin Owen, World Travel Service's Roanoke office manager who was married in the fall of '95, he and his wife were looking for a honeymoon that included almost everything - an all-inclusive package - and decided on the No. 1 honeymoon destination in the United States: Disney World. Some couples, he said, would rather go on an inactive honeymoon; they're tired from the wedding, and just want to get away. They're looking for a vacation with no schedules.
Tomlinson said she also needs to know a budget, so she can plan around it. It's extremely important for the couple to set a realistic budget. Owen said he needs to know exactly what can be spent for the total picture.
"I would rather lose a booking than send a couple off with no expenses, food or drinks once they get there. Their budget will help a travel agent find what's right,'' he said.
One solution to this is to book an all-inclusive vacation, such as Owen's Disney World package, or one to a Jamaican resort, which includes all food, drinks, air and accommodations, and many of the activities.
"If your goal is to pay for everything up front, these vacations are very helpful. This takes a lot of stress off of honeymoon couples,'' said Owen.
Owen also suggested doing advance research before you approach a travel consultant. Bridal magazines are a great resource for this, as well as guide books you can find in the library. With ideas in mind, don't call every travel agent in the area, he said.
"Agents pick up on this, and will be less likely to work for you,'' he said. Besides, you probably won't be getting a better deal with one than the other - they all have access to the same information. What you're looking for is good service.
Another factor in planning for and budgeting your trip is to be flexible. Owen said if you're willing to drive to a departure point - say, Washington, D.C. or Charlotte, then you can save money. Another way to save money is to consider the two-for-one cruise deals now available.
"There are lots of new ships out there, that are larger with more capacity. The prices they are offering are very competitive, and nine times out of 10, you can get anywhere from $100 to $500 off per person from the brochure price,'' he said. He cautioned, however, that cruises are not for everyone - generally, they are structured, but the advantage is they are also all-inclusive with the exception of the beverages and short, day excursions.
Tomlinson said cruises are available in three-, four- and seven-night packages, with the seven-night deals generally the ones that are offering the two-for-one prices. You can choose eastern, southern or western Caribbean routes.
All three agents suggested Cancun, Mexico, for a wonderful vacation at a good price. Owen said for a beachfront hotel, transportation and hotel taxes you could go for $1,000/week/person. In addition, he said packages to the Bahamas are reasonable because the islands are easy to get to and the hotels are relatively inexpensive.
Tomlinson said a trip to the Bahamas can cost as little as $299 (for three nights/person), leaving out of Raleigh, N.C. Of course, if you're going to the Caribbean in January, the price may be different because that's high season, so keep the high, low and off-season rates in mind.
Jamaica is a very popular place, with reputable resorts that include all kinds of evening and daytime activities and good food and drink. Tomlinson suggested St. Thomas for an alternative warm site (after February it should be back in good repair after last year's hurricane), with its watersports, beaches and "really nice duty-free shopping,'' she said.
Austin said the Florida Keys are accessible, therefore less expensive. It's a slower pace, she said, and if time is a factor, consider it because you can get there fast. She said it's around $600/person for five nights.
Of course, if what you're looking for is off the beaten path, try a great western working ranch, one where you go on cattle drives and pack trips with bed rolls and tents. It can beat a king-size bed and a coral-white beach any day.
Higher-end vacations can also be good deals. Austin suggested several combinations for London or Paris trips. The agent can arrange for theater tickets and backstage tours. Or, you can go on a "Taste of London" trip, with a basic arrangement (about $500/three nights/person) that includes airfare, hotel accommodations and breakfast. The rest is up to you.
To leave you with a taste of the exotic - still a good deal, though - is Affordable Africa. Austin said although it's a bit high in cost, for the price you get a wonderful deal.
Using British Airways out of Washington, D.C., you will go (for $3,000/person) on an 11-day drip to Eastern Africa, taking in morning and evening game drives through Tanzania's Serengeti plain, three of Kenya's wildlife destinations, the Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongoro crater.
LENGTH: Long : 118 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: TIM TREVILIAN. 1. Heinke McDade (above) of McDadeby CNBTravel can help newlyweds arrange the honeymoon they've always
wanted. 2. Brochures available at most travel agencies showcase
trips from Aruba to Africa.