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Honeymoon & Travel | Travel Tips
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• 5 Money-Saving Tips for Your Honeymoon
  Have a trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank. Five tips to help you save on your honeymoon.by Jenna MahoneyIt’s the ultimate vacation: Your honeymoon is the time to indulge in everything you’ve ever imagined—over-the-top spa treatments and multiple-course dinners with champagne. Can you do all this without squandering the down payment on your new home? Yes. Here’s how. Look OnlineExperts agree the best travel deals can usually be found on the Internet. Most of the popular websites have comparative-price charts to help you find the lowest airfare options. And large search engines like Kayak.com do all the cost analysis for you. Airline company websites often offer the lowest fare guarantees and pretty consistently waive booking charges and other fees when you reserve online. The same is true for hotels—calling the reservation line directly may result in lower rates. For car rentals, excursions and hotels, use meta-search tools, suggests Tom Meyers, editor at EuroCheapo.com, an online budget travel site. Resources like Travelocity’s new ExperienceFinder function and the CheapoSearch on EuroCheapo.com compare rates on several different booking sites in one place. Pick Packages All-inclusives give you the most bang for your buck. Plus, budgeting gets a whole lot easier when your lodging, meals, activities and alcohol are included in one tariff. If you’re not the all-inclusive type, you can still score big savings under a single price. Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, Expedia.com and other websites offer package deals that include lodging, air and car rentals. “All-inclusive packages, whether you’re talking about island resorts or luxury hotel/air packages, can be a great deal,” says Meyers. Go Off-Season Travel to Mexico and the Caribbean in the summer and to Europe in the winter and you’ll save a few pesos, says John E. DiScala, founder of JohnnyJet.com, a travel web portal. That’s because the high season is synonymous with high prices—demand is at its peak, so resorts and airlines often charge as much as double. Opt for the shoulder season (the period between the high and low seasons) or off-season, and you’ll be treated to bargain prices. Check the weather reports ahead of time (weather.com is a great source), so you aren’t surprised if it’s too steamy to sit on the beach. Take the Road Less Traveled “Try flying out of secondary airports,” advises DiScala. Not only are the savings significant, but since these airports aren’t hubs, delays are less common. He also encourages travelers to think outside the box. “I was in Tahiti in a beautiful overwater suite that cost $1,400 a night, while a similar room in Malaysia, which is just as nice, cost $250 a night,” he says. Meyers agrees: “Choose a lesser-known destination like Lisbon, Portugal, for example. The city has its own kind of romance: It’s sun soaked, near the beach and filled with friendly locals.” And, says Meyers, you’ll save 20 percent to 50 percent on your hotel and restaurant bills. Bonus: Not only will you save some greenbacks, you’ll also have a more authentic experience in these less tourist-heavy places. Also consider destinations where your dollar will go further. Spread the WordYou’ve heard the rumors that if you tell people you’re on your honeymoon, you’ll get discounts. Well, it’s sort of true. You aren’t likely to get a seat in business class, but you may receive some extra-special service. At restaurants, you may get a complimentary dessert. Tell the hotel concierge and you may get a welcome bouquet or fruit plate in your room and preferred seating at the hotel eateries. “And remember, a smile goes a long way,” says DiScala.
• Fitness Retreats for Honeymooners
  These luxury properties feature state-of-the-art fitness programs. by Jenna MahoneyCasa Magna, TulumA heavenly patio at Casa Magna Casa Magna is the brand-new sister property of Amansala, a well-known bikini boot camp in Tulum, Mexico. The large oceanfront villa, whose name means pure house, hosts six-day mind-body-spirit retreats throughout the year. (The property may also be rented for weddings.) All sessions are limited to 24 guests and focus on total wellness. Sign up for The Cleanse program, for example, and you’ll take Pilates, yoga and dance classes. Meals are all organic and locally sourced. Punta Allen, Tulum, Mexico; rates start at $1,850 per person and include five nights’ accommodations, all meals, classes and a massage; casamagnatulum.com.*Bridal Guide Exclusive! Mention Bridal Guide and receive a 15% discount on a package for September or October 2008 with complimentary mud clay treatments included. Go to bridalguide.com/deals for more information.Fitness Retreats at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita Tee for two at the Four Seasons, Punta Mita Combine an A-list exercise regimen from one of Hollywood’s top trainers with the unbeatable luxury and impeccable service of the Four Seasons, and you have Ashley Borden’s Fitness Retreats. Borden, who has been credited with helping Mandy Moore, Christina Aguilera and Tori Spelling achieve their enviably buff bodies, offers personalized five-day get-fit vacations at the posh Mexican Punta Mita resort. Daily program activities include power walks, strength-training workouts and meditation sessions, all led by Borden. She also leads classes on nutrition and gives personal-training sessions. (Retreats are limited to eight guests.) Gourmet meals and healthy snacks are served on the hotel’s ocean-view terrace or may be taken in your room. Amenities include a pool, tennis courts, a par-72 golf course and full-service spa. All retreat guests receive Nike workout gear (Borden’s a spokesperson for the company). Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico; rates start at $3,500 and include four nights’ accommodations, all meals and classes, bottled water and two 50-minute spa treatments; ashleyborden.com. Escape to Shape A fireside yoga session atEscape to Shape Every few months, the folks at Escape to Shape, the Traveling Fitness Spa, choose a different destination to host their seven-night guided wellness vacations. The fitness programs, cultural activities and meals vary, depending on location, but all retreats include yoga and sculpting sessions, hiking, cooking classes and spa treatments. Excursions to local cultural sites are included, as well as such activities as horseback riding through the vineyards of Colonia, Uruguay, trekking in Morocco’s mountains and learning African dance moves in Cape Town, South Africa. Locations vary; rates start at $2,600 and include seven nights’ accommodations, all meals, classes, some excursions, two spa treatments, taxes and airport transfers; escapetoshape.com. *Bridal Guide Exclusive! Mention Bridal Guide and receive a 15% discount on an October 2008 session in Sicily. Go to bridalguide.com/deals for more information.Photography: (top) Casa Magna; Melissa Perlman (bottom) Escape to Shape; Anja.
• Ready, Set, Spa
  It’s the ultimate indulgence. These tips ensure that you relax to the max. by Dana WagnerNowadays, more honeymooners than ever are choosing to spend lots of quality time pampering themselves on their first vacation as a married couple. So, whether you’ve booked a beach retreat, an adventure getaway or a tour of a romantic European city, chances are that you’ll want to work some fabulous treatments into the itinerary. Here’s how to make the most of a most delicious experience. Spa-ology There are actually seven categories recognized by the International SPA Association. The big three are destination, day and resort: Destination spas typically focus on whole-body wellness and often include spa cuisine, fitness programs and mind-enrichment, while resort spas are pretty much all about the pampering. Day spas generally have facial and body treatment rooms, but lack whirlpools and steam and sauna facilities, says Darryll Leiman, Spa Director at Canyon Ranch’s SpaClub aboard the Queen Mary 2. Book Your Treatments Let’s say the two of you have chosen to honeymoon at an island resort with a spa. If possible, reserve your treatments when you book your room. Most spas have an online menu of the services offered, so it’s easy to get set up. Before making your selections, consider: Do you want to get scrubbed and moisturized to perfect your bikini-ready bod? Would you prefer a hydrating facial to maintain your radiant glow? Or how about de-stressing with a deep-tissue massage? Try to take advantage of the spa’s specialties, Leiman suggests, like treatments that make use of indigenous ingredients. While complimentary robes and slippers are de rigueur, and professional therapists are always considerate of your privacy, do be aware that most body treatments, like massage, salt scrubs or Vichy showers, require some nudity. If this makes you squeamish, consider scalp or facial treatments instead, or a massage that can be done fully clothed, such as reflexology (foot massage) and Watsu massage (you wear a bathing suit and the treatment is done in a pool).Personalize Your Requests When making your appointments, be sure to indicate whether you prefer a male or female therapist; now is also the time to mention any medical concerns such as pregnancy, diabetes, hypertension or sports injuries, as some services may not be suitable for certain conditions. Arrive Early, Stay Late Leiman recommends that you arrive for treatment appointments